10 Laundries With a Hint of Luxe
Here are some clever ways to introduce a touch of luxury into the hardest-working room in the house
Anne Ellard
26 February 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
If you think laundry rooms are boring, think again. There can be more to a laundry than dirty washing and cleaning products, and it’s often only a detail or two that elevate it to a beautiful space. Here are 10 laundries, each of which has a unique touch of glamour that transforms it from boring to beautiful.
Dark cabinetry
This symmetrically designed laundry is packed full of storage space and looks too good not to be in full view for all to see.
The dark-coloured cabinets bring a touch of sophistication, making it a chic space that you will happily spend time in on washing day. For dark paint colours, look to Resene’s ‘Cape Cod’, a dark blue-grey. Or opt for something a bit lighter, such as Dulux’s ‘Water Worm’, a more greenish grey.
Designer tip: Choose a colour that ties in with other cabinets or furniture in your home to create a sense of continuity.
This symmetrically designed laundry is packed full of storage space and looks too good not to be in full view for all to see.
The dark-coloured cabinets bring a touch of sophistication, making it a chic space that you will happily spend time in on washing day. For dark paint colours, look to Resene’s ‘Cape Cod’, a dark blue-grey. Or opt for something a bit lighter, such as Dulux’s ‘Water Worm’, a more greenish grey.
Designer tip: Choose a colour that ties in with other cabinets or furniture in your home to create a sense of continuity.
Marble inclusions
Nothing says classic more than marble. The marble tiles in this otherwise simple laundry make the space feel opulent and luxurious. Continuing the marble on to the benchtop helps to create a cohesive look.
Designer tip: For a cost-effective marble look, consider a hardwearing laminate benchtop that has a marble design. It will be a fraction of the cost of quarried marble and is easier to care for in a heavy-duty space. For a look that’s a bit closer to the genuine article, consider an engineered-stone benchtop with a marble design, such as from the ranges of either Silestone or Caesarstone.
Nothing says classic more than marble. The marble tiles in this otherwise simple laundry make the space feel opulent and luxurious. Continuing the marble on to the benchtop helps to create a cohesive look.
Designer tip: For a cost-effective marble look, consider a hardwearing laminate benchtop that has a marble design. It will be a fraction of the cost of quarried marble and is easier to care for in a heavy-duty space. For a look that’s a bit closer to the genuine article, consider an engineered-stone benchtop with a marble design, such as from the ranges of either Silestone or Caesarstone.
Feature handles
When professionals design a laundry, the primary focus is generally on the position of appliances and planning for storage. As a result, handles are often an afterthought. However, as you can see in this laundry, oversized statement handles in an otherwise all-white laundry add a distinctive designer touch to the space.
Designer tip: Choose handles that feel good in your hand and are easy to grip. This will make moving quickly between different cupboards easier.
Get a grip on handles and knobs
When professionals design a laundry, the primary focus is generally on the position of appliances and planning for storage. As a result, handles are often an afterthought. However, as you can see in this laundry, oversized statement handles in an otherwise all-white laundry add a distinctive designer touch to the space.
Designer tip: Choose handles that feel good in your hand and are easy to grip. This will make moving quickly between different cupboards easier.
Get a grip on handles and knobs
Concealed appliances
A washing machine is a staple inclusion in any laundry, and dryers are quite common too. Both appliances are hidden behind cabinet doors in this neat and tidy space, making it feel larger and more organised. Stacking the dryer on a shelf above the washing machine also saves space.
Designer tip: Check your appliance manufacturer’s user’s manual before building your appliances into a cabinet, as this may affect its performance, or warranty.
A washing machine is a staple inclusion in any laundry, and dryers are quite common too. Both appliances are hidden behind cabinet doors in this neat and tidy space, making it feel larger and more organised. Stacking the dryer on a shelf above the washing machine also saves space.
Designer tip: Check your appliance manufacturer’s user’s manual before building your appliances into a cabinet, as this may affect its performance, or warranty.
High gloss
Laundries are often small and dark spaces with little natural light. However, the high-gloss cabinets in this narrow laundry bounce light around the room making it feel more airy and bright. Glossy tiles on the splashback further reflect the light, ensuring that this space feels spacious even on the gloomiest of days.
Designer tip: High-gloss cabinets show fingerprints more readily than semi-gloss or matt cabinets due to their highly reflective surface. Using a white, or very light, colour will minimise how visible fingerprints are, as opposed to dark-coloured cabinets with a high-gloss finish.
Laundries are often small and dark spaces with little natural light. However, the high-gloss cabinets in this narrow laundry bounce light around the room making it feel more airy and bright. Glossy tiles on the splashback further reflect the light, ensuring that this space feels spacious even on the gloomiest of days.
