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This post is all about very small laundry room ideas that will make you actually want to do laundry.
Very small laundry rooms can be just as good as normal-sized laundry rooms! But functionality is going to mean a whole lot more to you than the average laundry room user.
You already have limited space, thereâs no room for messing around. But functionality doesnât have to mean your laundry room canât be the most adorable thing either. Sometimes the cutest things come in the smallest packages! And weâre about to put a bow on your laundry room. đ
In this post, Iâll be going over 11 of the best very small laundry room ideas for a functional, cute, and clean space. That way you can focus more on washing those clothes, instead of struggling through laundry day.
Very Small Laundry Room Ideas
Iâll be the first to admit, I have a VERY small laundry room. You can take one step in any direction and be across the room haha. So I am completely with you in the struggle to maximize your small space, while still thinking about ways to make it cute.
One of the best ways to keep your tiny laundry room feeling spacious is constantly keeping it clean and keeping things up off the floor. There are times when life gets crazy and youâre going to have shoes on the floor, clothes hanging in your face, and maybe that thing you need to take back to Target all crowded in one room.
When you have a very small laundry room, youâll want to try your best not to use your space as a holding ground for all extra things.
Make it purposeful and intentional!
1. DIY Laundry Room Shelves
Okay, so this is going to be a HUGE space saver when it comes to a super small laundry room. Not only will you save space, but youâll be saving that money with this DIY small laundry room idea!
DIY laundry room shelves are customizable to your space since youâre making them specific to your laundry room. They are the perfect storage solution for organizing all of those laundry room essentials.
Stain them and seal them so they look good and last for years to come!
This is an awesome idea for small laundry rooms with a top-loading washer because youâll need room to open and close your washer lid. If you get a 12â deep shelf, or even narrower, then youâre going to have more than enough room for the washing machine lid to open!
2. Storage Baskets for Organization
Out of sight, out of mind is what I like to call this one! If youâre looking for small laundry room organization ideas, this oneâs for you.
Laundry room organization baskets will help your laundry room look crisp and clean all year round. Store trash bags, oxi-clean, hats, gloves, outdoor power tool batteries, or whatever miscellaneous items you may want to keep in your laundry room.
Then you can display them on your DIY shelves! What a perfect combo.
Find some really cute baskets, that way they double as organization AND cute laundry room decor!
These are the ones I have and they fit perfectly on my 12â deep shelves. I love the two-tone color â it adds a little bit of excitement to the laundry room. Plus, they can surprisingly hold a lot!! The jute material is great quality, and these baskets have held up for YEARS! Still just as good as the first day I started using them as my laundry room organization!
Pair them with these adorable decorative white baskets from Target for smaller items that you may want to be more accessible.
For instance, my laundry room leads straight into my garage, so we store our outdoor power tool chargers and batteries in one of these to grab on the way out to the yard. I love the 13â size, but they do come in a few different sizes to meet all of your laundry room needs!
These are great options for how to organize a small laundry room.
3. Wallpaper Accent Wall
I told you there would be ideas to make your small laundry room cute! This is specifically one to make your laundry room feel a little more dreamy and design-like.
Instead of wallpapering an entire room, apply wallpaper to one wall to create an accent wall. In such a small space, this is going to make one BIG impact.
The great thing is if you have a narrow laundry room just like me (literally itâs only wide enough to fit my washer and dryer), then you wonât even need that much wallpaper.
I recommend putting wallpaper on the wall behind your washer and dryer. This will spice things up, and if you want to go the extra mile, pair this idea with the DIY laundry room shelves idea to really give your very small laundry room the WOW factor!
4. Wall Mounted Clothes Drying Rack
When youâre looking for very small laundry room ideas that are functional, this is going to be one of the most helpful things you could include in your space!
Wall-mounted clothes drying racks wonât steal your space, but they can fold down when youâre ready to hang dry!
For the longest time, I was using a dinky little foldable clothes drying rack that never wanted to stay up. It was easily the worst part about doing laundry!
If youâve been drying clothes on the backs of chairs, rails, and anything else in sight that you can find, those days are over. Trust me, you need to get one of these â it will greatly improve your laundry days!
I got mine from Pottery Barn which couldnât have been a better fit in my super tiny laundry room, but there are awesome options on Amazon as well.
5. Laundry Room Rug
No laundry room is too small for a cute laundry room rug!
Laundry room rugs soften up your laundry room and add a nice cozy element to it.
