Small Laundry Room Ideas – 15 Compact Designs That Are Guaranteed to Save Space

Designing a small laundry room comes with unique challenges. Laundry rooms are the engine room of the home, providing space for washing, drying, folding, and storage, while also serving additional functions. Factoring all these needs into one space is a test for any interior designer, but add limited floor space into the mix, and it becomes even trickier.

Luckily, having a small space needn't mean compromising on function or style; there are plenty of ingenious solutions that can help save valuable space. Whether you’re looking to squeeze a laundry room into an awkward attic space or integrate a laundry nook into a larger room, we’ve gathered an array of stylish small laundry room ideas to get you inspired, along with handy tips from the experts on storage, organizing a laundry room, layout, and more.

1. Maximize Storage With Custom Cabinetry

In small laundry rooms, every inch of space matters. Working with an interior designer and a cabinet maker to create custom joinery built around your needs is often the best way to get the most out of your space, especially those that may have awkward angles. Taking cabinetry right up to the ceiling is a great way to maximize space in a small laundry room, plus these tall cabinets are great for storing ironing boards, hoovers, mops and brooms.

In this project by Prescott Design, custom-made joinery was commissioned to combine essential storage with hanging space for drying clothes. Paneling and hooks were also installed so the space could double as a bag drop and mini mudroom.

Summer Little, founder of Prescott Design, explains the process. 'We begin by defining how the space needs to function, including the appliances and plumbing required and what needs to be stored there, and then design the cabinetry around those requirements.'

'We develop the cabinetry plan to make the best use of the available footprint, then customize the cabinet interiors with specific storage solutions and inserts to accommodate the things we know need to fit,' she adds. 'That might mean a dedicated space for a vacuum and charging station, pullout drying racks or hampers, or open space for a hanging rod. The goal is to give everything a home, which ultimately makes the room easier to use and keeps clutter at bay.'

2. Make Use of Dead Corner Space

When designing a compact laundry room, every inch of space counts and needs to be utilized. Corners can often be dead space; to make them useful, consider leaving room for a laundry cart. ‘We had always planned to have the small counter be L-shaped and allow for some folding space. The corner of the cabinetry always ends up as dead space, so we decided to leave it open to store the rolling laundry carts,’ says Katie Monkhouse, founder of Monkhouse Studio.

In addition, a pocket door was added to maximize space. ‘We pocketed the door so it would not be in the way, and it allows for the light from the hall skylight to help illuminate the small space,’ adds Katie. While this space has no windows, the feature wallpaper brings a vibrant pop of pattern and color.

3. Combine Fixed Cabinets With Open Storage

In this Country-style laundry, Whitney McGregor combined fitted shaker-style cabinetry, open shelves and freestanding pieces to create a functional yet characterful space.

While fitted cabinets are wonderful for concealing household utilities, sometimes too much closed storage can compromise the feeling of space; for various reasons, fitted cabinets may not always be practical. In this case, mixing closed fitted storage with freestanding pieces and open shelves may be the most effective solution, as in this room.

'There was an electrical panel we needed to work around, so we had to get creative in order to make the space functional without adding built-in cabinetry,' explains Whitney McGregor. 'Putting the table on casters also gives the client flexibility to pull it out when needed and use it for folding laundry while watching TV.'

4. Think Vertically

Even the narrowest of spaces can make effective laundry rooms if carefully designed; the key is making the most of vertical space. Here, Owen Group Interiors stacked the washer and dryer to save on floor space and took the cabinetry all the way up to the ceiling.

'Every inch matters when working with a laundry room, especially when you’re working with a smaller footprint. We took the cabinetry all the way up to maximize storage and kept the palette light and fresh while still bringing in personality with the wallcovering,' says Tami Owen, founder and creative director at Owen Group Interiors. Creating a fully functional space doesn't mean it has to feel purely utilitarian.'

While white cabinetry is great for making small spaces look bigger, it can make spaces feel cold and uninviting. To counter this, Tami added patterned wallpaper and brass fixtures and hardware to add extra character.

5. Create a Laundry Nook

Not all homes have space for a dedicated laundry room; however, with some clever planning, a laundry can be squeezed into a nook or an alcove. Sometimes these can be concealed behind sliding doors or curtains; alternatively, you could consider merging it with the decor of the room.

