Updating the laundry room? Yes please. To recap: we already replaced the washer and dryer, removed window shutters and cluttered shelving, frosted the side door, repaired ceiling cracks, and painted the room Benjamin Moore’s Sesame to match the kitchen. With those projects done, the room was ready for a smarter storage solution.
Here’s how it looks now:
When we first toured the house we noticed that narrow sliver of space beside the stacked washer and dryer and knew built-ins would be the best way to maximize function. The laundry room is only 3.5 feet wide, so appliance placement and door swing limit options. With such tight quarters, the only sensible direction for extra storage was vertical.
We wanted more accessible storage than the high cabinets above the dryer, and there weren’t any ready-made bookcases narrow and deep enough to use the full depth of the nook. So we decided to build custom shelves designed to work around the window and appliances.
We planned a two-depth solution: the lower section would be washer-depth and the upper portion, above the window sill, would be shallower to clear the window. That split profile let us gain as much usable depth as possible without awkwardly overlapping the window.
Most of the lumber was cut at the store. We used whitewood with 1×2 poplar trim, and paired 1×12 boards where needed to create wider divider panels. The middle shelf aligns with the window sill, so we added 1×2 trim to create a notch that fits the sill precisely.
The bottom of the divider was fastened into the plywood floor platform that sits under the appliances for extra stability, and secured to the middle shelf using pocket holes. The vertical divider doesn’t run all the way to the back wall so we could leave access to the washer and dryer ducts; to support the middle shelf we fastened cleats to the back and side walls for the shelf to rest on.
We also upgraded the old flexible foil dryer duct to a rigid all-aluminum duct for improved safety. That was a quick swap: remove the old duct, clamp the new rigid duct in place with metal clamps and a wall adapter, and it was done.
The top portion of the divider is set back to sit flush with the window, creating that two-tiered profile that lets us use the full depth of the lower section without crowding the window above.
Adjustable shelves were a priority. We installed metal shelf tracks and shelf clips so the shelves can be repositioned or removed for access behind the appliances. To get a secure mounting surface and close up a slightly oversized gap between the divider and the wall, we added extra 1x2s. That also made the shelf tracks bite into solid wood instead of only drywall.
Painting the built-ins in place would have been awkward, so we removed the framing and painted the pieces in the sunroom. We applied two coats of Kilz no-VOC primer and two coats of semi-gloss white paint on the framing, while the shelves got two coats of paint without primer. We also painted the small right wall white so it looks like part of the bookcase, leaving the back wall unpainted for a pop of color visible through the shelving.
Once everything was painted and reinstalled, we nailed in the metal shelf tracks and added the shelf clips. On the lower half we added a small rear lip to prevent items from sliding into the gap behind the shelves. The shelves are also removable, so retrieving anything that falls back there is still easy.
The two-inch gap between the appliances and the shelves is intentional to prevent items from knocking into the shelving when the washer agitates. The adjustable layout isn’t the prettiest when empty, but function wins here: adjustable shelving lets us accommodate tall and short items as needed.
So far we’ve filled the shelves with detergent, an iron, baskets for mittens and sandals, magazine files, a scalloped bowl, and a jar of clothespins. We’re even considering turning part of the shelves into a drop spot for mail and coupons, which would keep miscellaneous items contained and organized.
Cost-wise this custom solution was a bit pricier than a narrow, shallow off-the-shelf unit, but the built-in look and full use of available width and depth make it worth the investment. Our materials cost breakdown:
- Wood (Home Depot & Lowe’s): $59
- Metal shelf tracks & shelf clips: $15
- Primer & paint: already owned
- Baskets and accessories: already owned
- TOTAL: $74
The rigid aluminum dryer transition duct was an additional $10.
Remaining laundry room tasks include replacing hinges and knobs on the upper cabinetry, installing a new light fixture (we’re thinking of a small chandelier-style fixture), adding a window treatment, creating storage near the door for shoes and a dog leash, and hanging art to brighten the space and disguise the fuse box. We’re also planning a built-in ironing board storage solution and will share details once it’s tested and working well.
If you have a narrow laundry area, consider vertical built-ins with adjustable shelving to maximize storage without crowding windows or blocking appliance access. We’re happy with how much extra storage we gained, and the built-ins make the small room feel a lot more organized and functional.