Maximize the Space in Your Small Laundry Room

We’d all love a large laundry room that includes plenty of space for a sizable washer and dryer, expansive shelves, plenty of detergent storage, an area for ironing and folding, and space to hang clothes or lay them flat to dry. For many of us, however, that kind of space is still a dream; we have to work with smaller laundry rooms and spaces in our homes. Happily, this doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice comfort, design, functionality, or efficiency.

As with most rooms in the house, a small laundry space can suffice if you work well with what you have and provide a few basic functional and design touches. We’ve combined our own experience with a few good ideas from experts to help you create the perfect petite laundry room.

First, you’ll want to choose space-saving appliances. The staff members at our showrooms can help you make the best choice for your space. Bosch, for example, is one premium brand that offers compact washers and dryers. With the company’s Axxis® appliances, you get full-size functionality — with a load capacity of up to 40 men’s shirts — and an easily stackable, maneuverable size.

There’s more to maximizing your space than the right appliances, of course. MarthaStewart.com offers a number of suggestions for making the best use of a small laundry area. A pull-out shelf between stacked appliances can supply added folding and organizational space. An adjustable laundry closet includes shelves that are specially positioned to fit the closet’s contents without wasting extra space. The two center shelves accommodate stacks of folded clothing, while a small top shelf holds collapsible bags, and the lowest shelf is used for laundry.

DIYOrganization.com offers a few tips of its own, thanks to professional organizer Monika Kristofferson. Kristofferson recommends that you keep only laundry materials in your small laundry space and store just one bottle of each item. Avoid cluttering the area with non-laundry items or extra bottles of detergents, stain removers, bleach, and fabric softeners. Kristofferson also suggests that you use wall space for hanging shelving and your ironing board and invest in a laundry supply cart that maximizes storage and can be wheeled out when you need to retrieve stored items. She likes this chrome laundry supply cart, available from Storables.com.

If your washer and dryer are stored side-by-side, Southern Living recommends building a shelf above your appliances for convenient storage. When it comes to design touches that will aid in functionality, task lighting or accent lighting will help illuminate your small space and make working within it more comfortable. You can also hide necessary supplies with cabinetry for a sleeker look, and use a “serene color palette” to create an additional sense of organization. If your laundry area is adjacent to a larger room (such as the kitchen or bathroom), you can hide the space behind double-louvered doors, or conceal it behind attractive curtains.

Another great suggestion from Southern Living is to install a storage island with custom-designed shelving so you can keep large, clunky laundry baskets off the floor. And to keep your ironing board within easy reach without too much space, install over-the-door iron and board hangers that can hold virtually any ironing board style. The site suggests units that have a shelf for storing supplies.

Maytag offers durable pedestals and work surfaces that will keep your detergent, softener and accessories organized in a small space. Ask about these options in our showrooms. Also available are these great space savers: built-in ironing centers from Iron-A-Way. These professionally designed, wall-mounted centers include a variety of premium features to make ironing easy and comfortable, even when you don’t have the luxury of a large room.

A number of attractive, convenient options for small laundry rooms are available from one of our favorite brands: Asko. The company’s HiddenHelpers line includes convenient pull-out laundry baskets, single or double shelves that can be installed between stacked appliances, and a convenient pull-out ironing board solution.

When it comes to laundry rooms, there’s a great deal you can do to make your small space comfortable, convenient, and fully functional. We look forward to helping you maximize one of the most heavily used rooms in your home, regardless of its size.