It's not one of your questions, but the first thing I see is the sink not next to the washer. It doesn't matter in the drawing, but it does when they start planning the hookups. Unless you actually prefer it that way. I also would want more natural light where I was looking for stains and all that.

The closet as depicted is cheap to build and should work if you're careful. You could also change it out for cabinets for your various purposes. You could put in laundry sorter bins (by load type or person whose laundry it is), a paper cabinet, a broom closet, some drawers, etc. That will cost a lot more, though it will give you a more organized feeling. Consider doing a narrow pegboard pullout, like the IKEA hack, for hard to store skinnies like mops and brooms. It's much more efficient than hooks on the wall and gives you the space in the actual cupboard for buckets, etc., without blocking access to the skinnies. Other than something like that, however, try not to be too specialized so that in time to come it'll work just as well for you. For instance, if you have removable dividers for the wrapping paper, rather than built-in, it'll be easy to change to storage for lacrosse gear.

Make sure there are outlets in the storage for things like dustbusters or electric brooms.

The entry really cuts into the usability of that side wall. That's another place you could put paper storage, but only one roll thick. You can also make it as one or two drop down surfaces that have storage for flat papers, bags, etc., with elastics to hold them in place, and surface that opens when the box is down from the wall (use locking angle hardware, or well anchored chains). Then you can use the surface with all that lovely light from the window for spotting, sorting, folding, etc., and swing it up out of your way when you don't need it. You can have a similar surface on the wall behind where the door opens as well for when you need just more surface space and you're willing to close off the doorway to get it.

On the side wall by the washer, you could have tilt out drying racks, and some sweater drying solutions.

yes, some of the closet will have limited access, depending on how wide folding space is.

Wow - thanks for taking all the time to respond and make suggestions! Great ideas. Makes total sense to have sink right next to washer. One thing it made think of is whether we should move the door to the left so it is square with the back of the closet and make it a pocket door then....it would free up the space that the door is opening into now. Thoughts?

And I thought about a bigger window. However, I swear half our house cost is going to be windows/skylights/sun tunnels. We love bright and open!

If you swap out the washer and dryer with washer on the right, make sure your doors can be switched to open that way. My Miele has doors that are naturally backwards compared to american washers. Electrolux can be switched. But many can not.

plllog - thanks for the ideas. Yes, those steps are going to be open. I hadn't considered the possibility of the pocket door going into the area under the steps. That is a great idea as long as it doesn't mean lots of extra expense to do it that way. I will check out the skinnies broom closet idea - sounds convenient. Thanks again.

By extending the current door wall to the closet wall, may give you several options to enter the room with slider or conventional door. I like the pocket door idea too. What if you have the closet along the top side of your drawing. I wonder what that would do to your overall space with your new wall straight across, door to existing closet wall. I'm thinking that with the door moved out, you do create a corridor that is basically useless space. I also think that getting your w/d out of the corner will give you more elbow room. There could be the option of putting a narrow deep sink in between the w/d and have a wheely cart to transfer clothes between the 2 machines.