09/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 15:13
Written by Mike Beutler
Let's face it: most of us dread doing the laundry. Whether it's because of the time it takes, the interruption of your day, or you just don't enjoy the mundane task of sorting, washing, folding, and ironing… you're not alone! For many homeowners the issue isn't so much the act of doing the laundry, but rather that their laundry room is small, cramped, or just uninviting.
While it might seem like an afterthought, learning how to organize a laundry room is a crucial step in keeping your house clean. In most homes, the laundry room is a cramped space for shoes, towels and piles of clothes. But it's time to streamline. Here's how you can transform your laundry room into a welcoming, organized and functional space.
Step 1: Minimize your wardrobe.
You can't expect to learn how to organize a laundry room when you have far too much laundry to work with. That's why the first step is to reduce the clutter taking up your closet and dresser spaces. Minimal clothes means minimal laundry, which means minimal hassle for you!
Here's what you can do to eliminate wardrobe clutter:
Step 2: Create laundry stations.
Where do you keep your hampers? Do you have a dedicated place to fold and sort your laundry? How often do you find yourself carrying piles of clothes up and down the stairs because you have nowhere to put them?
That's where organized laundry stations come in. Before you get to organizing, come up with a system that allows you and your family to keep the room clean, spacious and clutter free.
Consider the following items you'll need when it comes to creating your functional laundry room space:
Step 3: Maximize your existing space.
A laundry room is a dedicated space for washing and drying our clothes, but it often ends up being our multipurpose room. Laundry rooms also store our coats, shoes, towels, pet supplies, kids' backpacks and so much more. The best way to organize these items? Vertical storage! This system of organization will allow you to maximize your existing space and keep clutter at bay.
Here are a few ways to make the most of your laundry room:
Step 4: Choose the right laundry storage solutions.
Learning how to organize a laundry room involves much more than cleaning and shifting items around. Once you've figured out how to maximize your space and create your laundry stations, make sure you have the right storage containers for your endless laundry supplies.
Make sure these containers are easily accessible in your laundry room space. Not only will they help in keeping your designated area organized, but they will help hide all of your laundry essentials for when guests come over, too.
Just because washers and dryers are huge space takers doesn't mean we should let them conquer our laundry rooms. If you're looking to purchase a new washer and dryer (or simply looking to downgrade to smaller, more efficient appliances), keep in mind that less is more. Maintaining a smaller washer or dryer would give you more square footage in your home, more space in your laundry room and create a more functional area for you and your family, too.
There are several benefits of an all-in-one laundry unit:
Step 6: Give your laundry room a makeover.
Now for the final step in learning how to organize a laundry room: make your space visually appealing.
For many of us, we assume that the laundry room only has a utilitarian function; so we forget that it should be a welcoming room that we can enjoy. Instead of looking at laundry as a chore that we all dread, transform your laundry room into a place where you love to be!
Depending on where your laundry room is positioned in your home, consider how you can make simple but effective changes to the walls, flooring, design and overall feel. If you don't have a window to bring in natural light to your laundry room, a simple coat of paint can do the trick. Light and neutral paint colors tend to liven up a room and will make your laundry room feel more open and spacious. If your flooring is old, consider replacing it with a resilient ceramic tile for durability. On a tight budget? You'd be surprised what a colorful, high traffic area rug will do to bring color into your laundry room.
Here a few cost-effective tips and tricks to keep in mind when giving your laundry room a makeover:
Need a little inspiration? Check out this laundry room makeover where Ginger added storage to her space for under $100!
Have you mastered how to organize a laundry room?
Instead of stressing yourself out about doing endless loads of laundry, look to these easy storage tips that can help you organize, simplify and transform your laundry room. Who knows-you may just find that you're more productive with your new and improved space!
How do you organize a laundry room? What are your favorite tips? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was updated 9/6/18 from an article originally published 5/1/2013.
About Mike Beutler
Mike Beutler is a writer and digital content specialist who transitioned to self storage in 2020 after several years in the airline industry. His travels cultivated a passion for exploring cities across the U.S. and abroad and inspired him to learn more about practical insights for urban living. With 14 moves under his belt, both locally and cross-country, he also has a passion for minimalism and organization, and sharing tips to help others make any space feel like home while staying organized.