How to Create More Storage Space in a Laundry Room

For many families, the laundry room is the hub of the household. They spend a lot of time doing laundry, and the room seems to be a catch-all for just about everything else. It may seem impossible to squeeze more storage space from your laundry room, but with the right tools and some planning, you can make your laundry room into a place you're comfortable spending time in.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Build up. There's usually quite a bit of unused space above the washer and dryer. Add more shelving to store things that you don't use every day, and keep the items that you use more often on the bottom shelf within reach.

2. Utilize the ceiling space. If your laundry room is big enough, consider installing ceiling-hung shelving units of the kind typically sold for garage use.

3. Think inside the box. Closed storage can make even the most packed laundry room seem light and airy, because you don't have to see the clutter. Find cabinets that match the rest of your house for a seamless look.

4. Give everything a place. If you have several people in the house, set up small baskets in the laundry room with each person's name on and instruct them to use these for their own personal storage space. No more searching through the house looking for show-and-tell items or a lost wallet.

5. Lock up your cleaning supplies. If you have small children in the house, make sure that all chemicals and cleaning supplies are out of reach. Invest in a locking cabinet and put it up high enough that little hands can't get to it.