Painted ‘Hampshire’ doors in Benjamin Moore BM CC 40 Cloud White --- Polished ‘Ivory Fantasy’ granite countertop ---
Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Toronto with a stacked washer and dryer, white cabinets, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, slate floors and beige benchtop.

Pine Valley - Lake Cabin

Visbeen Architects

Pine Valley is not your ordinary lake cabin. This craftsman-inspired design offers everything you love about summer vacation within the comfort of a beautiful year-round home. Metal roofing and custom wood trim accent the shake and stone exterior, while a cupola and flower boxes add quaintness to sophistication. The main level offers an open floor plan, with multiple porches and sitting areas overlooking the water. The master suite is located on the upper level, along with two additional guest rooms. A custom-designed craft room sits just a few steps down from the upstairs study. Billiards, a bar and kitchenette, a sitting room and game table combine to make the walkout lower level all about entertainment. In keeping with the rest of the home, this floor opens to lake views and outdoor living areas.

Laundry Room

User

Photography by Andrea Rugg
This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Minneapolis with light wood cabinets, a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige walls, travertine floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Home

The Inman Company

Inspiration for an arts and crafts u-shaped laundry room in Other with a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Kitchen Remodel w/ Laundry Room

DezinerTonie, LLC DDI, Interior Designer

Small traditional u-shaped dedicated laundry room in Los Angeles with raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, tile benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, yellow walls, a drop-in sink, porcelain floors, a stacked washer and dryer, black floor and red benchtop.

California Spanish Ranch

Giffin & Crane General Contractors, Inc.

Laundry room.
Inspiration for a mediterranean u-shaped laundry room in Santa Barbara with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, a side-by-side washer and dryer and white benchtop.

Lake Oswego Riverview Home

Riverland Homes Inc

Timothy J Park
This is an example of a traditional u-shaped laundry room in Portland with a side-by-side washer and dryer.

U-shaped Laundry Room Design Ideas

Laundry designs seldom receive the attention they deserve, especially considering how often they’re used. A well-planned laundry, complete with built-in cabinets, a laundry sink, washing machine and clothes dryer, can serve many needs. It can help simplify your household chores; store drying clothes and cleaning products; and can even provide a spot for you to groom pets. Because of its hardworking, multipurpose potential, a laundry renovation is a worthwhile investment. Smart laundry designs have layouts that save you time and effort. For example, a washing machine and clothes dryer should be positioned next to one another or stacked, and laundry baskets and hampers should be within easy reach; while an ironing board should be stowed by a power point. Ample storage, bench space for laundry baskets and practical lighting are also essential. Browse the photos on Houzz for efficient laundry ideas, from layouts and storage to appliances, and strike up a conversation with the designers of your favourite laundry renovations. For more laundry ideas, browse the Stories section on Houzz.

How do I add storage to my laundry?

A combination of storage solutions is key to running an efficient laundry. Include shelves above or beside the washing machine to store washing detergent, softener and other cleaning products; and laundry bins for dirty clothes. Consider a custom-built cupboard for an ironing board, so it can easily fold out when you need it, or mount the ironing board directly to the wall or on the back of a door. A retractable clothesline is a handy addition to dry delicate clothes, while a clothes hanger mounted to the wall is ideal for hanging freshly pressed shirts.

What else can I use my laundry for?

Multipurpose laundry rooms or utility rooms can help save valuable space in your home. The laundry sink can be used to bathe your furry friends; your laundry cupboard can store sports equipment, gardening tools and umbrellas; and a spare nook can be filled with a desk and chair to create an office space while you wait for your load to finish. If your laundry is at the front of the house, consider using it as a drop station for mail, mobile phones and keys. Include a bench seat or stool, wall-mounted hooks for bags and a coat stand and it can even be used as a place to get the kids organised before you walk out the front door.

How can I decorate my laundry?

Laundries are usually filled to the brim with appliances and storage, so take advantage of your walls when decorating and use cheery paint colours or wallpaper to make doing the chores more pleasant! Fun signs, posters, murals and wall decals will also add character to the space. Think of your storage as decor, too – look for bins and baskets with decorative touches, and use brightly-coloured or patterned hangers.