Depending on how small your laundry room is, I find a 2âx3â or 3âx5â to fit nicely â whether itâs in front of a door leading outside, or in front of your washer and dryer.
Rugs are a chance to throw a little bit of your personality into your room, plus itâll be great to stand on while youâre doing laundry!
6. Laundry Room Shelf With Hanging Rod
Okay, so I know that I talked about DIY laundry room shelves as a great small laundry room idea. But if youâre looking for a way to DIY a shelf WITH a place for clothes hangers, then youâre going to love this one.
Iâll walk you through exactly how to go about creating these too. Itâs seriously the best way to have a hanging rod for clothes hangers on the bottom of your DIY shelf!
I stumbled upon these curled shelf brackets when I was doing my small laundry room makeover. I had already purchased all of the wood and then had the thought, âHow am I going to hang my clothes??â After A LOT of searching for the absolute best solution, I came across these bad boys and the rest is history.
7. Laundry Room Hamper
The days of the plastic basket are nearing the end if youâre looking for the cutest very small laundry room ideas!
A tall laundry hamper will keep small, low baskets out of the way â and better yet, theyâre going to save you the back pain from constantly bending down to pick them up!
Along with your storage baskets, this can count as one of the best laundry room organization hacks. If you give this hamper a permanent home in the laundry room, then it will look purposeful and help keep any clothes that find themselves in the laundry room in between loads out of sight.
You may walk past your laundry room and just toss a dirty shirt or towel in there to lie on the ground until itâs time to do laundry! Iâve definitely been there in my busiest moments, so Iâm no stranger to this. But adding a laundry room hamper will keep those clothes and towels up off the floor until youâre ready to do laundry!
For a very small laundry room, you might not have the space for a hamper to live in your laundry room. But a cute new hamper that lives in your bedroom for most of the week, and in your laundry room just on laundry day is a must!
8. Modern Lighting For Your Laundry Room
What do builders LOVE to put in small laundry rooms for lighting? Boob lights. Yup, everyoneâs favorite LOL. Upgrading that light fixture to something more modern and less outdated is going to dramatically help your small laundry room.
The best lighting option for a very small laundry room is going to be a flush mount. Flush mounts barely hang off the ceiling which is perfect for a small space. Why? Because anything hanging too low off the ceiling in a small room is just going to make the room feel even smaller. And most flush mounts will hang less than a foot off the ceiling.
I personally love how a flush mount can make the room a little bit more interesting, and thatâs why I went with one for my super small laundry room! I just think it adds another beautiful element to such a small space!
9. Cute Laundry Room Decor
Remember, itâs not ALL about doing laundryâŠokay well maybe it is, but adding decor to a laundry room will make it feel a little bit homier, and less of a room you really dislike haha.
Start off with the classic faux plant, or real plant if youâre a plant lover! Greenery in the laundry room can bring a sense of freshness and cleanliness, which is perfect for a room where youâre trying to get all of your clothes clean.
Then, you can add a small mirror to a wall or prop one up on those new DIY laundry room shelves! Like I always say, mirrors can help make a really small space feel bigger than it is, no matter how small the mirror is. Another great thing about laundry room mirrors is that if your laundry room is on the way out of your house, you can do one last check before hitting the road!
This is me telling you to go to HomeGoods, Target, TJMaxx, or your favorite store to shop around for little decor items. đ Look for small candles, towels, and other adorable little items that you can display around your small laundry room (like this adorable box that holds dryer sheets).
10. Paint Your Walls!
One of my best tips for very small laundry room ideas, and small spaces in general, is to paint your walls a light or neutral color!
Light colors allow for small spaces to feel bigger than they really are. When you choose a dark color on all of your walls, itâs going to make the room crowded. And since weâre talking about VERY small laundry rooms, youâre definitely going to want to maximize the space as much as you can.
My favorite paint color for a nice creamy white, yet slightly warm tone is Toque White by Sherwin Williams. It has just a hint of grey in it which makes it so beautiful in any space itâs going in! Iâve used it in multiple places around my house, including my own laundry room!
11. Paint Your Door!
The last idea I have for your small laundry room is to paint the door!
What door am I talking about? If you have a door in your laundry room that leads to the garage, or even outside, painting it can give the room even more dimension and character!
If youâre going ahead with this idea and want to create that dimension, paint your door a darker color thatâs in the same color scheme as your walls.
