Wash Away Your Woes: 8 Laundry Room Design Basics
Looking forward to doing the laundry? These design tips make that possible
Laundry rooms – we all need them but pay scant attention to the space in which they are housed. Sure, it is a utilitarian room meant to do the dirty work (literally) for you, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be functional as well as good looking. Whether you are planning just a quick update or are starting from scratch, these basic design tips should help you in either endeavour.
Next, plan the plumbing and electrical fittings. Normally, one tends to pick the location based on these two parameters, but if you have the chance to do things anew, pick location first. Trust me, the long-term convenience of getting the place right will far outweigh the short-term inconvenience of having to install fresh fittings.
2. Know your space – and size
Spending some time beforehand on finding out the measurements of the machines and the space available will avoid much heartache in the future – imagine paying top rupee for a nice washer and finding that it is just an inch too wide to fit in the space you’d designated for it.
If you have limited floor space, a front-loading machine might be a better option – it gives you the benefit of bench space, or the option of placing a dryer on top. You could even wall-mount the dryer to maximise space.
Tip: Washers and dryers measure anything between 24 and 34 inches wide. In any case, account for enough space around the machine to open the door comfortably and for movement around it. Make sure there’s enough clearance all around the machine so it won’t rattle against neighbouring walls or appliances.
Read how to fit the laundry room in a small bathroom
Spending some time beforehand on finding out the measurements of the machines and the space available will avoid much heartache in the future – imagine paying top rupee for a nice washer and finding that it is just an inch too wide to fit in the space you’d designated for it.
If you have limited floor space, a front-loading machine might be a better option – it gives you the benefit of bench space, or the option of placing a dryer on top. You could even wall-mount the dryer to maximise space.
Tip: Washers and dryers measure anything between 24 and 34 inches wide. In any case, account for enough space around the machine to open the door comfortably and for movement around it. Make sure there’s enough clearance all around the machine so it won’t rattle against neighbouring walls or appliances.
Read how to fit the laundry room in a small bathroom
3. Demarcate wet and dry zones
For anyone who’s had to wash stubborn stains in a sink and carry dripping clothes to the machine, this will touch a chord. Place the washing machine and sink side by side to integrate plumbing lines and keep wet tasks together.
For anyone who’s had to wash stubborn stains in a sink and carry dripping clothes to the machine, this will touch a chord. Place the washing machine and sink side by side to integrate plumbing lines and keep wet tasks together.
4. Design the space as per tasks
Think about all that you need to get done in the laundry room and arrange appliances and work surfaces to facilitate the flow of your work. If you sort and fold clothes straight out of the dryer, you might need a counter or a table. Shelves must be within easy reach to quickly grab laundry products.
You might want to put in a drying rod beside the dryer for small items and to immediately hang no-iron clothes to prevent wrinkling. In case you don’t have a dryer and need to dry clothes indoors (what with our rainy season), invest in a foldable drying apparatus or one that can be suspended from the ceiling – neither takes up too much space and can be put away out of sight when not in use.
Think about all that you need to get done in the laundry room and arrange appliances and work surfaces to facilitate the flow of your work. If you sort and fold clothes straight out of the dryer, you might need a counter or a table. Shelves must be within easy reach to quickly grab laundry products.
You might want to put in a drying rod beside the dryer for small items and to immediately hang no-iron clothes to prevent wrinkling. In case you don’t have a dryer and need to dry clothes indoors (what with our rainy season), invest in a foldable drying apparatus or one that can be suspended from the ceiling – neither takes up too much space and can be put away out of sight when not in use.
5. Ensure lots of storage
While a large laundry room gives you enough space to work with, it’s the small spaces that will test your creativity. This is where modular fittings come to the rescue. Even a small space, when done right, can take enough shelves to store detergents, stain removers, ironing supplies and so on, bins to separate clothing items, a foldable ironing board and a retractable counter.
Tip: Store dangerous compounds like bleach high above children’s reach. If not, install a childproof lockable cabinet.
