how come I cant keep my linen closet that organized??? hehe

Pillowcases!

They should be changed more often than I really want to think about. You drool on them. Your face goes there. You breath in whatever is on that pillow case for 8 hours (if you're lucky.)

KatieG1234, maybe because you (like me) don't iron! Try to use boxes ;)

This is too funny, I just created an entire list of what you need for your first kitchen at my blog! http://thefirstapartment.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-equip-kitchen-basics.html I have yet to really start my own linen closet, but one day I will find someone to keep it that organized for me! Ha!

~Blair

Nice to see drinks for guests included. I pretty much only drink water, coffee and tea at home and I'm guilty of never having anything to offer guests (unless they want something from the bar and then that's a different story).

While having sheet sets tied up in a ribbon looks nice, I keep each set stored in the matching pillow case, so I can locate everything easily.

Ugh. Don't stock up. Buy 2 sets of nice things. One in use. One clean. Wash the used on the day you switch out.

If you have extra sheets, towels, bedding - donate to animal shelters or somewhere that works for you.

I actually just spent some time culling my linen closet of what I deemed to be too many sheets! I would agree with the need for extra pillow cases, though, and also for more (nice) washcloths than you'll ever think you'll need. If you don't have an abundance, you have to choose between reusing them more than you probably should or doing more laundry than you probably want to!

Before I bought a house, I never knew you needed a lot of money to have a well stocked linen closet.

@potpie - Agreed.

I've never understood the point of an overflowing bounty of linen, or the need to change the sheets every day. Limited storage makes inclination a requirement. That being said, I have 3 sets - 2 for summer (crisp cotton) and 2 for winter (cozy flannel).

I have to agree with potpie. No need for many sets of sheets. Just two per bed will do, and if you have a guest room, you can probably just wash and reuse the same sheets between guests. Two towels per person is plenty, maybe with some extras for guests and beach towels. You want enough room left over in your linen closet to store your big comforter during the summer when it's not in use. No need to have huge quantities of things that can be washed and reused.

There's well stocked and overstocked. And the definition of that is different for everyone. I have spare sheets and that's it. I like to keep plenty of towels and enough blankets. I find keeping too many linens encourages stocking up on dirty laundry.

Underwear
Socks
Glasses
Soap
Toilet paper

You guys really have the room for stocking extra towels and linens?

We don't even have extra sheets -- I just wash our sheets, and then put them right back on the bed. We don't have many extra towels either. Three sets: one for us everyday, extra for guests, and another set for the dog.

Space is at such a premium in the city that I can't bother using it to stock linens or towels that aren't essential.

Oh, and to add -- I live in a 1000 square foot one bedroom. We're moving later this month to a 1200 square foot one bedroom. Both are relatively larger apartments but I would still not be able to find the space for a "well stocked linen closet."

I sometimes wonder if the current Chicago AT writers are suburbanites.

I'd love to know where these clear shelf separators came from.... can you share?

+1 ArchDarling

as someone who just moved and used her sparse supply towels to cushion things and as a result cannot find any of her bath towels, i'm going to with... yes, i wish i had more towels.

3 sets of sheets & pillowcases: one in use, one in the laundry, one in the closet for next change or guests. Same with towels. You're better off stocking up on socks, toothbrushes & pasta.

I try to stock up, but my husband always stops me... He keeps going on about budgets and financial restraint, so we don't have enough sheets, good towels, dishes... well, you name it. I dream about being stocked up!

( still, I would always have a good stock of tea, French raw cane sugar cubes -- we shopped in France and they were quite cheap -- Savon de Marseille and Marvis toothpaste. Now that we are moving back to North America, it will be too difficult and expensive to stock up on this stuff...).

Great idea, Michelleb!!! Thanks!

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the people saying you only need two sets of sheets and towels don't have kids. All it takes is a child with a stomach virus and suddenly you'll be wishing you had extras!

@mschatelaine:

Hey! I have a bit of a linen closet mess. Does anyone know where I can find those divider thingies in Eastern Ontario, Canada?
Thx

Agreed KimberlyRose--or pets! We have three summer sets and three winter sets for our bed (one on the bed, one in the laundry, one as back up), and four sets for the guest room (one on the bed and one for back-up--we keep it made all the time since I end up having to sleep in there when I am having bronchial problems--otherwise the hubster wouldn't be able to sleep). We store them in a trunk that doubles as a table and a footstool with storage inside. Quilts and duvets are in the back of our strange bedroom closet which has tons of odd space under the eaves where nothing can hang. I guess we are lucky to have enough (if odd) storage space.

The image is from Domino. (still miss it)

MalibuStacey - I just searched in Amazon.ca and they're available there. Search for wire or chrome shelf dividers. Most large-ish homestores will have them as well.