What Every Laundry Room Needs

Photo: iStock.com/onurdongel

The art of doing good laundry (that’s right, there’s art involved) is typically looked at as more of a chore. Whether you’re washing for one or churning out multiple loads of fresh and crisp laundry every week for an entire family, the trick to getting the most out of the experience is to design your ritual and pick the right tools that will set the right mood and practically do the work for you.

Organization Tips for Your Laundry Room

A well-organized and well-stocked laundry room is an efficient and blissful laundry room. In addition to the essential laundry supplies (we’ll get to them in a minute), like any room in your home – especially one that gets as much traction and use as the laundry room – the key is to set up adequate storage space so that you’re not spending as much time sorting and tidying as you are on actually doing the laundry. The point of setting up and investing in your laundry room is to save you time, energy, and to make it as efficient – and enjoyable – experience as possible.

Start with Your Storage Game

Everyone’s laundry game is different. Some people are more of a toss into the washer, transfer to dryer, toss into laundry basket, distribute to owners, repeat. Others prefer to take a more methodical approach that includes sorting, hanging, and folding while the clothes is still warm and fresh from the dryer (highly recommended). But there is no right or wrong way.

Here are a few storage essentials that will help to keep any laundry room organized, whether it spans a few hundred square feet, or consists of a tiny space under the stairs:

  • Hangers
  • Shelves (pro tip: keeping your laundry detergent and supplies stacked neatly above the machine can save precious time and space, but if space is an issue a storage cube or crate wherever you have space will do the job too)
  • Storage cubes (various sizes for washing supplies like detergent and to sort and separate your laundry)
  • Rack to hang clothes that can’t go in the dryer or needs to be steamed/pressed before folding or storing in the closet
  • A table or folding surface

The Extras

Chances are that you will have a spill on your hands at some point, whether it’s a leak from the washing machine itself, a detergent spill, or an unattended latte that makes its way onto the floor. Keep a cleaning kit that’s dedicated just to your laundry room or space to eliminate additional stress or scrambling to find supplies when the inevitable accident or required clean up happens:

  • Kitchen towels
  • Sponges
  • Spray bottles with water
  • Rubber gloves
  • Paper towels
  • Broom and dust pan (that lint tray won’t empty itself out after all!)
  • Bath mat to soak up excess water or leaks by the washing machine (hint: it also gives the space a nice homey touch and is a great way to add a pop of color)

The Ambiance

The tools are obviously important in order to get the job done, but creating the ritual that will turn laundry into more of a relaxing experience than a chore all comes down to personal preference. From adding fairy lights or colorful art to the walls to setting up a desk space or comfy chair (or hammock or whatever you desire – this is your dream laundry room after all), personal touches can make all the difference.

Here are a few things you can multitask while your clothes are in the wash:

  • Read a book
  • Listen to a podcast or a new piece of music
  • Meditate
  • Grab a yoga mat and stretch if possible

You can always catch up on other chores like answering emails or paying bills too, but where’s the fun in that?