Linen closets become crowded when every spare towel and half-used bottle lives in the same stack. Organize by purpose and frequency, not by how uniform it looks.
Edit the inventory
Keep enough linens for your household and laundry rhythm. Retire worn extras instead of repeatedly buying containers to fit them.
Create clear zones
Put everyday towels at comfortable reach, spare bedding higher and heavier items lower. Label shelf edges if more than one person shares the closet.
Contain small backups
Corral small toiletries by type and check expiry dates. A low open bin often works better than a deep lidded container you cannot see into.
Avoid the common mistake
Over-stacking towels makes the bottom ones hard to reach and can topple piles. Leave room to remove a single towel without disturbing the rest.
Best next step
Remove everything, group like items and rebuild the shelves using only what you want to keep.