How to Organize the Laundry Room So That It Stays Tidy, Clean, and Serene

Wait, do you mean to say that you don’t always have fun doing laundry?! Wish I could say that I did, but let’s face it: we all probably spend a bit more time in our laundry rooms than we’d prefer. When I was designing this space in my home, I decided to make it as pretty and light-filled as possible in an effort to make the hours spent scrubbing, folding, and ironing just a little more enjoyable. I was determined to figure out how to organize the laundry room in a smart way that would make upkeep a breeze.

From the appliances to the storage solutions to the products you stock it with, a little planning on the front end goes a long way towards making this overlooked space super functional, and look beautiful, too! I have a feeling that once we start to take a closer look, we’ll realize that this is a space a lot of people would like to freshen up in their homes.

I figured I’d better spill the details here so you can start planning your laundry room’s facelift! Chances are you only need to make a few tweaks here and there in the short term that will make a big difference for years to come. Keep reading for my keys to an organized, serene, and super hardworking laundry room.

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1. Appliances should be as hardworking as they are sleek.

I’ve got to admit that I’m usually tempted to go for the prettiest appliances that will blend seamlessly with my interior design, but in the laundry room, you’ve got to have form and function. Thankfully, my front load washer and dryer have both. I prioritized picking machines that worked hard to remove stains, leave clothes wrinkle-free, will last for many years to come, and are aesthetically pleasing.

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2. Designate specific areas of the laundry room for the tasks you know you’ll be doing there.

I have “stations” set up for folding laundry, ironing clothes, polishing shoes, and cleaning leather. And in each place, I have all the products to complete each task that I know I’ll need. It makes things super-efficient when you know you can head into the laundry room and be totally equipped to get the job done.

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3. Maximize a small space with creative storage solutions.

When we designed this room, we had cabinets installed that stretched all the way to the ceiling. I keep the items that I rarely use on the top shelves (with a step ladder handy) and the items I use frequently are within arm’s reach. These cabinets are where I stash my large serving pieces, craft supplies, and vases—the items that you want to keep out of sight, but that have to be accessible when you need them.

4. Design the space like you would any other room of the house.

Most of us spend loads of time in the laundry room but rarely do we add the decorative touches that we would to other rooms in the house. Why not make it a zen-like retreat where we actually feel more serene when we walk through the doors? Adding a chic catchall or a bit of soothing artwork will make the space feel more you.

While building our house, I fell in love with this Imperial Trellis wallpaper–the only problem was that Adam was set on minimalist white walls throughout the main rooms of the house. As a compromise (and since let’s face it: I spend quite a bit more time in the laundry room than he does) I used the paper on one dramatic wall in the laundry room that adds a welcome pop of color and still makes me smile when I walk in.

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5. Add a few pretty details.

I love to transform my detergents into decorative objects by decanting them in refillable clear containers, then applying a chalkboard label and writing what’s inside. I always have a big pretty woven basket that I use for corralling supplies and transporting folded laundry to other rooms of the house. And plants are probably the easiest and most economical way to add a feeling of freshness to the space. In addition to adding beauty, bringing plants into the room actually increases oxygen levels, removes toxins from the air, and has been shown to decrease fatigue, colds, and headaches. How’s that for creating a positive atmosphere?

I’d love to hear how you guys approach laundry room design! Do you keep it strictly utilitarian, or have you added pretty touches to make it an inviting space? Any great organizing tips?

This post was originally published on February 5, 2014, and has since been updated.

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