Messy Minimalist
  • About Us
  • Blog
    • Minimalism
    • Innkeeping
    • Health & Happiness
    • Projects
  • Monthly Challenges
  • Start Your Journey
  • My Youtube Channel
  • My Story
  • About Us
  • Blog
    • Minimalism
    • Innkeeping
    • Health & Happiness
    • Projects
  • Monthly Challenges
  • Start Your Journey
  • My Youtube Channel
  • My Story

Messy Minimalist

A messy person with a minimalist mindset

MinimalismOrganization

Clutter Spotlight – How Many Sheets Do You Need?

January 9, 2018

Clutter Spotlight: How many sheets do you need for your bed? MessyMinimalist.comCLUTTER SPOTLIGHT:
Bed Sheets

Q: How many sheets do we really need?

It’s a simple question, really. How many sheets does a person need to own? A bit subjective, perhaps, depending on how many beds are in your house and your access to a washing machine.

So let’s get more specific: How many sheets do YOU own for YOUR bed? Does it feel like too many? Too little? Surely you’re wondering how I could write a blog post about such a trivial question, but it’s time I address this subject! For an aspiring minimalist who has limited closet space, (raises a stiff hand), sheets are one of those linens that just seem to take up a lot of room.

Now I own a motel – so you can bet I know how to fold sheets for optimal storage and crispness! But despite my first-rate sheet-folding abilities, the sheets in my closet eventually become disheveled and dusty. Why? It’s the same reason anything else does…. I have a favorite set or two and I rotate those as often as possible. As for the others sets? They basically just sit there collecting closet dust, waiting for the day I get so behind on laundry that I must reach for my ‘backup sets’.

There it is. The real reason I’ve kept so many extra sets of sheets. They were my backup plan. My “maybe-this-decluttering-and-minimizing-thing-won’t-work-out” plan. My failsafe for my inner messy, inner lazy, inner hoarder self.

How many sheets do you need for your bed?

My stockpile of sheets was my excuse. We all have them: excuses for why we’re not making more progress with our own decluttering journeys. Earlier this year, I got rid of a good handful of sheets and last night I “minimized” five more sets, leaving myself with a total of two sets of sheets.

It took an entire year for me to do this. To me, having only two sets of sheets means freedom from a needless decision of “which to swap out” on wash day. It means room to breathe in my linen closet, and motivation to keep up on the laundry.

Yes, two sets of sheets, as trivial as it is, is just the right number for me. How about you?

Clutter Spotlight – How Many Sheets Do You Need? was last modified: January 9th, 2018 by Messy Minimalist
28 comments
33
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
Want to declutter your life in 2018? You have to let go of your excuses.
next post
Traveling Without Souvenirs

You may also like

Maybe it’s time to ditch the television....

March 14, 2019

From Hoarder to Minimalist

December 1, 2016

Clutter Spotlight | How many pens do...

October 2, 2019

Everything I’ve Bought In 2017

September 14, 2017

Take My Stuff!

December 11, 2016

3 Reasons To Start Decluttering Today

January 27, 2019

You Decluttered, Now What? | Life after...

February 15, 2019

Swedish Death Cleaning – Is it ever...

November 1, 2017

Want to declutter your life in 2018?...

January 3, 2018

The Avalanche Effect | How To Avoid...

March 9, 2017

28 comments

Melissa A January 9, 2018 at 7:15 pm

Agreed! I feel like I could get away with 3 sets of sheets total in the house (master bed, two kid twin beds) but that feels a little like tempting fate with illnesses. So I have a four sets for kids beds, and two sets for our bed. It’s fantastic now that it all fits in my linen closet and I DO NOT know how to fold a tight sheet, but I do now how to sort of fold/wad and put it inside a pillowcase so it APPEARS to be neatly folded 🙂 Have a great day!

Reply
Messy Minimalist January 10, 2018 at 7:39 pm

I agree with keeping and extra-extra set for kids beds..! You just never know with them!

Reply
Kelly January 31, 2018 at 8:45 pm

Melissa, youtube it, quite simple once you see how it’s done – 60 seconds or less in a nice rectangle instead of some folded up lump.

