In this blog post you’ll learn everything you need to know about laundry room organization ideas.

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The laundry room: You’re in there constantly, but it’s probably the room you care about least.

Shelves are a mess, detergent bottles all over the place, nothing is where you need it when you need it.

But here are the good news: You don’t have to gut the whole room to fix it.

Look at what’s actually wrong, reorganize smarter, add a couple small touches so it doesn’t feel like a dungeon. That’s usually enough to make it way more functional and less annoying to be in.

In this blog post I’ve got 12 laundry room organization ideas here you can steal, plus how to keep it from falling back into chaos and some nice decor tipps how to make the most of your laundry room. Spoiler: You don’t need to spend a fortune.

I hope you enjoy reading and find some helpful tips for your laundry room!

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Before You Buy: The Laundry Room Audit

Before we start reorganizing your laundry room or buying new things for it, we should take stock and assess its current state.

The best way to do this is in three steps:

1. Declutter & check
I recommend checking your current stock of baskets, shelves and laundry detergent before buying anything new.

Severely discard expired detergents, empty bottles and single socks and only keep products you actually use.

I firmly believe that you don’t need duplicate cleaning products. They just take up valuable space.

2. Examine your workflow
Next, consider where your laundry process gets bogged down: during sorting, washing, drying, ironing or folding?

Break down the process into clear zones:

• Sorting
• Pre-treating
• Washing
• Drying
• Ironing
• Folding

I identified these common weaknesses in the laundry room: no space for dirty laundry, scattered cleaning supplies or a lack of space for folding.

3. Goal:
Your goal is to identify what’s truly missing before you buy anything new.

This way, you create an organized system that works and simplifies your daily routine.

Small Decor Touches

A laundry room doesn’t have to feel like a basement utility closet.

A few small changes make it way less depressing, trust me.

Here are my favorite tips:

Fix the lighting
Cold fluorescent lights are the worst. They’re bright, sure, but they make the room feel like you’re doing chores in a gas station bathroom.

I recommend to swap them for warm white bulbs in the 2700-3000K range. You’ll get instant improvement.

A small wall lamp helps too. It will make your laundry room much more cozy and lived-in.

Incorporate natural elements
Bring in something green. This could be a plant, some eucalyptus in a jar, anything green will work here. It makes the space feel less sterile.

Woven baskets and a soft rug help too.

Suddenly it’s not just the room where you deal with dirty socks, it actually looks like part of your house.

These are all small details, but they’re the difference between a room you avoid and one that doesn’t make you miserable every time you walk in.

Related: Your Go-To Guide: 18 Brilliant Organization Ideas For Small Spaces

Laundry Room Organization Ideas

With these concrete 12 examples of laundry room organization, I want to show you how to design and organize your laundry room.

Perhaps you’ll find a tip or two here that will help you make your laundry room a place you enjoy being.

1. Multi-Functional Laundry Room

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If you have enough space, you can create a multi-functional laundry room.

I find such a room particularly practical because it combines several functions in one.

You can do laundry here, have plenty of clever storage space for detergent and clothespins thanks to practical cabinets and you can dry, iron and fold your clothes.

If you’re planning to set up such a laundry room, I recommend working with different zones to visually separate the areas and make the processes as efficient as possible.

2. Smart Laundry Corner

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If you have an unused corner in your laundry room, you could turn it into a laundry nook.

Perhaps the corner is just the right size to fit a washing machine or dryer.

This idea is especially ideal for small rooms.

If the laundry area is located in a small corner, the washing space is also clearly defined, which I find particularly appealing.

This makes your laundry room look especially tidy.

My idea: You could place your washing machine or dryer in the corner and install shelves above it for detergent and baskets. This way, you also make optimal use of the vertical space.

3. Washing Mashine Behind Curtain

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Do you find your washing machine an eyesore and wish you could hide it away?

Then simply hang a curtain in front of it.

I think this also creates a more tranquil atmosphere in the room and is a cost-effective alternative to built-in cabinets.

And you know what else is super practical? Curtains are easily replaceable. So if you no longer like the color or pattern, you can easily change it.

4. Clever & Pretty Decor – Laundry Room Organization Ideas

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Even though a laundry room serves a functional purpose, why shouldn’t it also be a comfortable, inviting space?

I find that when everything is tidy and looks nice, it’s much more motivating to keep things clean.

A little bit of decoration can also make your laundry room feel more personal and less sterile.

If you’re not a big fan of decoration, you can still create a more attractive look with a few small changes, such as using glass bottles for laundry detergent, wooden boxes for clothespins or adding a small plant to your shelf.

5. Fold-Out Ironing Board Over Washing Mashine

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A fold-out ironing board that’s permanently attached to the wall saves a lot of space compared to traditional ironing boards.

It also takes up less storage space, making it ideal for small laundry rooms.

