Laundry & Mudroom

No matter the size, most folks need these spaces to be organized and accomplish multiple functions. Of course, we also want them to look great. We designed our laundry and mudroom to maximize the space and optimize the efficiency. We want to easily do the laundry, find household items, and get in and out of the house, while keeping the space neat and clean. In today’s post, I’ll share how to organize a utility space that works for you and your family.

General Utility

The goal is to keep utility items hidden but make it easy for you or a family member to quickly find a light bulb, battery, or a hammer. We all need this stuff, so let’s talk about ways to streamline your storage so you won’t have to dig through drawers to find it. First, you’ll want to clean out the drawer, shelf or nook that has been collecting stuff. Pick one drawer or cabinet, then clear out any trash or recycling: junk, paper or plastic bags, random nails, etc. You’ll also want a bin for relocating items that belong somewhere else and return them to the rooms where they actually belong. Just repeat this process one drawer or cabinet at a time, until your space contains only utility items that belong in this space. Here is a great example for a utility drawer:

Getting organized doesn’t really take that long and it will save you time in the long run. Now that you’ve cleared the obvious clutter, you’ll want to set up a utility station stocked with household items you use frequently. Things like the following:

• Light bulbs
• Batteries
• Tape and glue
• Hammer and nails
• Sharpies
• Post-its
• Furniture pads
• Extension cords
• Labels
• Tape measures
• Flashlights
• Sewing kits
• First-aid supplies
• Kid’s stuff – School, gift wrap and tags, etc.

If you’ve got cabinet storage, consider these options:

We don’t have drawers, so we store utility items under the sink and inside cabinets. The utility toolbox, vacuum accessories, new and used battery storage, as well as timer plugs are under the sink. The toolbox holds a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, stain pens, nails, etc. The blue box holds all types of batteries. The timer plugs are great for Christmas lights and turning lights on and off while you are away from home. We also installed a narrow pullout cabinet, which keeps tools for our propane grill handy. Below you can see what those items looks like under the sink:

Laundry

I designed a laundry space with a top loader washer and dryer, as well as lots of closed storage, open shelves, Dryaway cabinet and sink. We’re happy with the performance and affordability of the LG washer and dryer. No towels or bedding is stored in this room. We have a large linen closet next to the guest bathroom, as well as a linen closet in our primary bathroom. I prefer to fold laundry in the great room or bedroom, so I didn’t need space for folding in this room. Here’s where I store one “clean” and two “dirty” laundry baskets, as well as rags, extra paper towels and toilet paper:

We put laundry soap, bags, and the iron in the cabinet above the washer. These are good size cabinets, so we’ve got plenty of room for laundry stuff. It also fits additional utility items: light bulbs, dryer vent cleaner tool, fire blanket, first-aid kit, furniture pads, craft supplies, etc. The cabinet above the dryer holds stuff for our dog, Hanna: grooming supplies, towels, treats and doggie coats for cold weather. Here’s what these items look like in the cabinets above the washer and dryer:

Every family has items that don’t go into the dryer. The cabinet company, DeWils Fine Cabinetry built the cabinet for our Dryaway racks. These four sliding racks have six adjustable rods. They hold a lot of wet items and tuck away nicely. It is open for air circulation but keeps things looking tidy while they dry. You can see the Dryaway racks in the picture below:

The laundry sink is great for dirty jobs, like treating stains or cleaning up DIY projects. We’re on a septic system, so we don’t put any chemicals down our drains and that includes rinsing paint brushes. If we have a painting project, we remove as much paint as possible before rinsing the brushes outside. Do you see the small pottery bowl next to the sink? That’s for loose change that always seems to be in my hubby, Jim’s pockets.

Pro Tip: Our garage door and pocket door in this room are 36 inches verses the more common 30 inches, so bringing things like groceries into the house is easier. The wider the doorway, the less likely you’ll hit it with bags and boxes.

Mudroom

Having a designated space to hang coats and hats, as well as a place for dirty shoes is a game changer in NW Montana. We made the laundry and mudroom 8 feet by 6 inches wide and 12 feet long, which is plenty of space. As you enter from the garage, we have walnut hooks to hang jackets and hats. I also have a place to hang keys next to the garage door. Any extra keys are labeled and placed in a zipper pouch in the office. I placed a waterproof tray for shoes under the jackets. Then we have a long bench, which has two baskets on each end: one for my purse and one for grocery bags. Next to the bench I have two leather wall pouches for mail or other pending items. Hanna’s dog bowls are below the pouches. Here are a few pictures of the mudroom area:

When designing your mudroom, you want at least 5 feet in width which gives you room for a bench and two-foot-deep cabinets with a 3-foot hallway. Ideally, it’s the room you enter from your garage to avoid bringing a mess into your home. Flooring should be easy to clean, like tile or stone.

Find more tips in my blog post below:

First Impressions – Entry Spaces

Cleaning Tools & Supplies

The floorplan we designed for our new house, includes a centralized mechanical room. It’s big enough for the electrical panels, hot water heater, water softener system, crawl space hatch, and cleaning tools, such as vacuum, Crosswave floor cleaner, brooms, dusters and other cleaning items. For quick clean ups, I prefer to keep cleaning sprays and paper towels under the sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Laundry and mudrooms should be personalized, so think about the type of washer/dryer set-up your space warrants: side by side, top or front loader or stackable. Also consider how much and the type of storage you need for your family. Having an organized space and a place for everything makes life easier and keeps clutter at bay. This room is hyper-functional, but I also want it to look good. Here’s how we elevated the space:

• Colorful and durable rug (Wayfair)
• Walnut Hooks (Etsy)
• Matching baskets (HomeGoods)
• Personalized art (Etsy)
• Leather Pouches (Etsy)
• Key Holder (HomeGoods)
• Mid-Century inspired bench (Wayfair)
• Pillow (HomeGoods)

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