Her Honest Space

Discover practical laundry room makeover ideas for busy mums. From smart storage to small styling touches, create a calm, functional space that works for you. Even on a budget.

The laundry: the bossy little room that never stops demanding attention. You can close the door, pretend it’s not there, and scroll on your phone instead….but it’s patient. It knows you’ll be back.

For mums, it’s one of the most visited rooms in the house, second only to the kitchen. Yet, it’s often the last place we think about improving. The truth is, a laundry that is functional, organised, and a little bit lovely can make a surprisingly big difference to your day. Here’s how I turned mine from chaos to calm, plus a printable checklist to help you plan yours.

🧺 Why the Laundry Room Deserves Love

There will be times when the laundry piles up – load after load – in a never- ending cycle. Time is rarely on your side, and the last thing you want is another article telling you, how to make the laundry Pinterest -perfect. We all love pretty spaces, but time and budget often mean progress is slow.

Instead, focus on what the space needs to actually work for you. A laundry room that’s functional and supportive will make the daily grind feel lighter. You might still close that door, but you’ll walk away feeling calmer than before.

As mums, we spend more time in this room than we’d like to admit. Sorting school uniforms, tackling baby blowouts, and folding endless tiny socks. It’s not glamorous, but it’s part of keeping our family’s world turning. When a space supports you, it becomes less of a chore and more of a quiet moment to reset.

Storage That Saves Your Sanity

• Cupboards (overhead, base, and tall) If you like to keep all the unsightly chemicals safely stored away, cupboards are your best friend. They create a clean, out of sight look. Tip: We purchased Bedford 900mm white 2 Door High moisture wall cabinet $173 & Bedford Furniture 450mm white 1 door pantry storage $185 – both at Bunnings Warehouse.
• Vertical Storage: Add shelves above the sink or washer to keep everyday essentials like laundry powder, fabric softener, stain remover and pegs, within easy reach. Tip: Use woven, labelled baskets or lid glass jars for a calm, organised look.
• Hooks: Let’s face it: all our cleaning supplies seem to end up in the laundry. Think about utilising wall space for brooms, mops and vacuums. Tip: We used 3M Command Broom Grippers to hang our mop etc.
• Pull-Out Drawers: Tiny space? No worries. Add a pull-out drawer for folding laundry or transferring it straight into the basket, ready to hang out or pop into the dryer. Tip: Pull-out cabinet organisers from Amazon are great for those hard to reach places.
• Washer Pedestal Storage: This sits under your washing machine, raising it off the floor to save your back while adding bonus storage. Tip: We brought Bedford 666mm white front loading washing machine stand $241- Bunnings Warehouse
• Drying Rack: Many options available, even concealed pull-out drying rack that disappears when you are not using it. Tip: Due to our space, we brought the Anko Behind the door Airer $15- Kmart.
• Pull-out Laundry Hamper: If you have the space in your cabinetry, these are perfect to hiding away dirty laundry. Tip: Bunnings Warehouse sells the pullout system from $210-$295
• Hidden Iron Storage: Great option for those tight spaces, especially with having the options of a pull-out ironing board or a wall mounted ironing board hanger or cabinet. Tip: My laundry is a cupboard laundry next to the front entrance, space is limited in and out. I have used 3M hook for the iron board and my iron is on a pull-out shelf
• Laundry Basket: Don’t forget a spot for your laundry basket when it’s not in use keeping it in easy reach. Tip: I have Kmart collapsible laundry basket $14, though Temu has the same one for half the price of Kmart.
• Washer/Dryer Countertop: This gives you space for folding laundry or store essentials Tip: Amazon has a few options depending on the size needed

When your laundry is set up to work for you. With everything in its place and easy to reach, it creates calm in all the chaos. The truth is, it’s not about clean clothes…it’s about creating a space that supports you while you keep your family’s world turning.

Small Details, Big Difference

Sometimes it’s the tiniest changes that make the biggest difference to how a space feels. You don’t need a full renovation to make your laundry more inviting. Just a few thoughtful touches can turn it from “ugh” to “ahh.”

• A Scent you love – Light a candle, use a diffuser, or pop fresh linen scented sachet in a cupboard. It’s amazing how much nicer folding is when the room smells good.
• A touch of green – Add a plant (real or faux) to bring life into the laundry. Even a small succulent can make it feel fresher.
• Pretty Jars or containers – Store your powder, pegs, or stain remover in matching jars or baskets. Function meets style.
• Music or podcast – Keep a small speaker in the laundry so you can enjoy your favourite playlist or podcast while folding.
• Under-cabinet lighting – You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes to your mood. Instead of the harsh glare of the overhead light, the softer glow creates a calm, cosy feeling in those darkest corners of the laundry.
• A pop of personality – Hang a fun print, use a colourful basket, add fun labels that make you smile.

These little touches don’t just make your laundry better. They help it feel better, which makes those endless loads a bit easier to face.

The Mum Factor

In a way, the laundry is a reflection of motherhood. It’s always there, quietly waiting. We always need it, but it’s rarely appreciated. It works in a never-ending cycle, much like the daily tasks we take on without fanfare.

Most of the time, a laundry makeover is at the bottom of the priority list. Yet this small, often-overlooked room is where so much of the messiness and chaos of family life is held. It’s the place that catches muddy uniforms, food-stained bibs, and sandy beach towels. All the little reminders of a life well lived.

When we give this space even a little attention, making it functional calm, and easy to work in. We’re not just organising a room. We’re creating corner of our home that supports us through the beautiful, messy never-ending rhythm of being a mum.

Folding it all Together

A calm laundry room won’t magically make the clothes wash themselves (if only!) but it can make the process feel less overwhelming. When everything has its place, the space smells fresh, and the light feels warm instead of harsh, even the most dreaded chores get a little easier.

If you’re ready to bring more calm to your laundry space, start with my Quick Guide to a Calm Laundry Room. Print it out, pin it to the wall, or save it to your phone. So every time you open that laundry door, you know it’s working for you, not against you.

Let’s Talk

What’s one small change you’d make to your laundry to make it more “you”? Share in the comments, your idea might be exactly what another mum needs to hear today.