Renovating
Pro Panel: 12 Tips For Establishing the Right Laundry Set-Up
The laundry is one of the hardest-working rooms in a home – three experts reveal the secrets to getting the design right
There are many factors to consider when planning your ideal laundry, from choosing the right materials and your storage requirements to selecting a practical layout. So where do you start? And how can you be sure the layout and design will meet your needs? Here, three laundry and design experts share 12 insider tips for designing a laundry that delivers.
2. Opt for more closed overhead cupboards and fewer open shelves
Most of the items you store in a laundry, such as cleaning products, are ones that you’d want to conceal rather than leave out on show. As such, it makes sense to have more closed cupboards than open shelves in a laundry.
I’d also recommend including plenty of overhead cupboards, as this is generally where you’ll store most items. Plus, a decent-sized tall cabinet to accomodate awkward items such as mops, brooms and the ironing board.
To add interest to a laundry scheme, you may wish to include some open shelving for display – but it’s best to keep it small so it doesn’t compromise your overall laundry storage requirements.
Most of the items you store in a laundry, such as cleaning products, are ones that you’d want to conceal rather than leave out on show. As such, it makes sense to have more closed cupboards than open shelves in a laundry.
I’d also recommend including plenty of overhead cupboards, as this is generally where you’ll store most items. Plus, a decent-sized tall cabinet to accomodate awkward items such as mops, brooms and the ironing board.
To add interest to a laundry scheme, you may wish to include some open shelving for display – but it’s best to keep it small so it doesn’t compromise your overall laundry storage requirements.
3. Choose tough materials
With the potential for chemicals and hot irons in a laundry, you’ll want to choose a benchtop material that is resilient and durable. For the benchtops in our projects, we don’t use anything but engineered stone.
You’ll want to choose hardy materials for the joinery too – it should be extremely hardwearing and able to withstand moisture and steam.
It’s always a good idea to tile the kickers (the base of your cabinets) as tiles cope better with steam and moisture when you’re mopping or steam-cleaning the floor.
Planning a new laundry? Find a professional on Houzz who can help you create the ideal design
With the potential for chemicals and hot irons in a laundry, you’ll want to choose a benchtop material that is resilient and durable. For the benchtops in our projects, we don’t use anything but engineered stone.
You’ll want to choose hardy materials for the joinery too – it should be extremely hardwearing and able to withstand moisture and steam.
It’s always a good idea to tile the kickers (the base of your cabinets) as tiles cope better with steam and moisture when you’re mopping or steam-cleaning the floor.
Planning a new laundry? Find a professional on Houzz who can help you create the ideal design
4. If your laundry is small, opt for compact fixtures
Plenty of bench space and storage is a must in a laundry – and particularly if the room is small. To maximise bench space and storage in a tiny laundry, choose a compact laundry sink, which will be smaller in length and width than a standard-size sink, but deeper than average so you have a decent sink capacity.
10 Tidy Tips for Little Laundries That Can
Plenty of bench space and storage is a must in a laundry – and particularly if the room is small. To maximise bench space and storage in a tiny laundry, choose a compact laundry sink, which will be smaller in length and width than a standard-size sink, but deeper than average so you have a decent sink capacity.
10 Tidy Tips for Little Laundries That Can
Tammy Morton, spokesperson at Living Edge Kitchens
5. Measure exactly what you need to store
When specifying cabinetry, think about your specific storage requirements. For example, do you need to store cleaning and washing detergents, or long and awkward items such as mops and brooms? Do you want somewhere to keep pet items, space for hampers or washing baskets?
Having a clear idea about what you need to store will ensure that your specific needs are catered for in the design.
5. Measure exactly what you need to store
When specifying cabinetry, think about your specific storage requirements. For example, do you need to store cleaning and washing detergents, or long and awkward items such as mops and brooms? Do you want somewhere to keep pet items, space for hampers or washing baskets?
Having a clear idea about what you need to store will ensure that your specific needs are catered for in the design.
6. Consider the location of your laundry carefully
When thinking about your laundry layout and positioning, don’t forget to factor in any access requirements. For example, do you want access via an external door so you can easily get to an outdoor clothes line? Will you be storing kitchen appliances in the laundry and need direct access to the kitchen?
You should also consider any additional storage requirements. Will the laundry double as a mud room, for example, and if so do you need somewhere to store soiled shoes and clothing?
When thinking about your laundry layout and positioning, don’t forget to factor in any access requirements. For example, do you want access via an external door so you can easily get to an outdoor clothes line? Will you be storing kitchen appliances in the laundry and need direct access to the kitchen?
You should also consider any additional storage requirements. Will the laundry double as a mud room, for example, and if so do you need somewhere to store soiled shoes and clothing?
7. Do you need to include space for folded or hanging items?
Will you do the ironing in the laundry and need space for an ironing board? Do you want somewhere flat to place ironed and folded garments, or a rail to hang them on?
If space is tight and you iron regularly, consider a folding ironing board that you can pack away when not in use.
10 Ideas for High-Functioning Laundries
Will you do the ironing in the laundry and need space for an ironing board? Do you want somewhere flat to place ironed and folded garments, or a rail to hang them on?
If space is tight and you iron regularly, consider a folding ironing board that you can pack away when not in use.
