First I would get a front load washer, easier on clothes for sure then you could run a counter across both W&D for folding. As for an ironing board there are lots that fold up into a cabinet when not in use. If you could draw a floor plan with doorway and any windows it would be easier for us to comment further. You actually have quite a bit of space and tons of wall space for storage.

A front loading washer doesn't work for the sort of laundry we do, unfortunately (we used a really good one extensively when the boys were younger and in cloth diapers). But I love the idea of a shelf right behind the machines, though. And the third photo looks so much better than what we have right now, the combination of open shelving and cabinetry. I'll post a floor plan as soon as I get home tonight. Thanks so much!

Push the washer and dryer together and maybe do laundry basket shelves on the side?

Hmm... One dilemma is that ours is a gas dryer, which makes it hard to move. We may be able to move the washer a bit, though. And the more I look at the photos, the more I'm leaning toward open shelving now...

Have you considered putting a sink in there? Would you have need of one? Pushing the dryer and washer next to each other should be easy to do without having to alter the gas line and plumbing. You could then install a utility sink/cabinet which would give you a little space to hide some seldom used things and give you the sink. You have a lot of potential with the space on the wall opposite the washer and dryer for storage, folding and ironing. To do all of this would cost less than $1K unless you use high end cabinetry and materials which don't improve the functionality-just the aesthetics. Go with what makes you happy and enjoy your home.

First what is your budget? Before you do anything you need to really be honest with yourself about how much clutter you can stand looking at. You need to decide if you will really put away the ironing board each time you use it or with two small kids will it be impossible to take the time to keep the open shelves looking pretty. I know I would never put open shelves in a laundry space or kitchen. I find my brain would be overwhelmed by looking at everything all the time. Those open shelves in the above picture are pretty but they are mostly decorative. I would add that shelf just on top of the washer dryer and decant the detergent into pretty non breakable easy to access containers. That is both useful, a time saver and decorative.

One poster here put a beautiful laundry center in her bathroom with a fold out ironing board in cabinetry that also has storage. It is divine. If you push the washer dryer together you may have room to do that. I hope she sees this thread.

Safety first. Keep the pods up high where the little kids cannot reach them. Don't move them to an unlabelled container. Kids have been poisoned by eating them. http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/health/laundry-detergent-packets-dangers/index.html

A shelf about 18 inches wide to the left of the dryer would be a good location to fold clothes.

Add a large framed poster or wallpaper one wall.

Shop for clothes baskets that will fit in your space. Look for smallish baskets that hold about one load of clothes, not one and a half or two loads. The squashy baskets with handles that you can carry with one hand are great when you have a toddler on the other arm. https://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-FG260100ROYBL-Laundry-Basket-1-9-Bushel/dp/B00100820O

I suggest storing the ironing board on the wall once you get a new shelf for folding.https://www.amazon.com/mDesign-Ironing-Holder-Storage-Clothing/dp/B01M0QLNYA/

Budget is around $500 for this space. And I can stand a fair bit of clutter, but I was thinking that fabric bins on the open shelving would work better to open the space up and still hide clutter, don't you? I'd never do open shelves in my kitchen, though. About the ironing board... I can't be bothered to fold no the full-sized one even though it constantly gets in my way. That's why I like the idea of a fold-out one...

And my husband has been begging for a utility sink! He brews and vints, so if I can squeeze one in there, that would be great!

Thanks so, SO very much for the great ideas, everyone!

I'm not sure if your end wall where the big jug is now is wide enough to accommodate your washer/dryer together there? Maybe do a stackable? If so, I would have them there, install a long narrow sink where your washer is now and build your cabinetry/shelving on that wall. Install a custom sized pull down ironing board over the washer/dryer on that wall and nothing else. Leave the wall that has your ironing board at now empty, except for the narrowest of hanging items.

With a narrow sink you could have a long narrow countertop along that wall, it's looks like you desperately need a counter.

Ok with a budget of $500 you can do a few things. Are you or your husband handy? I did a quick google search for the price of a fold from the wall ironing board and the cheapest is $170. I bet if you start looking on Ebay, Craigslist etc. you will find one much cheaper.

Make a list of what you want to keep in the laundry room. Some people keep vacuums, mops etc. and others don't. Your room is small, but a little creative organization and it can be beautiful and much more functional. If your husband is a brewer does he want to use the laundry room to ferment his beer? Those bottles are large and really should be out of reach of the little ones. So planning for the space for that is also important.

Also can you sketch out a rough diagram of your laundry room? Include measurements of walls, door, placement of vents, water valves, electric outlets. Also include the measurements of your machines.

Does this help? The door is 38" wide, set off from the near wall by 6.5". The washer is 27"x27". There's about 14" between the washer and dryer at the moment, and the water hook-ups and gas vent are shown. My husband (who is very handy, thankfully) says that the gas vent pipe (?!) can't be moved much, though we do wonder if there's a flex pipe option. The washer can be moved a bit. I'm not too worried about electrical outlets—my husband can move or install one wherever needed.

