We expect a lot out of our laundry rooms. They are home to a washer and dryer, detergents and cleaners, and possibly more than one laundry basket. And some of us also use them for air drying clothes, folding laundry and even ironing. That’s a lot of work for a small space! If you’re looking to maximize the amount of space in your laundry room, check out our five laundry organization ideas to get started.

Use Unconventional Spaces

If your floor space is lacking, look up. That’s right—your ceiling and walls are fair game when it comes to laundry organization. For example, if you find yourself drying delicates over that unused treadmill, try hanging a drying rack from your ceiling. Or, install a pull-out rod on a wall to hang items. Not only does this free up valuable laundry room space, but it’s an inexpensive and effective way to air dry items that can’t go in the dryer. 

  • DIY laundry organization idea: Repurpose a wooden ladder to use as your drying rack. It’s lightweight and the rungs can also hang freshly ironed clothes.

Stack Up, Not Sideways

Laundry day usually means multiple laundry baskets. Make things easier with a single, stacked laundry unit. These free-standing basket systems are available from many storage brands and are ideal for creating one central laundry station without taking up much space.

  • DIY laundry organization idea: Consider this laundry room storage hack—instead of a store-bought laundry basket unit, try making one yourself. With a few supplies from the home improvement store and some handy work, you can create a custom stacked laundry basket unit that fits your needs and style. See the tutorial for instructions.

Make the Most of Your Walls

Your laundry room’s walls offer a wealth of organization opportunities. Install cabinets or shelves for detergents and your iron. Put up hooks to hold clean coats or hanging items. Customize these everyday items to fit your specific needs.

  • DIY laundry organization idea: Add stacking bins or baskets to your shelves to optimize your space and create a cohesive look. Label them to avoid long searches for what you need.

Laundry Lost and Found

The laundry room is a goldmine for found objects. Socks, coins, pens and other items left in pockets collect over time, so it’s handy to have a place for safekeeping until you can reunite them with their owner. A few small, labeled bins make for an affordable and simple storage solution.

  • DIY laundry organization idea: Take advantage of free wall space by creating a decorative lost and found board. Paint a board and glue clothespins and secure a canning jar to it. Hang it on your wall to collect miscellaneous items.

Utilize Portable Folding Items 

If your laundry room is on the smaller side, you may not have enough room for permanent surfaces to fold and iron clothes. Folding tables and portable ironing boards are cheap alternatives that work just as well. Plus, when you’re done you can store them away. 

With some creativity and a little elbow grease, these laundry organization ideas will help you make the most of your space in no time!