apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I didn't even know wall-mounted ironing boards existed, silly me!
I am seriously thinking of getting one for my small apartment, if not, I'll try convincing my parents to get one just because they seem so much more practical than having to take out their huge board to iron a simple shirt.

If you decide to get a foldaway ironing board, as shown in the first couple of photos, please get one that swivels -- like the one shown from Costco. Otherwise, about 1/3 of the board is not really usable. If it doesn't swivel, then the largest part of the ironing board is too near the wall. (Ask me how I know: I stayed at a friend's guest home. She was so thrilled to have such a complete guest suite available for me. I just couldn't bring myself to tell her about that semi-useful/semi-useless ironing board.)
For not-so-small spaces, my dream ironing system is still the LauraStar. It's for not-so-small budgets, too.

Do they still make the ironing boards that go over the door? I haven't seen them in any stores lately, but I remember my grandma had one that hung over her bathroom door. She used to iron and watch her soaps.

Ikea has a built-in ironing board, too, the Akurum. Though I do wonder why it is about 50$ more expensive in the US than when you buy it in Germany.... Still, it's about the same price as the one mentioned above.

Hmm, that's a good point MaeEast.

Actually its much cheaper than the one above. The price listed on the site is for the entire cabinet with the ironing board add on. Also if you get it in a different finish its considerably cheaper, 156 in the Argil finish. You could also buy it on its own and install it on your own cabinets, provided they are the right width: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10110017

The ironing blankets are news to me! Now that's helpful. Currently I do my ironing on my coffee table using one of the small size folding ironing boars. It works ok, but it be nicer if i could iron on a taller surface.

I use an ironing blanket (just like the one shown) and it's a sad substitute for an actual ironing board. I didn't realize how useful it is to have a firm surface with rounded edges until I bought the blanket for my teensy place. If I ever get around to it, I have the perfect place in my bedroom for a full-size wall-mounted board and I am SO excited for that day.

CassieB, yes, those blankets are really great for pressing, but not so great for ironing.

My teensy laundry room (2 machines and about 18 inches in front of them) has a wall hung ironing board cabinet form Home Depot. (It has a fold down, swiveling board, a fold down sleeve board, and a shelf for the iron. No power, no lamp.) We had an outlet placed next to it and it's a bit of a tight fit, bur for touchup ironing (which is all I ever really want to do) it's fine. For Big Stuff (like curtains) I get out the folding ironing board fro the guest room closet.

I think you can still find over the door ironing boards, but if not, they still make hangers for regular ironing boards. I have seen over the door styles and ones you secure to the wall with screws. (The one I had also held the iron.)

I have always historically ironed on a blanket. Have an older overused ikea blanket folded in two, covered with a white sheet. I place it on my large kitchen counter and it is perfect height for ironing. The blanket takes only a fraction of space from the ironing board. I iron sheets with ease on them and press all my trousers and shirts and they look professional. I am surprised that not many people in NYC would not use this method given that it is a dual function and a space saver.

I have the second one and absolutely love it. I installed mine in my guest room which is conveniently across from the washer/dryer. It never occured to me that it could be a bonus for guests needing to use it.

I bet you could rig up a cool DIY version for less money. Either way, it's a geat idea!

I've been avoiding the little ironing I have to do in my tiny flat but this post has inspired me to look into a more creative solution! I wonder if I can find anything like that freshfinds mounted solution here in Australia....

I adore natural fabrics (read: wrinkly fabrics)
so I do a lot of ironing on my kitchen countertop.
Towel, iron, ready to go.