The laundry room is actually one of the safer places (in our house, at least) to ferment the beer and wine, because the kids generally stay out of it except to put their clothes in the washer; they don't venture to the other side of the room unless we ask them to (they've been "trained" by now!!), though I wonder if it would be an option to run a counter along that end and build cabinetry around where the carboys are...

May I just say, I really, really appreciate all the help and enthusiasm thus far! I really didn't expect anyone to pay much attention to my post, so I'm very grateful!

Well, depending on how much you want to spend on hiring out I believe the dryer can be moved all the way down to the left. You would need a plumber or gas co. person to add a longer gas line and then you would have to extend your vent. I have no idea how much it would cost or codes in your town, but in NYC it has to be done by a licensed plumber or installer. I would move the washer over right next to the dryer. Yes, that can be done you may need longer hoses. That leaves at least 58" of space from the door to the washer. I would then add a sink in the space. A plastic 25"utility sink with legs can be found for as little as $100.

If you want, you can be a little fancier and do a drop in utility sink in a cabinet. This gives you hidden storage for some of the brewing stuff. On the short wall I would put your flip up ironing board`keeping it as far away from the dryer as possible.Something like this

I would put a long shelf the full length of the wall over the sink and machines. Over the sink I would consider putting a closed cabinet for things that really can't fit in baskets on open shelves. Personally I would put cabinets all the way across, but open shelves might work better for you. On the short wall where you have the ironing board I would hang from the ceiling a drying rack. like this

The rack can be pulled up to the ceiling after you put clothes on it, This works well if you have tall ceilings. It could go over your machines or sink also.

Since the room is narrow if you need to store mops etc. I would either use the back of the door, since you wouldn't see them when you are in the room with the door open. You could use the long wall opposite the machines for mops, but I would put a narrow flip down counter to use for folding and sorting. It would have to be narrow but wide enough to fold.

And one last note, you could just push the machines to the right and put the sink on the left side of the machines.

I know that it is frustrating when stuff gets in your way. Really think about what is always annoying you in the room and start from there. If it is the ironing board, I would start with that first. You have plenty of wall space in there I would use as much as possible. And remember to pick your favorite colors and hang up some pictures or items that make you happy. I like doing laundry but it is stressful when you have to step over things and bump your hips etc..

Please show pictures as you make progress and welcome to the Laundry Room.

These are amazing ideas! Thank you!

Melissa R - Where did you find those pictures? I love the paint color in the first one and would love to paint my future laundry room that color. :)

Modern top-loaders (with no agitator) are great, don't sweat that.

I would get storage on both sides and between the appliances. Some can be open and the rest closed (for jumbly mess of detergent bottles and iron, say, as well as Lost Socks). Could consider rolling hampers too.

https://www.houzz.com/products/commercial-grade-steel-frame-3-bag-laundry-hamper-cart-prvw-vr~58505124

You can probably use kitchen cabinetry to make your closed storage and work in some shallower cabinets overhead, if desired, or space for hanging a few items to dry.

Here's an inspiration photo from Ikea:

And here are a couple from Houzz...

Here's a cart that includes a drop-leaf ironing board!

https://www.houzz.com/products/portable-ironing-board-center-29-tall-prvw-vr~38668063

and here's a combination of hampers with a folding surface:

https://www.houzz.com/products/lavish-home-rolling-3-bin-laundry-sorter-and-ironing-station-gray-prvw-vr~74728698

good luck!

Keeping the ironing board folded when not in use would give you some more room.

What is in that brown cabinet behind the ironing board...can it be put in another room.

What is in the water jug? Does that need to be in the laundry room?

Can you move the washer and dryer closer together, giving you more room for hampers?

Can empty clothes baskets fit on the wire shelf above the washer/dryer when not in use?

Pictures were found on pinterest. That pic was from this blog I couldn't find the name of the paint color though. I bet if you message her, she could tell you

I would absolutely move the washer and dryer to the far wall. I would guess a guy "designed" your current layout..

If you keep it as-is you should be able to squish them more toward the center of that wall. Then you could put cabinets on the short wall. Check habitat for humanity..

https://www.houzz.com/houzz-tv/see-an-amazing-400-laundry-room-remodel-for-a-family-of-8-stshtvvw-vt~40336773

Hello bittenkitten,

You will find a lot of inspiration pictures and idea for the layout of your laundry in our idea book "laundry".

Hope this helps,

Atelier Armbruster LLC,

http://atelierarmbruster.com

I would definitely get some cabinetry built around your washer and dryer --upper and lower cabinetry. Then, add a counter to be placed over your front loader. Add in wall-mounted ironing board.

Here's one of my favorite laundry room makeovers for inspiration. Of course, you would need to adapt this a bit for your top loader but still very doable. This was a DIY project for this couple from chrislovesjulia.com blog with plenty of before/after and the process of completing the project.

Hope this helps inspire!