#1 The Hamper:
Where It All Begins
Whether you live in a house with a slightly cramped laundry room or a studio apartment with a basement laundry facility, there’s a laundry hamper for small spaces that suits your particular needs. Slender ones have a small footprint, allowing them to be tucked away in the corner of a closet or other tight spaces. Corner hampers literally fit into corners, making the most of a famously tricky-to-use spot. A wheeled laundry cart rolls where it's needed, eliminating the need for an additional laundry basket. Collapsible hampers fold away for easy storage when not in use, and door-hanging fabric ones utilize an out-of-the-way spot and double as laundry bags when it’s wash day.
#2 Washer/Dryer Combos:
Two Become One
Wildly popular in Europe for years, combination washer-dryers have finally made their way to the U.S. These double-duty appliances eliminate the need for two bulky units, cutting the space necessary for doing laundry in half—and often costing the same that a separate washer and dryer would. Stackable machines or all-in-one stacked laundry centers are two other excellent small-space washer and dryer options, going vertical to save room. With the right-sized machines and proper plumbing, even a closet can become a laundry room.
#3 Cleaning Caddy:
Corral and Carry
Tote your clothes-cleaning essentials to the washing machine or building laundry room in a handy caddy. A divided caddy neatly stores detergent, bleach, stain solution, fabric softener, dryer sheets and more all in one spot, allowing you to grab and go, with a handle for easy carrying. Organization like this is key in small spaces, maximizing what precious storage there is. Stash your well-stocked yet compact caddy under a sink, in a closet or on a shelf between laundry days.
#4 Clothes Rack:
Air Dry Delicates
A clothes rack for small spaces provides the perfect spot for hanging those pieces that require a more delicate touch as they dry. Whether you choose a collapsible model or a more permanent wall-mounted rail, a clothes rack safely dries sweaters, silk garments, undergarments and any other items that can’t withstand the rigors of the dryer. A drying rack also lets you save electricity on those days when a quick dry isn’t of the essence—and is a game-changer if you don’t have a dryer. Over-the-door racks save floor space, while foldable models collapse for compact storage when not in use. Wall-mounted rails boast small footprints and plenty of on-trend style, making them perfect for homes without a lot of storage space. And if you choose a movable rack with a hanging bar, it can serve double duty as a coat rack during parties and family gatherings.
#5 Ironing Board:
Smooth Things Over
Give your clothes the perfect finish with a quick ironing session. Stowed away on over-door racks, full-size ironing boards provide helpful features such as garment shelves, heat-resistant iron rests, hanger racks, spray bottle holders, adjustable heights and cord guides. Smaller models boast many of the same great attributes. Tabletop options allow you to iron at a comfortably upright position with a more compact board. As another option, over-the-door boards fold up when ironing is complete, making them ideal for small-space living. For an all-in-one laundry command center, choose a wheeled sorting hamper with a built-in ironing board on top.
#6 Behind-the-Door Storage:
Make the Most of It
In a small space, behind-the-door storage is prime real estate for organizing essentials out of sight. Keep a full-size ironing board out of the way on an over-the-door rack, or hang a fold-up ironing board that takes up even less space. Hanging drying racks fit over the tops of doors to create an out-of-the-way spot to air dry delicates. Use an over-door utility rack to hold laundry bags, a folding board, mesh wash bags, and a mop, broom and dustpan. If you’ve already found other places to store all of these laundry room must-haves, make the most of the back of your laundry room door by mounting a mirror or hanging a set of hooks over the door to hold out-of-season coats.
#7 Folding Board:
Fold Like a Pro
Once your clothes are clean and dry, use a folding board to neatly and tightly fold your sweaters, t-shirts and more. Whether used on a countertop, table or the top of the dryer, a board allows you to create a tight flat fold and squeeze out most of the air that can add bulk. Clothes folded on a board take up less space in a drawer or on a shelf, staying neatly stacked and eliminating the dreaded toppling tower of sweaters. Folding boards themselves take up very little space, being constructed of thin yet sturdy plastic—or make a DIY version using just cardboard and tape.
#8 More Storage
If your laundry room doesn’t have any built-in storage, add some with floating shelves. Low-profile and visually unobtrusive, floating shelves hold detergent pods, fabric softener and other essentials. For a clean look, decant all cleaning products into clearly-labeled glass jars. Mason jars can also corral clothes pins, stain sticks and dryer sheets in style. Don’t forget to include scoops for measuring out powdered detergent, borax and oxygen cleaner.
We’d love to see how you’ve set up, organized and even decorated your petite laundry space. Share all your favorite small-space laundry room ideas, solutions and secret weapons with the hashtag #CrateStyle.
