How to Organize Your Laundry Room: Clever Laundry Storage Ideas to Maximize Space and Style

The laundry room is traditionally a place of chaos. In my house, it was a place where dirty clothes and towels gathered in tiny mountains, where unused cleaning supplies lived with extra boxes and paraphernalia my family and I didn’t want to think about. 

This was my reality until I decided that this was not a reality I was okay with. I embarked on a quest to clean and reorganize my laundry room. 

Trust me, I know that laundry room chaos is a hard thing to manage. However, with the right storage tools and tips, you can create an organized laundry room that is easy to navigate and doesn’t make laundry a headache.

Here’s everything you need to know about laundry room organization and storage, from my home to yours!

Laundry Storage Solutions for Every Space

Not all laundry storage solutions are the same. Whether it is the size of your room or your available budget, the first step is to identify the challenges standing between you and your organized laundry space. Then, find the right laundry storage solutions that suit your space. Let’s look at three laundry room storage solutions below!

Small Laundry Room Storage Ideas

If you have a small laundry room, put that vertical space to use! Explore using wall-mounted drying racks or floating shelves to use the vertical space available to you. 

Compact, multifunctional furniture also helps maximize small laundry rooms. Folding tables with hidden storage are great if you don’t have any storage available to you. You could also consider installing a pull-out drying rack if you want to make more use of your walls. 

Some other creative ideas include:

• A foldout table makes an excellent storage area. Fold it back up into its compartment on the wall when you’re done folding your clothes!
• If you have shelves, use baskets to keep things organized and clutter hidden.
• Corner shelves make use of often-overlooked parts of the room. Use a standing or floating shelf system to get more storage out of a small space.
• Invest in a door storage rack. This provides hanging space on the back of the laundry area door for you to store small laundry supplies like stain remover, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, dusters, lint rollers, and more.

Budget-Friendly Storage Hacks

Budget is a common hurdle standing between people and their messy laundry rooms. However, with some strategic planning, you can organize your laundry room on the tightest of budgets. 

Here are some of my favorite budget-friendly storage hacks:

• Store your detergent pods in repurposed mason jars. That way, you can get bulky packaging out of your laundry room. Better yet, ditch the bulky pods altogether and start using compact laundry detergent sheets from HeySunday! Your budget and laundry room storage will thank you.
• Invest in affordable bins and baskets to keep your laundry essentials organized. I recommend visiting budget home goods stores like Dollar Tree, HomeGoods, or Marshalls to find options that fit your budget. Goodwill and other second-hand stores will likely have even better prices that you can take advantage of!
• Search Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other secondhand platforms for storage solutions like corner shelves or over-the-door hangers.

Stylish Storage Options

I believe that a stylish room is so much more enjoyable to be in. Though laundry rooms are dedicated to a chore most of us dislike, sprucing them up with aesthetically pleasing storage solutions can make the task less daunting!

For a stylish laundry room, the best rule of thumb is to incorporate style with function. Consider using color-coordinated bins and designer hampers. You could also use rattan baskets that hide your laundry supplies and look aesthetically pleasing. 

Another excellent idea is to invest in cabinets with doors. If you have the space and budget, this can make a space look chic, streamlined, and clutter-free. Paint the cabinets so they match—bonus points if you opt for a fun color and change out the door knobs to match your personal style.

There is so much decor inspiration available online! Some of my favorite Instagram-worthy laundry rooms include this one that boasts floating shelves and upper cabinets painted an eye-catching green.

This laundry room uses wallpaper and blue paint to spruce the space up. A simple wood shelf above the washer and dryer offers ample space for cute storage baskets!

I love how this laundry room features a cool, industrial-feeling clothes rack to maximize drying space. 

Bottom line: Have fun with your laundry room decor! If you’ve got to be in there doing laundry, give the space a little glow up.

How to Organize a Laundry Room Step-by-Step

You have the inspiration. Now, it is time to organize your laundry room step-by-step. Let’s tackle this project:

1. Declutter and categorize

Pull everything from your laundry room cabinets and shelves and set it in the middle of the room. Create a pile for essential items like laundry soap, fabric softener, laundry bags, dryer sheets, paper towels, etc. Anything that doesn't need to be in the laundry room should be placed in a clutter pile.

When you’ve finished organizing everything into the two piles, remove the clutter pile from the room completely—return items to where they should be or toss them. Remember: All you need in your laundry room are your laundry and possibly other cleaning essentials. 

