Maximize Storage in a Small Laundry Room

For the past few weeks I’ve been in full “little by little” mode, slowly organizing every drawer and cabinet in our laundry room. This room works hard for our family—it’s more than just a place for laundry.

When we planned the space last year my main goal was simple:
Make every square inch count.

small laundry room organization

It’s come a long way from where it started…

laundry room before

This room is our cleaning hub, utility closet, storage zone, pet station, and household tool stash all rolled into one, so the layout had to work for every function.

We built in:

  • Five cabinets
  • Five drawers
  • A hidden cleaning cupboard
  • A large trash pull-out
  • Wall storage
  • A multi-purpose countertop

And I went a little overboard with a pretty label maker.

small laundry room organization label maker

Here’s a full tour of how each space functions—come on in.


small laundry room organization with gathered fabric glass front cabinet doors

The Cabinet Tour

Cabinet 1 – Laundry Headquarters

This cabinet holds everything we use daily for laundry.

small laundry room organization - labeled bins

Inside:

  • Baskets with gold labels for laundry soaps, treatments, and tools
  • Battery organizer—because batteries always seem to vanish
  • Storage bin with flashlights
  • Shelf space for paper towels and tissues

Cabinet 2 – Pool, Summer & Utility Storage

This cabinet became our seasonal utility zone—everything grab-and-go lives here.

small laundry room organization - labeled bins

Inside:

  • Pool towels rolled and separated neatly with an acrylic divider
  • Basket for sunscreen and small beach essentials
  • Grocery bag organizer
  • Shelf space for a soft cooler and beach bag
  • Two labeled baskets for spare light bulbs

Cabinet 3 – Household Extras

This cabinet holds items we don’t need daily but don’t want lost.

small laundry room organization - labeled bins

Each category lives in labeled acrylic bins:

  • Power cords (bundled for order)
  • Chargers
  • Party supplies
  • Candles
  • Air fresheners

No more digging through junk drawers to find a specific charger or cord.


small laundry room organization -  hamper basket covered by under countertop skirt

Cabinet 4 – The Hidden Hamper

Our large lower corner cabinet contains one big basket that acts as an overflow laundry hamper—simple, functional, accessible, and hidden from view.


hidden diy broom cupboard and cleaning supply storage in a laundry room
hidden diy broom cupboard and cleaning supply storage in a laundry room

Cabinet 5 – Cleaning Station

This cabinet stores the heavy lifters for cleaning and maintenance.

Inside:

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Steam mop
  • Cordless stick vacuum
  • Acrylic bins for cleaning cloths and scrubbers
  • Shelf storage for a small handheld steam cleaner, upholstery cleaner, and iron

Everything for deep cleaning is centralized and ready when needed.


hidden diy broom cupboard and cleaning supply storage in a laundry room
hidden diy broom cupboard and cleaning supply storage in a laundry room

The Hidden Slide-Out Cleaning Cupboard

The hidden cleaning cupboard is one of my favorite features. Tucked into a narrow gap between the wall and cabinetry, this slim pull-out stores cleaning tools and supplies neatly out of sight.

On hooks:

  • Mop
  • Broom
  • Duster
  • Squeegee
  • Dustpan & hand broom

In vertical slots:

  • All-purpose cleaners
  • Bathroom cleaners
  • Floor cleaners
  • Cleaning ingredients like vinegar and baking soda

No more bulky tools leaning against walls—everything has a spot.


Drawer Organization Tour

small laundry room organization - pull out trash can

Large Pull-Out Drawer – Trash Storage

A hidden pull-out keeps the trash can tucked away but easy to access when needed.


Drawer Stack (5 Drawers)

Each drawer has a purpose—no “junk drawer” allowed. Flatware trays divide and organize everything efficiently.

small laundry room organization - junk drawer

Drawer 1 – Office Supplies

  • Stationery
  • Pens & stamps
  • Scissors
  • Post-it notes

Drawer 2 – Craft & Household Supplies

  • Hot glue
  • Scotch tape & shipping tape
  • Glue
  • Command strips
  • Zip ties
small laundry room organization - junk drawer

Drawer 3 – Household Tools

  • Measuring tape
  • Screwdrivers
  • Pliers
  • Utility knives
  • Paint touch-up pens
  • Screws & hardware

Drawer 4 – Miscellaneous

  • Label maker & labels
  • Matches & lighters
small laundry room organization - pet supplies drawer

Drawer 5 – Pet Drawer

  • Dog treats in lidded bins that fit neatly inside the drawer
  • Grooming brushes
  • Collar & leash
  • Heartworm medicine
  • Dog sweaters
  • Poop bags
  • Portable dog water bowl
  • Additional grooming supplies

Lola has already learned where the treat drawer is, so it’s officially one of her favorite spots.


small laundry room organization

Wall Storage That Works Hard

To keep the room flexible and functional, we added foldaway wall storage:

  • A wall-mounted drying rack
  • An inset ironing board cabinet

Both fold away when not in use so the room stays uncluttered. We also plan to add a wall-mounted collapsible rack to hang freshly ironed clothes.

small laundry room organization - wall mounted drying rack
small laundry room organization - hidden ironing board

The Countertop Setup

We added a removable countertop over the washer and dryer so the water hookups remain accessible—function first.

hidden diy broom cupboard and cleaning supply storage in a laundry room

On the counter:

  • Apothecary jars for powder laundry detergent, scent booster beads, wool dryer balls, and a small jar for loose change
  • Small lidded basket for lonely single socks
  • Mini lamp for a cozy glow
  • Tall plant to visually soften the breaker panel area (the panel itself is now more attractive)
small laundry room organization - apothecary jars for detergent storage
small laundry room organization - basket and apothecary jars for loose change, lost socks, and wool dryer balls
small laundry room organization  - aesthetic electrical panel box

small laundry room organization - step stool storage
small laundry room organization - folding step stool

The Hidden Step Stool (A Tiny Space Win)

A slim gap between the wall and the lower cabinet edge became a storage opportunity: a wooden fold-up step stool slides in and out easily. It stays out of sight until I need it to reach the top shelves.

Sometimes the best solutions come from working with a room’s quirks instead of fighting them—this tiny spot turned into one of the most useful upgrades.


Shop Our Laundry Room Organizers

Below are the organizers and storage ideas referenced throughout the tour—use them as inspiration when planning your own small laundry room organization and storage solutions.

The Secret to Keeping It From Looking Cluttered

With so much storage, things could easily look busy, so we intentionally concealed visual clutter.

  • DIY no-sew gathered toile fabric behind glass cabinet doors to soften the look
  • Striped café curtains on the lower cabinet to hide the hamper basket where a swinging door wouldn’t fit

These small styling choices keep the room feeling calm and intentional instead of like a storage closet exploded.

small laundry room organization

Why This Room Works So Well

This laundry room functions because:

  • Everything has a dedicated home
  • Categories are grouped logically
  • Daily-use items are easy to reach
  • Bulkier items are hidden but accessible
  • Visual clutter is concealed
small laundry room organization

One organized room makes the whole house run smoother. When laundry, cleaning, tools, pets, and daily household needs are under control, life feels a little easier.

More Organizing Ideas

  • How We Turned a Digital Command Center Into an Art Gallery Wall
  • Bathroom Linen Closet Organization Ideas That Totally Work
  • 15 Aesthetic Ways to Hide Ugly Household Items
  • Garage Storage Organization Tour
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