Installing a fantastic set of wall cabinets is a great first step toward an organized and efficient laundry room. There are plenty of other ways to get the most out of this clothing-strewn room, however. All it takes is a little ingenuity.
Buy divided hampers
Great laundry starts in the closet. To save time (and a big mess), give everyone in the family a divided hamper with one section for dark clothing, one section for colored clothing and one section for white clothing. By the time the laundry makes its way downstairs, it will already be sorted.
Add labeled laundry baskets to your wall cabinets
Labeled laundry baskets make laundry sorting even easier. When it comes out of the dryer, it can go straight into Sally's (or Bobby or Jimmy's) basket, so they know whose laundry is whose - and that it needs to be taken upstairs.
Hang a ladder from the ceiling
Space for a full-sized drying rack can be hard to find, which is where decorative wooden ladders come in. Hang one from the ceiling so you're able to reach it easily, and hang clothing up to dry on the rungs.
Tack up a 'lost socks' board
You know all those lonely, rogue socks that come out of the dryer with no match to be found? Create an area on the wall where you can hang them up with clothespins until their "sole mate" is found.
Use a rolling storage cart
Carts are a great place to stash your detergent and fabric softener where they are little more accessible. As a bonus, rolling carts are often very narrow and can squeeze into tight spaces to maximize storage.
Install a countertop over a front-load washer and dryer
If you've got enough room to arrange a front-load washer and dryer side-by-side, then add a countertop over them for easy, quick sorting and folding.
Add a few floating shelves
Laundry rooms aren't always the most decorative areas of the house, but that doesn't have to be the case. Adding a little extra space to display photos and trinkets can liven up the place with little effort.
Use the back of the door
The laundry room door is rarely used, and it's a shame - with a door-hanging storage unit, it can be a great place to stash all kinds of cleaning products.
Make room for a fold-out ironing board
If wrestling with the ironing board every time you have to pull it out of the closet has gotten frustrating, then consider adding a fold-out board directly to your wall.
Hang a dry erase marker above the washer and dryer
We've all been there: We go to switch a family member's laundry from the washer to the dryer, only to realize we have no idea what should be dried and what shouldn't. You can remedy this easily with a dry erase marker. All you have to do is write the names of the clothing items that shouldn't hit the dryer on top of the washer in plain view.
