10 essential laundry room organisation ideas recommended by experts

Even if you’re fortunate enough to have a room specifically allocated to laundry you might still find it challenging to keep it somewhat ordered and functional. With the weekly load of washing loaming over you, having tips and tricks to help keep the space streamlined will make a world of difference.

No matter how much space you have, knowing mindful home organisation ideas to make your laundry room more efficient will stop you from feeling overwhelmed by any amount of laundry. Every small laundry room idea ensuring that space stays ordered and peaceful will stop that feeling of dread creeping up every time you think of putting a load on.

From creating practical folding stations to choosing the right storage compartments, these simple ideas for organising a laundry room offer easy ways of creating order when doing chores. 

Laundry room organisation ideas: 10 expert tips

Thoughtful laundry room organisation ideas are all you need to maintain order when tending to household chores, to avoid common laundry mistakes that can make a house untidy.

Whether you are a daily washer or have a designated washing day, being overwhelmed by piles of laundry in a busy family home is a common occurrence. These small-space organisation solutions can help in keeping laundry rooms looking chic rather than chaotic. 

1. Keep it simple

One error that can easily be made when trying to be super efficient and organised is trying to make a small space too multi-functional by cramming lots into it. Just keep it simple. Decluttering is key to any successfully organized space.

A laundry room should be used for just that and nothing else, according to Marie Mandeville from Tailor My Space, a professional organising company. 

“Only keep laundry room-related items in the laundry room,” says Marie. “If you don’t have the space, don’t try and create it. For example, if your laundry room is not large enough to fold clothes once they are dry go ahead and take them out of the space.”

2. Get into a good routine

Whether washing your bed sheets or washing your towels setting alarms to remind you when the laundry is done being washed and then dried, will set your focus on finishing the job at hand. Folding the laundry right then and there in your laundry room and putting it straight away, prevents letting it gather in neverending piles that make the space feel less organised.  

“When you go to start a load of laundry, aim to be committed to the task until it is finished – meaning all the clothes are put away,” says Christina Colas from professional organising company Abundant Organizing.

“Having a routine for your laundry and a system for doing it from start to finish - with all the clothes being put away in their place - is what gets you to the finish line and keeps your laundry room organised.”

3. Label laundry essentials

Labels are the unsung hero of any organised laundry room, similar to an organised pantry, whether it be for the laundry bins or the laundry detergent jars.

Making it clear about what goes where means that everyone in the household knows where their laundry is supposed to be deposited. Then the organization becomes a shared responsibility, rather than the onus landing on one person’s shoulders. 

“Clearly label the bins that are designated for sorting so everyone who brings laundry to the laundry room can sort dirty laundry,” says Michele Vig from full-service organisational solution company Neat Little Nest. "This also means that anyone in the family can throw in a load of laundry when a sorting bin gets full."

4. Choose a laundry solution with compartments

Separating the white clothes from colours or delicates from the everyday cotton before they even reach the machine should be the first step in keeping the laundry organised. 

“Choose a location for dirty laundry and start the sorting process before you even start the laundry washing process,” says Christina. “A four-section laundry sorter is a great option allowing you to sort darks, lights, towels, and delicates. Then it can be rolled up to the washer when it's time to wash.” 

5. Designate an area for folding

Carve out room for a dedicated 'folding station'. Adding a shelf to your space or designating a surface specifically for folding laundry can be a game-changer when it comes to keeping a laundry organised according to Christina. 

“The best way to keep a laundry room organised is to follow through with a routine which involves folding any laundry that needs to be folded and then putting all away," Christina explains. This accessible area makes drying clothes indoors easier to deal with.

"If you have a designated area for folding laundry in your laundry room, then you can immediately fold it as soon as you take clothes out of the dryer or off a clothes rack. If you tend to hang a lot of your clothes, then have extra hangers so that you can quickly transition the clothes from the laundry room to the closet.”

Additionally keeping a counter clear makes the space less crowded, similar to how keeping counters clear in a small kitchen makes it feel bigger.

6. Introduce a zone for ironing

As an incentive to get the job done from start to finish, one of the first rules of keeping a laundry tidy and organised, consider keeping an iron and ironing board close to hand.

Doing so means clothes can be taken straight from the dryer or airer and be pressed ready to be transferred into your closet, rather than hanging around the laundry waiting for the magical ironing fairy to come along and sort it out.  

