Love your Laundry Room

I’m one of those crazy people who actually like doing laundry – to me, nothing beats the smell of clean clothes or freshly laundered sheets. That said, in my current home the space for our washer and dryer leaves a lot to be desired. Instead of a room dedicated to this necessary chore, we have a closet. And no, not a nice big closet with lots of space like this one:

(image via The Redheaded Stepchild)

Ours is a teeny tiny sliding door closet with exactly enough room to fit our stackable washer and dryer. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m fortunate to have this luxury in my home instead of having to venture out to a Laundromat, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t dream about having the perfect laundry room.

While I might not have many options right now, I’ve spent a lot of time analyzing the workings of an ideal laundry room and I consider myself somewhat of an expert. A few small changes are all you really need to transform your space and create a laundry experience that is a lot more enjoyable.

 First things first, get organized:

If you have space to spare, placing three separate hampers somewhere in your laundry room will make the sorting process a breeze. If not, try sorting things from the get-go by using separate bins or divided baskets in your bedroom closet, bathroom or other shared space.

Store detergents, stain removers and other necessities in baskets or bins to hide clutter and add shelves above your machines or on a side wall for extra surface area to place them. Add hooks too if you can; you’ll be surprised at how convenient they are for hanging things like towels or laundry bags.

If you’re feeling extra creative, use glass containers or other storage jars for washing powder, clothes pins and more. They might require a little extra work but they add a really nice touch to the room.

(image via The house of Smith’s)

 Add character:

Depending on the size of your family, there is a good chance you spend a good chunk of time in the laundry room. Add some character to the space by giving the walls a splash of color, adding some accessories like pictures or art, and removing unnecessary items including household cleaning supplies and storage. Wall decals are a really popular trend in homes right now and many are geared specifically towards laundry rooms! Not only are the sayings fun, they are super easy to apply and remove.

(image via Etsy)

 Make it practical:

Keep in mind what this space is used for and try to make it as practical and efficient as possible. Storing things on top of your dryer might seem like a good idea, but if this is the only place you have to fold laundry you might want to consider another option. Do you hang things to dry a lot? Install one of these convenient and space friendly drying racks, made from an old ladder, window or chair backing. Kate over at Censational Girl has an awesome DIY tutorial for those looking for some extra help:

(image via Censational Girl)

Odd socks are the nemesis of a launderer. I can’t tell you how often I’ve searched for the lone sock that I’m 100% certain went into the dryer. Instead of wasting time trying to match a pair, set up a lost sock station and throw the lonely ones in there. Bonus points if you have the wall space to display them on a lost socks board like Stephanie did in this cute little tutorial:

As you can see, giving your laundry room a makeover really isn’t that difficult. Most people will never consider laundry the most entertaining of tasks, but taking care of business in a fun, stylish and efficient space will make the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Devote a little bit of time and some creativity to the project and you’ll have a laundry space you’ll love before you know it!

Jessi is a passionate do-it-yourselfer who is dedicated to making her home a warm, organized and happy place to be. When she’s not busy dreaming about the perfect laundry room she works as a Community Coordinator for PartSelect, where she’s dedicated to helping other DIYer’s tackle home repairs.