Smart Solutions to Store Your Laundry Basket
From a simple shelf to a built-in chute, be inspired by these ways to seamlessly tuck a laundry hamper into your home
Jennifer Chong
28 May 2017
Interior designer, Houzz contributor and champion of local businesses in Cambridge.
I have a passion for all things beautiful combined with a meticulous eye for detail. Through my company, Feioi, I offer an affordable in-home consultancy design service. I believe everyone deserves to live in a beautiful, functional home and smart design concepts can be applied to any space, no matter the size or budget.
Interior designer, Houzz contributor and champion of local businesses in Cambridge.
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Where and how you store your laundry baskets can vary depending on the layout of your property and the needs of your household. There are all sorts of ways to incorporate laundry storage into your home – it’s just a case of finding the one that’s practical for your lifestyle. Whether you choose to hide it from view or make it a feature, check out these different ideas to make sure it’s both functional and stylish.
Reserve some space in a utility room
A utility or laundry room is an obvious choice for laundry baskets and there are many customised integrated units that can be fitted into your layout.
An easy alternative is to leave a cupboard-free space under a worktop to accommodate laundry baskets. The open design will make the baskets easy to access and enable them to be moved around the house.
A utility or laundry room is an obvious choice for laundry baskets and there are many customised integrated units that can be fitted into your layout.
An easy alternative is to leave a cupboard-free space under a worktop to accommodate laundry baskets. The open design will make the baskets easy to access and enable them to be moved around the house.
Create a handy access panel
It’s possible to hide your laundry baskets but still have easy access. Here, the containers are concealed behind closed doors, but open panels the size of a drawer create a convenient gap through which clothes can easily be thrown. Come laundry day, just open the doors to get the baskets in and out.
It’s possible to hide your laundry baskets but still have easy access. Here, the containers are concealed behind closed doors, but open panels the size of a drawer create a convenient gap through which clothes can easily be thrown. Come laundry day, just open the doors to get the baskets in and out.
Make a feature of your basket
The landing and bedrooms are great places for laundry baskets, as they’re close to where you’re most likely to get undressed at the end of the day. However, if you’re going to keep your laundry in a visible spot, you’ll need to make sure it looks good, too. Opt for an attractive style, like this basket, which also has a lid to keep it looking tidy.
The landing and bedrooms are great places for laundry baskets, as they’re close to where you’re most likely to get undressed at the end of the day. However, if you’re going to keep your laundry in a visible spot, you’ll need to make sure it looks good, too. Opt for an attractive style, like this basket, which also has a lid to keep it looking tidy.
Consider alternative shapes and sizes
Laundry baskets come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Depending on your room, you may wish to consider an alternative to the conventional laundry basket shape. This vintage wicker trunk fits neatly under the window in this bathroom, while a narrow gap might require a tall, thin version.
Laundry baskets come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Depending on your room, you may wish to consider an alternative to the conventional laundry basket shape. This vintage wicker trunk fits neatly under the window in this bathroom, while a narrow gap might require a tall, thin version.
Slot them in a storage cupboard
A cupboard in a communal area is a convenient place to store your laundry basket, and it allows it to be hidden from view. If you have room on your landing or in your hall, dedicate a space for a utility cupboard.
If you’re having your cupboard custom-made, choose a basket in the size you need and design the space to fit. If you already have a cupboard or are buying a ready-made piece of furniture, measure the gap first and find a basket or box in the right size. There are plenty of containers around, so it should be possible to find something suitable.
Don’t forget to leave a gap above your container to allow clothes to be thrown in. This nifty cupboard has two perfectly sized slots for laundry baskets.
See more laundry and service yard ideas
A cupboard in a communal area is a convenient place to store your laundry basket, and it allows it to be hidden from view. If you have room on your landing or in your hall, dedicate a space for a utility cupboard.
If you’re having your cupboard custom-made, choose a basket in the size you need and design the space to fit. If you already have a cupboard or are buying a ready-made piece of furniture, measure the gap first and find a basket or box in the right size. There are plenty of containers around, so it should be possible to find something suitable.
Don’t forget to leave a gap above your container to allow clothes to be thrown in. This nifty cupboard has two perfectly sized slots for laundry baskets.
See more laundry and service yard ideas
Integrate bathroom laundry bins
The bathroom is a popular place for laundry baskets, as it’s a room everyone uses. If you have a good-sized space where a freestanding basket can sit on the floor, then that’s an easy solution. Pick a style to complement your bathroom design and a lid to keep things neat and tidy.
