I am mulling over the same issue for my laundry room. One thing I am considering is installing a rod or pipe across the width of the room as high up as I can reach. But my laundry room is only 6+ feet wide.

I too have looked at the devices sold for this purpose and none are large enough or heavy duty enough for my purposes.

Exactly! I keep thinking the perfect thing would be a rod that retracts so it's out of the way, but easy to get to when we need it. I thought of using a towel rack or grab bar but don't think they'll work well...

I can't tell from any of your pics, but is there room to put a retractable clothesline that would run from the right side of the W/D to the wall above your folding counter?

Or how about a foldaway hanger?

Here is a link that might be useful: InstaHANGER

Thanks for the link, Natal. I think the InstaHanger might do it if I can find a spot with the right clearance. The WD end of the room is narrower than the opposite end so anything down there inhibits opening the dryer. I wish we had thought about this more when we designed the room.

I have a similar problem, but with less space to work with. I've considered hanging a retractable drying line, but so far the best solution was a portable drying rack that I can wheel out into the hallway, then put back in. Not ideal, esp. since when we had out house built we paid $ to have an exhaust fan added to the laundry room... but failed to take into consideration how much of our drying space would be taken by our machines + pedestals (and with me being over 5'10 and DH being over 6'4, the pedestals aren't going anywhere anytime soon).

This is clearer in my head than it will be in words, and my mock-up is messy, sorry. But what if you basically took what you have now and raised it up near the ceiling -- I'd say TO the ceiling, but assuming you want to retain storage, I mocked it up to near.

Then replace the scrollwork bracket with a solid one, and run a pole between it and the cabinet on the right. The dashed red line is my guesstimate to where most of your clothes would fall, and would still leave you a functional folding table.

They make the extending rod like you are mentioning for ikea closets. I have added the link below. It may work if you put your laundry away after every load so wouldn't work in my house :) The link would not add, do a search for

Komplement pull out clothes rail or item number 70141153

I am having a similar issue and thinking of moving my washer and dryer about 20' apart and adding a small pole between them for the hangups. I wish I could put it a little high and then have space for the rolling laundry sorter under it, unfortunately I am to short.

OR, if I could have custom pedestals made to get them a little higher, I would have pull out laundry sorters under the washer/dryer.

I appreciate the mockup, Avesmor--that makes sense, but I think we might run into issues moving the shelf because it's on the pocket door wall, which is hollow down that end. Not sure if it would work but I like the idea. On the other hand, a smaller rail will force me to put clothes away promptly. I'll add the Ikea rod to my list of options--the price ($5.00) is certainly right.

I like that instahanger. I have a rod over my counter (which is for folding), and it may be higher than yours, although I wouldn't guess alot. Most of our things work on it though because most of our pieces are separates. Not alot of long items to hang. My rod does come out to one end past the countertop - so long things can be hung there.

I like the idea of beadboard but I'd go for a light pretty paint color (vs. bright).

tina

I was going to suggest the same thing as avesmor, but if that won't work with the pocket door, what about just mounting some decorative hooks under the shelf and dropping in a large dowel or rod. Instead of mounting something like these on the wall, just turn them over and mount under the shelf.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/twist-cast-iron-hardware/?pkey=chardware-knobs

I know this won't work for many laundry rooms but I bought a "laundry butler" that I wheel from the dryer to the washer to the folding area. I just happen to have a corner that it fits in perfectly but if you have wall to wall cabinets it probably won't work.

I like the mock-up that Avesmor did and was wondering if you could screw the brackets in the ceiling to hold the shelf instead of the wall with pocket doors.

For a very simple, but not very pretty solution - here's a wall mounted rod that collapses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hang N Hide

Thanks everyone for the great ideas--the Hang N Hide looks like it would work well too. I love the laundry butler but just don't have the space...I think I'll probably go with the Instahanger or Hang N Hide, since I can mount it on the back doorjamb.

I just bought one of these and can't wait to put it up. It's not exactly a hanging rod but I love how it retracts when not needed. I don't see why you couldn't use hangers on it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lehman's laundry rack

Here's a few options that may appeal. You could change the existing bracket to a bottom mount flat support and install a different solid bracket on the end from which you'd hang a pole or a retractable line. You could install a a few pull out glides like used for belts and ties that would extend out into the space and your hangers would be parallel not perpendicular to the wall. You could simply install a strong one armed towel bar to the solid portion of the cabinet.

Rosieo, that is a great rack. It wouldn't fit in my space but I'd like to see it in yours....
Abundantblessings, thanks for the options. I've ordered an Instahanger already but depending on how that goes may look into something else utilizing a new bracket. I appreciate the suggestions!

When I moved into my home, the painter installed a pole from one end of the room to the other in the back to hang clothes to dry for when they could not be dried completely in the dry for fear of shrinking them.

Sidney4, I love your laundry room and I love that metal wheeled cart you have that is perfect!

I wish that I even had a laundry room on the 1st or 2nd floor. I'm stuck in the basement with unfinished silver insulated concrete foundation walls. There is one little basement window at the very end, the only natural light. The floor in uneven (center drain), so that I cannot even put any tile down. I would like to make it pretty, but I really don't have the energy to deal with it. A few simple suggestions would be a big help. Maybe it would not be so depressing to do the laundry then!

they have vinyl or whatever it is! That is soft and pliable. It's really pretty. We are going to use it for the church sacristy. Some of the choices look like slate. I saw it at either Lowe's or Home Depot. It would do well on an uneven floor. Wish I could come over and help you fix up your laundry space : ))) I remember those days when I lived on the 3rd floor and did laundry in a basement with no windows. Having a laundry room off the kitchen is my favorite thing about our house. Wishing you a pretty laundry room soon!