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Laundry Room Organizing the Home

How to create a usable laundry closet?

11 months ago

Thoughts on how I can create a usable/functional/family-friendly laundry "closet". Can only do side by side washer/dryer as there isn't enough depth to do a stackable (except a Miele and I don't want to spend that kind of money). Would like shelves, folding clothes space, dirty laundry hamper/basket space. Dont know how to work around the windows.... thanks!

Comments (7)

Toronto Veterinarian
11 months ago
In my book, that's virtually a laundry room, not a closet. Until a year ago, I'd been using a 42" x 36" closet that allowed for 6" deep shelves along one side! You could move the machines closer together, allowing space for a hamper.
Jemma Hickson
11 months ago
Is that a top loading machine? Personally I would push machines as far left as you could and build wide shelves to the right to accommodate baskets. If you can get a worktop on the top all the better. Maybe keep a few smaller shelves on the left to hold detergents.
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I have a closet with sliding doors .... 88" wide x 35" deep. My new sears washer is 27" wide and our older Whirlpool dryer is 29" wide. We also have a 24" square wash tub. I can tell you these 3 barely fit. In fact the 3ird section of the sliding door panel will NOT clear the washer (in the middle). But it never needs to go past the washer so its no problem. The 35" closet depth is an absolute minimum .... and may not work with many new dryers. I would go for a minimum 37" depth ..... but if 40+ is an option go for it. Even at 37" the run from your dryer exhaust may need to be "squished" to snake to the outlet. At my 35" depth the hoses etc brush against the back wall and thus create more noise Also keep in mind where the water input taps go for the washer .... if they are not completely under the basin, but a little behind the washer, you will need that much more depth. KC
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Our budget right now is $30k. I am not quite sure how much that’ll get me. I have never undertaken anything like this. This will absolutely be something we take on in stages. This space is what we’d like to tackle first and is the largest. In our kitchen at some point we will replace countertops and in our other bathroom we will swap out the toilet, tub and vanity. Luckily the rest of the house is functional for us. I lack the vision and knowledge that a lot of people on here have of being able to see a functional layout in disaster zones lol. My intuition tells me all these spaces can somehow be rearranged to give us what we need. I’m completely wrong, please help. Im also completely fine and understand if it’s impossible, financially or practically to have it all. I do have a consultation with a designer scheduled for this week (so excited), and I’m praying that she’ll have time to take us on as clients but I got excited and wanted to ask the Houzz community first. Thank you !!
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shead - I sort wash loads into 4 categories: whites, lights, darks, jeans. On very few days would I want to put everything I'm wearing into the same load. And obviously, lives are different. DH works on a farm. All of his work clothes (which can amount to more than a load per day in the winter when he wears multiple layers) can all be washed together. It will be FAR more convenient to wash his clothes in the master closet and put immediately away than lugging them to the other side of the house and back again to put away. 90% of my things can be washed together as well.
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Do you have another bathtub in the house...for bathing kids? Unless you or your spouse enjoy baths...maybe eliminate the tub in the MBA? I am glad I have a linen closet in my MBA. I agree with eliminating the reach-in closets and adding windows. Also think about how you dress; a walk-in closet can hold all the things people used to store in dressers. (You really don't *need* a window in a closet, although Mark gave it one.) I agree with him about losing the (dated) double doors -- and creating an entry, rather than plopping right into the living room. If you'll eat at the kitchen island a lot, consider seating that's not all-in-a-row. It makes conversation difficult.
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L B
Original Author
11 months ago
Thank you! What about the windows? Will def push machines otgether as best as I can. Will still have room on the left with shelves and dead space for....?? on the right want to make folding table and hamper space. how best though?? i'n super visual if that helps!I
dadoes
11 months ago
Don't obstruct the dryer's exhaust ducting via repositioning of the machines. It needs to be as straight of a shot as possible to the port on the wall.
bpath
11 months ago
Perhaps the vent outlet can be moved. The one in our house has been moved at least twice.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
11 months ago
How deep is the space?
ptreckel
11 months ago
If you need a flat surface for folding, perhaps removal of the shelves on the right and replacing them with a wood or Formica surface on hinges that can be lowered down to rest on top of the dryer could work.

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