Alternatively, if you have some storage units but are tight on floor space, a built-in unit could be a perfect answer. This pull-out drawer unit features two containers, so you can be super-organised by pre-sorting your washing.
The bathroom is a popular place for laundry baskets, as it’s a room everyone uses. If you have a good-sized space where a freestanding basket can sit on the floor, then that’s an easy solution. Pick a style to complement your bathroom design and a lid to keep things neat and tidy.
Alternatively, if you have some storage units but are tight on floor space, a built-in unit could be a perfect answer. This pull-out drawer unit features two containers, so you can be super-organised by pre-sorting your washing.
Save time sorting with multiple baskets
Cut down the laundry admin by getting everyone to sort as they go along. A collection of smaller baskets allows you to divide your clothes up into darks, lights, delicates, or any combination you like. This makes it so much easier when it’s time to do a load.
For even better access, you could attach the shelves to runners that pull in and out. Smaller baskets are also much easier to carry to the washing machine. For a foolproof system, you might like to label the baskets, too.
Cut and Dried Tricks for Small Service Yards
Cut down the laundry admin by getting everyone to sort as they go along. A collection of smaller baskets allows you to divide your clothes up into darks, lights, delicates, or any combination you like. This makes it so much easier when it’s time to do a load.
For even better access, you could attach the shelves to runners that pull in and out. Smaller baskets are also much easier to carry to the washing machine. For a foolproof system, you might like to label the baskets, too.
Cut and Dried Tricks for Small Service Yards
Hide it in a cupboard
If you like to have your laundry basket in the bedroom or bathroom, but would prefer to keep it out of sight, you can hide it in a wardrobe or airing cupboard. Tuck it under a shelf or in a lower section, so it can easily be taken out.
As it’s behind closed doors, a simple style without a lid works perfectly well for ease of use. To keep it smelling fresh, sprinkle some baking soda in the basket.
If you like to have your laundry basket in the bedroom or bathroom, but would prefer to keep it out of sight, you can hide it in a wardrobe or airing cupboard. Tuck it under a shelf or in a lower section, so it can easily be taken out.
As it’s behind closed doors, a simple style without a lid works perfectly well for ease of use. To keep it smelling fresh, sprinkle some baking soda in the basket.
Tuck it into an awkward nook
Don’t have space to spare in a wardrobe? Look to the little nooks and crannies in your home that aren’t useful for much. Here, a foldable laundry hamper fits neatly into the little area by the wardrobe. Hooks have been attached to the wall to make use of the space above. Behind a door or next to a shower enclosure are other similar spots to consider.
Don’t have space to spare in a wardrobe? Look to the little nooks and crannies in your home that aren’t useful for much. Here, a foldable laundry hamper fits neatly into the little area by the wardrobe. Hooks have been attached to the wall to make use of the space above. Behind a door or next to a shower enclosure are other similar spots to consider.
Install a laundry chute
A little tricky to retrofit, but not too difficult to include as part of a renovation project, a laundry chute is a neat and fun way to facilitate an efficient laundry system. Install it in a mutually convenient location, such as the top of the stairs or in a bathroom. Alternatively, go all out and have a chute in each wardrobe!
This is a great solution if you have a laundry or utility room in an inconvenient place, such as a basement or adjoining garage. A chute saves you carrying large baskets of clothes to the washing machine. If only there was an equally convenient way to get the clean clothes back upstairs and into the wardrobes!
Tell us
Where do you keep your laundry baskets? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
A little tricky to retrofit, but not too difficult to include as part of a renovation project, a laundry chute is a neat and fun way to facilitate an efficient laundry system. Install it in a mutually convenient location, such as the top of the stairs or in a bathroom. Alternatively, go all out and have a chute in each wardrobe!
This is a great solution if you have a laundry or utility room in an inconvenient place, such as a basement or adjoining garage. A chute saves you carrying large baskets of clothes to the washing machine. If only there was an equally convenient way to get the clean clothes back upstairs and into the wardrobes!
Tell us
Where do you keep your laundry baskets? Share your ideas and tips in the Comments below.
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Kitchen island/cart (bought on sale no less) on caster wheels. On shelf has all laundry supplies. Others have baskets for dirty clothes. Cart stays in closet and rolls out to w/d on laundry day. Island top is perfect for folding.
I love this idea, very clever..
my laundry basket is in the laundry room on the shelf above the dryer