Keeping a laundry room organized can be daunting task. Fact is, for most families, the laundry room is as busy as the kitchen. Clothes and cleaning supplies pile up, and you may not have the designated space you want or need.
A fresh, clean and organized laundry room can help keep your household running smoothly and make doing laundry less of a hassle. So say goodbye to rogue socks and spilled detergent with these easy tips.
Work with what you have
Don’t fret over the small scale of your laundry area. Take some time to assess the space you’re working with so you can make the most of it by using every available bit of space. And make sure you have adequate lighting.
Shelving is your friend
Install shelving wherever you can find space, including on the walls. Wire shelving, which is waterproof, is a great option for a laundry room. Prioritize by stowing items you use most often (detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, bleach) on easily accessible shelves that are at arms’ reach. Items that are used infrequently can be organized out of sight and in bins so that they are not an eyesore.
Designate spaces
Think about all the laundry-related tasks you do and make sure you have a dedicated spot for each. Make sure you have a surface for folding items out of the dryer (if you’re tight on space, consider a pull-out shelf that can be slid back in when not in use), baskets or bins for on-site sorting, and an ironing station, which can always be mounted on a wall.
Professional organizer Louise Kurzeka writes on the HGTV blog that laundry rooms should have personalized bins to catch whatever miscellany shows up during laundry time. “Set up labeled baskets with each [family] member's name to store personal items such as gloves, sunglasses, hats and even cold-weather gear,” she suggests.
Hang it up
How about a drying bar for hanging shirts and other items that need to air-dry? A drying rack is fine, but a bar -- such as a simple bath-towel holder -- mounted wherever you have space is even better since it takes up less space and can be placed on the underside of a shelf. This will also give you somewhere to hang things while you’re ironing.
Decorate
Remember that the laundry room doesn’t have to be all function and no frill. Paint the space a calming color and add some artwork to the walls. To the degree that you can, conceal unsightly bottles and boxes behind enclosed shelving. Use decorative bins or baskets. If your laundry room is a nook within another room, conceal the area when not in use with a pretty curtain, slatted shutter-style doors or a matchstick shade.
Oh and one last tip: when you’re posting artwork on the wall, include a framed stain chart to guide you in your moments of laundry need.
