How to Turn Any Room Into a (Part) Laundry Room

Even if space isn’t at a premium, a whole room devoted just to doing laundry can seem wasteful. In fact, given that when you’re engaged in this time-consuming chore you’re inevitably multitasking, why not place your washer and dryer in a location that makes it easier to double up on household duties or squeeze in some recreation between loads?

You can turn just about any room in your home into a full-function laundry without sacrificing its main purpose. Some of these dual-use spaces keep the washer and dryer on full display, while others keep them out of sight when not in action. So, take a look and get planning. Who knows—once you’ve created one of these flexible laundry spaces, you may even find yourself looking forward to folding towels.

Do you have an extra closet?

It’s great for storing clothes, but you can put it to work cleaning and drying them instead, and all behind closed doors. This solution is the easiest way to keep your taskmasters handy but tidily concealed.

Pantries are a common feature in older homes

Today many people find that they don’t require quite so much space to store food. Having the laundry close to the kitchen is exceptionally convenient when it’s time to cook dinner and there’s still wash left to finish.

Hidden kitchen laundry

While the kitchen is a logical place for the washer and dryer since it is the epicenter of most homes, that doesn’t mean you want the world to know they’re there. Stacked units can be hidden behind cabinet doors, though a washer and dryer sitting side by side under the counter would work as well, and you’d have the perfect place to do some folding.

Decorated basement

It isn’t uncommon for the washer and dryer to be relegated to an unfinished basement, but just because the area is unfinished doesn’t mean you need to dread your time in exile, scrubbing out stains. A few decorative touches can go a long way toward making a cold basement more welcoming. A rug and some curtains help create a fun area to brighten up the dreary task.

Laundry in the mudroom

If you put the washing machine in the mudroom, you can stop the kids from walking through the house in dirty, grass-stained clothes. There’s also a good chance you already have a water hookup from a utility sink.

The dressing area

A real clotheshorse may find that it’s easiest to get the laundry done right where all the action is, inside a spacious walk-in closet or dressing area. It’s the perfect place to clean your clothes, and you’ll need fewer trips back and forth when it’s time to put things away. You’ll just have to be willing to sacrifice a little room next to your shirts and shoes.