Laundry day might never be your idea of fun, but a few closet upgrades can turn your walk-in into a comfortable haven for sorting and folding.

I don’t know about you, but in my house laundry day is always chaos. It gets even crazier around the holidays, when I’m balancing online gift shopping and holiday baking with loads of washing. But it’s not exactly my favorite chore in warm weather, either, when the last thing I want to do is fold clothing still hot from the dryer.

What I have noticed, though, is that there are little things you can do to your closet that will make your routine easier. Plenty of people focus only on their laundry rooms, but the right closet upgrades can sometimes be more effective. These additions just might get you excited about laundry day (or at least lessen your dread of it).

Create Your Own Folding Haven

Since I normally have several loads of laundry to do, as one load finishes, I try to get it folded before the next comes out. But I’ve learned over the years that not having a designated spot makes this process challenging. Areas like the sofa theoretically work, but if you’ve got a family, you know the kind of clutter living rooms attract.

I’d suggest adding a peninsula or island to your custom closet instead. An island is usually larger and, if your walk-in can accommodate it, more ideal for folding. But a peninsula works, too, giving you that same flat, stable surface. Either option speeds up the process, both because you’re right next to the shelves where a lot of your clothes are headed and because a flat surface in your closet is more likely to remain clear and uncluttered than a flat surface in other parts of the house.

Iron Away!

Since your new island or peninsula will move laundry folding into your closet, I’d also encourage you to add a slide-out ironing board. This means you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to grab the ironing board from another room—and it also saves a lot of space. A slide-out design lets you access it when you need it but tuck it completely out of sight when you’re done.

On a personal note, I’ve got to admit that an ironing board in my closet has drastically improved my wardrobe, as well. I’m more likely to actually wear clothes that need ironing now.

Clean Laundry Needs a Home, Too

Laundry seems to be especially constant when your kids are young (and you are sleepless). But built-in laundry hampers are a huge help. 

In addition to tilt-out hampers for dirty clothing, I’d suggest installing a second hamper in your master closet specifically for clean clothes. I know it sounds a little odd, but if you’ve just taken a load of clothes out of the dryer and your kids need something, or the doorbell rings, or the cat needs to be feed, you can toss the load into the “clean” hamper and come back to it.

Don’t have children? A second hamper is still worth considering. Little things, like socks and underwear, tend to slow us down, so you can use this hamper as a holding place for underthings until you’re completely done with everything else. Better organization goes a long way toward making your routine effective, and the amount of time you spend hunting for lost socks can be drastically reduced.

A Pretty Space

Doing laundry isn’t exactly a bundle of fun—I’d gladly outsource it if I could. But creating a space that feels pleasant and comfortable can also help improve your outlook.

If you like modern aesthetics, for instance, you might choose finish, hardware, and design options to give your closet a contemporary feel. While cosmetic upgrades don’t have a specific practical function, they can sometimes be the motivational boost that you need. Even something as simple as crown molding can provide a nice visual touch.

While you might never love laundry day, these small upgrades can make washing, folding, and putting away less of a hassle—and leave you feeling like you have a new closet in the process. Get in touch for a free design consultation and bring a breath of fresh air to your laundry-day routine.