Laundry Room Cupboards: What Works and What to Avoid

Your laundry room is a 6 by 8 foot space with a washer, a dryer, and every cleaning product you own stacked on the floor. You’ve been meaning to add cupboards for months, but you don’t know where to start. What size? What material? Wall-mounted or freestanding? The wrong choice wastes money and creates more problems than it solves. The right choice turns a chaotic space into an organized one.

Laundry room cupboards are storage cabinets installed in a laundry room to hold detergent, fabric softener, cleaning supplies, and laundry accessories. They can be wall-mounted above the washer and dryer, freestanding on the floor, or a combination of both.

To choose laundry room cupboards, measure your space first, pick a material that handles humidity (metal, sealed wood, or laminate), choose between wall-mounted and freestanding based on your layout, and prioritize accessibility over capacity. The best cupboards keep frequently used items within arm’s reach and rarely used items out of the way.

Types of Laundry Room Cupboards

Wall-mounted cabinets. Mounted above the washer and dryer, these provide enclosed storage without taking up floor space. They’re the most common choice for laundry rooms because they use vertical space. The drawback: they require wall studs for installation and can be expensive.

Freestanding cabinets. Floor-standing cabinets don’t require wall installation. They’re a good option for renters or for laundry rooms with walls that can’t support wall-mounted cabinets. The drawback: they take up floor space, which is limited in small laundry rooms.

Tall cabinets (pantry style). Full-height cabinets that extend from floor to ceiling. They provide the most storage per square foot of floor space. The drawback: they can overwhelm a small room and may require professional installation.

Base cabinets with countertop. Cabinets installed at counter height with a countertop on top. The countertop provides a folding surface. The drawback: they take up floor space and may not fit in small rooms.

Open shelving with doors. A hybrid option: open shelves with cabinet doors. You get the accessibility of open shelving with the dust protection of cabinets. The drawback: less expensive than full cabinets but still requires wall installation.

Materials: What Holds Up in a Laundry Room

Laundry rooms are humid. The wrong material warps, molds, or rusts.

Material	Humidity Resistance	Durability	Cost	Best For
Solid wood (sealed)	Good	High	High	Premium cabinets
Plywood (sealed)	Good	High	Medium	Most cabinets
Laminate	Good	Medium	Low	Budget cabinets
MDF (sealed)	Fair	Medium	Low	Budget, dry rooms
MDF (unsealed)	Poor (warps)	Low	Low	Not recommended
Metal	Excellent	Very high	Medium	Utility cabinets
Wire	Excellent	High	Low	Ventilated storage

Sealed wood is the best choice for most laundry rooms. Plywood with a sealed finish (polyurethane or marine varnish) handles humidity well and lasts for years. Solid wood is more expensive but offers the same durability with a premium look.

Laminate is the budget option. It’s a thin layer of plastic over particleboard. It handles humidity well but is less durable than wood. Edges can peel over time, especially in humid rooms.

Metal is the most durable option. Powder-coated steel cabinets won’t warp, mold, or rust. They’re ideal for utility laundry rooms but may look too industrial for a home laundry room.

Avoid unsealed MDF. Medium-density fiberboard absorbs moisture and swells. Once it swells, it doesn’t recover. If you buy MDF cabinets, make sure they’re sealed on all sides, including the edges.

Sizing: What Fits Your Space

Before buying cupboards, measure your laundry room:

Above the washer and dryer: Most standard wall cabinets are 12 inches deep and 30 inches high. Measure the width of the wall above your washer and dryer. Leave at least 2 inches of clearance above the machines.

Floor space: If you’re adding freestanding or base cabinets, measure the floor space available. Leave at least 3 feet in front of the washer and dryer for loading and unloading.

Ceiling height: Standard wall cabinets are 30, 36, or 42 inches high. Choose the tallest that fits your ceiling while leaving at least 12 inches of clearance above the machines.

Depth: Wall cabinets are typically 12 inches deep. Base cabinets are typically 24 inches deep. Deeper cabinets hold more but take up more space.

What to Store Where

Eye level (most accessible):

• Detergent (daily use)
• Stain remover spray
• Fabric softener or vinegar
• Measuring scoop

Upper shelves (moderate access):

• affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablets
• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for laundry boosting
• Mesh laundry bags for delicates
• Iron and small ironing board

Lower cabinets (rare access):

• Bulk paper products
• Seasonal cleaning supplies
• Spare lightbulbs
• Extra laundry baskets

What to Avoid

Glass-front cabinets. Glass looks nice but shows clutter. If you don’t keep everything perfectly organized, glass-front cabinets make the mess visible.

Open shelving without bins. Open shelves collect dust and look cluttered without bins to contain items. If you choose open shelving, use labeled bins.

Cabinets that are too deep. Deep cabinets (more than 15 inches for wall cabinets) make it hard to reach items in the back. You end up pulling everything out to find what you need.

Unsealed wood. Unsealed wood absorbs moisture in a laundry room and can warp or grow mold. Always seal wood cabinets with polyurethane or marine varnish.

Overloading cabinets. Detergent jugs are heavy. A shelf that holds 30 pounds can handle about 4 jugs, not 10. Check the weight capacity before loading.

FAQ

What are the best cupboards for a laundry room? Wall-mounted cabinets above the washer and dryer are the most practical choice for most laundry rooms. They use vertical space, keep supplies enclosed, and don’t take up floor space. Choose sealed wood or laminate for humidity resistance.

How deep should laundry room cabinets be? Wall cabinets should be 12 inches deep. Base cabinets should be 24 inches deep. Deeper cabinets hold more but make it harder to reach items in the back. Don’t exceed 15 inches for wall cabinets.

Can you use kitchen cabinets in a laundry room? Yes. Kitchen cabinets work well in laundry rooms and are available in matching sizes and finishes. Make sure they’re properly anchored to wall studs and can handle the weight of detergent and supplies.

How high should laundry room cabinets be? Wall cabinets should be at least 2 inches above the washer and dryer. Standard height is 54 inches from the floor to the bottom of the cabinet. Leave at least 12 inches of clearance above the machines.

What material is best for laundry room cupboards? Sealed wood (plywood or solid wood with polyurethane finish) is the best choice for most laundry rooms. It handles humidity well and lasts for years. Metal is the most durable but looks industrial. Laminate is the budget option.

How much do laundry room cupboards cost? Wall-mounted cabinets cost $100 to $400 each. Freestanding cabinets cost $150 to $600. Tall pantry-style cabinets cost $200 to $800. Installation adds $100 to $500 if you hire a professional.

How do you organize laundry room cupboards? Keep frequently used items at eye level, rarely used items on upper or lower shelves, use labeled bins for small items, decant detergent into pump dispensers, and store only laundry-related items in the room.

References

1. The Spruce. “Laundry Room Cabinet Ideas.” thespruce.com.
2. HGTV. “Laundry Room Storage Solutions.” hgtv.com.
3. Better Homes & Gardens. “Laundry Room Cabinets.” bhg.com.
4. This Old House. “How to Install Laundry Room Cabinets.” thisoldhouse.com.