Pros Share 8 Laundry Room Must-Haves
Four laundry-design experts reveal the features that take a laundry area from so-so to spectacular
Adding the right features to your laundry room can make everyday tasks easier and elevate the look of the space. Here, four pros share the eight must-haves they always recommend to clients who want a laundry that functions well and stands the test of time.
“The minimum amount of space I would recommend for a laundry is 80 square feet. This provides enough space for a single row of cabinets, including a recess for the washing machine, a generous sink and a decent-size hamper space, plus a sufficient walkway.
“You will need more space than this if you plan to include storage areas — for example, a linen or broom closet — or if you specify a side-by-side washer and dryer rather than stacked units.”
“You will need more space than this if you plan to include storage areas — for example, a linen or broom closet — or if you specify a side-by-side washer and dryer rather than stacked units.”
2. Deep Countertops
Brett Patterson, senior designer and managing director at The Renovation Broker, says, “Having a decent amount of counter space is a godsend in a laundry, giving the client room to fold and sort clothes, pop a clothes hamper down and more.
“Sometimes it’s better to forego
a top loader and put the machine under the countertop to create more counter space. Or even go for a two-in-one washer-dryer to free up room for more usable counter space.”
Brett Patterson, senior designer and managing director at The Renovation Broker, says, “Having a decent amount of counter space is a godsend in a laundry, giving the client room to fold and sort clothes, pop a clothes hamper down and more.
“Sometimes it’s better to forego
a top loader and put the machine under the countertop to create more counter space. Or even go for a two-in-one washer-dryer to free up room for more usable counter space.”
“You’ll want the countertops to be at least 24 inches deep — or ideally 25½ inches deep, if you have the room — so you can include a decent-size sink as well as counter space to put baskets and folded clothes on top.”
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Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
3. Room for a Hamper
Pillinger says, “Professionals often forget to factor in space for a hamper in their laundry design, which means that dirty washing has to be stored elsewhere, creating clutter throughout the laundry or in other rooms in the client’s home.”
Pillinger says, “Professionals often forget to factor in space for a hamper in their laundry design, which means that dirty washing has to be stored elsewhere, creating clutter throughout the laundry or in other rooms in the client’s home.”
“A pull-out hamper fitted into cabinetry with dividers to separate colors, darks and whites is the ideal solution. A simpler and more inexpensive option is to include a recessed space for a basket.”
Julianne Bull, principal designer at The Den Interiors, says, “Pull-out laundry hampers make sorting laundry easy and keep your client’s dirty laundry hidden out of sight. Sturdy plastic tubs can be integrated into the cabinetry and can be removed and cleaned as needed.”
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4. Drying Racks
Bull says, “Installing drying racks or a drying cabinet in your laundry design means your clients can say goodbye to having those pesky freestanding drying racks all over the house. Placed over a heating vent or in a purpose-built cabinet, these racks can be purchased from storage retailers or custom-made.”
Bull says, “Installing drying racks or a drying cabinet in your laundry design means your clients can say goodbye to having those pesky freestanding drying racks all over the house. Placed over a heating vent or in a purpose-built cabinet, these racks can be purchased from storage retailers or custom-made.”
5. Smart Storage
Patterson says, “If the space to design your laundry is small, you’ll need to plan the design carefully in order to fit in everything you need.
“If your client wants a multi-purpose laundry that includes dedicated storage for the vacuum cleaner, brooms, ironing board, mops and baskets, then you may need to incorporate smart storage solutions, which can bump up costs, but will give your client a more tailored and efficient storage solution.”
Patterson says, “If the space to design your laundry is small, you’ll need to plan the design carefully in order to fit in everything you need.
“If your client wants a multi-purpose laundry that includes dedicated storage for the vacuum cleaner, brooms, ironing board, mops and baskets, then you may need to incorporate smart storage solutions, which can bump up costs, but will give your client a more tailored and efficient storage solution.”
“Another tip – include electrical outlets in the broom or vacuum cleaner cupboard so your client can charge a hand-held vacuum cleaner while it’s tucked away.”
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, says, “In a compact laundry, having specific, purpose-built areas is key to making it functional, particularly in a busy family home.”
“For example, if your client only irons sporadically, a fold-away ironing board in a drawer is great for single use, rather than storing a large, clunky ironing board.
“If pets are fed or toileted in the laundry, then appropriate drawers for food bowls or space for litter trays can be accommodated with a little planning.
“And, of course, including space for a hamper or washing basket keeps dirty laundry off the floor.”
“If pets are fed or toileted in the laundry, then appropriate drawers for food bowls or space for litter trays can be accommodated with a little planning.
“And, of course, including space for a hamper or washing basket keeps dirty laundry off the floor.”
6. Hanging Rod
Bull says, “A hanging rail installed above a countertop makes drying shirts easy and reduces the amount of ironing.
“A simple solution is to install the rail underneath the overhead cabinets, or make it a feature by installing it to hang from the ceiling. Just be sure to allow for enough clearance between the rail and the counter for shirts to hang.”
Bull says, “A hanging rail installed above a countertop makes drying shirts easy and reduces the amount of ironing.
“A simple solution is to install the rail underneath the overhead cabinets, or make it a feature by installing it to hang from the ceiling. Just be sure to allow for enough clearance between the rail and the counter for shirts to hang.”
7. Forgiving Finishes
Del Popolo says, “When it comes to flooring, I always recommend tiles that have a patina or stone look as they are great for minimizing scuffs and smudges that regularly occur in a hardworking spot such as the laundry.”
Del Popolo says, “When it comes to flooring, I always recommend tiles that have a patina or stone look as they are great for minimizing scuffs and smudges that regularly occur in a hardworking spot such as the laundry.”
8. Clean Design
Del Popolo says, “With fixtures, I recommend washing machine connections to be concealed and direct bypass draining, to reduce visual clutter. Pull-out hoses are great in this application.”
Del Popolo says, “With fixtures, I recommend washing machine connections to be concealed and direct bypass draining, to reduce visual clutter. Pull-out hoses are great in this application.”
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Anthony Pillinger, director at Swell Homes, says, “Don’t make the mistake of designing a too-small laundry, particularly in a busy family home. A small laundry area might work for a couple, but add a client’s children into the mix and chances are they’ll likely end up with washing on the kitchen floor, sofa or dining table.”
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