Laundry rooms often start with a single wire shelf pulled over the washer and dryer. That was the case for a Reddit user u/ImAnActionBirbHis builder-grade laundry room relied on one shelf for storage while leaving much of the wall space unused.
Instead of expanding the room, she rearranged it. A stacked washer and dryer freed up space for cabinetry, the countertop created a dedicated folding station, and new paint, lighting, and storage transformed a narrow room into a more efficient workspace. What started as a basic laundry setup became a room designed for storage, organization and everyday use.
A wire shelf handles almost all storage
Wire shelving, extending on the wall above the washer and dryer, serves as the room’s primary storage system. Laundry detergent, baskets, cleaning supplies and miscellaneous household items share the same shelf, while hangers occupy the space below.
Much of the room remained unchanged from a typical builder-grade laundry setup. Storage relies on a single shelf, leaving few dedicated spaces for organizing supplies or creating a work surface.
Blank walls and high ceilings offer untapped potential
Removing the shelf exposes how much vertical space exists above the appliance. Crown molding already drew attention upward, but the wall itself remained largely unused despite the room’s height.
The preparation of the paint also revealed that the renovation extended beyond the collection. The walls, trim and ceiling details were to be part of a more complete redesign.
New paint changed the look before any cabinets arrived
Fresh paint replaced the original beige walls with a muted grey-green color mixed in with the rest of the paint used elsewhere in the house. Blue painter’s tape outlined the crown molding and door trim while the room went through the prep stage.
Even before the new storage was installed, the updated wall color gave the laundry room a more finished look and established a distinct backdrop for the cabinetry planned for later.
The crown molding began to stand up against the new color
Fresh paint emphasized the existing crown molding and highlighted the architectural details that blended into the original wall color. White trim creates a contrast against the gray-green walls and gives the room a clean look.
Instead of removing existing details, the renovation used them as part of the final design. Crown molding has become one of those elements that makes a room feel less utilitarian.
Builder-grade lighting gives way to new fixtures
A square LED fixture replaced the original ceiling light and introduced a more contemporary focal point overhead. The new fixture complemented the updated wall color and reflected light into the narrow room.
Lighting became part of the overall redesign rather than an afterthought. Together with Paint, it modifies the environment before any major storage upgrades are installed.
Stacked appliances open the wall for cabinet storage
Moving the washer and dryer into a stacked configuration freed up a large portion of the wall previously occupied by side-by-side machines. Upper cabinet boxes immediately show how much extra storage a room can accommodate.
Relocating the appliances made room for cabinetry without changing the room’s footprint. Vertical organization began to replace horizontal device placement.
The upper cabinets replaced the original wire shelves
Cabinet boxes replace the wire shelves that previously handled most of the room’s storage. Even before the doors are installed, the new cabinetry shows how much more organized the laundry room will be.
Extending the cabinets above the stacked appliances allowed the renovation to utilize wall space that had previously been underutilized. The room began to shift from a basic utility area to a built-in laundry workspace.
Folding laundry is no longer done on top of machines
Built-in dedicated folding station next to base cabinet and countertop stacked washer and dryer. Instead of using appliance tops or carrying laundry elsewhere, the room now includes a work surface located at a more comfortable height.
Upper cabinets add closed storage above while countertops offer a function other than washing and drying clothes. The narrow room began to serve as a full laundry workspace instead of just a place for appliances.
Everyday laundry supplies became part of the design
Glass dispensers, clear containers, labeled jars and small decorative accents turn frequently used laundry products into a display instead of something hidden inside a cabinet. Detergents, fragrance beads, dryer sheets and pods each received dedicated storage rather than remaining in their original packaging.
Organizing supplies on a folding counter keeps essentials within reach while reducing visual clutter. Small details like matching containers, raised dispensers and integrated accessories helped the workstation feel more like a finished room than a basic utility space.
Rug added pattern to finished laundry room
The final view shows how the room came together after the cabinetry, stacked appliances, paint, lighting and storage upgrades were completed. White cabinets contrast the gray-green walls while a dark laundry center anchors the storage wall.
A patterned runner introduced texture and softened long stretches of tile flooring. Framed artwork added color on the opposite wall, helping the space read more like a ready room than a utility area dedicated solely to laundry.
Justin Hillgrove artwork added color to a finished room
Colorful Justin Hillgrove prints introduced personality to the long wall and provided contrast against the grey-green paint. Combined with the runner and cabinetry, the artwork helped the laundry room look more like a finished part of the home than a fully functional space.
The room started working beyond the laundry alone
Before the renovation, the room served a single purpose. Laundry equipment occupied most of the wall, storage was based on a single wire shelf, and few dedicated surfaces existed for folding, organizing, or storing supplies.
Stacking appliances created space for cabinetry, closed storage and folding stations without expanding the room. Existing square footage now supports washing, drying, storage, organization and everyday household tasks within the same footprint.
Image credits go to reddit user: @u/ImAnActionBirb
