Having an organized laundry room is essential for maintaining order and efficiency in your home. However, many laundry rooms are cramped spaces that can easily become cluttered and disorganized. With some strategic planning and clever solutions, even the smallest laundry rooms can be transformed into functional and tidy spaces. Here are 18 great ideas for organizing a small laundry room.
Maximize Vertical Space
One of the best ways to optimize storage and organization in a small laundry room is to make use of vertical space. Install shelves high up on walls, and consider floor-to-ceiling shelving units to take advantage of all available space.
Wall-Mounted Drying Racks
Wall-mounted drying racks are great space savers, allowing you to dry clothes vertically and leaving floor space open. Choose sturdy racks with enough room for multiple loads.
Tall Shelving Units
Look for shelving units that reach ceiling height. These can hold laundry supplies, household items like towels and linens, or even function as makeshift pantries for laundry room snacks and cleaning products. Prioritize open shelving to easily see contents.
Hanging Rods
Install a hanging rod high up on the wall, right below the ceiling. Use it to air dry delicate clothing items and free up space in your dryer. Some small laundry rooms even have enough space overhead to hang a retractable clothes drying rack.
Optimize Floor Space
While vertical storage is key, don’t forget to make the most of the floor space available. Look for organizational solutions that maximize every inch.
Laundry Sorting Station
Designate part of the floor as a laundry sorting zone with multiple hampers, bins, or baskets for sorting lights, darks, towels, delicates, etc. Label each container clearly.
Folding Station
Carve out a dedicated folding space with a table or countertop at the right height for you. Add a rolling cart to hold folded clothes ready for putting away.
Mounted Ironing Board
Choose an ironing board that mounts to the wall or door when not in use. This frees up valuable floor real estate in a small laundry room.
Rolling Laundry Cart
A rolling cart on wheels can serve many purposes – transporting dirty clothes to the laundry room, holding laundry supplies, or temporarily storing folded clothes. Just roll it out of the way when not needed.
Creative Storage Solutions
To maximize your existing storage space, get creative with unique organizational products and DIY solutions.
Hanging Shoe Organizers
Use hanging shoe organizers inside cabinets or on the back of doors to neatly store small laundry room items like detergent pods, dryer sheets, stain removers, etc.
Tension Rods
Install tension rods across open shelving units to create segmented storage for rolled towels and small laundry accessories.
Repurposed Containers
Repurpose food containers, jars, pots, and other household items as laundry room storage. Label neatly using chalkboard labels.
Magnetic Spice Jars
Small magnetic spice jars are perfect for storing pins, buttons, and other little notions, keeping them organized yet easily accessible.
Streamline Laundry Processes
Think through your laundry workflow and look for ways to make laundry day more efficient. Consider the following tips:
Sort Laundry As You Go
Sort clothes into hampers or bins throughout the week rather than leaving it all for laundry day. This saves time and energy.
Prep Stain Treating Items
Keep stain remover sticks and sprays in a handy caddy to make pre-treating stains fast and easy.
Designate Space For Delicates
Use a special delicates bag or hamper to protect bras, lingerie, and other delicate items in the wash.
Fold Clothes Right Away
Fold or hang clothes immediately after drying to avoid wrinkles and piles of clean laundry accumulating.
Add Functional Elements
Include design elements in your small laundry room that serve practical purposes beyond just storage.
Drying Rack Near Washer
Place a freestanding drying rack next to the washer so items can be hung to dry right out of the wash.
Laundry Chute
Install a laundry chute that leads down to the laundry room from upper floors of the home for easy transport.
Utility Sink
A utility sink adds functionality for handwashing, pretreating, and more. Choose a space-saving wall-mounted style.
Built-In Ironing Board
For quick touch-ups, build an ironing board that folds down right out of a cupboard or the wall.
Embrace Open Shelving
While cabinets provide concealed storage, open shelving showcases your organizational systems and improves accessibility.
Bins For Categorizing
Use bins and baskets on open shelving to categorize laundry supplies like detergents, dryer sheets, stain removers, etc.
Display Organizers
Acrylic organizers are perfect for open shelving. Easily see contents like rolled socks, underwear, and other items.
Neatly Folded Towels
Show off neatly folded towels, washcloths, and other linens on open shelving within easy reach.
