What You’re Doing That’s Making the Laundry Room Feel Smaller

Laundry rooms don’t have to be big to work well—but they do have to be functional. The way you organize, store, and set up your space makes a big difference in whether it feels open or crammed.

A few small changes can help you move around easier, stop bumping into stuff, and keep the space from feeling like it’s closing in.

Keeping Hampers in the Walking Path

If the hamper’s always in the way, it’s time to rethink where it goes. Putting it near the washer makes sense, but not if it blocks every step you take. Use wall space or narrow rolling hampers to keep it out of your path while still being easy to reach.

You’re more likely to sort clothes and keep the floor clear when the hamper works with your flow. Constantly stepping around it only adds to the cluttered feeling.

Stacking Junk on Top of the Washer or Dryer

It’s easy to let the top of the machines turn into a catch-all, but that clutter piles up fast. When there’s no clear surface, the whole space starts to feel tighter and more chaotic.

Try using wall-mounted shelves or baskets nearby instead. Freeing up that horizontal space gives you a cleaner feel and a better place to fold or sort without knocking over bottles and socks every two seconds.

Storing Too Much in the Cabinets

Overstuffed cabinets make it hard to find anything, and digging through them makes a small room feel even more frustrating. You don’t need to keep every backup cleaner or bulk paper towel pack in the laundry room.

Limit that space to what you actually use on laundry day. Everything else—extras, seasonal supplies, overflow—can go in a hall closet or storage bin somewhere else.

Not Using the Back of the Door

The back of the laundry room door is prime real estate, and most people leave it bare. Hanging a couple of organizers or hooks can clear up floor space and give you a place for brooms, dusters, or small tools you grab often.

Skipping Cabinets and Shelving

If you’re relying on one shelf above the washer and dryer, you’re wasting space. A few well-placed cabinets or even open shelving can get detergents, tools, and overflow out of the way without making the room feel more cramped. The clutter piles up fast when everything’s sitting on the machines or crammed in baskets on the floor.

Adding vertical storage actually makes the room feel bigger, not smaller. Even a few floating shelves or a narrow utility cabinet can clear up space and give you a better workflow. Don’t underestimate the impact of smart storage in a tight room.

Leaving Unused Items in There Too Long

That “temporary” pile of donation clothes or the baby gear you were planning to sell can end up living in the laundry room far too long. And the longer it sits, the more it turns into visual clutter you forget to deal with.

If it doesn’t belong in the laundry room or isn’t part of your weekly routine, it needs a different home. Clear the extras out and you’ll be shocked how much more usable (and breathable) the space feels—even if it’s a small room to start with.

It’s one of those small tweaks that helps your whole setup feel more thought out without adding bulk.