Laundry Room Designs: Practical Layouts That Make Washing Easier
Laundry Room Designs: Practical Layouts That Make Washing Easier
Your laundry room is a cramped corner with a washer and dryer crammed side by side, a single shelf above, and a pile of dirty clothes on the floor. You dread going in there. The space doesn’t work, and every load of laundry feels like a struggle. A good laundry room design can change that. You don’t need a huge space or a big budget. You need a layout that works for your space and your habits. Here’s how to plan a laundry room design that makes washing easier.
Laundry room design is the arrangement of appliances, storage, and workspace in a laundry area. A good design optimizes the available space for sorting, washing, drying, folding, and storing laundry. The best design depends on the room size, the appliances, and how you use the space.
To design a laundry room, measure the space, choose a layout (side-by-side, stacked, or L-shaped), add storage above and beside the appliances, include a folding surface, ensure good lighting and ventilation, and add a sorting system. Keep the design functional over decorative.
Laundry Room Layouts
Side-by-Side Layout
The most common layout: washer and dryer next to each other along one wall.
Best for: Rooms at least 5 feet wide.
Benefits: Easy to transfer clothes from washer to dryer. Counter space above both appliances for folding.
Drawback: Requires more floor space than other layouts.
Stacked Layout
Washer and dryer stacked vertically in a single column.
Best for: Small spaces, closets, and narrow rooms.
Benefits: Saves floor space. Good for apartments and small homes.
Drawback: Harder to load and unload the top machine. No counter space above.
L-Shaped Layout
Appliances on one wall, storage or workspace on the adjacent wall.
Best for: Corner rooms or rooms at least 6 feet wide.
Benefits: More counter and storage space. Separates appliances from workspace.
Drawback: Requires more space than a straight layout.
Closet Layout
Laundry appliances in a closet or small nook.
Best for: Apartments, tiny homes, and homes without a dedicated laundry room.
Benefits: Hidden when not in use. Saves space.
Drawback: No room for storage or folding. Limited ventilation.
Essential Elements of a Laundry Room
Counter space for folding. A flat surface at a comfortable height (36 inches) for folding clothes. If you have side-by-side machines, a counter over both is ideal.
Storage for supplies. Shelves or cabinets for detergent, stain removers, and other supplies. Keep them within arm’s reach of the machines.
Sorting bins. Baskets or hampers for sorting laundry by color or fabric type. Three bins (darks, lights, delicates) are enough for most homes.
Hanging rod. A rod for hanging shirts and delicates to air dry. Even a small rod above the machines is useful.
Good lighting. Bright overhead lighting so you can see stains and sort colors accurately.
Ventilation. A window, exhaust fan, or dehumidifier to prevent mold and mildew from the moisture produced by washing.
Sink. A utility sink for pre-treating stains and hand-washing delicates. If space allows, a sink is very useful.
Drying rack. A wall-mounted or fold-out drying rack for air-drying delicates.
Storage Solutions
Wall cabinets. Install cabinets above the appliances for detergent, stain removers, and other supplies. Keep them at arm’s reach.
Open shelving. Open shelves are less expensive than cabinets and keep supplies visible and accessible.
Pull-out hampers. Pull-out hampers built into the cabinetry keep dirty laundry hidden and sorted.
Over-door storage. Use the back of the door for hanging storage organizers.
Appliance gap filler. Use the gap between or beside appliances for slide-out storage.
Small Laundry Room Ideas
If your laundry room is small, focus on vertical space and multi-functional elements:
- Stack the washer and dryer to save floor space
- Install shelves above the machines
- Use a fold-down table for folding
- Mount a drying rack on the wall
- Use over-door storage for supplies
- Choose a narrow utility sink
- Use stackable sorting bins
FAQ
What is the best laundry room design? The best design depends on your space. Side-by-side is best for rooms at least 5 feet wide. Stacked is best for small spaces. L-shaped is best for corner rooms. Include counter space for folding, storage for supplies, sorting bins, and good lighting.
How do you design a small laundry room? Stack the washer and dryer, install shelves above, use a fold-down table for folding, mount a drying rack on the wall, use over-door storage, and choose stackable sorting bins. Focus on vertical space.
What do you need in a laundry room? Counter space for folding, storage for supplies, sorting bins, a hanging rod for air drying, good lighting, ventilation, and ideally a utility sink for pre-treating stains.
How much space do you need for a laundry room? A side-by-side layout needs at least 5 feet of width. A stacked layout needs about 2.5 feet of width. Include at least 3 feet of clearance in front of the machines for loading and unloading.
Should you have a sink in the laundry room? If space allows, yes. A utility sink is useful for pre-treating stains, hand-washing delicates, and soaking items. If space is tight, skip the sink and use a nearby kitchen or bathroom sink.
How do you add storage to a laundry room? Install wall cabinets or open shelving above the appliances, use pull-out hampers in the cabinetry, add over-door storage, and use slide-out storage in the gap between appliances.
References
- The Spruce. “Laundry Room Design Ideas.” thespruce.com.
- HGTV. “Laundry Room Layouts.” hgtv.com.
- Better Homes and Gardens. “Laundry Room Planning Guide.” bhg.com.
- Houzz. “Laundry Room Design Tips.” houzz.com.
