Laundry Center

While there may be no scientific evidence to prove it, we all know that there’s a direct correlation between the quality of a laundry room space and how much we dread doing the laundry. Cramped, cluttered, or poorly arranged rooms slow the work and add to it a general sense of unpleasantness. And things get complicated when you can’t complete the laundry tasks in the laundry room—you have to hang up your sweaters to dry over the bathtub and do all the folding on the kitchen table.

If this sounds familiar, you’ll be glad to know that it doesn’t take much to turn an ordinary laundry area into an efficient storage and work center. Nor does it take a lot of space. The project shown here requires only about nine feet of wall area, including where the washer and dryer go. And with a few extra feet available on a nearby wall, you can add a hideaway ironing board that folds up into a recessed cabinet when not in use.

In addition to the space-saving ironing board, this project includes some practical features that could change the way you view laundry: washable laminated cabinets keep stored items dust free (great for stowing extra towels and linens, cleaning supplies, a sewing kit, etc.). Below one cabinet is a custom-built hanging shelf for holding detergent and stain removers within easy reach of the washer. A hanger rod between the cabinets accommodates dozens of drip-dry articles without getting in the way. And a full-depth, 4 feet long laminate countertop lets you fold clothes just a step from the dryer, while deep utility shelves below can store anything from laundry baskets to backup supplies from the wholesale store.