Best Small Ironing Board – What Are The Options?

Generally, the sizes of ironing boards are pretty standard. Most standing units will have a board surface width of 13 to 18 inches while the length will range from 43 to 54 inches. You will have to search a bit harder to get one which measures less than 43 inches long unless you are willing to make do with a tabletop ironing board. But if you do not have a table that is suitable to accommodate this task, what are your options for the best small ironing board that will save you space? Let’s take a look at the various designs that are all aimed to economize on space for small laundry rooms and apartments.

Ironing Board In A Drawer

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Sometimes, if you don’t have space, you will just have to do a bit more work to install things onto walls or cabinets. The ironing board in a drawer is one such installation. There are a few brands that you can buy online and shown above is one by Hafele. Once installed, the ironing board will pop up when you pull open the drawer.

For this model, you can also purchase a sleeve board separately which goes on the underside of the main board. You can access it by flipping back the top board. It is not a necessity but if you have got used to ironing the sleeves using a sleeve board, the option is there to add it on.

While it is a compact ironing board, you will still need to ensure that your cabinet drawer is big enough to accommodate it. That is one of the drawbacks of such a design. Not everybody will have a drawer that fits. The minimum measurements for the opening as listed are 4″ (H) x 14.25″ (W) x 20.25″ (D).  The ironing board itself is slightly over 37″ long with a width of nearly 12″. If this is not something that is workable for you, a wall mounted ironing board is the next option.

Wall Mounted Ironing Board

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This is another small ironing board that requires installation. Also manufactured by Hafele, the size of this board is similar to the ironing board in a drawer above. It measures 37.375″ long and 11.875″ wide. Instead of keeping it hidden in a drawer, you can fold this up against the wall which gets it out of the way if you have a small laundry room.

The board also swivels 90-degrees to the left and right. What this means is it is ideal for both left and right-handed users. While installation is a pain, a wall mounted ironing board allows you to install it at a height that fits you perfectly. You also don’t have to worry about the legs giving way or being wobbly which may be the case for a traditional ironing board.

Another option is to have a wall mounted ironing board cabinet. Just like the drawer version, this will keep the ironing board hidden as it is stowed away after use to give your room a neater look.

Over The Door Ironing Board

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If you don’t fancy bringing out your tools and doing any installations, an over the door ironing board may be the solution. The above is by Honey-Can-Do which easily hangs over any standard door. When not in use, you can just fold the board up and lock it in place.

This kind of design makes it one of the best small ironing boards because it is an effective space-saving solution. It just hangs there folded up. Of course, you must have enough space to pull it down when you do your ironing. But it is perfect for apartments when you don’t really have a place to store a huge standing ironing board.

The other good thing about this? You can have a longer ironing board since you can take advantage of the height of a door. The model above has an ironing surface of 14″ (W) x 42″ (L). A longer surface area makes it easier to iron pants and other big items. However, it may not be as stable near the far end since there is no leg to support it, unlike conventional models. So, if you are ironing with a heavy iron which some of the best steam irons tend to be, you will have to be careful not to exert too much downward pressure and cause the board to sag.

Ironing Board Storage Cabinet

 

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If the reason for a compact ironing board is to maximize on space use, a 2-in-1 design may be worth looking into as well. The common idea is to have an ironing board with a storage cabinet or shelves. So, what you will get is a foldable ironing surface at the top with a storage cabinet at the bottom for your iron, spray bottles and other laundry supplies as pictured above.

Apart from using it for ironing, the board can also double up as a folding table. Because the 2 sides are foldable, it does not take up much space when not in use. If your laundry room is small with no built-in storage, this ironing board center will serve its purpose well.

The other option is to have an ironing surface on top with a laundry sorter at the bottom. It is also a practical 2-in-1 solution for small spaces whereby you can have 2 uses for a single item rather than having to buy 2 separate pieces and needing the space for both.

Space Saving Ironing Board

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Lastly, if all you want is the usual stand-alone version but compact in size, the Ironmatik is perhaps the best small ironing board that is available at the time of writing. The ironing surface is only about 35″ way shorter than your usual 43″. But because the board is smaller, the overall weight is also lighter and you can hang it up with the hook provided.

Perhaps it doesn’t make much of a difference for storage compared to larger ironing boards because the legs will still jut out from under board when folded up. However, if you only have limited space to work in when you open up the board for ironing, that is when a shorter board will be more practical. Moreover, the Ironmatik also allows you to store your iron together with the ironing board by strapping it to the iron rest with the elastic band provided. That is an added convenience and it is the little details that make this one of the best ironing boards that I can find.

What Size Should The Best Small Ironing Board Be?

Personally, 35″ long and 13″ wide would be the minimum for me. It has to be about the length of a shirt so that you don’t have to keep repositioning it which will waste time and contribute to more wrinkles. Of course, it also depends on what type of items you will be ironing. If you are into arts and crafts and will only need to iron small items, then a mini ironing board might be sufficient. But if you are planning to press your pants and shirts, it can be difficult doing it with a tabletop ironing board, especially if you have a heavy load.

Basically, what works for some may not work for others. The best small ironing board size and design will be one that fits your home and needs. There will be pros and cons for each different design as there is no one perfect model that can suit everyone. As long as you understand how it works and what are its limitations, you will be able to evaluate if it is the one to buy.