Top Laundry Room Must Haves
Laundry is a chore that we all have to endure. If it sometimes feels like drudgery, it might be your laundry room. It's funny because we spend so much time in them, yet designers and builders, and even homeowners treat the laundry room as almost an afterthought, typically leaving this room plain and minimally functional. In older homes, laundry rooms are often space in the basement with lousy lighting, bare concrete floors, and no place to fold and hang clothes, or even store essentials.
Create a High-Functioning Laundry Room
With These Must-Have Features
Creating a more functional laundry room is much less painful and less expensive than remodeling other areas of your home. Often the washer and dryer are already installed, meaning that the water supply and drainage lines are already in place. When it comes to materials, they can be low-cost and basic, or you can upgrade and make a statement; it all depends on your budget and aesthetic needs. And, because the laundry room isn't as essential as the kitchen or bathroom, remodeling it won't significantly impact your lifestyle.
Before we look at some must-have features that will take your laundry room from a featureless, barely functional space to a place you look forward to doing the laundry, here are three things to consider:
Think About Form and Function
You want to begin the process by answering a few questions that will affect your decisions and budget. The first question to ask is, are you merely looking for more functionality, or are you hoping to make the space fit into your home's design aesthetic?
Consider How You’ll Use The Space
Next, consider the mechanics. Do you plan on working with the space you already have, or are you considering relocating your laundry room to another area of the house? Buying some new appliances and adding a little paint or wallpaper is one thing; taking down walls, rerouting plumbing, and building an entirely new space is another.
Should You Remodel Multiple Rooms?
Another good question to ask yourself is, "why now?" It's a good idea to think about why it might be the right time to remodel or redecorate the laundry room. If you're planning a larger project, as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, it might be more cost-effective to do everything at once.
Remember, your laundry room isn't always about simply washing and drying clothes. Think about how you'll use the space. Will you want to use the room for other functions besides just laundry, and make sure you incorporate the features needed to accomplish those tasks. For example, do you need storage space for those 50-pound bags of dog food? Many homeowners make their laundry room function as mudrooms, storage space for brooms, vacuums, and cleaning supplies, a drop off for the kid's sports gear, a butler's pantry, a home office, craft room, pet room, and more! Ultimately your remodel will depend on how you'll use the space.
Must-Have Laundry Room Features to Consider
Once you've answered these questions and have determined how you'll use the space, the time comes to consider functionality, aesthetics, and the features you'd love to have. Today, there are many options in terms of appliances, materials, décor, and design. Here are some must-have features that can take laundry day from a chore to something you look forward to!
Comfortable Flooring
An unfinished bare floor, whether it's concrete in the basement or an uncovered subfloor, is not fun to walk on and can be uncomfortable to spend any amount of time standing on. Unfinished flooring is a pretty good indicator that your laundry room was an afterthought.
If your home's flooring doesn't include the laundry room, consider covering the floor with a good, waterproof floor covering. Options include luxury vinyl plank or tile flooring, ceramic, or porcelain tile. All will stand up well to water, even small amounts of pooled water. If you have a smaller laundry room, it's a great space to experiment with that attractive tile you love that might not work elsewhere in your house.
Upgraded Lighting
If your laundry room has nothing but a hanging bulb or fluorescent fixture, you need an upgrade! Bad lighting makes doing laundry difficult. Why not convert that hanging light into a series of well-placed recessed lighting, or lose the fluorescent fixture and replace it with an attractive flush-mount ceiling light? If you have wall cabinets, under-cabinet lighting can create the perfect workspace.
Laundry Work Zones
Get your laundry folded before you leave the laundry room. For the ultimate convenience, consider creating multiple work zones. If you have front-loading machines, adding a countertop can give you the perfect place to fold your laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer. If you have a larger space, you can designate an area for ironing. If not, consider an ironing board that folds down from the wall. Make sure to include a hanging rack for freshly ironed clothing.
Built-in Laundry Storage and Organizers
Most homeowners with dedicated laundry rooms report that one of the first changes they would make is to add storage and organizing capabilities to the space. Having adequate storage can make a big difference in the functionality and aesthetics of your room.
Possibilities include:
Wall cabinets installed at shoulder height
Small floating shelves for lightweight items
Glass-front cabinets
Wheeled laundry baskets that can be used to sort laundry. You can store them under a countertop to conserve space.
Large barn doors that roll across the front of the washer-dryer or open storage cubbies to hide areas that get messy.
Open wall cabinets for easy access to detergents, spray starch, and stain sticks
Additional storage is especially important if you're planning on using the space for more than just laundry. For example, if your laundry room will double as a mudroom, including a place to hang coats and store wet boots is a great addition.
Want To Elevant Your Laundry Experience?
Check Out These Must-Have Appliances!
The Two Laundry Room Splurges You'll Love
If you have the room and the budget, here are a couple of unique features you can include in your laundry room that will boost its functionality and up the cool factor!
A Utility Sink In The Laundry Room
You might not think you need a utility sink in the laundry room, but you'll wonder how you could have lived without one for so long as soon as you have one. A utility sink has several uses in the laundry room. You can use it to wash out the kid's muddy football uniform before throwing it in the wash. You can use it to pre-treat or soak items, and of course, there's a range of non-laundry uses, from washing out paintbrushes to potting plants.
If you have the budget, consider the Jentle Jet® Laundry Sink. It's a deep utility sink that uses the power of micro-jets to launder delicate washables. It features clean, modern lines, is available in drop-in or under-mount versions, and comes in two sizes. While it's a little pricier than a standard utility sink, it's well worth the price!
A Smart LG Styler Clothing Steamer
The LG Styler is a smart/wi-fi enabled steam clothing care system that will keep you looking your best. If you spend a lot on dry cleaning, the Styler can lower your dry cleaning bills and keep your clothes looking fresh. It's an asthma and allergy-friendly certified sanitizer that can reduce odor and help to reduce allergens up to 99% from clothes, pillows, blankets, and more, creating a healthier home for you and your family.
The Styler will also quickly dry delicates, like lingerie and sweaters, without shrinking or damage. Just plug it into any standard outlet, fill the water container, and you're ready to go! Control the device with your smartphone or tablet using the SmartThinQ app. You can check the remaining cycle time, download cycles, and much more!
Your laundry room can be so much more than just a functional space. With a little planning, you can turn your laundry room into a workspace that can add functionality to your home while improving your lifestyle and providing you with even more comfort. It's a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can turn laundry into something you actually enjoy doing!
Ready To Design The Laundry Room of Your Dreams?
At Toulmin Kitchen & Bath, our experienced interior designers work with homeowners across Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. We can’t wait to meet you and discuss how we can turn your vision into a reality!
Schedule a design consultation today!
