Not having a linen closet may seem like a big deal, but you can actually live without it. In fact, many people think there is No need for linen closets anymore. Why? Because there are many options that keep your towels and bed linen organized and clean. A versatile option is to find a freestanding hutch that fits your space and vibes with your style. Oh, and it needs good shelves and drawers to help you stay organized.
Of course, you can Create a linen closet for your bathroomBut it’s an involved process that can be very inexpensive with all the studs, drywall, and hardware you need. With a hutch, you can place it anywhere and move it to a new location if you find a better purpose for it. Plus, a beautiful stand-alone cabinet serves as a centerpiece, whether you place it in a hallway, bathroom, or your bedroom.
If you already have a hutch that you don’t use, repurpose it into a linen closet. If you don’t have furniture that works, you can buy a new hutch, but skimping on storage pieces makes this upgrade a little more exciting. Check out secondhand shops, garage sales, and local sales group posts to find the perfect piece with details and style to suit your home. You’ll likely get something more unique for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Repurpose a freestanding hutch to be used for linen storage
Before you start looking for the perfect hutch-turned-linen-closet, decide where you want to put it. A common place is in or near the bathroom. Or, you can put a small hutch in your guest room, even if you have a master linen closet, so your guests have their own collection of towels and extra bedding. Knowing the location helps choose cabinet size and style — in a tight space, you might want to see how far the hutch doors swing, for example. Or you can skip the door altogether in favor of a piece with drawers and open shelves. When taking measurements, note the swing of the area door to make sure you don’t block it.
Consider your preferred storage type for towels and linens. Shelves are common in dedicated linen closets, but hutches often have a mix of open shelves, drawers, and shelves hidden behind doors. Drawers and hidden shelves help keep dust away from linens. If the unit has drawers, look at the interior dimensions to estimate how much it will hold.
Give your thrifted hutch a good clean, especially the inside where your linens will go. Painting or staining a piece gives it a new look, and adding wallpaper behind shelves is a fun way to incorporate pattern. Once the finish is in place, it’s time to load the unit. You can still use your favorite linen closet organization hacks, such as Martha Stewart’s Trick for Perfectly Stacked Sheets. (Hint: He uses a pillow as a storage bag.)
