It’s no secret that many home laundry rooms are tiny. They’re often a nook or closet in a shared room with another purpose, like a bathroom, office, or mudroom. A cramped space is difficult to work in and can also be challenging to organize, making laundry day even more of a chore. If this situation resonates with you, check out our laundry room tips. We offer several methods to help streamline your limited space so you can make the most of it.
1. Take Inventory
Before you move things around, compile all your laundry room supplies to see what you have and need and if any items you don’t use are taking up essential space. Of course, your laundry supplies will depend on the layout of your laundry room storage space. If there are alternatives to what you have with a smaller footprint, plan on swapping them out. For example, a collapsible drying rack is easy to store but takes up valuable working space in a small room. So, consider a hanging shelf rack or dowel rod instead.
This is also a great time to switch your detergent or dryer sheets if you’re considering trying a new product. Chemical-free laundry detergent and reusable wool dryer balls are sustainable alternatives to many of the products found on store shelves. You can also make your own laundry detergent at home using just a few ingredients. This recipe from DIY Natural yields enough detergent for up to 64 loads of laundry and is budget-friendly.
2. Utilize Vertical Space
We mentioned a wall-mounted drying rack above, but there’s much more you can use your wall space for in a room with little square footage. For example, floating shelves above your washer and dryer unit offer excellent laundry room organization options for supplies like detergent, clothespins, an iron, and linens.
In addition, a vertical shelf or rolling cart can be used if you can’t hang shelves or are working with a stacked washer and dryer. This can be used as a mini folding table and a place to set your hamper out of the way between loads. You can also utilize the sides of your washer and dryer by hanging magnetic storage bins.
3. Keep Bins Handy
Aside from your laundry bin, keeping a few additional bins or baskets around is excellent for maximizing storage space and storing loose items. These can fit neatly on a shelf and hold anything from stain remover to a sewing kit, matchless socks (why does one always seem to vanish in the dryer?), and more. Bins of the same style will help the space look more uniform and less cluttered. Just make it a point to follow a system and keep like items together so you aren’t rummaging around for what you need.
Labels can also be helpful here, especially in a shared space with roommates or other family members. Labels can help you remember to keep things in a particular place and categorize your storage bins based on use. For example, if you have three bins, you could label them as detergent, cleaning, and dryer products. Labels are also handy if someone else is using your laundry room and doesn’t know where you keep everything.
4. Consider Pull-Out Drawers
If your laundry room has cabinets, save space by installing several pull-out drawers. This system is ideal for discreetly tucking away your ironing board or laundry bin without taking up valuable counter or floor space. A pull-out shelf can also be used as a convenient folding table.
If you don’t have cabinets, use wall hooks to mount your ironing board to the wall. A collapsible hamper also saves room and can be tucked away between loads. These items can help you avoid leaving things out on the floor.
5. Fold Articles Neatly
You’ve probably heard a million times that you should fold your clothes. And it’s true. Properly folding your garments not only looks neater but helps save space. If your laundry room doubles as a linen closet, uniformly folding your towels can also save you a lot of shelf room. Folding is key if you want your laundry room to feel more functional.
It’s good to get in the habit of folding your clothes right out of the dryer. Easy as it is to dump everything from the dryer into the laundry basket and say you’ll do it later, odds are you’ll keep putting it off instead. Plus, folding your clothes right away can help prevent wrinkles caused when garments are left bunched up. Front-loading washers and dryers can be fitted with a counter or makeshift folding table over the top to make the process easier. This can also help prevent articles from sliding behind or between the machines and getting lost.
6. Keep a Garbage Bag Nearby
Laundry means lint, and not having a wastebasket nearby makes it easy to neglect cleaning the lint tray in your dryer. That’s definitely something you want to stay on top of, as lint is flammable. So, do yourself a favor and keep a small garbage can or lint bin in your laundry room. It will also come in handy for dryer sheets if you use them, anytime you clean the space, or if you need to cut loose threads from clothes.
7. Give it Some Pizazz
A laundry room is a highly used space, so make it look nice and be cohesive with the rest of your home. There are several ways to freshen up your laundry room décor, especially on a budget. Some laundry room face-lift ideas include:
- Giving the walls a new coat of paint or creating an accent wall with a pop of color or patterned wallpaper.
- Cleaning the baseboards and repainting them if needed.
- Installing a new light fixture to brighten up the room.
- Laying down a colorful rug or patterned tile.
- Updating the hardware on cabinets.
- Adding decorative art or plants.
Organizing your laundry room isn’t as daunting as it may seem, but keeping up with it can be more difficult if you don’t uphold a routine. This is especially true for households with many washables or small homes without a lot of storage space. Self storage can offer a solution if your laundry room is overcrowded with seasonal garments, extra bedding, and towel sets galore.
Prime provides easy home storage options with our variety of unit sizes and amenities. Simply find a facility near you to see pricing and availability. You can easily rent a unit online and store your belongings with us for as little or as long as you need. Your laundry room will be even more organized, and your closets will be less crowded.