So for instance, my walls are Toque White by Sherwin Williams, and I painted my door to my garage Warm Putty by Sherwin Williams. This is the same color I painted my half board and batten wall in my first-floor half bath.
RELATED POST: How To Remodel A Bathroom On A Budget (11 Cheap Ideas For a Big Impact)
If you really want to take the leap of faith, paint your door any color youâd like! I was actually debating painting the door light pink lol, but I felt like for future-proofing purposes, Warm Putty might be a better option. Although that doesnât mean I wonât change my mind down the round! đ
How Do I Make My Laundry Room More Efficient?
The best way to make your laundry room as efficient and functional as possible is to be intentional with your laundry room design.
When you have a shelf for detergents, a basket for extra supplies, etc., youâll know where everything is at all times. Plus since everything has a home, itâll all be out of your way, allowing you to be even more efficient moving around the room.
The biggest thing for me is having the things I use most easily accessible in my laundry room. So my detergent, softener, and dryer sheets all stay within armâs reach. While things like Oxi-Clean and other cleaning supplies I might not use as often go into a storage basket on the top shelf to keep my laundry room organized and tidy!
How Do I Maximize Space In My Laundry Room?
To fully maximize the space in your laundry room, keep as many things up and out of the way as possible. Shelving helps a tremendous amount with this because you can store and organize items on your shelves without them taking up any floor space.
Think smarter, not harder â something like the wall-mounted clothes drying rack is a genius idea for maximizing space, especially in a very small laundry room where you are crunched for space.
Keep everything organized, and be intentional with the placement of all of your laundry room items.
Do a deep clean to figure out what makes sense to live in your laundry room, and what needs a new home (or tossed out/donated).
This post was all about very small laundry room ideas to make your space adorable and functional!
There is no limit when it comes to making a very small laundry room cute and functional. Just because you have a smaller laundry room does NOT mean you canât have the most adorable and functional laundry room out of anyone you know.
Hopefully, these very small laundry room ideas helped inspire you to make your space the best and most efficient it can possibly be!
Other Posts You Might Like:
- 9 Simple Small Kitchen Remodel Ideas on a Budget
- How to Remodel a Bathroom on a Budget (11 Cheap Ideas For a Big Impact)
- 31 Small Space Entryway Ideas For An Instantly Welcoming Space
FAQs
What is the smallest a laundry room can be? âș
So a minimum laundry room width would be about 6 œ feet--if you aren't adding cabinets to the opposing wall. To add cabinets and countertops for extra storage and workspace, you'll need another 24 inches in width at least making your room closer to 8 œ feet wide.
How do I maximize space in my small laundry room? âșA wall of floating shelves helps this small laundry room live large. Above the washer and dryer, three deep shelves hold a variety of laundry and cleaning supplies, neatly organized with baskets and bins. A granite countertop provides a convenient folding station and extra space for frequently used items.
Where do you put your laundry in a small house? âșGreat locations for a washer and dryer in a small house are inside the kitchen or bathroom or directly next to one of those rooms. If you want to ensure that you are close to plumbing, it will be easier to reroute it.
What else can a laundry room be used for? âșInstead, take advantage of that unused laundry room space and stash extra paper goods, cleaning supplies, sheets, towels, and luggage. The laundry room can also be a good spot for recycling bins or bags of clothes you want to donate after you declutter your closet.
What is the minimum closet space for a washer and dryer? âșTo fit the appliances in your available space, make sure to account for a laundry area that is roughly 29 inches wide, 80 inches tall and 32 to 34 inches deep to accommodate both the washer and dryer.
What is the minimum room size for a washer and dryer? âșAll washer and dryer pairs vary in size, but the standard dimensions for pairs placed side by side are about 27 inches in width and around 35â43 inches in height. So, your designated laundry room needs at least a 54-inch space at the very minimum.
What adds value to laundry room? âșStorage is essential in the laundry room because you want to store items like detergents, scrubbers, irons, and house cleaning products. It will add more value to the room if you can have some cabinets and cupboards around the appliances. The more storage you have in your laundry room, the better.
What makes a perfect laundry room? âșTake full advantage of the windows in the room for natural lighting. Having a good overhead light is important too. A nice small chandelier fixture in a laundry room will give the space an elegant and stylish look. Lighting under the countertops is another way of adding functionality and personality to the room.
