What about the use of wardrobes in the basement for storing the less used or out of season items? Our laundry/utility room is out of control, but like you we have a huge window that we don't want to cover up making layouts and organization a challenge.

Where the boots and shoes supposed to go, currently?

Thanks for comments. Incredibly, this is a "clean" state. Everything you see there is in use - so there is really no putting it away until springtime. In really cold weather even more stuff comes out. Boots generally go under the black benches. But between running shoes, boots, ski boots, etc - there are just too many. The cubbies in the back of the first photo house baselayers, bottles, running shoes, watches, etc.

Can you post a floor plan of the room , with dimensions? Seems awkward with doorways in three of the four corners of the room, but I see possibilities here, if you are open to adding cabinetry. Even IKEA Pax would help with controlling the volume of “stuff”, and depending on the size of the room, I may advise NOT stacking the w/d in the corner, as you then have to leave that space open in front of the machines to keep them accessible.

You simply need more, appropriate storage. Agreed, this is not cute wicker basket territory. I'm thinking commercial storage solution incorporating metal mesh shelving, multiple hanging rods, pullout mesh baskets, gridwalls etc. e.g. https://www.uline.com/Grp_474/Clothing-Racks-and-Accessories  https://www.uline.com/Grp_372/Gridwall  https://www.uline.com/BL_889/Wire-Dump-Bin  https://www.storesupply.com/pc-13550-524-chrome-shoe-merchandiser-61120.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAiAnabTBRA6EiwAemvBd2yhll8zWBJrS12KhgPEXSzlp9AbkbXYV8y4t2U11-KFuxtXrlVR3xoC1MYQAvD_BwE  https://www.storesupply.com/c-699-wall-mount-and-hangrail-displays.aspx You can start small and buy more and reconfigure with the change in seasons and the utility. Good luck!

Acm that is a great post! And the pics are awesome!

Mom of seven here. We farm which means everyone has two full wardrobes of everything: Farm and Town. I have some quick ideas for you, no time to be diplomatic sorry.

You need to purge. Dozens of hats are not necessary for six people. Choose two each: one light weight beanie and one really warm toque. Ditto mittens/gloves: one lighter weight for dashing to the grocery store, one heavy pair for skiing etc. Each person's stuff will fit in one basket.

No one needs more than one pair of Crocs or flip flops. Those can go on a shoe rack by the door. Put a towel hook over the closet door, that's where everyone can store their towel. Colour coding avoids fights: Payton can't say that Blake stole her towel if hers is yellow and his is green. Bathing suits can be stored where they change.

Check out the rental area at your local ski hill. Recreate that storage situation with one set of boots and skis for each. You mentioned that this kind of equipment is stored outside but: I see ski boots!

Where you have a hanging rod, instead install a pullout clothes drying rack. Put one over the laundry sink too.

The white organizer looks disfunctional in that it seems stuff can tumble out easily and it's too hard to see what's at the bottom of each bin. A basket or drawer on a bench is best in my experience, those cube organizers are ok too but then they have to pull a drawer out and hold it while they search. Instead I would put a deep bench or two under the hooks and set baskets on it. A coffee table actually works well for this. Put boot trays in front of it to catch drips.

The hooks are too high for anyone under twelve to reach independently. Lower them for the kids. Add shelves above them.

Having said that, I don't see any toddler stuff here. Time for peeps to get responsible.

Off topic: is "more info" really back?? acm did you work some kind of Houzz magic or was it automatic?

Yes, absolutely look at garage systems on Houzz, not laundry rooms. (One quick thing, though, is that you should have an appliances' deep shelf all the way across the laundry wall for sorting and folding. That will give you laundry-related spaces underneath for laundry baskets, detergent, etc.

Hats off--a lot of hats that should leave the premises--to farmer lindsey with her great suggestions. Family members should not have many multiples of things like hats, gloves, scarves. Spread everything out on a floor and have everyone pick two sets of each. These will then fit into baskets or bins.

I just noticed another part of your original post: as the kids get older, you expect the gear to increase.

That is the opposite of my experience. As my kids get older their interests condense and they become focussed on just one or two activities. The gear is bigger but they are better able to manage it themselves. They'll have one or two favourite pairs of leggings and it will be in their own room.

Depending on how talented they are at say hockey, they might put skiing aside or only do it casually in which case renting equipment might be the better option. If they are really talented and there isn't a competitive team near you, you might even be looking at them moving away for high school to be billeted in a different community. Or they might decide they hate it and give it up altogether. So I would suggest making storage that is versatile and easy to transition to the next phase of their lives.

Knowing how old they are might help with getting suggestions on what will work now, and what will be needed in future.

Thank you all for the great comments! Gold star for @acm - those are some fantastic finds! Really like the changing bench with cubbies idea. @quam999 and @lindsey and @housegal200 - great comments. Much appreciated. I have no idea how it never occured to me to simply emulate some industrial retail clothing displays, either DIY or using the ULINE stuff. It's flexible, fast, affordable. This could be the ticket... with a combo of hangers, shelving, and wire bins.

I would start by telling the kids to put things where they belong...just because they are used or worn often doesn't mean they should be dropped on the floor. I understand you need a organized permanent home for everything but in the meantime surely there's a place for at least shoes instead of the middle of the room. I've seen this in homes where the kids are not required to put things where they belong. *IF* this is the case in your home than putting in cubbords, ect ect ect isn't going to make a difference.

Any suggestions on how to hang to dry and air our hockey equipment? With 2 boys playing hockey daily there is a lot to air dry constantly. The climate is too humid and cool in winter to air dry in the garage. Ideally we would find or be able to build a large, well ventilated, heated ‘closet’ to hang and dry jerseys, padding, hockey gloves, helmets etc. Any ideas?