4 Easy Steps to a Better Laundry Space
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Let’s talk about creating a calmer, more aesthetically pleasing laundry space. Laundry is a chore - there’s no getting around that. But if your laundry room is less cluttered and more functional, you might feel a little more at ease in the space. And when you feel at ease, you’re less stressed and the chore might not seem so daunting. Here are my tips for bringing a little calm to the laundry room.
Reduce Clutter and Dedicate Space
If you find your laundry area becomes a collection spot for household odds and ends, try to find a new home for any items that aren’t related to clothing care. If you can create a dedicated area just for laundry, you’ll feel more purposeful in the space and more in tune with the tasks you’re performing.
A dedicated laundry area isn’t ideal for every setup. If your laundry area must be multi-use, then try to create a laundry “zone” that’s dedicated to clothing care. Maybe that just means there is a basket or bin that holds your laundry supplies. Anything you can do to create dedicated space will help.
2. Evaluate Your Lighting
Some laundry rooms are dark, especially if they also function as bathrooms, utility rooms, closets, or are located in unfinished areas or basements. Good lighting can have a profound affect on your mood, plus it can help you see better for stain removal or folding. If you’re renovating and building a new laundry area, make sure you consider the need for bright light. If you have an existing space, installing some inexpensive rechargeable LED lights is a great way to add brightness to a space, and these are especially good if you’re renting because they attach with minimal damage to the walls.
This rechargeable LED light is perfect for above a dim laundry area. It’s motion activated and magnetic, so it’s easy to remove to recharge.
3. Simplify
You can simplify your laundry setup by removing things you no longer need or don’t use often. You might have detergents or fabric softeners that you’ve decided to stop using. Give them away or recycle them so they no longer take up space. If you find yourself collecting laundry detergent, it might be time to look at your shopping habits. Pause subscription orders to give yourself time to work through your stock, and try to avoid impulse buys on the laundry aisle if you aren’t out of something.
Sort out items you use often from those you use less frequently. For instance, I have a lot of ironing accessories that I don’t use every time I do laundry. Plus, I do my ironing in another room, not in the laundry room. So it makes sense for me to keep my ironing items in the room where I do my ironing. I only have my essentials in my small laundry area - detergent, bleach, stain remover, and wash bags. I keep other items like static remover and specialty garment care under a bathroom sink.
4. Containerize
I like to have my laundry items in matching containers. I know I’m a bit extra in that regard, but I like the simple aesthetics of it. I decant my laundry pods, oxy clean, clothespins, and other items out of their original containers and place them in ones I bought because I like the style. If you use bottled detergent, consider putting it in a basket with other bottles. Having items in matching containers or baskets helps give your area visual harmony. It’s completely optional of course, and it’s not for everybody, but it’s a nice touch if you like the look of it and don’t mind the extra time it takes to decant. Keep in mind, especially if you have pets or small children, you might want to keep information from the packaging in case of accidental ingestion for Poison Control.
Laundry detergent and bleach pods are containerized in matching jars, and all that is sitting out are the essentials - a dirty clothes basket, and the detergent. The rest is concealed in cabinets.
In summary, your laundry space will feel more serene if you make a dedicated laundry zone, simplify the items you keep in the area, make sure it’s well-lit, and containerize your items in attractive jars or baskets. Be calm. Be organized. Be you!
