Laundry Room Storage Approaches to Maximize Every Inch

Measurements come first here, because a good-looking piece in the wrong spot still fails. If there's one space in the house that has to work hard, it's the laundry room. Laundry rooms don't always get the attention they deserve, but when they're not working well, it's pretty hard to ignore. Limited storage, cluttered countertops, and nowhere to put everyday essentials can quickly turn a simple load of laundry into a dreaded task.

The good news is that with a few smart storage solutions, this often-overlooked space can become so much more functional (and prettier to look at too)!

Today I'm sharing all of the preferred laundry room storage approaches and solutions. Whether you're working with a tiny closet-sized space or a full laundry room, these approaches will help you maximize storage, keep clutter under control, and create a space that makes everyday laundry tasks feel more manageable. (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})

Put the Gap Between Your Washer and Dryer to Work

The space between your washer and dryer is prime real estate, so don't let it go to waste! A narrow rolling cart fits perfectly in this spot and is great for storing laundry essentials so they're easy to grab when you need them.

I used {this rolling cart} that's less than 7″ wide between the washer and dryer in our previous home:

In our current home, we have {this similar rolling cart} with three shelves:

The top shelf holds our powder detergent in a hinged storage bin plus a silicone-sleeved spray bottle filled with our stain remover spray. The middle shelf holds a small bin for dryer lint, {these washing machine cleaning tablets}, and {this wipe dispenser} filled with {these cleaning wipes}. And on the bottom shelf we have laundry bags for delicates and {this acrylic dryer sheet holder}:

Make Use of Magnetic Organizers

Some of the smartest laundry room organizers take advantage of the fact that your washer and dryer are magnetic! One stylish option is {this set of two magnetic bins}:

The larger bin is for dryer lint, and the smaller bin is for rogue, mateless socks. The magnets are super strong, so they stay attached very securely:

If you like to hang dry some of your laundry, {this magnetic hanger holder} would come in handy for keeping a supply of hangers close at hand:

And if you're a dryer ball lover like me, consider {this magnetic dryer ball holder} for corralling them in a neat, organized way:

This holder also comes with mounting hardware for hanging it on a wall if you'd prefer that over placing it on the side of your washer or dryer.

Clear Up Floor Space With a Wall-Mounted Drying Rack

A wall-mounted drying rack is a great way to dry clothes without taking up valuable floor space in your laundry room. We used {this very simple wall-mounted clothes hanger} in the laundry room of our previous home. When not in use, it folds flat against the wall, but when pulled out, it opens up to provide rod space for hanging multiple shirts to dry:

If you want to be able to hang-dry clothes without a hanger, consider a rack that accordions out like {this wall mount drying rack}:

or one that folds down from the top like {this wall mounted drying rack}:

If you're building a home and designing your laundry room from scratch, the DryAway system is a higher-end, built-in option for hang-drying your clothes (I'm hoping to incorporate this into the laundry room in our new build that's starting soon!):

Create Storage Space with Inexpensive Cabinets or Shelves

If you have a bare wall above your washer and dryer, you are missing out on some serious storage space! Consider adding some inexpensive cabinets, like the IKEA SEKTION line of cabinets with AXSTAD doors that we added to the laundry room in our previous home for under $500:

You can get all the details on our cabinets in my post on our IKEA laundry room cabinets.

An even less expensive option is to add shelves with decorative baskets or bins like {these striped canvas bins} we have in the laundry room of our current home. I added one of {these white clip-on labels} to each bin so we know exactly what's inside each one:

Save Space With a Collapsible Laundry Basket

If you struggle with where to store your laundry basket when it's not in use, consider getting one that's collapsible! I discovered collapsible laundry baskets when shopping for my daughter's dorm room several years back, and now I totally swear by them. A few options include {this collapsible laundry basket} and {this similar version}.

While they function like a normal laundry basket when extended,

they're only a few inches tall when collapsed, so you can store them under a bed, in a cabinet, or in a number of other tight spaces:

Create Folding and Storage Space on Top of Your Washer and Dryer

If you have a front-loading washer, with just a little tweaking, you have the perfect spot right on top of your washer and dryer for folding clothes. A super inexpensive way to create this is with {this magnetic “fence”} that surrounds the top of your washer and/or dryer to keep clothes from falling over the sides or back. You can use it on top of either your washer or dryer OR…

you can add two sections to the “fence” so when they sit side by side, it surrounds them both:

The magnetic fence system even includes a silicone strip to place between your washer and dryer so you don't lose anything down the crack:

If your washer and dryer are side by side, a more stylish option is to add a premade washer and dryer countertop with edge rails like {this one} that comes in a variety of finishes:

And lastly, you can add your own custom-sized wall-to-wall countertop above your washer and dryer like we did in our last home. We used a solid piece of butcher block that rested on top of wood cleats that were anchored to the wall:

Don't Forget a Water Detector

While this has nothing to do with laundry room storage, it has everything to do with protecting it! I'm a firm believer that every laundry room should have a water detector that alerts you when water is sensed on the floor so you can save yourself from a full laundry room flood. It's just a small device like this one that you place on the floor next to your washer:

When water is sensed, it alarms and, if you bought one that integrates with your phone, sends you a phone alert too! These alarms used to be pricey but are now very budget-friendly. Two highly rated options that send phone alerts are {this smart leak detector} and {this smart leak detector}, which both come in 3-packs (these detectors are great for under sinks too!).

So what do you think – are any of these space-saving solutions ones that you'd like to put to use in your own laundry room? If you want other approaches for upgrading your laundry room, these are a few past posts that would be helpful:

Laundry Room redo Approaches

Laundry Stripping Recipe

Our IKEA Laundry Room Cabinets

Second Floor Laundry Room Pros, Cons, & Pointers

And if you're wondering about the tangerine wallpaper in pics of the laundry room of our previous home, those are actually decals that are super simple to apply! Look at my post on vinyl wall decals for more info.

Want inspiration for getting other rooms in your home organized? Look at my post on 20 home organization approaches. I'll see you back next week when we'll be tackling the mess under your kitchen sink together!

XO,