It can be quite frustrating to be faced with a tiny laundry area. However, don’t let the frustrations get the best of you. There are solutions that will take your tiny space and make it into a workable space for you. If you are faced with having a small laundry room and want to increase the functionality of it, we have some great tips to help you do just that!
1. Hanging Storage
When it comes to having a small laundry room, the key is using every available space that you can. Rather than hanging cute pictures in your laundry area, you should opt for things that are going to serve more of a purpose. Using a storage rack can be great for storing:
- laundry detergent
- bleach
- dryer sheets
- those inevitable single socks that seem to accumulate
With this, you can opt for something cute and trendy that will also serve the purpose of storage as well.
2. Overhead Drying Rack
The ceiling may be the last area you think of when it comes to function in your laundry area. This is the perfect space to add an overhead drying rack. This does not have to be anything fancy if you are working with a budget. You could even do a DIY project and create your own drying rack using on old ladder. Which ever type of rack you decide to go with, you just want to make sure that it is secured correctly to prevent it from falling when clothes are added to it.
If you are not the crafty type, your hanging storage can be as simple as a shower rod that you use to hang clothes on as necessary and then remove and tuck in a corner when not in use. With this, you have to find what works best for you and your space in order to make it workable.
This area is perfect for items that are handwashed, delicates, or items that you do not dry in the dryer. You will be amazed how much of a difference using this area will make. It is not necessary to have a huge item to use for this. If you want to make a small space work, you can even use hangers to hang the items on to make better use of the space.
3. Utilize Your Corners
When it comes to creating extra space in a small space, you want to use every nook and cranny that you can. This includes the corners. It is possible to add shelving to the corner areas of your laundry room. With a little bit of searching, you can find something that meets your taste and needs. Investing in shelving for the corner areas will provide you with much more storage space. These areas can be great for storing detergent and other cleaning items.
Keep in mind that the shelving for corner areas does not necessarily have to sit on the floor. It is a great idea to hang shelves in the corner areas to avoid cluttering up the floor space.
4. Use Baskets
You can make great use of baskets and other storage containers in your small laundry room. They are great to use for organization and keeping things put away out of sight to make for a neater appearance.
Depending on your own personal preference, you can add small canisters or jars as well in order to hold things such as detergent.
If you are feeling especially creative, you can label your baskets and storage containers as well to add your own personal touch to the area.
Let’s face it, laundry is not something that many people enjoy.
Adding your own personal touches to your laundry room, can add a bit of enjoyment to being in that area tackling the ever dreaded chore.
5. Add Curtains
If your laundry area does not have a door, you can add curtains to separate that space from other areas of the house. While curtains will not block out the sound that your washer or dryer makes, it will certainly hide them if they are in a common area of your living space.
6. Create a Folding Station
Even if you are working with a small area, it is likely you have room to create a folding station. You might think about mounting it to the wall and even having something hinged that will fold up. Not only will this make the chore of folding easier, it will also give you a workable space to get your clothes folded to be put away.
7. Use Pedestals
If your washer and dryer have the option available, consider adding pedestal drawers underneath them. Some washer and dryers have drawers built into them underneath already. This makes a great area for storage space when you may be lacking the actual space for storage. Pedestals are also great for raising up your washer and dryer, making them easier to use as well. You will find that the drawers underneath provide a great area for storing detergent or fabric softener to keep it out of the way.
8. Use a Bookshelf
Never be afraid to use furniture from other areas of your home. A bookshelf can provide a great storage area to keep things out of the way. It can also be used to store the baskets and other various containers that we talked about previously. If you do not have any extra furniture like this around, it is very easy to find them at garage sales, or thrift shops. You can refinish and make it how you want to fit your own taste.
9. Use Your Doors
If you have doors in your laundry area, they can be perfect for out of the way storage space. There are many organizers that hang over the door or mount to the back available. These are perfect because they do not take up unnecessary space that could be used for something else. Even something as simple as hooks on the back of the door can create a great area for hanging laundry bags or other items.
10. Cabinet Space
If you have cabinets in your laundry room, you can add baskets to the area. This will allow you to store items in a more compact way rather than being spread out and unorganized on a shelf. These types of baskets are typically used in kitchen areas, however, they are perfect for use in the laundry room as well. Baskets in your cabinets will not take up unnecessary space and will help to keep clutter to a minimum as well.
11. Less Clutter
Keep clutter to a minimum if you are working with a small laundry area. Try to avoid having things that are unnecessary or do not serve a purpose in the laundry area. When working with a small space, even small items take up room that could be used for something else more necessary.
12. Be Creative
There is no written rule that your laundry area has to be inside your house. Think outside the box. If you have space available, move your laundry area outside, perhaps into the garage area. This will free up the space in your house and allow you to use it for something else. It can also help to keep laundry and accessories out of site if it is currently in a common area of your home.
There are so many options when it comes to making great use of a small laundry space. The key is to keep an open mind and let your creative juices flow. What is considered to be a workable space for one person, may not be right for the next. Take the time to think about what is important to you when making your laundry room a functional space for yourself and your needs. When you take those things into consideration, it will become relatively easy to create the space that works the best for you.
Conclusion
When it comes to working with a small space for a laundry area, it is important that you think outside of the box. Come up with ways to make use of areas that you would not normally think of using. Sure, it will take a bit of creativity and even research on your part but, it will be worth it. Just because you are working with cramped quarters does not mean it has to feel that way.
With a bit of research and DIY you can have a laundry area that you actually enjoy!
While we do not spend a ton of time in the laundry area of our house, we want the amount of time that we are in there to be as pleasant as possible. Working to make the area functional will encourage you to want to spend more time in there. This can be helpful especially if you have large amounts of laundry to do each week. If you find that certain options do not work out for you, feel free to change them around until you come up with what will work the best for you. It is your space to do with as you wish.
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