How to Design a Laundry Room That Works For You!

A properly designed and decorated laundry room will make the chore more bearable.

As purely functional spaces, laundry rooms tend to be neglected when it comes to design. This often results in a poorly designed room with wasted space and an inefficient layout. Since it is such an integral part of the home, and an area where several hours per week are regularly spent, a little effort will provide vast improvement. Whether large or small, adding a bit of color, some well-placed storage pieces and a few shelves will make laundry time more convenient.

Things You'll Need

• Paint and materials
• Cabinets
• Shelves
• Lighting
• Flooring

Instructions

1. Paint. Color selection is a key starting point for any room and may be especially important for something as utilitarian as a laundry room. For spaces with limited natural light or those without a lot of square footage, pastel colors are ideal. Pale tones of white, yellow, green and blue will reflect light, giving a brighter appearance, and will make a room feel larger and more open

2. Lay it out. Consider adapting the standard kitchen work triangle for use in the laundry room. Instead of a refrigerator, range and sink, place the washer and dryer, folding table and sink at each point. Include hanging space for garments that need to be hung to dry, plus room for an ironing board and a garbage can. Keeping all of these things on hand will save time and energy and make the tasks easier overall.

3. Organize. Cabinets and shelves are an essential part of the laundry room and help make the space work efficiently and stay organized. If the space is small, consider a fold-up work shelf and utilize space above appliances for storing soaps and other necessities. Larger rooms may accommodate a clean-clothes bin for each member of the family, which saves table space.

4. Install lighting. Proper lighting is going to make the room more comfortable and open, and it is an important part of bringing the design together. Fluorescent lights may be too harsh and industrial looking. Instead, consider track lighting or recessed can lights.

5. Install flooring. Floors should be simple and durable -- concrete, linoleum, ceramic tile or manufactured hardwood are all ideal. These products feature easy care, durability and resistance to scratches, staining and breaking.

6. Add extras. Installing a laundry chute or dumbwaiter will help move laundry from one location to another easily and reduce the need to carry heavy baskets up and down stairs. For households with young children, a small space with toys or drawing materials may be ideal. It will keep kids busy and out of trouble while laundry is being done.

References

• KraftMaid: Laundry Room Essentials
• Houzz: Laundry Room Home Design
• My Home Ideas: Love Your Laundry Room

Resources

• Handy American: Create a Well-Organized Laundry Room
• Kohler: Work Triangle Efficiency
• Stagetecture; Laundry Room -- Choose the Perfect Colors; Ronique Gibson; April 2009