What floor should the laundry be on? âșLaundry Room Planning
For convenience, on the main floor anywhere off the kitchen makes sense, as does a mudroom or off the garage. On a second floor try to position it so it backs onto a bathroom. DON'T put the laundry too close to sleeping areas. The noise will keep you awake.
Basement. Basements are often used for laundry rooms since they offer more space than the ground floor or upper levels. Also, putting the laundry room in the basement lets you maximize space in the living areas upstairs. In the event of flooding, water is contained in the basement, away from living areas.
Where is the best place to put a clothes dryer? âș
Good locations include inside the kitchen or bathroom or directly next to one of those rooms. It will also be easier to route plumbing this way. Buildings usually stack the wet zones in a vertical line. Putting a washer and dryer in your bedroom closet wouldn't be permitted even if there's room for one.
Where can I keep dirty laundry without a laundry room? âș- Freestanding laundry baskets. In a large laundry with lots of floor space, freestanding laundry baskets are great. ...
- Under-bench laundry baskets. ...
- Store and sort. ...
- Wheel it out. ...
- Use vertical space. ...
- Laundry basket drawers. ...
- Slide-out wire laundry baskets. ...
- Slide-out plastic laundry baskets.
Keep clutter stylishly at bay.
Since smaller spaces have a tendency to get messy quickly, keep clutter in its place by organizing your laundry room essentials into specified containers. Corral stuff into trays, glass jars, and baskets. (Bonus: They also serve as chic accents on shelves and countertops!)
The most essential tool in your laundry room is your washing machine. While many fancy machines are available with multiple settings, you need a machine that will fit in your laundry room and handle your family's needs.
How far should dryer be from wall? âșAt a minimum, these bends require about 5" of space between the appliance and the wall. When measured, a typical 27" wide dryer along with a matching washer held out just over 5" encompasses more than two square feet of living area.
How many clothes can a small washer hold? âșGenerally speaking, compact washers have a 2.0 to 2.5 cubic foot capacity and can handle 15 to 20lbs of laundry per load.
Can you put a washer and dryer in a walk-in closet? âșBut it's entirely feasible to work a washer and dryer into your house without carving out space for a designated laundry roomâall you need is a closet. We spoke with interior designers regarding the main functional and aesthetic concerns to keep top of mind when setting up this laundry space.
How deep should a laundry room be? âșSpace Specifications for Washers and Dryers
Washers and dryers placed side by side typically require a horizontal space of 60 inches or five feet. Measure the depth of the appliances (most are around 33 inches) and add six inches for hoses and venting.
The height of the upper cabinets will depend on your ceiling height and how far you can reach. Positioning them at least 18 inches (46 centimeters) above countertops is standard, while 24 to 42 inches (61 to 107 centimeters) in 6-inch (15-centimeter) increments commonly defines the height of the wall cabinet itself.
What is the most cost effective way to do laundry? âș- Wash with cold water. ...
- Wash full loads. ...
- Dry right-sized loads for your machine. ...
- Air dry when you can. ...
- Switch loads while the dryer is warm. ...
- Use dryer balls. ...
- Clean the lint filter on the dryer. ...
- Use the high-speed or extended spin cycle in the washer.
Why do people put sinks in laundry rooms? âș
Uses of Sink in the Laundry Room
A laundry room sink is perfect for presoaking clothes prior to washing. It also provides a convenient space to hand-wash delicate items and rinse swimsuits of chlorine, sand and/or salty water prior to putting them in the washing machine.
Bathrooms Improvements
Often, if your home only has one bathroom and multiple bedrooms, adding an additional bathroom to the layout can add value to your home and provide up to 70% return on investment,.
Soft white, cream, and even beige can be excellent choices for a neutral laundry room. Choosing an off-white color with blue or yellow undertones also can be appealing in the space by adding more depth to your design.
How do you decorate and organize a laundry room? âș- Remove Everything & Declutter.
- Prioritize a Functional Layout.
- Provide More Storage.
- Utilize Wall Space.
- Decant High-Use Products.
- Group Similar Items into Bins.
- Label Everything.
- Add "Clothes to Put Away" Baskets.
A mudroom makes the perfect place to set up your washer and dryer. It has an entrance from the outside and makes it easy to remove messy and muddy outerwear and to toss them directly in the hamper or the washing machine. It has shelves for storing washing detergents, fabric softeners, and other laundry products.