‘I love tucking a stacked or side-by-side set of machines into a hallway or closet nook and wrapping it in the same millwork detailing as the rest of the home, so it doesn't feel like an afterthought,’ explains Regan Baker of this laundry nook. Here, the flooring, wall treatment, and skirting continue from the hallway into the laundry, while the open arched doorway seamlessly links the two spaces.

6. Make It Multifunctional

Many laundry spaces are hardworking rooms that fulfil additional functions, be it space for boots and coats, an extra freezer to take pressure off the kitchen, or simply extra storage – the key is making the space work for you. Here Kathryn Porter managed to squeeze in an additional pet wash for the family pooch while still creating a stylish space.

'We packed a lot into the space with two washing machines, one tumble dryer, floor-to-ceiling storage and a dog bath – the room only measured 2.3 x 3m,' explains Kathryn Porter. 'Top tips include raising your washing machine and tumble dryer up if you can, as your back will thank you later. Leave a drawer below the machines to house your laundry basket, and add a slim pull-out shelf directly below the door is great for sorting out the washing if you don’t have any counter space.'

Kathryn drenched the space in Benjamin Moore's Cabbage Patch and paired it with zellige-style tiles and brass hardware, proving that even small spaces can be big on style.

7. Add a Beautiful Wallpaper

Provided it's used in splash-free areas, wallpaper makes a fabulous way to add character to small laundry rooms, but it can also serve as a visual device. In this project by Alice Lane Interior Design, the wallpaper cleverly distracts from the awkward angles of the attic space.

Because of the unusual ceiling lines in the space, we wallpapered the walls and ceiling in Morris & Co.'s Fruit Wallpaper so the eye moves smoothly through the room rather than stopping and starting,’ explains Jessica Bennett, creative director at Alice Lane Interior Design.

‘To add personality and keep things feeling fresh, we painted the trim and door in Benjamin Moore's Savannah Shade. Though the footprint is small, there's still plenty of storage and hanging space. Proof that even a compact laundry room can feel impactful and make the chore feel a little less like one.’

To add further warmth and character to this practical space, Jessica paired the ornate wallpaper with natural wood cabinets, a veined marble countertop, and vintage framed artwork.

8. Fit Open Wall Shelving

Cramming too much boxy cabinetry into a small space can sometimes make laundry rooms feel claustrophobic, especially if there are too many wall cabinets. Instead, wall shelving keeps spaces feeling open; plus, it is much cheaper and easier to fit into alcoves.

Yes, shelves can become a dumping ground for unsightly clutter if you're not careful, so to prevent this, consider investing in an array of wicker baskets to hide household essentials, such as these Rattan Cubby pantry baskets from Williams Sonoma.

9. Hide Your Laundry Behind Bi-Folding Doors

If space is at a premium, concealing a laundry station behind a bifold door is a great way to tuck it away in a larger room. This lets you close the door on the chores and keeps living spaces feeling clutter-free and harmonious.

10. Add Sleek Sliding Dryers

Having hanging space to air-dry delicates and to hang clothes on a rainy day is essential in any laundry room. In small laundry rooms, floor space for a standing dryer may be limited; plus, if you have an awkwardly shaped space, it may be tricky to integrate ceiling or fold-down wall dryers. The solution? Why not go for custom pull-out dryers, as done here by RA Studio.

Made from wood, these custom drying racks cleverly slide back under the counter when not in use. To soften the space, the designer chose fabric cabinet skirting over wooden base cabinets.

11. Squeeze a Laundry Into an Alcove

With clever design, you can fit a laundry into the smallest of spaces, as this project by Prescott Design proves. 'This was previously an unfinished closet accessible from a carport. We were able to fit a stacked washer and dryer, counter space, storage, and a pullout for hanging clothes in a very small footprint,' explains Summer Little, founder of Prescott Design.

With limited space for drying, Summer chose to integrate these pre-made pull-out drying rack drawers into the cabinetry system.

12. Save Space With a Pocket Door

A built-in pocket door is a great way to save space when designing a small laundry room. While a swinging door can encroach on floor space, a pocket door slides neatly into the wall, leaving more room to unload laundry.

Here, Sielle Interiors included a pocket door to divide the laundry from the adjoining kitchen. 'A pocket door also makes access easier, especially when carrying the laundry or the vacuum cleaner in and out,' explains Emma Swerner of Sielle Interiors.

