Our Small Laundry Room Remodel: More Function in Less Space
FUNCTIONAL FAMILY SPACES
Katie Schaaf
10/14/20265 min read
We made our laundry room smaller—and so much more functional.
When we remodeled our kitchen, we borrowed some square footage from the laundry room. That meant rethinking how to fit everything we needed into a smaller footprint: washing, drying, soaking, storing supplies, and folding laundry.
It ended up being one of my favorite remodel projects.
A stacked washer and dryer, concealed drying racks, thoughtful cabinet storage, and a dedicated folding counter helped us make better use of the space. And with green cabinets, textured tile, and brass hardware, this hardworking room became a space I love.
If you’re planning a small laundry room remodel, here are the features that made the biggest difference for us.
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1. A Stacked Washer and Dryer That Freed Up Space
Choosing a stacked washer and dryer was one of the most important decisions in our laundry room layout.
We went with the LG WashTower, a single stacked unit, and I couldn’t be happier with it. Getting the washer and dryer into one vertical footprint saved us so much space and gave us room to incorporate other features we wanted.
For our room, this was a 10/10 decision. When every inch matters, thinking vertically can open up possibilities you might otherwise have to sacrifice.
2. Concealed Drying Racks That Keep the Floor Clear
Our DryAway drying racks are one of my favorite nearly invisible features.
They tuck alongside the washer and dryer. When I need them, I pull them out, hang the clothes, and slide them back into place. Having a designated spot for air-drying means we don’t have a bulky freestanding rack taking up precious floor space.
It’s a feature worth thinking about early in the design process, especially if you regularly air-dry clothing.
If drying racks aren’t something you need, that space beside a stacked washer and dryer could also be useful for a tall broom closet.
3. A Smaller Sink That Still Works Hard
A laundry room sink was a must for me.
We traded our oversized utility sink for a smaller farmhouse sink, but it still handles the jobs I need it for: soaking clothes, handwashing, and even washing our dog, Penny.
The smaller size helped us preserve room for storage, while the apron-front design became one of my favorite details in the space.
If you’re working with a smaller laundry room, consider how you actually use your sink. For us, a more compact option gave us the function we needed without taking up as much room.
4. A Pullout Cabinet for Laundry Supplies
One side of the sink has a pullout cabinet that holds our everyday laundry supplies.
Detergent, stain remover, dryer sheets, shoe bags—you name it, it goes in this cabinet.
I love having everything accessible without leaving bottles and supplies out on the counter. Planning storage around the things we use regularly was a small decision that made the room much more practical.
If you’re designing laundry room cabinets, think beyond how much storage you can fit. Think about what you’ll store and how easily you’ll be able to reach it.
5. A Built-In Hamper for the Everyday Extras
On the other side of the sink, we added a pullout laundry hamper.
This is our catchall for pool towels, kitchen towels, random socks, and the miscellaneous laundry that seems to appear throughout the house.
It gives those items somewhere to go until they’re ready to be washed. It’s a simple feature, but one that fits the way our family uses the room.
6. A Dedicated Counter for Folding Laundry
One thing I really wanted was a large space to fold laundry without socks slipping behind the washer and dryer.
We created a long countertop opposite the appliances and sink, with upper and lower cabinets for storage. Having a dedicated folding surface was a priority in the smaller layout, and it’s one of the features that makes the room work so much better for us.
The stacked appliances helped us make room for this separate work area. We ended up with a smaller room that accommodates more of what we actually need to do in it.
7. Finishes That Made the Room Feel Personal
I knew I wanted to have a little fun with this room, and I’m so happy I did.
Finding the right green paint took some searching, but I couldn’t be happier with Evergreen Fog on the cabinets. We paired it with textured brass hardware and ribbed backsplash tile that also extends from floor to ceiling on an accent wall.
The farmhouse sink brings another layer of character to the space.
These are some of my favorite design details in our home. A laundry room gets used often, and I wanted ours to feel as thoughtfully designed as the rooms around it.
Laundry Essentials I Actually Use
The renovation gave everything a place, but the everyday products deserve a little credit, too. Here are a few of the cleaning and laundry essentials I keep in this space.
My Branch Basics Cleaning Favorites
I started with the Branch Basics Premium Starter Kit for our household cleaning, and I LOVE it.
For laundry, I use the liquid concentrate diluted with water as my detergent and add Branch Basics Oxygen Boost when a load needs extra stain-fighting help.
The starter kit is what I purchased to get started. I’ve also included concentrate refills and Oxygen Boost in my laundry essentials collection for restocking.
Shoe-Washing Bags
Shoe-washing bags are another item we keep tucked inside our pullout supply cabinet. Having them stored with the detergent and other supplies makes them easy to grab when it’s time to wash a pair of machine-washable shoes.
More Laundry and Cleaning Essentials
I’ve gathered the products from this post, along with mesh laundry bags and sneaker-cleaning essentials, in one collection so you can find them easily.
What Made the Biggest Difference
Making our laundry room smaller pushed us to be more thoughtful about the layout.
We kept the features that mattered most: a sink, space to air-dry, accessible supplies, a hamper, and a large folding surface. Then we found ways to fit them together more efficiently.
If you’re planning your own laundry room update, start with the tasks you need the room to handle and the little frustrations you’d like to solve. For me, that included everything from drying racks in the way, to socks disappearing behind the appliances.
Laundry is still a chore, but having a beautiful, functional space to do it in certainly helps. This smaller room works so much better for our family—and it’s become one of my favorite spaces in our home.
