A very important thing to know about me is: I love to be organized and I love to organize. I hate visual clutter. My clothes have been organized by color since I was a kid, and there’s nothing I love more than unfettered access to a cluttered shelf.

Last week, I wrote a post about how I gave my linen closet some cute upgrades for less than $75. But what if you can’t (or don’t want to) spend any money at all? Well, friend, you deserve a nicer linen closet, too. Below are my best tips for having a neat, orderly, visually pleasing linen closet for no money.

Clean It

I’m generally not a fan of insisting people do specific things, but if you get nothing else from this article, please walk away realizing how big of an impact the simple act of cleaning has. You don’t have to go in with a toothbrush and borax; as long as you wipe everything down with warm soapy water (including light fixtures). Things like lotion bottles can accumulate grime from being frequently touched. Wipe everything down, get the crusty leftovers off of everything, and I promise you, it’ll already look better.

Take the Labels off of Things/Turn the Labels Around

This is one of the simplest (and quickest) things you can do. I am a big fan of the Marie Kondo school of reducing visual clutter, and this is the easiest way to do it. If it’s practical to fully remove the label from a product, do it! You can also store your items in such a way that the labels are less visible (as I did with the toilet paper below). Finally, if some of your products have beautifully designed labels, display them and stash the labels that aren’t as pleasing.

Make Your Own Labels

Listen: labelmakers are a true gift to people like me, but if you have neat handwriting, they’re also a little redundant. With clear tape and a sharpie, you can put a label on almost any bin you want, pretty much for free.

Fold Towels the Same Way

This is a two-fold piece of advice: first, try to fold all of your towels in EXACTLY the same way. Then, once you’ve folded your towels, match up the seams on the shelf for a streamlined look. This works whether or not your towels match.

Stack Towels by Color and Size

If your towels DON’T match, you should stack them according to color and size. My favorite method is dark colors and bigger towels on the bottom, lighter and smaller on top. As with the tip above, stack your towels so that the seams line up for the neatest look possible.

Organize Within Clear Containers

If a lot of your things are in clear bins or baskets with open weaves, consider straightening the items within the bin. Not only will it look better, but you’ll also be able to find and identify items more easily.

Throw out Old Products

One of the easiest ways to declutter is to just simply throw things away or donate them. If you’re uncomfortable throwing away products, find a friend who might accept them from you. Now is a great time to be honest with yourself: will you ever use that face wash that made you break out? Or that lotion you don’t like the scent of but was a gift? It’s okay to get rid of it. If you have a hard time throwing them away, check if the brand has a recycling program. Disclaimer: please use good hygiene practices when donating or accepting used toiletries and linens.

BONUS

These things aren’t cheap, but they are inexpensive (and you might have some of them lying around).

Add Drawer Liners

Using non-adhesive foam liners to line the shelves of a linen closet is a game changer. Not only do you not have to deal with possibly removing contact paper in the future, but you can cut them down to the exact size you need more easily. Plus, their open weave means that wet products dry faster rather than leaving rings or rust on the shelves.

Spray Paint Containers to Match

If you have a hodgepodge of different bins you’ve collected over the years, consider spray painting them all one color. You’ll only be out the cost of the spray paint, and your linen closet will instantly look more cohesive.

Add a Stick-on Light

This one is a game changer. Unless your closet has a dedicated overhead light (which is rare), it’s often difficult to see into a side closet. By finding an inexpensive LED light to stick on the ceiling of above the door in a linen closet, you can totally upgrade a drab and dingy closet with minimal effort.

Organizing an area of your home doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money! By keeping an eye on consistency and use, you can easily transform a space quickly, easily, and frugally.

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