Everyday Essentials
Designate part of a shelf for everyday items like lint rollers, seam rippers, and clothing care tools.
Add Style With Paint
Don’t neglect the style element of your laundry room. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way in brightening up the space.
Neutral Hues
Stick with light neutrals like white, beige, or gray for a clean and bright look that won’t distract from your organizational systems.
Vibrant Accent Wall
Paint one wall a vibrant hue like aqua or lime green to inject visual interest without overwhelming the compact room.
Patterned Wallpaper
Wallpaper is easier to install in a small space than a large room. Choose a lively print like geometrics or florals.
Paint Inside Cabinets
Freshen up plain cabinetry by painting the inside of cabinets a light color for a more custom look.
18 Small Laundry Room Organization Ideas
Now that we’ve covered many different tips and solutions for organizing a small laundry room, let’s recap some of the top ideas:
- Install shelves and hanging rods high on walls to take advantage of vertical space. Wall-mounted drying racks are particularly useful.
- Designate zones on the floor for sorting, folding clothes, and an ironing station.
- Get creative with storage solutions like hanging organizers, repurposed jars, and magnetic spice racks.
- Streamline laundry tasks by sorting as you go, pre-treating stains, and folding immediately.
- Add functional elements like utility sinks, drying racks, chutes, and built-ins.
- Use open shelving to neatly store categorized laundry supplies in matching bins.
- Paint the room in light, neutral hues and add a bright accent wall or patterned wallpaper.
No matter how tiny your laundry room, implementing even a few of these clever organization ideas can make your laundry processes far more efficient. The key is maximizing every inch of space through vertical storage, categorized open shelving, and multifunctional furniture. With some strategic planning and decluttering, you can transform your cramped laundry room into a highly functional and tidy space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Small Laundry Room Organization
Laundry rooms, especially small ones, are prone to clutter and disorganization. But with some effort and smart solutions, it is possible to create a highly functional laundry space. Here are answers to some common questions about organizing a small laundry room.
How can I add more storage to my small laundry room?
The key to maximizing storage in a small laundry room is to make use of vertical space whenever possible. Install tall shelving units, wall-mounted cabinets, hanging rods, and shelves high up on walls to take advantage of all available space. Also look for stackable storage options.
What are some space-saving folding and sorting solutions?
Try designating different zones of your laundry room floor for sorting and folding. Use multiple hampers or bins for sorting different types of laundry. Have a dedicated folding table or countertop with a rolling cart nearby to hold folded items. Mount ironing boards on the wall or door to save space.
How can I neatly store laundry supplies?
Use organizers like acrylic trays, matching bins, or caddies on open shelving to neatly store laundry products. Hanging shoe organizers are perfect for cabinet doors. Repurposed jars and magnetic spice tins work great for small items. Keep everyday items like stain sticks in a handy caddy.
What are some laundry room items I can DIY?
Many laundry room organizational solutions can be DIYed. Try repurposing food containers or building a simple wooden hanger rod. Make your own laundry sorter from a bookshelf or fabric bins. Paint and customize plain storage items like bins and shelves.
How do I prevent laundry from piling up?
Deal with laundry as you go to prevent piles from accumulating. Sort clothes into bins as you take them off. Assign each family member their own hamper. Fold or hang dried clothes immediately. Designate spaces for delicates and items to air dry.
What kind of wall décor works well in small laundry rooms?
Stick with light, neutral paint colors like white, beige, or gray. Paint inside cabinets a lighter shade. Add an accent wall with bold color or lively wallpaper print. Hang wall-mounted drying racks or built-in ironing boards. Add open storage with neatly folded linens on display.
Should I keep anything other than laundry supplies in my laundry room?
Consider storing everyday household items like extra towels and linens, cleaning tools, seasonal items like fans and humidifiers, or even non-perishable pantry goods. Multi-functional laundry rooms help maximize usefulness of the space.
Conclusion
There are many clever and practical ways to keep even the smallest laundry room neat, tidy, and functional. By focusing on vertical storage, designating sorting and folding zones, getting creative with space-saving organizational tools, and adding style with paint, you can transform your laundry room. Maintaining organization day-to-day also prevents messes from accumulating. With some effort, any tiny laundry room can become both stylish and supremely functional.