Laundry Room Storage: Diy Guide

How to Build Laundry Room Storage

The laundry room is often the most disorganised space in the house, with various products and piles of clothes creating a disaster area. However, there are many ways to organise and maximise your laundry room with storage solutions. Whether you have a small or large space, there are plenty of DIY projects and ideas to transform your laundry room into a functional and stylish area. From floating shelves and drying racks to washer and dryer pedestals, you can create additional storage and improve the overall organisation of your laundry room.

Utilise the space above the washer and dryer

The space above your washer and dryer is prime real estate for additional storage. Here are some ideas to maximise this area:

• Install floating shelves to hold laundry essentials, cleaning supplies, or linens. Ensure the shelves are level and even, and consider adding baskets to organise your supplies.
• Place a shelf above your appliances and hang a retractable clothesline underneath. This provides an area to hang delicate items that can't go in the dryer, and it's easily stored away when not in use.
• Build or purchase a storage tower that fits in the space between your washer and dryer. This is a great spot to keep laundry detergent, stain removers, and other cleaning supplies.
• Install a clothing rod underneath a shelf to hang clothes that can't be dried in the dryer. This keeps them off the floor and neatly organised.
• If you have front-loading machines, skip the storage pedestals and install your washer and dryer under a counter instead. This provides a spacious countertop for folding laundry and doing pre-wash treatments.
• If you prefer to keep your pedestals, build or purchase storage pedestals with drawers or open cubbies. These can hold laundry baskets, cleaning supplies, or other laundry essentials.

Install a fold-away ironing board

A fold-away ironing board is a great way to save space in your laundry room. It's easy to build and has all the benefits of a regular ironing board, but without taking up precious room. When not in use, it can be folded flat against the wall, and when you need it, simply pull it down and start ironing. No more wrestling with a cumbersome board!

To install a fold-away ironing board, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Measure and Mark the Wall

First, decide on the ideal height for your ironing board. You may want to adjust it to your height, or that of other users. Mark the wall where you want the board to hang with a pencil, ensuring it's level.

Step 2: Attach the Brackets

Following the manufacturer's instructions, attach the brackets to the wall at the marked points. Make sure they are firmly secured and can bear the weight of the board and your ironing.

Step 3: Prepare the Ironing Board

Some fold-away ironing boards come with a pre-assembled board, while others require you to create the ironing surface. If yours is the latter, cut a piece of plywood to size and cover it with foam and fabric. This will be your ironing surface.

Step 4: Attach the Ironing Board

Now, attach the ironing board to the brackets. Ensure that it is secure and can be folded up and down with ease. You may want to test it a few times to make sure it's stable and ready for use.

Step 5: Add Any Finishing Touches

Some fold-away ironing boards come with additional features, like a heat shield or a shelf for your iron. If yours has these, be sure to install them according to the manufacturer's instructions. You can also add your own personal touches, like a decorative cover for the board when it's folded up.

Step 6: Test and Enjoy

Once you've installed your fold-away ironing board, give it a test run. Make sure it's secure, easy to fold up and down, and ready for all your ironing needs. Now you have a convenient, space-saving ironing solution!

Create a rolling laundry basket dresser

A rolling laundry basket dresser is a great way to organise your laundry room and save time when doing laundry. You can build it easily and at a low cost. The dresser can hold up to three laundry baskets, allowing you to sort your clothes beforehand. It can also be rolled from room to room for collecting laundry. When not in use, the top of the dresser can be used for additional storage.

Materials:

• Three laundry baskets
• Wood for the frame (amount varies depending on the size of the dresser)
• Wheels
• Nails or screws
• Tools for cutting and assembling the wood (e.g. saw, drill, hammer, screwdriver)

Steps:

• Measure and cut the wood to the desired size, ensuring it can accommodate the laundry baskets.
• Assemble the wood frame, creating a rectangular structure that is sturdy and stable.
• Attach the wheels to the base of the frame, ensuring they are secure and can roll smoothly.
• Place the laundry baskets inside the frame, ensuring they fit snugly.
• (Optional) Add a top to the frame for additional storage space. You can use wood or another material, such as plywood or MDF.
• (Optional) Paint or stain the dresser to match your laundry room decor.

