Laundry rooms often pack many jobs into a small footprint. Appliances take up most of the floor, a utility sink claims another section, and coats or shoes end up where storage resides.
Imgur user Wisping Willowtree He changed the setup by removing a narrow closet next to the utility sink and remodeling the room around storage the family could reach from the laundry area. The project added new flooring, refinished cabinetry, a counter next to the sink, open shelves and a shoe rack where the closet once stood.
A closet utility crowds the space next to the sink
A narrow cupboard was placed between the door and the utility sink in the original room. Coats, shoes, bags and hanging organizers filled the closet, while more clothes were hung from the rod above the sink.
A wall separates the closet from the laundry area, leaving a tight space next to the sink that cannot serve as a work surface or open storage. Upper wooden cabinets provide enclosed storage above the washer and dryer, but the rest of the room was based on separate pieces.
Current storage cannot handle shoes, coats and laundry
There was storage in the room, but each part served a different area. Closets held coats and shoes, upper cabinets housed laundry supplies, and the utility sink had its own section with no cabinets below it.
A small vanity cabinet shown during the project provides another storage component that can be reused. Rather than adding more freestanding furniture, the remodel began by changing how the existing footprint worked.
Utility sink left plumbing and floor space exposed
The stainless utility sink stood on four metal legs with drain, water lines and exposed wall connections below. This left the sink functional but the space below exposed.
Removing the surrounding storage allowed for the sink to be kept while creating a more useful setup around it. There was no need to replace the sink in the room to get more storage.
The closet walls came out to reclaim the space
Demolition removed the closet enclosure next to the sink. By stripping the drywall back, the framing shows how much of the room is divided by the narrow storage area.
Opening this section changed the length of usable wall without moving the washer and dryer. The remodel will now be able to use the former closet footprint as part of the laundry room instead of having it behind a door.
Drywall remodeled the room around the new layout
New drywall covered the exposed framing and changed the shape of the wall after the demolition. The seam was prepared by joint tape and compound while the old closet opening disappeared from the room.
This phase established a new boundary between the laundry area and the adjacent space. Instead of replacing the closet with another closed unit, the remodel left the reclaimed section open.
The existing cabinets were refinished for a new finish
Cabinet boxes and raised-panel doors were removed and prepared in the garage. The original wood finish gave way to a painted treatment, allowing useful cabinetry to remain part of the project.
Reworking existing pieces keeps the remodel focused on layout and storage changes rather than replacing every fixture. The same door profile remains visible in the finished upper cabinets.
New woodwork added storage next to the sink
Wood panels formed a new counter-height unit for the space next to the utility sink. A narrow vertical section rose from the counter, creating another place for small items without rebuilding the entire closet.
The design uses the wall upwards from floor level, leaving the storage open in the room. Shoes can sit under the counter while the upper section handles items that require a smaller footprint.
New flooring in place of old sheet floor
Dark wood-look planks went on the laundry room floor, replacing the light patterned surface that covered the space before the remodel. The installation continued into the former closet area, helping to read the reclaimed footprint as part of the room.
The dark floor also set the stage for the blue cabinetry and wooden shelves.
Sink legs need new supports after floor replacement
The utility sink remained in place, but its metal legs received wooden collars at floor level. The smaller pieces form a finished base around the cylindrical legs instead of leaving temporary blocks beneath them.
Having a stainless sink preserves a useful laundry fixture while the work surrounding it addresses the unfinished details seen in the original room.
Blue cabinets combine old and new storage
The refinished upper cabinets now use a deep blue finish, while new storage next to the sink begins to take shape in the opposite section. A white wall surface behind the sink and beadboard separate the dark cabinetry from the room.
The washer, dryer and sink remain in their original zones, but the storage around them now makes more use of the available wall space.
Open rails replace closed closets
Inside the new blue storage unit, horizontal wooden rails span the lower section at several heights. Open construction eliminates doors, hanging organizers, and items that previously cluttered closets.
Different levels offer dedicated rows for footwear while leaving every pair visible from the room. Dark blue sides frame the storage without blocking it.
A threshold marks the transition between two floors
The laundry room’s dark plank flooring meets the existing hardwood outside the door. A wooden threshold covers the transition between the two surfaces.
The piece received Minwax Polished in Tudor Satin, a combination of stain and polyurethane in the finish shown during the project. Its wood tone creates a transition between the dark laundry floor and the lighter hardwood outside.
A former closet became a shoe station
The finished room shows the result of removing the closet wall. Open shoe shelves now sit under the counter next to the utility sink, adding more storage along the upper wall.
The cabinet above the appliances has closed storage, while the front closet handles shoes without footprint doors or hanging organizers. The sink remains accessible next to the new unit.
Shoe storage uses the entire width of the counter bottom
Three rows below the counter hold everyday shoes in new unit widths. Shelves leave the floor open for tall footwear while the countertop adds an upper surface for storage.
Instead of dedicating this part of the laundry room to a narrow closed closet, the remodel turned it into storage that can be reached from the main room.
Image credit goes to Imgur user Wisping Willowtree.
