Converting a Laundry Room into a Wine Cellar

If your growing wine collection needs a proper home, converting a laundry room or utility closet into a wine cellar might be the solution you’re looking for. The average residential laundry room is 50-100 square feet. But in bigger homes these spaces are often considerably larger—up to 200 square feet.

Modular racking systems make it easy to convert a laundry room into a custom wine cellar, and you might be surprised at just how much you can store in a small space. If you’re wondering where to put your laundry equipment, consider moving it into the garage or even an outdoor shed or carport.

Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about building a laundry room wine cellar.

Storage Capacity

Your first step is taking stock of your collection to determine how many bottles you need to store. You’ll also want to think about how your collection might grow over time. Once you have a number in mind, you can start thinking about how you might want to configure your laundry room wine storage space.   

You’ll need approximately 0.5 sq/ft per 10 bottles. A modular racking system that holds 500 bottles can range from $4,000 to $15,000, depending on the racks you choose and other considerations.  

Depending on your aesthetic preferences, you may choose to go with traditional wood wine racks or sleek and stylish metal wine racks. A combination of wine racks, cubes and bins, and wine storage cabinets can make the space more functional and visually interesting. You might also consider a small wine fridge for whites and rosés.

Temperature Control

The ideal temperature for your wine will depend on your collection. Red wines can be stored between 50°F and 65°F, with the ideal temperature being 60°F. The humidity in the room should be between 50% and 70% to ensure your corks don’t dry out.

You may need to insulate the room to ensure it stays cool consistently throughout the day. Depending on where the room is in the house (on a north-facing versus west-facing wall, for example), you may also need a cooling system. For a small laundry room, a small through-the-wall or split cooling system should be enough. Our wine cellar specialists can help you determine the correct cooling unit and proper insulation needs.

Insulation

Making your wine cellar air-tight with a wine cellar door will protect your vintages by helping to maintain constant temperature and humidity levels in the space. A wine cellar door also has aesthetic appeal, offering a grand entrance into the space—especially if you opt for a glass-front door.

Look for a wine cellar door with exterior grade construction. One with a solid core, insulated glass, and tight weather stripping. If you opt for a glass wine cellar door, it should have a tightly sealed frame and double or triple pane insulated glass.

Lighting

Direct sunlight can ruin your wine. UV rays react with the phenolic compounds in wine, creating sulfurous compounds that can make your vintages undrinkable. It’s called “lightstrike.”

LED and fluorescent lighting are safe for wine, so you’ll want to cover any windows in the space completely and install an artificial lighting system.

Professional lighting projects can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 or more, depending on the extent of the work needed. If you’re a seasoned DIYer, you can install track lighting or a wine rack lighting system for much less.

Build a Laundry Room Wine Cellar with Wine Racks America

With a bit of planning, you can build a functional and beautiful laundry room wine cellar to store your prized wine collection. Wine Racks America can help you do it. We’re one of the nation’s most trusted wine storage providers and custom wine cellar builders.

Count on our expert guidance in helping you in building your dream cellar. Search our huge  selection of wood wine racks and metal racking systems. Or get in touch with our team for helpful advice and information about our kits and custom wine storage systems.