What I like about these ironing boards is that they’re quick to grab and ready to use.

6. Floor-To-Ceiling Laundry Wall

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With a floor-to-ceiling shelf, you get maximum storage space in a small footprint.

I think such a huge shelf not only looks high-quality, but also particularly tidy when it’s well-organized.

I also like that the numerous compartments allow you to clearly separate things by category, making it easier to keep things tidy.

Simply use one compartment for laundry detergent, one for fabric softener, another for clothespins and so on.

7. Laundry Bags – Laundry Room Organization Ideas

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Dirty piles of laundry can look beautiful, too. Don’t believe me? Then you’ve probably never used laundry bags!

Laundry bags can be visually appealing and make sorting laundry easier.

Plus: They keep the floor clear and tidy.

For example, use one laundry bag for whites, one for colors and one for clothes that need to be boiled.

I not only find them visually appealing, but I also appreciate how easy they are to carry.

8. Shelf Above Laundry Corner

A shelf above the washing machine niche ensures that vertical space is also used efficiently.

This can be especially advantageous in small laundry rooms.

Don’t have a shelf on the wall yet but would like one? No problem, a shelf is easy to install.

You can then store detergent, cloths and baskets on the shelf.

9. Washing Mashine In Bathroom

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If you don’t have enough space in your laundry room for a washing machine, you can also put it in the bathroom.

This saves space in your small apartment.

If you don’t like the look of the washing machine, you can also conceal it, for example, by placing it in a cabinet or hanging a curtain in front of it, as described above.

10. Laundry Integrated In Kitchen

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Another option is to place your washing machine in the kitchen if your apartment doesn’t have a separate laundry room.

I think the kitchen could be suitable for this because it often occupies a central location in the apartment and is a key part of daily life.

And the kitchen offers good opportunities to visually integrate the washing machine and dryer completely, for example, under the countertop.

11. Tall, Narrow Cabinet – Laundry Room Organization Ideas

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Is your laundry room small and narrow? No problem, the best way to maximize storage is by maximizing vertical space rather than horizontal.

A tall, narrow cabinet can help you do just that.

This way, you have plenty of storage in a minimal footprint and can safely store cleaning supplies.

At the same time, you create a clean, uncluttered look because nothing is left out in the open.

12. Integrated Laundry Niche

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Our apartment, for example, has a built-in, integrated laundry niche. The washing machine and dryer fit perfectly in it.

I really like this solution because it saves space and looks very neat.

It also clearly separates our washing machine from the rest of the bathroom.

If you’d like a niche like this, you have a lot of flexibility in its design. You can leave it open or design it to be closed off, for example, with doors or a curtain.

Maintenance: How To Keep It Organized

Once you’ve organized your laundry room, you’ll want to keep it that way for as long as possible.

If you keep a few basic things in mind, you’ll succeed.

And the best part? These preventative measures don’t take much time at all if you do them regularly.

The 5-Minute Reset
Small routines work wonders: clean the lint trap, wipe down shelves and dispose of empty bottles.

These daily tasks take barely five minutes, but they prevent chaos from building up.

The result: The room stays fresh, well-organized and tidy, all without much effort.

Monthly Deep Clean
A thorough check once a month is worthwhile. I recommend cleaning the washing machine’s rubber seal and also checking the dryer filter and vent.

I find this particularly useful because it also helps prevent odors and technical problems.

During such a deep clean, you can also take the opportunity to check your supplies and replace old products.

Budget Breakdown: Amazing Looks For Less

Beautiful rooms don’t always have to cost a fortune. Even budget-friendly stores or flea markets have some gems that can help you transform your laundry room into something special.

For example, you can check out IKEA and turn your laundry room into a real eye-catcher with a sophisticated mix of thrift stores.

Personally, I like the combination of inexpensive basics and long-lasting investments.

I also advise you to save money on storage boxes, jars or baskets. In my opinion, consistency and color matter more than brand.

Instead, I would invest in sturdy shelves or cabinets that structure the room and will last for years to come.

My tip: Secondhand furniture or small IKEA upgrades (e.g., new handles, paint) can instantly give a more sophisticated look.

DIY work surfaces are also a great solution. You don’t need expensive custom-made furniture for an elegant look, plywood sheets or leftover pieces of solid wood countertops work perfectly.

A thin coat of varnish or sealant provides protection and a professional look.

Loving Your Laundry Day

So that’s it. A laundry room that doesn’t make you want to avoid it.

All these small changes like better storage, a routine that works for you, lighting that doesn’t look horrible… they add up.

The room functions AND looks better and more organized.

Here’s what I’ve noticed: When the laundry area looks decent, doing laundry feels less terrible. It’s still a chore, but at least the space isn’t working against you.

Take what makes sense from these ideas and ignore the rest.

If you need more home decor and organization ideas, my blog is the best spot to get some inspiration. I’m very happy that you are here! 🙂