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 Today, however, the laundry room is often an
essential feature of the house that is located near the bedrooms, in
a kitchen area, or near the backdoor. Homeowners expect the laundry
room to be clean and bright, functional, and flow well with the rest
of the house.
When planned properly, the laundry room can be an asset to a family,
but without careful consideration for its use it can quickly become
a cluttered storage area that is not useful to anyone.
The laundry room needs to be a highly functioning space so when
designing the room, no matter the size, remember you want to be able
to do the laundry quickly and efficiently:
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Use every available space: shelves in the corners, pedestal
drawers under the washer and/or dryer, ladders or hooks hanging
from the ceiling, cabinet pull outs, and carts on wheels help
fill a small space with needed storage.
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Use the right appliances: washers and dryers come in many sizes,
stackable and side-by side, top loading and front loading. Be
sure to measure and plan ahead to get the right appliance for
your laundry area.
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Consider lighting that will brighten the space: under-cabinet
strips, ceiling fixtures, lamps, or wall sconces. It is always
great when natural light brightens a room, but many times that
is not possible because of where the laundry room is located.
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Create an area for folding: shelving over the appliances or a
small counter mounted to the wall. Open shelves are practical
for folding as well as storing clean clothes and cleaning
supplies.
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Create a drying station: rods for hanging clothes, pull out
racks, or hooks on the wall.
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Make the most of your cabinets: hide the ironing board, pull out
trays for laundry baskets and supplies, retractable clothes
line, shelving for towels and linens, or a home for mops,
brooms, or vacuum cleaners.
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Don’t forget the door: hang ironing board from hooks or over the
door hangers, keep items in a hanging shelf rack or over the
door pantry organizer, or install a hanging drying rack.
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If
space allows, consider a sink: small or large a sink is
convenient for hand-washing clothes, treating stains, and
cleaning.
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Remember your pet: an under-the-sink space or open lower cabinet
might be the perfect place to house a bed for your family pet.
Just like the rest of your house, your laundry room can have
character. Use pops of color, wall decorations, curtains, rugs, and
cheery accents. The laundry room should be a space that expresses
your personality and makes you happy. It is easier to do laundry
when the space is both functional and inviting.
Professional organizer, Peter Walsh, transforms a cluttered laundry
room into a functional area in one day. He suggests a “splash of
color and some great organizing racks so all the laundry has a place
where it lives.”
VIDEO:
How to
transform Your laundry room into a dream retreat
It is easy to find videos with laundry room ideas.
There is no commentary for the following video, but it shows 50
professional designs to integrate laundry rooms in big and small
areas:
VIDEO:
Fifty laundry
room design ideas
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 Not everyone has a space large enough to
accommodate all the laundry room suggestions above. Award-winning
Interior Designer, Karen Sealy, suggests that you don’t have to have
a huge space to have a beautiful laundry space. She says, “The most
important thing about planning is just making sure you pick your
appliances first."
VIDEO:
How to achieve
a beautiful laundry room in a small space
The size of your laundry room will determine the size
of the lighting fixtures you should choose. Watch the video below
for different lighting ideas for the laundry room.
VIDEO:
Laundry
room lighting design decor ideas
Creator and Founder of The Clutter Diet, Lorie Marrero, shares her
vision of the 12 basic elements to every laundry room, including
ideas “out of the laundry room”
VIDEO:
Laundry Room
Ideas-The Basic 12 Elements- | Clutter Video Tip
Ready to assemble and pre-assembled cabinets are available at many
home improvement stores. Not all cabinets have to be closed; an open
shelving unit can work just as well.
VIDEO:
Laundry
Cabinets -Laundry Room Ideas
HGTV’s Fixer Upper Joanna Gaines thinks the laundry room should have
a lot of character. She says, “The most important thing about the
laundry room is having plenty of storage.”
VIDEO:
Stylish
Laundry Room Storage Tips
There is a difference of opinion about where the laundry room should
go in a home. Whether your laundry room is in a basement, small
closet, the kitchen, or a large room near the bedrooms, it is an
important space for your family.
The best laundry room, big or small, will help your family get the
clothes clean and ready to wear in record time. Be sure to plan
ahead and make it a room that everyone in the family is willing to
work in!
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