Now you have a functional and mobile laundry basket dresser that helps keep your laundry room organised and saves you time when doing laundry!

Make use of wall space with a pegboard

Pegboards are a fantastic way to utilise wall space to create more storage in your laundry room. They are versatile, affordable, and can be customised to suit your needs.

Planning Your Pegboard

First, decide where you want your pegboard to go and what size you want it to be. Pegboards typically come in 4' x 8' sheets, and you can choose to cut them down to size or use the full sheet. Find the centre of your chosen wall and measure out the area where the pegboard will go.

Creating a Frame

You will need to create a frame for the pegboard so that it sits off the wall. Use a level to draw the perimeter of the rectangle, then find the studs in the wall and try to place your furring strips over them. You can use a chop saw to cut the wood strips to size, and a nail gun or electric screwdriver to hang them.

Adding Support

If you plan to hang heavier items, such as an iron and ironing board, consider adding more furring strips for support. Drill holes for the screws, ensuring that the majority are in studs. Mark off the studs above the pegboard, then attach the pegboard with screws, again making sure that most screws are in studs.

Finishing Touches

You can prime and paint the pegboard to match your laundry room decor. Once the paint is dry, you can hang your laundry supplies! Pegboards are perfect for hanging laundry bags, ironing boards, and other heavier items. They can also be used to hold smaller items like laundry detergent, stain removers, or other cleaning supplies.

Benefits of Pegboards

Pegboards are a great way to make use of wall space and keep your laundry room organised and clutter-free. They are versatile and can be customised to suit your needs, with hooks and shelves that can be rearranged as needed. They are also a sustainable and eco-friendly choice, as they are made from durable materials that resist wear and tear and can be easily expanded upon.

Add a clothing rod

Adding a clothing rod to your laundry room is a great way to increase its functionality and make doing laundry a breeze. Here are some steps and tips to help you add a clothing rod to your laundry room:

Planning and Materials

Before you begin, decide on the location for your clothing rod. A popular choice is to install it above your washer and dryer, utilizing the wall space behind them. You can also add a shelf above the rod for additional storage.

For this project, you will need the following materials:

• Standard closet rod brackets
• A closet rod
• A pre-cut melamine shelf (optional)
• Drywall anchors or plastic anchors and a masonry bit (depending on your wall type)
• Screws
• MDF planks or plywood strips
• Wood filler or spackle
• Paintable caulk
• Primer and paint
• Hangers

Installation Process

• Use Liquid Nails or a similar adhesive to attach MDF planks or plywood strips to the wall where you want your clothing rod to be. Make sure they are level!
• Reinforce the planks or strips with a nail gun.
• Fill any nail holes with wood filler or spackle.
• Apply paintable caulk around the seams for a finished look.
• Prime and paint the installed planks or strips to match your laundry room.
• Attach the closet rod brackets to the installed planks or strips, spacing them as far apart as possible. This will allow hangers to slide up and down the rod without obstruction.
• Cut a wooden rod to the length you need and attach it to the brackets with screws.
• If you're adding a shelf, cut a piece of wood to the appropriate length and attach it on top of the rod brackets.

Additional Tips:

• If you're using MDF, avoid using spackle for your nail holes as it can cause the MDF to swell. Wood filler is a better option.
• If you're installing shelves, consider using tilted shelves if you don't have a lot of vertical space. This makes it easier to access laundry baskets.
• You can also add labels to your clothing rod to indicate where different types of clothing should be hung, ensuring everything ends up in the right place.
• If you have shelves or cabinets above your washer or dryer, you can mount a towel bar or similar rod to the bottom for additional hanging space.

By adding a clothing rod to your laundry room, you'll create a functional space to hang clothes straight out of the dryer, making laundry day a little easier!

Frequently asked questions