10 Ideas for High-Functioning Laundries
8. Choose the right door style
A hinged door is generally the most cost-effective style. However, it is not always suitable, especially in a small laundry where it can take up considerable space.
In a compact laundry, consider a sliding cavity door or a bi-fold style that takes up minimal space when opened.
Best of the Week: 30 Laundry Ideas You’ll Wish You’d Thought Of
A hinged door is generally the most cost-effective style. However, it is not always suitable, especially in a small laundry where it can take up considerable space.
In a compact laundry, consider a sliding cavity door or a bi-fold style that takes up minimal space when opened.
Best of the Week: 30 Laundry Ideas You’ll Wish You’d Thought Of
9. Don’t forget power points
When planning your laundry, consider which appliances you will use, make sure you have enough power points, and ensure they are positioned in the right spots. As well as power points for the washer and dryer, consider ones you might need for benchtop appliances or an ironing station.
When planning your laundry, consider which appliances you will use, make sure you have enough power points, and ensure they are positioned in the right spots. As well as power points for the washer and dryer, consider ones you might need for benchtop appliances or an ironing station.
10. Choose the most practical washer-dryer set-up
Stacked front-loader washer-dryers are a good space-saving option for smaller laundries. But be aware that not all washers and dryers can be stacked – some are too heavy and will need to be installed under a bench. This is something to consider if you’re in the market for new washing appliances.
A side-by-side washer and dryer set-up that fits under a benchtop has the advantage of giving you more bench space. However, this arrangement might take up too much room in a small laundry or apartment.
If you prefer top-loading machines, bear in mind that you’ll need sufficient overhead space so the lids can be opened, letting you fill the machines.
Wall-hung appliances can only be wall hung if they are designed for this purpose, and they may also require additional brackets to attach them to the wall. You’ll also need to check that the wall behind your washer or dryer is strong enough to accommodate the appliances.
Stacked front-loader washer-dryers are a good space-saving option for smaller laundries. But be aware that not all washers and dryers can be stacked – some are too heavy and will need to be installed under a bench. This is something to consider if you’re in the market for new washing appliances.
A side-by-side washer and dryer set-up that fits under a benchtop has the advantage of giving you more bench space. However, this arrangement might take up too much room in a small laundry or apartment.
If you prefer top-loading machines, bear in mind that you’ll need sufficient overhead space so the lids can be opened, letting you fill the machines.
Wall-hung appliances can only be wall hung if they are designed for this purpose, and they may also require additional brackets to attach them to the wall. You’ll also need to check that the wall behind your washer or dryer is strong enough to accommodate the appliances.
James Vogdanos, marketing director at ASKO
11. Consider your future needs when choosing washing-machine capacity
As a washing machine is not a product you buy often – it’s important to consider your future needs when selecting the capacity. Will your family grow in the coming years and will you require a bigger machine down the track? A larger-capacity machine also has the advantage of allowing you to run bigger (and fewer) loads, which can save time.
If you’re buying a washing machine with a capacity that’s larger than your current needs, it’s a good idea to seek out a model with auto-sensing, such as Asko’s SensiSave, which will automatically adjust the amount of water and duration of the wash to suit the load size in order to conserve energy.
11. Consider your future needs when choosing washing-machine capacity
As a washing machine is not a product you buy often – it’s important to consider your future needs when selecting the capacity. Will your family grow in the coming years and will you require a bigger machine down the track? A larger-capacity machine also has the advantage of allowing you to run bigger (and fewer) loads, which can save time.
If you’re buying a washing machine with a capacity that’s larger than your current needs, it’s a good idea to seek out a model with auto-sensing, such as Asko’s SensiSave, which will automatically adjust the amount of water and duration of the wash to suit the load size in order to conserve energy.
12. Consider ventilation when choosing a dryer
Energy efficiency isn’t the only important consideration when choosing a new dryer – you’ll also want to know if it requires ventilation.
Heat-pump dryers are the most efficient style and do not need venting, making them suitable for apartments or laundries positioned in the middle of the home.
Condenser dryers are fairly energy efficient and do not require venting. However, they do produce a small amount of moisture when running, so they can’t be installed behind a cupboard door to create a hidden laundry.
Traditional vented dryers are less energy efficient. They also need to be installed in a well-ventilated laundry or ducted outside. If not, mould can develop on your laundry walls over time.
Energy efficiency isn’t the only important consideration when choosing a new dryer – you’ll also want to know if it requires ventilation.
Heat-pump dryers are the most efficient style and do not need venting, making them suitable for apartments or laundries positioned in the middle of the home.
Condenser dryers are fairly energy efficient and do not require venting. However, they do produce a small amount of moisture when running, so they can’t be installed behind a cupboard door to create a hidden laundry.
Traditional vented dryers are less energy efficient. They also need to be installed in a well-ventilated laundry or ducted outside. If not, mould can develop on your laundry walls over time.
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Want more laundry advice? Don’t miss Your Guide to Hardworking Family Laundries
Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more laundry advice? Don’t miss Your Guide to Hardworking Family Laundries
1. Make your benchtops deep enough
The biggest mistake I see people make with their laundries is specifying benchtops that are too narrow. As a result, their under-bench washing machine and dryer stick out, which makes the laundry look messy and unsightly.
I would recommend a minimum benchtop depth of 650 millimetres to ensure that appliances can fit neatly underneath.