What time is best for laundry room? âșCeramic tile is one of the best flooring choices for a laundry room from both a design and durability standpoint. They're water and chemical resistant and ones with natural finishes are more scratch resistant than ones with a high polish finish.
Where do most people keep their laundry basket? âșThere are no specific rules for where to keep a laundry basket in your home. However, it's preferable to put them in areas where people typically change clothing. Usually, you can find laundry baskets in the bedroom, bathroom or in the laundry room.
Should dryer be on top or bottom? âșWhen stacking your washer and dryer, your dryer should always be placed on top of your washer. To protect your dryer from damage and to make it easier to move, place a piece of cardboard on the floor and tilt your dryer on its back onto the cardboard.
Where not to put a tumble dryer? âșThey work by re-circulating the warm air in the dryer rather than letting it escape, which also means they don't need a hose. So you can place these tumble dryers anywhere in the home, but avoid placing them in garages and outbuildings as they need to operate within a minimum ambient temperature range.
Should you leave your dryer on when you leave the house? âșDo not leave a dryer running if you leave home or when you go to bed. Never dry items that have come in contact with flammable substances, such as cooking oil, gasoline, and paint thinner, or alcohol. Keep the dryer area clear of things that can burn, such as boxes or clothing.
How small can a load of laundry be? âș
How big is a small load of laundry? Anything that's smaller than a medium loadâwhen the machine's drum is half fullâcan be considered small. If you have nothing else to add to the load, see if your machine has a half-load setting to conserve water.
How much space do you need around a washing machine? âșWe recommend at least 25 mm (1 inch) of clearance on all sides, 150 mm (5.9 inches) of clearance at the back, 50 mm (2 inch) of clearance at the front and 432 mm (or 17 inches) at the top. Remember that when it comes to clearance around the washer, more clearance is better than less.
Can you put a laundry room anywhere? âșIn some cases, washer/dryer hookups have been installed in a kitchen or garage as an afterthought. But there is still no formal laundry room, or at least not a very useful one. As long as water pipes and venting can be accessed, moved, or added, we can add a laundry room where there wasn't one before.
Can a laundry room be in a bedroom? âșYeah! It is feasible. As we all know, families expand and change over time. If you moved into a house with your spouse and you've got kids sharing a bedroom, and you're looking for space for your kids' room, you can repurpose your laundry room into a small comfortable bedroom.
Are small laundry loads wasteful? âșClothing in an undersized load tends to accumulate on one side of the drum, putting your washing machine off balance during the spin cycle. Not only is the resulting thumping sound annoying, but being ff balance can also be damaging to the appliance.
What does 12 pounds of laundry look like? âșYou may be able to wash more or you may need to remove some items. As an example, 12 pounds of laundry might look like a load of two bath towels, six T-shirts, and four pairs of jeans. Now you're ready to load the washer and select the appropriate water temperature and cycle.
Do small laundry loads waste water? âșThe size of your laundry load can impact how much water is needed for a wash cycle. Larger loads require more water to saturate clothes for an effective wash, while smaller loads use less water in a single cycle.
How far away from the sink can a washing machine be? âșSo, how far away can you fit a washing machine drain? You can fit a washing machine drain a maximum of 2.7 m (9 ft) from your washing machine. Washing machines come with standard 1.5 m (4.9 ft) hoses, but you can safely extend them with pipes that are a maximum of 1.2 m (4 ft) long.
What floor should laundry room be? âșLaundry Room Planning
For convenience, on the main floor anywhere off the kitchen makes sense, as does a mudroom or off the garage. On a second floor try to position it so it backs onto a bathroom. DON'T put the laundry too close to sleeping areas. The noise will keep you awake.
A laundry room that's not too far from the kitchen or the bedroom in your house works best for most homes. The floor with the main bedrooms in your home (preferable the first or second floor) is where most of the dirty clothes accumulate. A distant location is inconvenient and adds to the pile of dirty clothes.
How do you turn a small laundry room into a bedroom? âș
To convert a laundry room into an extra bedroom, follow these easy steps: Remove all items from your laundry, including your washer and dryer as well as all laundry soaps and accessories. You may even want to place built-in laundry hampers in individual family bedrooms to relocate some of the dirty laundry.
Should a washing machine be placed on the floor? âșA washing machine must always be level
A washing machine that isn't level often poses a stability problem, particularly during its high-speed spin cycle. Make sure that the machine stands firmly on the floor. You should always use a spirit level when installing white goods.