A hallway laundry closet can be a total game-changer when you don’t have room for a full laundry space. I’ve set up a few in tight apartments, and the key is making it feel intentional, tidy, and easy to use—without turning your hallway into a utility zone.
Pocket Door to Save Hallway Space
A pocket door was my favorite “small-space luxury” because the hallway stayed clear even when the closet was open. It made my hallway laundry closet feel like it disappeared when I didn’t need it.
A few choices to try:
- Pocket Door Hardware Kit: Installs a sliding door mechanism easily to save space and keep your hallway completely clear and functional.
- Round Privacy Door Pull: Add a flush handle to your pocket door for easy sliding and a sleek, unobtrusive finish.
- Solid Wood Slab Door: Upgrade your closet aesthetic with a solid wood door slab ready to be mounted on sliding tracks.
Stacked Machines With a Simple Shelf
In my narrowest place, stacked laundry was the only way, and adding one sturdy floating shelf above made detergent and stain spray feel instantly organized. It keeps everything vertical so your hallway stays walkable and not chaotic.
Some handy options:
- Wooden Floating Shelves: Transform unused vertical wall space into stylish storage for detergents and decor with these warm, sturdy wooden shelves.
- Woven Storage Basket: Keep smaller laundry essentials or dryer balls organized and hidden away in a textured, natural woven basket.
- Amber Glass Pump Bottles: Decant your detergents and fabric softeners into these uniform glass bottles for an instantly cleaner, cohesive look.
Side-by-Side With a Folding Counter
When I had a slightly wider hallway closet, I did side-by-side machines and a countertop over them, and it felt like I “won” extra square footage. I loved having a spot to fold right away so clean laundry didn’t migrate to the couch.
A few helpful options:
- Butcher Block Countertop: Create a seamless folding station above your washer and dryer with a sturdy, warm wood surface.
- Woven Storage Basket: Keep loose items organized or store fresh towels neatly on your countertop with a textured basket.
- Plush Bath Towel Set: Refresh your linen collection with soft, neutral-toned towels that look beautiful stacked on your new counter.
Bi-Fold Doors for Easy Access
I’ve used bi-fold doors in a hallway laundry closet because they open wide without blocking the passage like a swinging door can. It made laundry day feel less cramped, especially when I was hauling baskets through a tight corridor.
A few relevant products:
- Wooden Bi-Fold Door Hardware Kit: Upgrade your closet functionality easily with hardware that smooths out door movement and saves hallway space.
- Woven Seagrass Storage Basket: Keep laundry organized or store extra linens stylishly with a natural woven basket that complements wood tones.
- Black Matte Door Hinges: Add a modern touch to your wooden doors with sleek, contrasting hinges that offer durable performance.
Add Bright Closet Lighting
I always add closet lighting in a hallway laundry closet because dim hallways make it hard to spot stains and measure detergent. A small puck light style setup made the whole space feel more like a real laundry station.
These products might help:
- Battery-Operated LED Puck Lights: Instantly brighten dark shelves without wiring by sticking these simple, battery-powered lights exactly where needed.
- Rechargeable Motion Sensor Cabinet Lights: Add hands-free illumination to your laundry space that turns on automatically when you reach for detergent.
- Remote Control Dimmable Shelf Lighting: Control brightness levels easily with a remote to create the perfect lighting for sorting or treating stains.
Built-In Shelves for Supplies and Linens
My most functional hallway laundry closet had built-in shelving on the side for towels, paper goods, and detergent backups. I loved having one spot that served laundry and hallway storage without looking messy.
You might like:
- Woven Storage Baskets: Keep supplies hidden and shelves tidy by organizing loose items into stylish and durable woven baskets.
- Luxury White Bath Towels: Refresh your linen closet with plush, bright white towels that create a clean, spa-like aesthetic instantly.
- Wooden Clothes Hangers: Upgrade your closet’s look with matching wooden hangers that offer sturdy support for robes and linens.
Hanging Rod for Air-Dry Pieces
I always try to fit a short hanging rod above or beside the machines for delicates and wrinkle-prone tops. In a hallway laundry closet, that one bar saved me from draping clothes over chairs for days.
Useful items to consider:
- Wooden Closet Rod with Brackets: Install a sturdy wooden pole to instantly create dedicated hanging space for your delicate air-dry laundry items.
- Natural Wooden Hangers: Use matching natural wood hangers to keep your closet organized while preventing shoulder bumps on wet clothes.
- Woven Storage Basket: Add a large woven basket below or above your hanging rod to collect dry laundry or store linens.
