Not Shelves Or Racks: A Creative Way To Add Cheaper And Sturdier Storage To The Laundry Room

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There's no doubt about it: Laundry rooms get cluttered fast. Perhaps it's a law of physics or, more likely, it's that laundry rooms are small, and the piles of laundry we each create are not. Either way, we need more space in our laundry rooms, stat. Luckily, one DIYer has come up with a clever storage solution that you can do on a budget.

YouTuber Specific Love Creations starts this DIY by taking apart some wood pallets and sanding the boards down. He then builds two rectangular side panels, installing smaller boards along the side to support the laundry baskets. Then, he attaches shorter boards along the sides to put the piece together, before adding a stain and setting it up in his laundry room.

As Specific Love Creations mentions in his video, this budget-friendly wood pallet DIY may take a little trial and error, so the old adage of "measure twice, cut once" comes in handy here. Plenty of patience will likely be helpful, too, because while experienced DIYers may be able to tackle this project in a day, novices may need more time. You'll also need a sander (or sandpaper, choose your favorite), a drill, 2.5-inch screws, and a measuring tape. As for wood, the most inexpensive option is to follow in the YouTuber's footsteps and snag a few free wood pallets from Facebook Marketplace. Or, if you'd rather not break the pallet down, pick up some 3.5-inch-wide-by-0.5-inch-thick wood deck boards at your local hardware store instead.

The first step to building this simple laundry room storage solution that'll keep your space clutter-free perhaps isn't surprising: Measure. Measure the space in the laundry room where the organizer will go, measure the laundry baskets or bins you want to use, and measure the lumber, reclaimed or otherwise. Yes, it takes an extra minute or 2, but it's worth it to avoid dissembling another pallet (or heading back to the hardware store).

There's one more thing to check before you start building your laundry basket organizer: the baskets themselves. Are your baskets made of sturdier materials that can handle heavier weight, or are they a touch more flimsy? If it's the latter, you don't necessarily need to run out to buy new ones. Instead, consider making cubbies for them instead of slide supports. Gather up that old plywood or the wood scraps in your garage, and cut out shelf bottoms. Apply wood glue to the top of the support beams, slide the shelf bottom in, and clamp them together until dry. Add 1-by-2s perpendicular to the support beams first for even more support.

Finished building your tower? Don't move it into your laundry room just yet. First, add a protective layer to prevent the wood from absorbing any moisture created by the washing machine. A coat of linseed oil, like Furniture Clinic Boiled Linseed Oil, or another natural drying oil is perfect if you like the natural wood look. Oil-based paint is also a great choice for a more polished look that blends with your decor. Once dry, it's ready to go!