April's Monthly Storage Plan: The Laundry Room

So, I'm really late getting you April's agenda from BHG's "Month by Month Storage Plan."
But I promise you this one is pretty painless - but can make a big difference in saving you time every week doing your laundry. Here is BHG's suggestions for creating a streamlined, efficient laundry room...

• Sorting Baskets. Place a three-compartment bin or basket in a closet or open shelf in your laundry room (look at home or office supply stores for options). Separate clothing to be repaired, dry-cleaned, and donated.

Laundry baskets make great sorting bins that are easily moved about. You can download BHG's free Laundry Labels here. (You may have to sign in or create a profile before they let you do this - just a head's up)

Not all of us have the luxury of separate rooms or dedicated spaces for every task or hobby, so a well planned out utility room can handle multiple purposes. This room handles laundry, and crafts such as wrapping... notice the rolls of wrapping paper. A surface over the washer and dryer provides space for crafting. Lots of baskets and bins provide storage for supplies.
via BHG

• Keep Detergent Handy. Fill plastic beverage dispensers with laundry detergent, softener, and other liquid laundry additives. Hang a set of plastic measuring cups nearby from a cup hook.

via House to Home
Liquids and powders obviously look prettier in glass bottles or tins, but it might not really be practical for everyone. Also - if you forget instructions easily save the usage labels for products.

• Drying Rack. Mount a drying rack or double towel bar near your washer as a spot for air-drying clean sweaters or rugs.

via BHG
This is a great example of the well organized laundry room. It's not an actual "room" so the owner has cleverly installed curtains to hide the area when not in use. And even though the space is small, a foldable drying rack still fits in nicely. Ballard designs has some great drying racks similar to this one.

• Make a Catch-all for Ironing Supplies. Convert a silverware caddy into a stain-treating or ironing kit. Fill with small size cleaners, spray starches, and linen waters. Be sure to include essential tools such as brushes, dry-cleaning pads, and collar points.

via House to Home
Mounting planters or containers can also serve as catchalls for any other cleaning supplies you need on hand.


Below are some more laundry rooms to inspire you -

Small, but shelving provides space to organize

I love the idea of an armoire as a utility room organizer.

3 images above via BHG






5 images above via House to Home

You can read the original content here on BHG.

Great Ideas for Laundry Rooms

Why not make your laundry room inviting and awesome like the rest of your house? Let´s not neglect a place where we spend (at least I do) so much (wish it could be less!) of our time. Here are some ideas from Better Homes & Gardens which I think you will like.


If you are the sophisticated type you will surely like this laundry room with kitchen-style dark wood cabinets, glass-panel doors, and a comfortable reading chair.


Built-in yellow cabinets with a hinged door for maximum access enclose the washer and driyer to conceal the appliances when they're not in use. A large countertop offers a flat workspace for folding, ironing, and sorting clothes. Choose a countertop material that isn't especially sensitive to heat or laundry


A corner in the kitchen can double as a laundry space like this laundry area, without taking over the space. Front-loading stacked washer and dryer units are built-in, and a closet and other appliances are hidden under counter space with their own curtain.


Placing the laundry room and appliances near a window offers natural light and a view outside. Built-in cabinets offer storage that gives visibility to inside contents.


This small corner illustrates the benefit of good planning. Every inch of space, from the cabinets with flip-up doors above the machines to the medium-size around the corner, is put to work.


Two sets of washers and dryers help speed up the laundry chores. Built-in, cabinet-depth appliances leave countertop space for laundry tasks, and a row of windows brings in natural light. Be sure to have your plumber check your drain capacity before you move head with a plan like this.


This mudroom/laundry space is easy to access while running errands or completing other household chores, without cluttering the high traffic space. Built in cabinets and a front loading washer and dryer save floor space for entering and exiting the space.

All images from Better Homes & Gardens.