Laundry is a daily task, but it is not as easy as it seems. It becomes even more frustrating if you have a big family and a small laundry room. To make your daily laundry chores easy, it's necessary to set up your laundry room first. Even if you have a small laundry room, you can easily make it more functional just by a few simple ways. This blog takes you through some easy ways to maximize the storage and functionality of your small laundry room.
12 Ways to Make a Small Laundry Room More Functional
Small and limited laundry space can also serve the functionality, but only when the space is properly organized for maximum utilization. Here are 12 easy ways to make your laundry room more functional:
Declutter
The easiest and most affordable way to make your laundry room more functional is to declutter everything you have in the laundry room. This makes the existing space clean and organized. Start by wiping out the floor and walls of your laundry room. Clean the area behind the washing machine and dryer or vacuum properly. Clean the windows and lamps, and wipe out your upper cabinets if you have any. To keep things organized, use bins or baskets inside the cabinet.
Create a Functional Wall Storage
Instead of a wire shelf, install some vertical shiplap on the back wall of your laundry room and paint it with your favorite color. To give a more custom and finished look to your space, go for some crown molding at the top.
Store Tiny Items in Bins
Utilize the cabinets for keeping laundry detergent, hand soap, or your dryer sheets. Store all other smaller items in the bins so that the space looks arranged and tidy. Make sure to add labels so that you can find things quickly and easily whenever you need them.
Install a Wall-Mounted Drying Racks
Most of the modern free-standing drying racks are designed for large laundry rooms. However, install the vintage wall-mounted drying racks that you might have seen in your grandparents’ laundry room decades ago. These racks are an ideal choice for a small laundry room as they can be expanded whenever needed and can be folded back when not in use. In addition to saving your space, these wooden racks add a classic charm to any space.
Multi-Functional Furniture
You can make your laundry room space more functional by bringing in furniture that can serve multiple functions. For instance, you can buy a dual- functioning work table , the lower part of which is divided into coops for organizing loads, letting your pet have a good sleep.
Assemble Your Washer and Dryer
One of the easiest ways to make your small laundry room look bigger and more functional is to assemble your washer and dryer. Keep the washer above the dryer or vice versa. This is a simple way to get more free floor space, and you can get enough space to get other laundry chores done.
Organize Your Laundry Baskets
Let your laundry chores (like dryer sheets, stain sticks, and lint rollers) look organized in small woven baskets or fabric baskets. This will help you to find them easily whenever you need them. To add some colors and textures to the space, go for some decorative storage bins. You can label your family members' names on the baskets so that everyone's clothes can be kept separately for washing and folding. Another organization tip is to store dark clothes, light clothes, and hand wash clothes in separate baskets.
Save Space for a Utility Sink
Do not forget to save some space for a utility sink in your laundry room. Your laundry room sink can be used for hand-washing brittle pieces of clothes, soaking clothes with deep stains, etc. For maximum efficiency, place your utility sink beside or in between the washing machine and dryer.
Apart from laundry work, a utility sink can also be used for other activities, like dumping mop water here without making your kitchen sink dirty. You can also wash other household items like pet toys or trash cans in the utility sink if you do not want to wash them in your kitchen sink.
Install Wall-Mounted Hooked Racks
Some creative ideas can easily maximize the storage space of your small laundry room. A classic, hand-painted wall-mounted rack with hooks is an easy way to enhance the functionality and aesthetic of your laundry room. This classic rack can serve multiple purposes like storing brooms, mops, dusters, etc., air drying your laundered, damp clothes, hanging wet jackets or swimsuits, and much more.
Bring in Foldable Laundry Baskets
When you cannot access your appliances just because of laundry baskets in a small laundry room, it's really frustrating. You always have to move your baskets here and there to get your chores done. To tackle this problem, go for foldable laundry baskets. Foldable baskets are not as big as regular laundry baskets; they can easily hold a complete loaded laundry. If you don't have closet space, you can still hang these foldable baskets with the help of some hooks against the walls. They are easily accessible and out of your way.
Don't Overstock Laundry Room Items
This tip can work in almost every space in your house. If you're also the one who buys a lot of extra items and forgets to use them , it's time to be mindful while purchasing. Laundry items like towels, washclothes, and hand towels need to be purchased in such an amount that they don't take up unnecessary space in your laundry room. Purchasing them in limited quantities will not only save your laundry room space but will also save your money.
Include an Ironing Station
Including an ironing station will make your laundry space look more stylish while saving space. You can match and connect your ironing station to an overhead shelf. If you don't want an overhead shelf, you can hang your ironing station using coat hooks. This will save a lot of your floor space.
Conclusion
Making your small laundry room more functional is not so tough. Small steps can add functionality and maximize storage space in your laundry room. From organizing the clutter to using vertical wall space, there are numerous ways that you can try to have a functional laundry time.