Laundrey room with colored appliances. Courtesy photo

 

Smart Design With Suzette

A laundry room is a space that exists to get a big job done. It surprises me that laundry room design doesn’t receive more attention. This column talks about smart laundry room design and how these design elements support the activities that go into doing the laundry.

Design Layout

A well-designed laundry room layout should….

• Be designed so that it’s easy to get laundry in and out of the washer and dryer, or have easy access to a clothes hanger (inside or outside).
• Be of a size appropriate to the size of the house. 
• Be in a location appropriate to your lifestyle and circumstances.
• Be in a space that isn’t heavily used for other uses.
• Be in a location where other rooms won’t be bothered by the noise.

Design Mistakes

Too often floor plans are drawn up with thought for where the appliances will fit but the way that the appliances will be used, how the other equipment needed for laundry will be stored and how the space immediately surrounding the laundry equipment is used isn’t thought through properly. Make sure your laundry room design will support all these laundry activities.

Stainless steel backsplash. Courtesy photo

Laundry Space Activities

Does your laundry area support all the activities and storage requirements?

1. Bring washing to laundry (laundry chute?)
2. Sort washing into washing loads (colors, whites, delicates, etc.)
3. Carry out pre-wash treatments or stain removal (bleach, stain liquid)
4. Fill and empty washing machine
5. Fill and empty dryer or hang washing out to dry and collect once dry
6. Iron clothing
7. Fold clothing and sort for different members of the household
8. Identify clothing for mending or special attention

Tools for the laundry:

1. Laundry hampers in the bedrooms
2. Laundry hampers in the laundry
3. Washing bags for washing delicate items
4. A laundry basket or two or three
5. Drying rack and hanging bar
6. Tumble dryer sheets, tumble dryer balls
7. Sprays and detergents
8. Buckets and sinks
9. Ironing board and iron, – and maybe a steamer
10. Surface for folding
11. Sewing supplies for running repairs

Hallway laundry room. Courtesy photo

Is a ‘Laundry Room’ your reality?

Let’s take a closer look at the idea of a laundry ‘room’.  For those of you with larger floor plans you may indeed have a separate laundry or utility room.  For other homes the laundry space might be in the kitchen or the bathroom or in a small closet in a hallway. 

Very often the main laundry activities (washing, drying, ironing, sorting) take place in various different locations within the home – even if you have a dedicated room.  Washing, or course, takes place where the machines are.  Drying might be on a drying rack in the spare room with ironing in front of the TV in the living room and sorting on the kitchen table.

However you plan to do the laundry – store the tools for the job near where you plan to do the job!

Double Duty Laundry

Is there an opportunity to make your laundry space do double duty?  If your laundry room dimensions are large enough there’s plenty of space for storage of other items. Your laundry room could do double duty as a mudroom, butler’s pantry, craft room or office.

Small Laundry Room Ideas

If your laundry area is small, it needs to function at a very high level, but whether you have a small laundry closet or tiny laundry room, your laundry area can be both functional and beautiful!

1. Choose a neutral color palette. You cannot go wrong by choosing a white or gray color palette for your laundry room! From classy and sophisticated to fun and bubbly, this palette is able to fit your style.

2. Utilize wasted space. Create floating shelves between cabinets to instantly boost storage space and add warmth.

3. Stackable machines are a great way to take advantage of vertical space. If there is an awkward space above your cabinets, take advantage of it with decorative baskets or bins.

4. Get creative with storage and folding areas. Add a counter on top of front-loading machines for a wondering area to fold clothes.

Clothes pin hardware. Courtesy photo

Styling

I’ve been researching ideas for laundry rooms for an upcoming project and decided there are certain elements that make for beautiful laundry room designs. With a little thought and styling your laundry area can become a space you don’t mind spending time in.

1. Make Use of Vertical Storage Space

2. Hide clutter with pretty and practical storage

3. Bring in pops of color – consider colored cabinetry

4. Add charm with unique flooring design or beautiful backsplash tile

The laundry room is often an overlooked and overworked room in the home. I hope these tips have made it a little easier to want to be in.

Feel free to contact Los Alamos Interior Designer Suzette Fox to suggest specific design topics or for help with your home. For more information, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/SuzetteFoxInteriorDesign and on her website www.suzettefoxinteriors.com