A Pull-Out Folding Surface
One of my favorite upgrades was a pull-out folding shelf that slid out when I needed it and vanished when I didn’t. In a hallway laundry closet, that tiny move makes the whole system feel custom.
Check if these fit your needs:
- Pull-Out Drawer Organizers: Install sliding wood organizers to create dedicated zones for linens directly within your existing cabinetry space.
- Heavy-Duty Drawer Slides: Build your own custom retractable shelf using sturdy hardware that glides smoothly and supports laundry weight.
- Woven Laundry Baskets: Keep clean clothes organized and portable with a textured basket that complements your natural wood finishes.
Use the Alcove or Niche You Ignore
In my first tiny apartment, the best hallway laundry closet location was an awkward alcove that didn’t work for furniture anyway. Turning a weird niche into laundry storage made the whole hallway feel more intentional.
May just do the trick:
- Large Wicker Laundry Hamper: Keep dirty clothes discreetly tucked away and add natural warmth to your hallway niche storage setup.
- Woven Storage Baskets: Organize smaller laundry essentials and linens neatly on shelves using sturdy, textured woven baskets.
- Luxury White Bath Towels: Create a spa-like aesthetic in your open shelving by stacking flush, high-quality white cotton towels.
Laundry Closet Next to the Bathroom
I’ve set up a hallway laundry closet right outside the bathroom, and it made towel rotations and dirty-clothes drop-offs super natural. It’s one of those layouts that just works, especially in compact apartments.
Consider these options:
- Tall Narrow Bathroom Storage Cabinet: Maximize vertical space with a slender cabinet perfect for storing spare towels and toiletries in tight hallway corners.
- Woven Storage Basket: Keep laundry or supplies organized by sliding a natural woven basket onto your shelves for hidden, tidy storage.
- White Cotton Hand Towels: Create a spa-like feel and ensure guests always have fresh linens by stocking up on soft, white cotton towels.
Curtain Front for a Soft, Budget Look
When I was renting and couldn’t swap doors, I used a curtain front to hide the hallway laundry closet, and it instantly felt warmer than exposed machines. It’s a budget-friendly way to blend laundry into your decor.
You might give these a try:
- Linen Blend Curtain Panel: Choose a textured linen-blend drape to softly conceal your laundry space while adding warmth and elegance instantly.
- Tension Curtain Rod: Install your new laundry curtain quickly without drilling holes by using a sturdy, adjustable tension rod today.
- Decorative Curtain Tieback: Keep your curtain neatly swept aside when doing laundry with a simple, decorative tieback for easy access.
Disguised Cabinet Doors That Look Like Built-Ins
I once helped style a hallway laundry closet with cabinet-style doors that read like regular storage, and guests never guessed laundry lived there. That “hidden in plain sight” look is my favorite trick for making small spaces feel luxe.
Items that may come in handy:
- Long Brushed Brass Cabinet Handles: Upgrade standard doors instantly; choose tall, slender gold pulls to mimic the custom built-in look shown here.
- Woven Storage Basket: Add texture and practical floor storage with a sturdy round basket, perfect for hiding laundry or linens.
- Unfinished Cabinet Doors for Painting: Create a seamless wall by installing simple, flat-panel wood doors that you can stain or paint yourself.
A Mini “Lost Sock” Drop Zone
In my own hallway laundry closet, I keep a tiny lost sock bin and a small misc laundry basket for random towels and cleaning cloths. It sounds silly, but it keeps the hallway from becoming the place where stray laundry goes to die.
A few suggestions:
- Small Wicker Storage Basket with Liner: Keep stray socks contained in style with a charming lined basket that adds warmth to your hallway.
- Iron-On or Sew-On Fabric Labels: Create your own custom organization system by adding clear fabric labels to any bin or basket.
- Wooden Floating Shelves: Utilize vertical space efficiently by installing a simple shelf to hold your drop zone essentials securely.
Make It a Hidden Cleaning and Laundry Command Center
My biggest wow-moment was turning a hallway laundry closet into a laundry and cleaning hub with vertical zones for brooms, refill bottles, and linens. It made the hallway feel more streamlined because everything “utility” finally had a home behind one door.
Products that could assist:
- Corn Straw Broom with Wooden Handle: Upgrade your cleaning tools with a vintage-style broom that looks beautiful enough to leave on display anytime.
- Woven Seagrass Storage Baskets: Organize hampers and loose items neatly using natural woven baskets that add warmth and texture to shelves.
- Amber Glass Spray Bottles with Labels: Uniform your cleaning supplies by transferring liquids into stylish amber glass bottles for a cohesive, organized look.
