Small Laundry Room Cabinets: What Works and What to Avoid

You have a small laundry room and need cabinets to organize it. Maybe your laundry supplies are scattered, or you have no space to fold clothes. Small laundry room cabinets can maximize storage and organization in a compact space. But choosing the wrong cabinets can make the room feel smaller and less functional. Here’s what works and what to avoid when choosing cabinets for a small laundry room.

Small laundry room cabinets are storage units designed to fit in compact laundry spaces. Good cabinets use vertical space, fit above and beside the washer and dryer, and provide storage for detergent, stain removers, and laundry accessories. The key to choosing cabinets for a small laundry room is measuring the space, choosing the right size and depth, and maximizing vertical storage.

To choose small laundry room cabinets, measure the space first, choose shallow cabinets (12 to 15 inches deep), use vertical space, choose wall cabinets above the washer and dryer, add open shelving for easy access, and use the right products. Don’t choose deep cabinets, don’t block access to the washer and dryer, and don’t forget ventilation.

What Works

Measure the Space First

Measure the width, height, and depth of the space where cabinets will go. Leave at least 1 inch of clearance between cabinets and the washer and dryer.

Choose Shallow Cabinets

Choose cabinets that are 12 to 15 inches deep. Standard cabinets (24 inches deep) are too deep for a small laundry room and waste space.

Use Vertical Space

Install cabinets from the counter to the ceiling to maximize storage. Use the space above the washer and dryer for wall cabinets.

Choose Wall Cabinets Above the Washer and Dryer

Install wall cabinets above the washer and dryer for detergent, stain removers, and laundry accessories. This keeps supplies organized and within reach.

Add Open Shelving

Add open shelving for items you use often. Open shelves are easier to access than cabinets with doors and make the room feel larger.

Use a Folding Counter

Add a counter above the washer and dryer for folding clothes. A counter provides workspace and makes the room more functional.

Use Pull-Out Drawers

Use pull-out drawers or baskets in lower cabinets for easy access to laundry supplies. Pull-out drawers make it easy to reach items in the back.

Use Over-Door Storage

Use over-door hooks and racks for ironing boards, drying racks, and accessories. This saves wall space.

Use the Right Products

Store these products in your laundry room cabinets:

Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle

Stain removers: OxiClean Max Force Spray, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam

Odor absorber: Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

Machine cleaner: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

Laundry sanitizer: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Use Stackable Cabinets

Use stackable cabinets to maximize vertical space. Stack upper cabinets above lower cabinets for more storage.

Use Corner Cabinets

Use corner cabinets to use corner space that would otherwise be wasted.

Choose Light Colors

Choose light colored cabinets to make the room feel larger and brighter.

What to Avoid

Don’t choose deep cabinets. Standard 24-inch deep cabinets are too deep for a small laundry room. Choose 12 to 15 inch deep cabinets.

Don’t block access to the washer and dryer. Make sure cabinets don’t block the washer and dryer doors or controls. Leave at least 1 inch of clearance.

Don’t forget ventilation. Leave space for air circulation around the washer and dryer. Don’t install cabinets too close.

Don’t use floor cabinets only. Floor cabinets alone waste vertical space. Use wall cabinets above the washer and dryer.

Don’t choose dark colors. Dark cabinets make a small room feel smaller and darker. Choose light colors.

Don’t overcrowd the room. Too many cabinets make the room feel cramped. Choose cabinets that fit the space.

Don’t forget to measure. Measure the space before buying cabinets. Cabinets that don’t fit waste money and time.

Don’t use cabinets without doors for everything. Open shelving is good for often-used items, but cabinets with doors keep dust off supplies.

Comparison: Cabinet Types for Small Laundry Rooms

Cabinet Type	Depth	Best For	Space Saving
Wall cabinets	12 to 15 inches	Detergent, supplies	High
Base cabinets	24 inches	Bulky items	Medium
Open shelving	12 inches	Often-used items	High
Tall cabinets	12 to 18 inches	Full-height storage	High
Corner cabinets	Variable	Corner space	Medium
Pull-out drawers	15 to 24 inches	Easy access	Medium

FAQ

What cabinets are best for a small laundry room? Shallow wall cabinets (12 to 15 inches deep) above the washer and dryer are best for a small laundry room. They maximize vertical space and keep supplies within reach.

How deep should laundry room cabinets be? Choose cabinets that are 12 to 15 inches deep for a small laundry room. Standard 24-inch deep cabinets are too deep and waste space.

How do you maximize storage in a small laundry room? Use vertical space with wall cabinets above the washer and dryer, add open shelving, use a folding counter, use pull-out drawers, and use over-door storage.

Can you put cabinets above a washer and dryer? Yes. Wall cabinets above the washer and dryer are a great way to add storage. Leave at least 1 inch of clearance and don’t block controls.

What should you store in laundry room cabinets? Store detergent (Tide Free and Gentle), stain removers (OxiClean, Dawn dish soap, Shout foam), baking soda, affresh machine cleaner, Lysol sanitizer, and Amodex ink remover.

References

1. The Spruce. “Laundry Room Cabinet Guide.” thespruce.com.
2. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Room Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
3. Better Homes and Gardens. “Laundry Room Guide.” bhg.com.
4. Container Store. “Laundry Storage Guide.” containerstore.com.