To create extra counter space for folding, the designers placed the washer and dryer side by side, while a ceiling dryer keeps the floor clear. The designers continued the marble through to the laundry space to bring continuity between the two rooms. 'With three young children, the utility will be constantly in use, and the door often left open, so it was important that this hardworking room also looked good and followed the character of the kitchen.'

13. Create Impact With a Bold Color

Small, functional rooms like laundry rooms can still have a big impact, as this space proves. In this galley laundry room, designer Catherine Brooks Giuffre had the cabinetry painted in Sherwin-Williams' Real Red to create a fun and energizing space to do household chores. Practical and stylish, the satin finish adds wow factor, creating a lacquer feel, but is equally easy to wipe clean.

'I love how the red and blue work together in this room. The red cabinetry is bold and unexpected, and the blue wallpaper gives it such a beautiful contrast. Since a laundry room is such a utilitarian space, it felt like a fun place to be a little braver with color and pattern and give the room some charm and personality,' says Catherine.

14. Add a Ceiling Airer

A pulley drying rack is a clever way to make space for clothes – including those that aren’t suitable for drying even on the delicate setting on a tumble dryer. It’s ideal if you’re washing a mattress cover and it's too cold or wet to be hung out in the yard, or for airing larger items such as bed linen and towels. To maximize its practicality, hang it over a sink so that really wet items can be lined up to drip dry; if it is near a window that opens, too, all the better.

15. Choose an L-Shaped Layout

If you are looking for narrow utility room ideas, opting for an L-shaped laundry room layout may be the best option to help you truly maximize every inch of space. Here, gorgeous blue-green cabinetry is teamed with white paintwork to achieve a stylish finish. Choosing to maximize storage potential on one wall, while leaving the other bare, prevents the space from feeling overwhelmed. A traditional sash window at the end of the room floods the space with light.

How Do You Maximize Space in a Small Laundry Room?

There are plenty of clever ways to maximize space in a small laundry room, from carefully planned custom cabinetry to ingenious pull-out dryers.

Working with an interior designer on custom cabinets will ensure every inch of space is utilized, as storage is built around your needs and lifestyle. Running cabinets floor to ceiling will maximize floor space, and fitting open shelving into awkward alcoves helps keep clutter off the floor. Solid cabinets allow you to close the door on the clutter, helping spaces feel calmer and cleaner; alternatively, open shelving can be a great way to keep rooms feeling spacious - often a combination of the two is most effective.

‘Accurate measurements and details are essential when commissioning custom. We want the washer and dryer to smoothly fit into the space, with adequate room for vents and plumbing. We also want to consider how the homeowner uses the space — do they buy their detergent in bulk and need space for a large container? Or hang a lot of pieces to dry so need extra drying racks?' says Jessica Nelson of Jessica Nelson Design. 'A stacked washer and dryer can help save space in a smaller laundry room, providing more area for functional storage or a countertop for folding.'

Creating low open storage alcoves for large laundry baskets means they won't encroach on floor space, and simple solutions like wall hooks are great for large drawstring laundry bags. Opt for front-loading machines and add a countertop on top; alternatively, invest in bespoke sliding folding surfaces.

For air dryers, skip the standing dryer and choose a ceiling dryer or a folding wall dryer.

Where Do You Put Your Laundry in a Small House?

If you live in a small house, you may not have a laundry room at all. But if you still need a spot to fit a washer and dryer, here are a few spots to consider:

In a closet A stacking washer/dryer can fit in a small hall closet. Use bi-fold doors to maximize traffic flow when you're doing laundry. A walk-in closet (even a small one) in an upstairs bedroom is also an ideal spot for laundry.

In a bathroom Your bathroom can be a convenient spot to install laundry because you'll already have the plumbing in place. If your existing bathroom layout doesn't allow space for your laundry, consider converting a bathtub to a shower stall to make room for a stacking washer/dryer.

Rethink existing space If you have a room in your home that doesn't get a ton of use, like a powder room or sunroom, consider transforming it into (or taking a piece of it for) a laundry room.

In the basement Of course, there's always the basement. While it may not be the most luxurious spot in your home (unless you're lucky enough to have a finished basement), it's a practical spot for your laundry. You can spruce things up a bit with bright lighting, an indoor/outdoor rug, and some paint on the walls (yes, even if they're concrete).

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