Reply
Ellen J January 9, 2018 at 7:35 pm

This past summer, while I was in the tossing mood, I saved one set of flannel sheets and 3 sets of regular sheets (I have 2 queen beds). Got rid of numerous twin sheets and bought 2 brand new fitted twin sheets (only). I have a guest daybed and trundle that is only used for guests. All the other stretched out, holey, worn out stuff went to the animal shelter for their bedding. They also got about 10 throw blankets. I really have to stop myself when I’m out shopping and I see sheets on sale. I have a strange addiction to them!

Reply
Messy Minimalist January 10, 2018 at 7:40 pm

Good for you! I used to find it really tempting as well. I don’t see myself buying them on a whim again in the near future, but when I see a particularly cute pattern or a good deal… it can be tough to not act on it!

Reply
Kelly January 9, 2018 at 8:05 pm

We used to have so many sheets. If they fit my bed I kept them. Okay… lets be honest… I kept the other sizes too JUST IN CASE we needed them some day.

Now we have Two sets of sheets (only one bed in the house). I generally wash the same set over and over and put them right back on the bed because they are my favorite. The extra set is just in case these get ruined, or I forget to turn the dryer on and all of a sudden its time for bed! The spare set can also be used on a blow up mattress for guests if need be. We also have one more flat sheet that doesn’t match the others that my husband takes on hunting trips along with his sleeping bag in case its too hot to zip up the sleeping bag.

Instead of a linen closet we now have a linen basket.

Reply
Alicia H January 9, 2018 at 8:09 pm

I was kind of forced into 2! I was given a new sized bed (from a twin to a full) with a set of sheets from my parents and purchased a couple more as extras. After a year or so, one set got a rip and some fabric paint stains from my lovely kitty running across a project (got to love those crazy fur balls!), so I tossed that set out. I love the fact I’m down to two now, as I loathe washing and folding multiple sets of sheets!

Reply
Ellen January 9, 2018 at 9:55 pm

I was taught in the olden days,one on the bed, one in the wash, one to rest.

Reply
Messy Minimalist January 10, 2018 at 7:41 pm

That sounds like a fine number to me! 2-3 seems ideal.

Reply
Keshia Allred January 9, 2018 at 10:06 pm

I have 4. Two flannel sets for winter, and two silky sets (cotton & microfiber) for the summer.

Reply
Margaret Fletcher January 17, 2018 at 1:04 am

Yes I also have 4 as above. I rotate the sheets each week. Electricity is expensive in South Australia so I prefer to hang my sheets on the clothes line to dry so 2 sets for each season is best for me.

Reply
Saulina January 11, 2018 at 4:45 pm

One set it’s fine at least has been for past 5 years. Just good quality cotton or anything 100% natural , and when it gets really washed out (don’t wash in hot water , and don’t use dryer, can be used for 3-4years )replace. 🙂

Reply
Robin January 13, 2018 at 3:39 pm

I had 2-3 then I got married. My husband didn’t like my ‘soft sheets’ nor my fleece sheets (why are men so warm?). Then he brought in his high-end CRISP sheets which say no bleach and no fabric softener???? How high-end can they be if they can’t handle bleach and softener? The timing of this post is so funny because I just downsized to 2 sets. Don’t ask how many pillow cases I have 😳.
I miss your face!!! Maybe a video showing your fitted sheet folding tips.

Reply
Liz t April 2, 2020 at 7:46 pm

I know this is an old thread but you shouldn’t use fabric softener on anything. It leaves a residue on everything you wash with it that builds up and ruins the fabric. If you want soft sheets use vinegar it is deodorizing and softening and by the time the laundry is finished in the last spin cycle the smell is already gone.

Reply
StatMomma January 16, 2018 at 6:40 pm

One thing I use “extra” sheets for is linens to take with us to beach rental house in the summer. Sometimes they have a King bed, so even though we don’t I’ve kept a set of King sheets I “inherited” when my mother-in-law downsized. And even though we now only have one twin bed in the house I keep several sets of those for the beach as well. In a clear box. In the storage room outside my laundry room.

Reply
Terése January 22, 2018 at 1:42 pm

Would you please show how to fold sheets and bedding nicely? Fitted sheets are the best ON the bed, but a nightmare to fold!

Reply
Tina Egner January 24, 2018 at 3:18 am

You totally inspired me to declutter the linen closet and it feels AMAZING but I wanted to say ….. I have a special needs daughter that can go through numerous sheets in one day (due to sickness etc) so for that I have some back ups folded and in a storage cubicle right in her own closet. I hope that helps with anyone who might be in my same situation.

