TIME TO COME CLEAN
A STREAMLINED CLOSET CAN HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME AND HELP YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE
Think about your linen closet. Is it a place of textile anarchy, with towels run amok and pillowcases trying to escape? If so, and you’re selling your home, it could turn off potential buyers.
While home-staging tips typically centre on larger key areas like kitchens and bathrooms, linen closets can also prove your property’s worth. Buyers want to know that their next home can hold all their belongings comfortably, and space is a home stager’s best friend.
In general, try to pare the closet down to 30 per cent of its capacity. Jess Harrington, of the home-staging company Jess Finessed, says it’s better if you can declutter even more. “They want to see the home, but not all of the seller’s items,” she told Apartment Therapy.
Even if you’re not planning to sell, a streamlined linen closet can help your day-to-day life run more smoothly and make things easier on your eyes. Apartment Therapy gathered these tips on taming those textiles — and anything else lurking inside.
Get rid of things that are stained or damaged. Visually unappealing linens give off a cheap and uncared-for vibe. Claudia Desbiens, a home stager with Modern Mecca, says mismatched linens should also go. If you’re reluctant to toss anything, consider stowing them out of sight.
Say bye-bye to bulky blankets. This ties back to creating the illusion of more space. Kim Williams, of KJ Design and Mortar Styling, suggests you put them in a larger closet instead. Or use an ottoman, bench or baskets. Pillows are also space-suckers. They can go in larger closets as well, possibly shrunk down in clear vacuum-sealed bags.
Move toiletries and cleaning supplies. Harrington advises you toss expired toiletries and relocate what’s left to the vanity. Cleaning supplies, meanwhile, can take up a “considerable amount of space that could be repurposed for more linen,” says Williams. Those can go under sinks or in the basement.
Stay season-specific. Angela Arnold, of Elephant in the Room Staging, suggests that anything winter-related — like flannel bedding and winter coats — stay accessible when it’s winter. Likewise, beach gear can stay on hand in the summer. But in the off seasons, store them under a bed, in another closet, in the basement or in the attic.
Rehome any other miscellaneous things. Kids’ toys, books, electronics and paperwork should be kept with like items, in logical spots. “We see all sorts of things in linen closets that are not linen,” Harrington says.