Don’t Go Through Life Without Labels in the Linen Closet

I discovered that we’re the proud owners of five shower curtain liners. They’re not even curtains … the liners.

We have only one shower that uses a curtain liner! The other shower is glass. How did this happen?!? Do you do things like this too? I can tell you how it happened to us. Before last weekend, we didn’t have this:

Before last weekend, four shower curtain liners were shoved in our linen closet, mixed with plastic wrappers from sheets hurriedly purchased before guests arrived, two unworking smoke detectors and a crinkly cat tunnel. It’s really disconcerting to hear something crinkling when you’re reaching for sheets and towels, I can tell you.

Some real linens were in there too, like the pillowcases, and full and queen sheet sets all messy. The disorganization always made “oh crap” moments when we’re trying to make the queen bed with full fitted sheets and realize they don’t stretch far enough no matter how hard we pull. Ain’t gonna happen. There’s a 50/50 chance of grabbing the right sheets but 100% of the time, I grab the wrong ones! Why is that?

Now, the shelves are labeled:

• Blankets
• Full
• Queen
• Pillowcases
• Duvets

The closet is clean and … serene, even! Unbelievable!

Here’s what I used:

I got these metal scrapbook labels real cheap — $1 or less — at a craft store. It doesn’t matter that the 2009 and 2010 labels are obsolete — just use the label backs. I found the silver ink Sharpie pen in the linen closet while emptying it out. Yeah, I found Sharpies of all colors in the linen closet! There’s just no explanation for how this happens, really.

This project led to some big-time self-awareness. Apparently I’m a big fan of these metal label thingies, because two other types were in my craft supplies:

So having found something to make labels, it was time to see what we’re dealing with. This part hurts, I feel like I’m airing, ahem, dirty laundry from the bowels of my house here:

Are you surprised by that major duct in our closet? Yeah, so am I! After eight years of opening this door! Just as surprised as the first time. Ducts are in a coat closet on the ground floor too. We complained and complained when we first moved in until my parents visited and my dad put things in perspective: “You guys are complaining about space when your master bathroom is bigger than my bedroom! Geez!” Uh, OK, point taken. I still don’t like the ducts, but they’re there because our house was retrofitted years ago for central air, and I appreciate air conditioning more than closet space, if there’s a choice.

But I’m really good at cramming crap in. I took pictures of all the piles that came out of there but … naw can’t show it!

Let’s just get to work cleaning it up. I simply wrote out my labels for each shelf:

And nailed them up:

With these copper plated nails:

Yes, why can’t really functional things like nails be cute as kittens too?

Speaking of kittens, my household project assistant must always review and approve of handiwork:

He didn’t really say anything, but I think he approved. So I carried on.

The finished result is so pleasing, I looked forward to folding more freshly-laundered sheets and revisiting the closet a few days later. Imagine that!

How do I know it will stay this way? Because once there’s a label on the shelf, I will not be able to bring myself to put something on the shelf that doesn’t fit the label. It’s like putting something in a filing cabinet drawer that doesn’t fit the label. Can’t do it. I’m just weird that way. Next up … the cleaning supplies closet!

But I promise here, prettier programming in the next post …