Designer tip: High-gloss cabinets show fingerprints more readily than semi-gloss or matt cabinets due to their highly reflective surface. Using a white, or very light, colour will minimise how visible fingerprints are, as opposed to dark-coloured cabinets with a high-gloss finish.
Timber
Timber is a tactile and natural product, and its warm colour helps create a welcoming feeling. Here, the warm timber tones balance out the cool white of the cabinets, benchtop and splashback, making the space feel less laundry-like.
Designer tip: Consider a timber- look laminate rather than solid wood for a cost-effective and low-maintenance option.
Timber is a tactile and natural product, and its warm colour helps create a welcoming feeling. Here, the warm timber tones balance out the cool white of the cabinets, benchtop and splashback, making the space feel less laundry-like.
Designer tip: Consider a timber- look laminate rather than solid wood for a cost-effective and low-maintenance option.
Concealed ironing board
An organised laundry will make even the most mundane of chores easier to carry out. This pull-out ironing board is always within reach, perfect for that last- minute work shirt touch up on a busy morning. It cleverly folds away into the cabinetry, thus staying out of sight when not in use.
Designer tip: Depending on the space available, and the layout of your laundry, a fold-down, or slide-out ironing board offers the same convenience and ease of storage.
Your guide to hardworking family laundries
An organised laundry will make even the most mundane of chores easier to carry out. This pull-out ironing board is always within reach, perfect for that last- minute work shirt touch up on a busy morning. It cleverly folds away into the cabinetry, thus staying out of sight when not in use.
Designer tip: Depending on the space available, and the layout of your laundry, a fold-down, or slide-out ironing board offers the same convenience and ease of storage.
Your guide to hardworking family laundries
Greenery
Luscious green leaves bring a breath of fresh air into any space in the home, and they certainly bring life to this simple laundry scheme. The green shades complement the natural timber on the benchtop in an otherwise neutral space.
Health tip: Detoxifying species such as rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) are great choices for laundries. They filter pollutants from cleaning products often used in this space.
Luscious green leaves bring a breath of fresh air into any space in the home, and they certainly bring life to this simple laundry scheme. The green shades complement the natural timber on the benchtop in an otherwise neutral space.
Health tip: Detoxifying species such as rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) are great choices for laundries. They filter pollutants from cleaning products often used in this space.
Wallpaper
When we think wallpaper, the laundry isn’t one of the first rooms that we think about rolling it out. However, the patterned wallpaper in this laundry makes this space feel luxurious and inviting. I could see myself taking the time to sort through my washing in this area more carefully than usual.
Take a look at some brilliantly whimsical wallpapers
Designer tip: Choose a wallpaper that can withstand the moisture and humidity that go hand in hand with a laundry space. Look for a vinyl wallpaper that has a non-absorbent surface, so it won’t be damaged by condensation or water spillages. Vinyl wallpaper is also easy to clean, making it the perfect wallpaper choice in a laundry.
When we think wallpaper, the laundry isn’t one of the first rooms that we think about rolling it out. However, the patterned wallpaper in this laundry makes this space feel luxurious and inviting. I could see myself taking the time to sort through my washing in this area more carefully than usual.
Take a look at some brilliantly whimsical wallpapers
Designer tip: Choose a wallpaper that can withstand the moisture and humidity that go hand in hand with a laundry space. Look for a vinyl wallpaper that has a non-absorbent surface, so it won’t be damaged by condensation or water spillages. Vinyl wallpaper is also easy to clean, making it the perfect wallpaper choice in a laundry.
Feature tiles
This laundry is both practical and pleasing to the eye, thanks to the abundance of storage and a sophisticated colour palette. The encaustic feature tiles on the floor and splashback add visual interest without overpowering the space.
Designer tip: Look for a hardwearing yet cost-effective tile that is a bit more daring than just plain white. The laundry is a space where you can be a bit more adventurous than you might dare in the rest of your home.
Tell us
What exciting design feature did you incorporate in your laundry? Share the details in the Comments below.
More
Browse more laundries to gather more ideas
This laundry is both practical and pleasing to the eye, thanks to the abundance of storage and a sophisticated colour palette. The encaustic feature tiles on the floor and splashback add visual interest without overpowering the space.
Designer tip: Look for a hardwearing yet cost-effective tile that is a bit more daring than just plain white. The laundry is a space where you can be a bit more adventurous than you might dare in the rest of your home.
Tell us
What exciting design feature did you incorporate in your laundry? Share the details in the Comments below.
More
Browse more laundries to gather more ideas
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