How to Make Any Room Into a Laundry Room

Do you have an extra closet? It’s great for storing clothes, but you can put it to work cleaning and drying them instead—and all behind closed doors. This solution is the easiest way to keep your taskmasters handy but tidily concealed.

Pantries are a common feature in older homes, but today many people find that they don’t require quite so much space to store food. Having the laundry close to the kitchen is exceptionally convenient when it’s time to cook dinner and there’s still wash left to finish.

Related: Storage Sanity—15 Ways to Make Your Pantry Functional and Fabulous

While the kitchen is a logical place for the washer and dryer (it is the epicenter of most homes, after all), that doesn’t mean you want the world to know they’re there. Here, stacked units are hidden behind cabinet doors, but a washer and dryer sitting side by side under the counter would work as well—and you’d have the perfect place to do some folding.

It isn’t uncommon for the washer and dryer to be relegated to an unfinished basement, but just because the area is unfinished doesn’t mean you need to dread your time in exile, scrubbing out stains. A few decorative touches can go a long way toward making a cold basement more welcoming. Here, a rug and some curtains help create a fun area to brighten up the dreary task.

If you put the washing machine in the mudroom, you can stop the kids from walking through the house in dirty, grass-stained clothes. (There’s also a good chance you already have a water hookup from a utility sink.)

A real clotheshorse may find that it’s easiest to get the laundry done right where all the action is—inside a spacious walk-in closet or dressing area. It’s the perfect place to clean your clothes, and you’ll need fewer trips back and forth when it’s time to put things away. You’ll just have to be willing to sacrifice a little room next to your shirts and shoes.

If the quiet hum of a washer or dryer doesn’t distract you, the home office might be an ideal location to do laundry. In this office, the machines are seamlessly integrated into the desk design, keeping them close by and inconspicuous.

Your family will have no excuse for leaving clothes on the floor post-shower when the washing machine is right in the bathroom. It’s another logical site for a washer and dryer, and a great way to stay on top of the laundry situation in your household.

One spot in the house that often remains unused is the stair landing. In this cleverly designed space, built-in cabinets let the area double as storage and laundry room. The machines remain hidden behind cabinet doors, and an expansive countertop leaves plenty of room to work when it’s time to sort or fold.

If your garage isn’t often used for dirtier and messier pursuits, consider moving the washer and dryer out there. You’ll have to keep the area tidy to make sure your clean clothes stay that way, but you’ll be able to get fresh air and keep an eye on the kids while you’re mating socks.

For more laundry room ideas, consider:

10 Laundry Room Storage Ideas That’ll Knock Your Socks Off

Planning Guide: Laundry Room

10 Easy Laundry Room Storage Solutions