Reply
Secret Agent Woman January 31, 2018 at 9:41 pm

We have one set of sheets for our daughter’s bed (she’s only here weekends) and another for the guest bed. Two sets for ours, so one can go onto the bed while the other set is in the wash. That seems like plenty! (To be honest, though, I do have a couple of folded up twin-size sheets out in the gardening shed to cover budding plants when there is a late freeze.)

Reply
Shelbi February 2, 2018 at 3:10 am

Yes, I donated a bunch of sheets last year and only had two sets. Then literally the next day my mom sent me two new sets. Lol! Seriously, I can’t win!

Reply
Nancy February 15, 2018 at 2:02 pm

Where did you get those sheets with the sort of arrow/chevron design?? Love those

Reply
Diana February 18, 2018 at 4:50 pm

Totally agreed!!! I got down to two sets. Each set includes two pillow cases and two top sheets. I started using hospital corners to reduce purchasing elastic + it is so freaking cheap to just buy a single cotton top sheet as you need it. Great post, keep being fab! PS your new equipment makes a huge, positive difference!

Reply
Judy March 2, 2018 at 10:22 pm

The REAL question we have all glossed over here is….”How do you fold the blasted sheets?”. You need to do a sheet folding video.

Reply
Diane March 8, 2018 at 5:08 pm

Judy (or whoever), somewhere long ago I heard or read that you put your hand into one of the corners, then bring up the other three corners one by one and hang them on your hand. You have to do it in such a way that it ends up folded at the end, but if you get what I mean…try it! It helped me for years.

I don’t bother folding any more because I just have one set of sheets. When I wash them, they’re off in the morning and back on by night, so I seem to be doing fine. 🙂 Prior to that, I had two sets that kept me going almost 20 years. They finally got threadbare and sprang holes. I should throw them away but they’re in the closet for “rags” till I can make myself do it. 🙂

Reply
Michelle March 13, 2018 at 2:45 pm

I love this post! In the last 6 months, I, too, have whittled down to 2 sets of sheets per bed in our household. I have a teen & young adult, so I let them choose their favorite set and bought them 1 new set. I do keep a few extra pillow cases & 2 pillows for overnight guests. I also kept 1 set of sheets for our bed in our RV. I just pull those off, wash, and put them back on, so the bed is always made & ready for our next camping adventure.
So, we only own 7 sets of sheets and a few pillow cases.

Reply
Ashwaq Hilal November 28, 2018 at 4:24 am

My daughter loves one sheet and a blanket only in ger bed. She’s always asking me to put on her favorite Essmak Flamingo design sheet because she loves the color.

Reply
Rob January 2, 2019 at 9:40 pm

So I have just counted at we have 11 sets so I through out seven my wife is not going to be happy. I am happy it looks so much more organized and they don’t all full out when I open the door.

Reply
Sara K. March 25, 2019 at 4:41 am

I don’t think I have any bed sheets…

WAIT LET ME EXPLAIN…

I sleep on a shikibuton with a washable cover, and my comforter also has its own washable cover. It would be hard for me to find another shikibuton cover that I like as much as the one I have, so I don’t have a second one. When I wash it, I make SURE that it gets dry before bedtime (thank goodness the fabric can handle high temperature machine drying). I sewed & dyed the cover of my comforter myself, and it’s made from organic linen (expensive), and making a second one would take more money and labor that I want to put into a ‘just-in-case’ item. Being linen, it needs to be line-dried (for longevity), so while I am waiting for it to dry, I use my camping quilt instead of my comforter (I suppose my camping gear doubles as my ‘back up’ plan for when I can’t use my everyday bedding).

Reply
Sarah Bailey May 22, 2019 at 10:32 am

Contemplating linen sheets. Two sets per bed for entire year( 4 seasons). But there are 6 of us 2 adults and four kids. So that’s 10 sheet sets, but that’s better than 20.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

What we’ve been up to

  • Do Minimalists Do Christmas? Here’s What’s Under Our Tree.

    December 20, 2019
  • Beat winter blues before they start.

    November 12, 2019
  • Before & After | Boutique Motel Rooms

    October 3, 2019
Watch InnTheNorth on Youtube
  • Big Thanks
  • Shop our place
  • Contact Us
  • My Youtube Channel
  • Privacy

Get Email Updates!

© 2018 - Messy Minimalist. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top