How to design a functional, stylish laundry room
Your laundry is a functional work space first and foremost, but there’s no reason why it can’t look amazing too. Whether you’re working with a compact cupboard laundry, or a stand alone room – follow these tips to make sure you get your laundry design right.
Follow a theme
The design of every room should start with a vision and a colour scheme. Make sure your colours match, incorporate textures and try to follow a cohesive theme, whether you’re going for a farmhouse look or modern minimalism.
To make this bit easier, it’s often a good idea to carry your kitchen design right through to your laundry (if you like your kitchen design of course!)
Plan down to the last centimetre
Space is usually limited in laundries, so it’s important to plan your design carefully. Think about what you actually do in your laundry and what you want to be able to do and make sure your space makes these everyday tasks easier and quicker. For example, if you do your ironing in your laundry a fold out board may be a good idea. If you’re constantly soaking stained clothes, a generous basin stashed with stain removers may be required. Or if you do a lot of washing and you’ve got the space, why not wall mount your washer and dryer to reduce bending over, and save your back?
Design around your appliances, fixtures and fittings
Once you’ve started planning out the basics of your design, you’ll need to start choosing appliances, fixtures and fittings. You should then complete your planning around the items that you choose.
You’ll need a benchtop, cabinetry, laundry basin, laundry taps and mixers, washer, dryer and more. If you’re feeling a little lost, it’s a good idea to see some fixtures and fittings in person and speak to an expert at your nearest Abey Selection Gallery.
Think about storage
What are you going to store in your laundry? Whether you’re keeping linen and towels in the space, or just washing powder and stain removers, you’ll need to design your storage to accommodate this. If your budget allows, installing custom cabinetry is a great way to make sure you maximise storage.
Install a rail over your sink
A common feature we see in most modern laundry renovations is a single rail over the sink and bench space area, stocked with hangers. This little space is surprisingly useful, whether you’re hanging up a freshly soaked garment to dry, or drying a small load inside when it’s raining.
Layer your lighting
Lighting can make or break a room. So when you design your laundry, make sure you include more than one source of lighting. For example, you could install LED strip lights underneath your cabinet to provide light for your working bench space, as well as LED downlights in your ceiling.
Add a little colour and flair
Once the practical bits of your design are finished, don’t forget to add a little colour and flair. This could be a beautifully designed laundry spout, a piece of art, textured splashback tiles or a striking wall colour. Making the space your own will mean you enjoy it so much more (and you may even start finding excuses to do washing).
