Laundry and utility rooms seem to collect clutter like magnets on metal. Here are some ideas to structure your laundry room to make it easier to keep it neat and tidy.
Take your laundry-related storage to the ceiling by installing cabinets or shelving above your washer and dryer. Look for modular storage systems that have a variety of shelves, racks, and bins that can be installed in your space.
Elevated storage keeps potentially dangerous cleaning supplies out of the reach of small children, and it's also handy if your laundry space is in a flood-prone basement.
To make more functional space, like a folding table, build a built-in cabinet around the washer and dryer. This works well if you have a front loading washer, but it can still be done with a top loader. Arm the cabinet with a hinged countertop so appliances can be removed in case repairs are needed. If you have a top-loading washing machine, make sure you have enough headroom for a hinged countertop, and you'll want to use a hinge with locking side arms that can stay open. To totally hide the washer and dryer, install bi-fold doors or use a shower curtain tension rod to hang upholstery material just below the edge of your counter.
Laundry area with white cabinets, washer and dryer, clothes hanging on a rack on a built-in shelf, storage bins, and a wicker basket on the floor.
Install shelving around the perimeter of the room mounted 12 to 18 inches from the ceiling. It will provide additional storage for infrequently used items. Use utility baskets that slide over shelves to store items like extra paper towels, toilet paper, and trash bags.
Laundry chute with a white towel hanging on the side of the unit next to a window during the day.
Is your laundry room directly under a bathroom or closet? See if you can install a ramp inside a bathroom vanity or linen closet. A conveniently located laundry chute coming from upstairs can help alleviate mounds of clothes that are on the floor in the bedroom or overloaded in hampers. If your laundry area is in a basement, it should be easy to see if you can cut through the floor.
Convert a closet into a laundry area for a stackable washer and dryer. You'll likely have to call in a plumber and electrician to run the necessary utilities, but it may be worth the price with the space you'll save. If you're lucky, you have a little more room on the sides of the appliances for wall shelves or a narrow storage bin.
Built-in wall storage for laundry items, towels, wicker baskets, shelves.
For additional storage, consider building built-in shelves into one wall. You may only be able to go a few inches deep, but it may be adequate enough to store towels, detergents, and laundry supplies.
To save space, place the ironing board at the back of the door so it swings down when in use and then back up when you're done. Or install a cabinet-mounted ironing board that swivels and folds out of sight.
If you have cabinets or shelves above your washer and dryer, suspend a rod at the bottom to hang clothes to dry or until you're ready to put them away. Clothes racks can serve the same purpose, and some are even mounted on casters, allowing you to roll them from room to room for effortless clothing storage.
If your laundry room is in an out of the way place like the basement or a closet, experiment with the decor. It's your chance to go crazy and wild and use lots of fun colors or a bold theme.
