A counter to fold on
The most useful thing you can add to a laundry room is a folding counter. Over a pair of front-loading machines, a continuous countertop gives you a surface to fold on right where clothes come out of the dryer. If the machines are top-loaders, a counter beside or above them on a cabinet run does the same job. Either way, having somewhere to fold keeps laundry from migrating to the kitchen island or the bed.
Somewhere to hang
A rod or a pull-out valet for hang-drying and for shirts straight off the dryer prevents wrinkles and keeps things off the counter. A wall-mounted rod, a retractable pull-out, or a section of cabinetry with a rod inside all work — the point is a dedicated hanging spot so damp or delicate items have a home instead of draping over doors.
Hide the hampers and the supplies
Pull-out or tucked-in hampers turn sorting into part of the cabinetry rather than a row of baskets on the floor. Closed uppers keep detergent, cleaners, and supplies out of sight and wipe-clean, and a tall cabinet can finally give the vacuum, broom, and mop a real home. A little planning here is the difference between a tidy room and one that always looks mid-chore.
- A folding counter over or beside the machines.
- A rod or pull-out valet for hang-drying.
- Pull-out hampers for sorting.
- A tall cabinet for the vacuum, broom, and mop.
Fit to your machines, finished to match
Laundry cabinetry should be built to your specific washer and dryer — stacked or side-by-side, with or without pedestals — and around any sink or drying rack you want. Because the same shop builds the rest of your home’s cabinetry, the laundry room can be finished to coordinate rather than looking like an add-on. On plywood cases with soft-close hardware, it holds up to daily use and looks like a considered room, not a closet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most useful addition to a laundry room?
A folding counter. A continuous surface over front-loaders — or a cabinet-run counter beside top-loaders — gives you somewhere to fold right where clothes come out of the dryer, which keeps laundry out of the rest of the house.
Can laundry cabinetry match the rest of my home?
Yes. Because the same shop builds your kitchen and other cabinetry, the laundry room can be finished in a coordinating wood and paint so it reads as part of the home rather than an afterthought.
Building or remodeling in the Treasure Valley?
Alderwood designs, builds, and installs custom cabinetry in-house across Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Tell us about your project and we’ll start with a design conversation.
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