Smart and Stylish Options for Laundry Storage
Here are 10 places to tuck a laundry basket into your home — on a shelf, in a closet or in plain sight
Where and how you store your laundry baskets can vary depending on the layout of your home and the needs of your household. There are all sorts of ways to incorporate them — it’s just a case of finding the one that’s practical for your lifestyle. Whether you choose to hide the laundry storage from view or make it a feature, check out these ideas to make sure it’s both functional and stylish.
2. Create a handy access panel. It’s possible to hide your laundry baskets but maintain easy access. Here, the containers sit behind closed doors, but open panels the size of a drawer offer a convenient gap through which clothes can be thrown. Come laundry day, just open the doors to get the baskets in and out.
3. Make the hamper a feature. Landings and bedrooms are great places for laundry hampers, as they’re close to where you’re most likely to get undressed at the end of the day. However, if you’re going to keep your hamper in a visible spot, you’ll need to make sure it looks good too. Opt for an attractive style with a lid to keep it looking tidy.
4. Consider alternative shapes and sizes. Laundry baskets come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Depending on your room, you may wish to look beyond the conventional laundry basket shape. This vintage wicker trunk fits neatly under the window in this bathroom, while a narrow gap may require a tall, thin version.
5. Slot baskets in a cabinet. A cabinet in a communal area is a convenient place to store your laundry baskets, allowing them to be hidden from view. If you have room on your landing or in your hall, dedicate a space for a utility cabinet.
If you’re having your cabinet custom-made, choose baskets in the size you need and design the space to fit. If you already have a cabinet or are buying a ready-made piece of furniture, measure the space first and find a basket or box in the right size. There are plenty of containers around, so it should be possible to find something suitable.
Don’t forget to leave a gap above your container to allow clothes to be thrown in. This nifty cabinet has two perfectly sized slots for laundry baskets.
If you’re having your cabinet custom-made, choose baskets in the size you need and design the space to fit. If you already have a cabinet or are buying a ready-made piece of furniture, measure the space first and find a basket or box in the right size. There are plenty of containers around, so it should be possible to find something suitable.
Don’t forget to leave a gap above your container to allow clothes to be thrown in. This nifty cabinet has two perfectly sized slots for laundry baskets.
6. Integrate bathroom laundry bins. The bathroom is a popular place for laundry baskets, as it’s a room everyone uses. If you have a good-size space where a free-standing basket can sit on the floor, then that’s a simple solution. Pick a style to complement your bathroom design and a lid to keep things neat and tidy.
Alternatively, if you have storage cabinets but are tight on floor space, a built-in unit could be a perfect answer. This pullout drawer holds two containers so that you can be superorganized by presorting your wash.
Alternatively, if you have storage cabinets but are tight on floor space, a built-in unit could be a perfect answer. This pullout drawer holds two containers so that you can be superorganized by presorting your wash.
7. Save time sorting. Cut down on laundry administration by getting everyone to sort as they go. A collection of smaller baskets allows you to divide up your clothes into darks, lights, delicates and so on. This makes it much easier when it’s time to do a load.
For even better access, you could attach the shelves to runners that pull in and out. Smaller baskets are also much easier to carry to the washing machine. For a foolproof system, you may want to label the baskets too.
For even better access, you could attach the shelves to runners that pull in and out. Smaller baskets are also much easier to carry to the washing machine. For a foolproof system, you may want to label the baskets too.
8. Hide a basket in a closet. If you like to have your laundry basket in the bedroom or bathroom but prefer to keep it out of sight, you can hide it in a closet. Tuck it under a shelf or in a lower section so that you can take it out easily.
Since it’s behind closed doors, a simple style without a lid works perfectly well for ease of use. To keep it smelling fresh, sprinkle baking soda in the basket.
Since it’s behind closed doors, a simple style without a lid works perfectly well for ease of use. To keep it smelling fresh, sprinkle baking soda in the basket.
9. Tuck bags into an awkward nook. Don’t have space to spare in a closet? Look to the little nooks and crannies in your home that aren’t useful for much. Here, a folding laundry sorter fits neatly into the little area between the wall and the cabinetry. Hooks attached to the wall to make use of the space above. Behind a door or next to a shower enclosure are other similar spots to consider.
10. Install a laundry chute. A little tricky to retrofit, but not too difficult to include as part of a renovation project, a laundry chute is a neat and fun way to facilitate an efficient laundry system. Install it in a mutually convenient location, such as the top of the stairs or in a bathroom, after checking local building and fire codes for restrictions.
A chute is a great solution if you have a laundry or utility room in an inconvenient place, such as a basement or adjoining garage, since it saves you from carrying large baskets of clothes to the washing machine. Now if only there were an equally convenient way to get the clean clothes back upstairs and into the closets!
Tell us: Where do you keep your laundry baskets? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
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Hate Hauling Laundry? Give Dirty Clothes the Chute
A chute is a great solution if you have a laundry or utility room in an inconvenient place, such as a basement or adjoining garage, since it saves you from carrying large baskets of clothes to the washing machine. Now if only there were an equally convenient way to get the clean clothes back upstairs and into the closets!
Tell us: Where do you keep your laundry baskets? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
More
Trending Now: 15 Laundry Rooms Packed With Storage Ideas
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
Hate Hauling Laundry? Give Dirty Clothes the Chute
An easy option is to leave a cabinet-free space under a counter to accommodate laundry baskets. The open design makes them easy to access and move around the house.