In the laundry room, space for towels and other items can be hard to find.
Processing your laundry efficiently requires plenty of room to store and stow it as it undergoes various processes. In addition, there needs to be space in your laundry room for storing various cleaning and laundering supplies. Some laundry rooms also do double duty as cloakrooms, mud rooms or craft rooms, which can further crowd them. For these reasons, it is important to equip your laundry room with storage systems, such as laundry cabinets and other organizational units. When choosing organizational units for your laundry room, look for pieces that offer copious space, as well as those that are adaptable for multiple purposes. Does this Spark an idea?
Storage Systems
An excellent (and inexpensive) option for organizing your laundry is to use a storage system that was originally intended for another purpose. For instance, if you have recently remodeled your kitchen, you may have kitchen cabinets that are not currently in use. Why not repurpose these for your laundry room? To freshen unattractive units, try painting them in bright colors. Kitchen cabinets also have plenty of counter space, which make them ideal for doing craft activities. For smaller items, old storage units like medicine cabinets can work. These are ideal for storing detergents, spot removers, irons and other supplies. You can also purchase a new storage system for your laundry room. For smaller spaces, buy a storage systems with pull-out bins, as this will help maximize your storage space.
Repurposed Furniture
Perhaps your basement or garage is filled with unused furniture. Many furniture items can be adapted into laundry cabinets. In addition, older furniture can be quite attractive, which will significantly improve the look of your laundry room. An antique breakfront or kitchen hutch can make a beautiful laundry cabinet. More appealing items can be stored in plain sight, while less appealing items can be hidden away in drawers. Old dressers, apothecary chests and armoires can also be reconfigured into laundry cabinets. Many armoires have room for hanging clothing, making them convenient for storing your ironing, dry cleaning or items which need mending.
Wire Shelving
Wire shelving has the advantage of being see-through, which means that you'll always be able to find just about any item in your laundry room. In addition, wire shelving adjusts easily, so that you can reconfigure its shelving to suit your laundry storage needs. Another benefit of wire shelving is that it typically costs little. Finally, wire shelving is often stackable, which means you can create storage from floor to ceiling. You can store laundry items directly on wire shelving, or you can separate your laundry into various bins and stack these on the shelves.
Other Items to Repurpose
If you comb your attic and basement, as well as local thrift stores and antique stores, you will find many items that can be used for laundry cabinets. A bank of old lockers can make for practical yet shabby chic laundry storage. Cubby-hole systems can be used to store delicates. Large baskets can be placed on wheels and used to hold laundry, or even hung on the wall. If you use an arrangement of basket colors and shapes for this purpose, it will look almost like an art piece, even while it serves a useful purpose. Old suitcases can be filled with various laundry items and stacked; if you have a set of strongly built suitcases, you can even remove one panel from each and then hang them on the wall as open shelving. Hat boxes are similarly stackable, as well as picturesque.
Unconventional Storage Solutions
If you have a unique item, like an old dollhouse or birdcage, you can use it for decorative yet functional shelving. Bookcases also make for practical shelving systems, especially if their shelves are deep. Old trunks can make for handsome hampers. Finally, you should always consider whether your laundry cabinets truly need replacing. Perhaps it works well for storage, but you are unhappy with its look. Why not try giving it a fresh coat of paint, re-organizing it or covering its less attractive shelves with a visually appealing curtain or skirt? If your problem is insufficient storage space, but you otherwise like your laundry cabinet, why not supplement your laundry room's storage areas instead of getting rid of it? Pot racks and antique ladders take up little space but offer plenty of hanging options. In addition, there's usually room in any laundry room for additional shelving, even if you have to go up to the ceiling. Once you add shelving, try adding a hanging rod below it, as this will provide room for hanging dress shirts and other items. You can store laundry in rolling carts, which can be easily stowed beneath craft tables or under counters.
Tags: your laundry, laundry room, your laundry room, laundry cabinets, laundry storage, addition there