While a large laundry room gives you enough space to work with, it’s the small spaces that will test your creativity. This is where modular fittings come to the rescue. Even a small space, when done right, can take enough shelves to store detergents, stain removers, ironing supplies and so on, bins to separate clothing items, a foldable ironing board and a retractable counter.
Tip: Store dangerous compounds like bleach high above children’s reach. If not, install a childproof lockable cabinet.
If space is not a constraint, you could install tall cupboards for spare linen, such as towels, duvets and blankets, and even for other house-cleaning items like mops and vacuum cleaners.
Tip: Use the large space for other activities too, like potting, crafting and pet grooming. Separate the areas for each task and assign them specific cabinets.
Tip: Use the large space for other activities too, like potting, crafting and pet grooming. Separate the areas for each task and assign them specific cabinets.
6. Choose durable surfaces
What goes in the kitchen or bathroom goes in the laundry room in terms of flooring and countertop surfaces. Laminates, tiles, stone or granite are some surfaces that are hardy and immune to moisture and stains. Ensure the surfaces have smooth, rounded edges to prevent snagging on delicate clothing and sweaters and pulling out threads and damaging them.
Tip: A laundry sink should be deep enough for soaking clothes and hand-washing delicates, but it should also be durable and made from a tough material, such as stainless steel or granite.
What goes in the kitchen or bathroom goes in the laundry room in terms of flooring and countertop surfaces. Laminates, tiles, stone or granite are some surfaces that are hardy and immune to moisture and stains. Ensure the surfaces have smooth, rounded edges to prevent snagging on delicate clothing and sweaters and pulling out threads and damaging them.
Tip: A laundry sink should be deep enough for soaking clothes and hand-washing delicates, but it should also be durable and made from a tough material, such as stainless steel or granite.
7. Factor in ventilation and light
Natural light is, of course best, but in its absence, pay particular attention to lighting. Apart from overhead lights for general lighting, you will need task lights over countertops (comes handy for spotting stains and matching socks).
A clothes dryer, or even drying the washing inside, can cause excess humidity, which can damage walls. Windows are not always a given, so make sure you have at least a ceiling fan.
Natural light is, of course best, but in its absence, pay particular attention to lighting. Apart from overhead lights for general lighting, you will need task lights over countertops (comes handy for spotting stains and matching socks).
A clothes dryer, or even drying the washing inside, can cause excess humidity, which can damage walls. Windows are not always a given, so make sure you have at least a ceiling fan.
8. Decorate!
Lastly, do put in some effort to personalise your laundry space – doing the chore will be easier in a cheerful atmosphere. Moreover, the laundry room being small and out of sight, gives you the liberty to treat it as a testing ground for any new, experimental decor ideas you might have, before implementing it full scale.
Read more:
7 Tiny Utility Rooms That Can Fit Anywhere
10 Most Popular Laundry Rooms on Houzz
Tell us:
How does your laundry space look? Do share pictures in the Comments section.
Lastly, do put in some effort to personalise your laundry space – doing the chore will be easier in a cheerful atmosphere. Moreover, the laundry room being small and out of sight, gives you the liberty to treat it as a testing ground for any new, experimental decor ideas you might have, before implementing it full scale.
Read more:
7 Tiny Utility Rooms That Can Fit Anywhere
10 Most Popular Laundry Rooms on Houzz
Tell us:
How does your laundry space look? Do share pictures in the Comments section.
If you are still in the planning stages, put some extra thought into where the laundry room will be. With today’s sleek and, most importantly, nearly soundless models, the possibilities are endless. Consider the convenience of having it in the kitchen, or in the master bathroom, or in a space nestled between bedrooms – basically a space that is easy to access and not a long walk to get there.
Tip: If planning to locate the laundry room near the bedroom, first read the fine print that mentions high-speed spin cycles and decibel (dB) rating. The higher the dB rating, the louder the noise. Anything below 50 dB is a particularly quiet model, and shouldn’t disturb you if the machine runs while you sleep at night.