2. Maximize cabinet storage

Put your cabinet storage to work! Putting as much as possible in cabinets is one of the best ways to keep your laundry room clean and tidy. This doesn’t mean throwing everything in a cabinet willy-nilly. If things are put in a cabinet without organization, you risk sacrificing space that could otherwise be strategically used for storage. 

To get every inch out of your cabinets, I recommend using dividers, hooks, and clear containers to keep items contained. For instance, I have a clear container that holds all my household cleaning sprays, another container for laundry products, and a third container for folded rags and microfiber cleaning cloths. These bins are all housed in my laundry room cabinets, keeping the rest of the room looking organized.

3. Label everything

You’re nearly done! Labeling everything may seem like an unneeded step, but trust me, it makes navigating your laundry room efficient and effective. Having a visual reminder of where everything is not only helps you keep your space tidy, but it also helps other people properly use your newly organized space.

My Favorite Products for Laundry Storage and Organization

As someone who loves all things organization, I’ve scoured every corner of the internet for some of the best laundry organization and storage products. 

• Foldable drying racks: These provide added space for air drying your laundry. My favorite one can easily collapse to be stored in tight spaces. I like to slide mine between the wall and my washer. If you’re on a budget, this basic drying rack gets the job done and is sturdy enough to handle heavy knits and jeans.
• Over-the-door hampers: These are amazing for saving valuable floor space! I recommend using over-the-door hampers to store clean loads waiting for folding or simply for extra storage. My favorite space-saving hamper is budget-friendly and ultra-durable so I bought enough to have one in my bedroom, my kids’ rooms, and the laundry room.
• Compact ironing board solutions: Ironing boards don’t have to be bulky. I invested in this slender board because it easily fits between the washing machine and the wall. If you live in an apartment or ultra-small space, I highly recommend this mini, collapsible ironing board that can be stored on a shelf. Finally, this wall-mounted board folds up easily into a cabinet to save you space in your laundry room. Plus, the cabinet enclosure it comes with makes it aesthetically pleasing in any space.
• Laundry sheets over jugs or boxes: One of the most cumbersome things to store is a massive detergent jug. I recently started using laundry detergent sheets because of their thin, space-saving packaging. I use the unscented sheets from HeySunday and one box is approximately the size of an envelope.

Mistakes to Avoid When Organizing a Laundry Room

There are a few common pitfalls to avoid when organizing your laundry room. First and foremost, don’t neglect the room’s vertical space! I was pleasantly surprised to discover that adding tall shelves to my laundry room opened up a world of possibilities!

You may consider adding floating shelves above your washing machine. Or perhaps use an over-the-door storage caddy to maximize that vertical space.

A second common mistake is relying on impractical storage solutions. I always recommend measuring your storage space before purchasing products for your laundry room. Then, think about what your ideal laundry process looks like. What organization and storage materials will make life easier for you?

A hanging organizer might not make sense for you if your washing machine is hidden behind accordion closet doors. Or maybe you hate lifting heavy jugs over your head; a high floating wall shelf may not be the right choice for you, then. 

At the end of the day, it’s important to invest in storage solutions that work for you and your lifestyle. Adjust the inspiration you see online to fit your preferences and budget!

FAQ About Laundry Room Organization

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions I get about laundry room organization. 

What’s the best way to organize a small laundry room?

Declutter and reduce the amount of stuff stored in the space. Then, invest in hanging door organizers or shelves to take advantage of the room’s vertical space. Finally, consider swapping to space-saving laundry products like detergent sheets. 

How do I make my laundry room look stylish?

Look for inspiration online. Then, declutter the space and get storage bins and baskets to keep your laundry supplies in. A stylish basket to store your detergent in looks so much better than letting the jug sit on top of the machine! If you want to go the extra mile, consider adding a fun color to the space either through the wall color, wallpaper, or colorful baskets. 

How can I organize my laundry room without cabinets?

Baskets and bins are your friends! Use these to organize your laundry and cleaning supplies. If you don’t have any shelving, consider installing a floating shelf or using a bookcase to create vertical storage space. I also love over-the-door shoe storage bags if you don’t have any space for shelves or additional furniture.

Ready, Set, Organize!

Organizing your laundry room should never feel like a herculean task. If you feel overwhelmed by the state of the room, take it day by day. I promise that the end result and mental clarity you will get from having a clean, organized space will make doing laundry more efficient and enjoyable. 

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