“Storing the iron and ironing board in the laundry room is always a good idea,” says Christina. “Find a spot to hang it that is easily accessible but frees up space when not in use.” Vertical wall space can also be used to hang lint rollers, scissors, and all those other utility/cleaning items. Using a pegboard for versatility or a good command hook always gets the job done.

7. Add storage cabinets

No matter how organised you can try to be in a laundry room, if all your dirty washing and boxes of detergent are on display it can look like a cluttered space again very quickly. The same applies to even the most organised of kitchens. “I like plenty of cabinets because it is a great way to not see what's in the space," says Marie. 

Like organised kitchen cupboards not only can they hide detergents, soap, and personal items such as underwear that you would rather your granny didn’t have to see but if your laundry machines are in an open space such as your kitchen, it is perfect for hiding them away and creating a mess-free, functional zone.

8. Incorporate a drying rack

Incorporating a fold-away drying rack directly with the room means that freshly washed laundry doesn't spill out into other rooms. Laundry is contained in one dedicated space to ensure the rest of the house isn't left looking untidy while your laundry is drying. Maybe consider using a dehumidifier to help dry laundry quicker.

Having a wall-mounted rack or a clothesmaid that is elevated out of the way ensures that once the laundry is dry you can minimise the impact of the drying rack on the concise organisation levels of your laundry room.

Of course, one of the best heated clothes airers is always a good idea, and you'll be surprised by how much it costs to run a heated clothes airer – before that puts you off.

Wall mounted folding laundry clothes drying rack: £29.99 at B&Q

You can mount this drying rack in your laundry room or outdoors depending on your preference. However its a great space-saver for indoor use as it completely folds up out of sight.

9. Cut out the clutter

More ‘stuff’ means more work for you to do in the laundry to keep it looking organised. Trying to put an organisation plan into place when you can’t see the wood for the trees – or the washing basket for the laundry in this case – is tough.

Use the time you are spending on clothes washing and sorting to regularly declutter clothes items and throw away anything that no longer serves you. 

“Don’t forget to part ways with anything that is stained or tattered. This allows you to make room for what you actually will use,’ says Christina. “The less you have to maintain, the easier it is to maintain. By simplifying your spaces, it means you are therefore simplifying your life.”

10. Install a laundry chute

If there's enough budget then consider reconfiguring your whole approach to your existing laundry room. By building a laundry chute from a bathroom or landing area, clothes, and linens can be sent down and landed straight in the laundry room. 

It cuts out the time and helps everyone keep on top of their dirty items, rather than finding odd socks under the bed. “My ideal laundry would be two sets of washers and dryers, a counter for folding, and a laundry chute from the hallway,” says Marie. 

FAQs

How do you maximise space in a laundry room?

Taking on board organisational tips to make your space work smarter and harder for you, and staying on top of the washing workload, means you don’t necessarily need to have a huge laundry to make it work. 

“The best way to maximize your laundry space is to have clear zones for sorting, washing, drying and to do your laundry regularly so it doesn’t pile up and become overwhelming," suggests Michele. 

"Having too much dirty laundry in the laundry room or having clean clothes in baskets, but not putting away leads to a lot of the clutter that is found in laundry rooms today." Incorporate your laundry into daily habits to keep your house clean and tidy.

How can I make my laundry room more functional?

There are hundreds of products on the market that promise to offer the perfect transformational solution to help you organise your space. But Michele says instead of spending money on fancy new items, keep it simple and instead consider where you are locating things to make the space work better for you.

“The top things to improve function in a laundry room are a counter for folding, sorting bins to put dirty laundry, a shelf/cabinet near the washer and dryer to store laundry care items, and a place to hang clean clothes,” Michele suggests.

How do you organise towels in a laundry room?

Making your laundry and linen closet look hotel-ready can be deeply satisfying, the same as making your bedroom feel like a luxury hotel. And there is a simple special knack to organising bundles of fresh fluffy towels straight out of the dryer, that can help you achieve this, says professional organiser Marie Mandeville from Tailor My Space. See our expert advice on how to soften towels to ensure they are ultra-fluffy.

“Find one fold and fold them all the same way,” she says. Thankfully you don’t have to be perfect at this to get the desired result, there is another way; “Think bins. This is a great way to store linens that are not perfectly folded.”

Once your laundry room is organised, why not try some kitchen organisation ideas and transform your countertops? Knowing how to organise your kitchen counters can mean more space for cooking and your space can look so much bigger too.