Small Laundry Room, Big Workflow
Laundry is a process: sort, wash, dry, fold, hang, and put away. When the room is laid out in that order, even a compact space works smoothly.
Laundry rooms are often small, tucked beside a garage or down a hallway. The good news is that a well-ordered small room can work better than a large one that has no plan.
Follow the order of the task
Arrange the room so laundry moves in one direction: hampers and sorting near the door, then the machines, then a folding surface and hanging space. You should never have to carry a basket back past where you started.
Fold on a counter, not the dryer
A counter over front-loading machines turns wasted space into a folding station. Where machines sit side by side, even a narrow counter beside them helps.
Hang clothes straight from the dryer
- A short rod or pull-out valet keeps shirts from wrinkling.
- Cabinets above the machines hold detergent and supplies out of reach of children.
- Tilt-out hampers or pull-out baskets make sorting part of the cabinetry.
Plan for the mess
A utility sink handles stain treatment and muddy gear, and easy-clean surfaces make the room simple to wipe down.
See laundry room designs for ideas that fit your space.
