15 Hardworking Ways To Organize The Laundry Room

The laundry room works overtime, often doubling as a utility room, mudroom, and storage space. This hard-working room can become a dumping ground for cleaning supplies, arts and crafts, muddy shoes, dirty tools, that pile of neglected ironing, and more. Organization takes precedence when it comes to keeping your laundry room functional and pleasant. Here are our tips on how to make the most of your multipurpose space.

Use Custom Cabinetry

This laundry room feels more homey than utilitarian. The custom cabinets and table legs are painted a soothing moss green while a light-colored stone countertop provides a durable surface for folding. Each cabinet has a door for hiding things away and an open cubby for storing small items in baskets.

Double Up On Cleaning Power

If you have the space and a mountain of towels to wash, it could be worth your while to install two sets of appliances. That was the case for our 2019 Idea House, a nine-bed home on the beach. With two hard-working washers and dryers, you'll have every swimsuit clean in time for your next dip.

Include Storage For Outdoor Items

Many laundry rooms double as a mudroom, making the space a challenge to keep clean. In this laundry room, a basket provides a spot for storing wet umbrellas, while a mat encourages the kids to wipe their muddy feet. Make certain to include shoe storage and hooks for coats as well.

Squeeze In An Extra Rack

Even a small hanging rack and work wonders. In this colorful, bright blue laundry room, Nashville designer Sarah Bartholomew included a small, built-in drying rack to avoid taking up space with a foldable, wooden rack on the countertop or floor.

Add More Shelving

Even small spaces can provide plenty of storage options with the right approach. This laundry room's open shelving organizes cleaning supplies and clothes pins. A small rod tucked to the side provides a space for air-drying clothes. Recessed lighting within the space makes it easy to find what you need.

Hide the Necessary Supplies

Conceal unsightly laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, and any other products that look like messy clutter in cabinets with doors. A hanging rod was added here to make drying clothes convenient. Baskets create additional storage to keep what's left out sorted and contained. Treat the laundry room as you would any other space by adding cheerful curtains.

Create Extra Space

A simple custom shelf above your appliance can work double duty: Use it as an extra space for folding and squeeze in a few baskets to hide spot cleaners and tools too.

Set Up Separate Work Areas

This well-organized multipurpose laundry room has separate areas for gift wrapping, odds and ends storage, and laundry. The work table's built-in shelves ensure there is a designated crafting workspace that is clear of clutter. Extra containers keep the room looking spick-and-span.

Camouflage The Room

This laundry room is merely an extension of a bathroom. Double-louvered doors keep the washer and dryer neatly tucked away in a separate tiny room when they are not in use. Keeping the bathroom and laundry spaces the same color creates cohesiveness and allows them to function as one room.

Conceal With Curtains

A pretty plaid curtain hides the washer and dryer in this upstairs laundry room. The homeowner hung a standard spring rod just below the counter and picked a fabric that coordinated with the adjoining spaces. Family photographs or children's artwork also instantly add personality to a workspace.

Use Kitchen Cabinet Space

Disguised behind what looks like a kitchen pantry, this compact washer and dryer fit snugly into a nook in the kitchen. The cabinet above the washer and dryer can be used to organize detergent, dryer sheets, and other laundry essentials.

Include A Folding Station

With ample counter space underneath a window, folding laundry becomes a pleasant task instead of a chore. Potted flowers add even more charm to the space. As an added bonus, the versatile shelving units can be rolled out of the way when needed.

Add A Storage Island

To keep large and unattractive laundry baskets off the floor, this homeowner custom-designed shelving inside the island in the laundry room. The functional baskets are used to separate laundry loads. The storage island also doubles as a folding area for clothes coming right out of the dryer.

Create An Ironing Station

Keep all of your ironing supplies convenient and in one place. Many big box stores carry stow-away ironing board systems that can be easily hidden behind a cabinet door or over-the-door iron and board hangers that are designed to hold any style of ironing board. Look for units that have a shelf to store spray starch and other supplies.

Have Hampers On Hand

Providing an easy way to sort clothes can reduce the clutter in a multi-purpose laundry room. Here, cloth hampers are neatly tucked into an open cabinet. They can be pulled out any time for sorting your whites and darks.

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