Laundry storage in a bathroom should combine both function and style.
If your home does not have the added luxury of a separate laundry room, odds are that most of the household laundry ends up in the bathroom. Storing both dirty and clean laundry in a high-traffic bathroom creates a clutter nightmare. Innovative and utilitarian storage for both fresh linens and dirty laundry reduces the clutter and improves the overall appearance of both small and large bathrooms. Does this Spark an idea?
Laundry Baskets
Laundry baskets have come a long way since the plastic weaving and quilt-topped hampers of traditional styles. Choose a hamper or laundry basket that complements the colors and style of your bathroom. For a neutral-toned bathroom with sand-colored tiles and pale brown accents, a natural wood or bamboo hamper with a chocolate-colored cloth lining is a good choice. A simple wooden or fabric cover hides the clutter of dirty laundry.
For a more modern bathroom in a stark white and black color palette, a wide range of simple baskets made from seamless acrylic or plastic are good storage choices; add a bold color or pattern in a bright color like orange or lime for more festive storage and to give the space a pop of color.
If space is an issue, look for a hamper in a quarter-circle profile and tuck into the under-utilized corner spaces of your bathroom.
Cabinets and Shelving
In bathrooms, cabinets and shelving are most commonly used to store toiletries and cosmetics, but shelving units are also options for both dirty and clean laundry storage. Transform the cabinet space beneath the vanity into a laundry storage area. Fit two removable plastic bins in the under-counter storage area. Label the bins either colors or whites to promote easy separation for laundry time.
Built-in bookshelves are chic and functional additions to all bathrooms, but they are particularly well-suited for small bathrooms that are tight on floor space.
Tuck open cabinets into closets and provide shelves for both folded linens as well as small plastic or cloth bins for dirty laundry.
Hanging Storage
Keep laundry off the floor with hanging storage options that also double as laundry carriers when it's time to move to the laundry room. Simple over-the-door closet hooks traditionally used for hanging coats are options for suspending a cloth laundry bag. Hide the bags on the backs of closets to keep them out of sight. If you want to presort your laundry, consider simple alterations to a over-the-door closet organizer with several different pockets for storage of small items. Use a small knife or pair of scissor to remove the seams between some of the pockets to create larger pockets for separating colors, whites and delicates for easy washing.
Tags: dirty laundry, both dirty, both dirty clean, clean laundry, colors whites
