Designing a Laundry Room Layout

Doing laundry is one chore many people just can’t stand. But that view could change if you had an amazing laundry room. The key is to combine an extremely functional layout that makes washing clothes easier with inviting décor. Unfortunately, most laundry rooms miss this mark. Here are some tips to help you design a laundry room that will optimize function and make this necessary task that much simpler.

Consider the Space of the Room

The optimal laundry room layout hinges on the space with which you have to work. Is your room large enough to accommodate an L or U-shaped configuration? Do you have a long room that best features a galley style? Or is your laundry room actually more the size of a closet? Measure the room and decide what you can install besides the requisite washer and dryer. Can you fit a sink? Do you have ample space for lower storage or only upper cabinets? Will the room be able to hold an ironing board and/or drying rack? Take stock of the space you have and what you can possibly fit within its confines.

Create Zones

A highly functional laundry room contains specific zones. Ideally, you want three zones: (1) dirty clothes area, (2) clean clothes area, and (3) storage for cleaning items. For organization sake, try to fit baskets in the dirty zone so you can sort clothes – these can be in plain sight or tucked within cabinets. If you have room for a sink, it should be located within the dirty zone for easy rinsing and spot cleaning of soiled items. The clean zone should be adjacent to the dryer. Here you should store or install a drying rack for clothes that cannot go in the dryer so they can air dry, as well as an ironing board. In this clean area, if possible, you should also have a folding station. The last zone is for your laundry supplies, i.e., detergents, dryer sheets, etc. Housing those inside cabinets is ideal.

Maximize Space and Storage

Laundry rooms are typically not large spaces. So, it is important to maximize all the space in the room and create convenient storage areas. If you have room for cabinets adjacent to the appliances, great. If not, add storage areas where possible. Hang cabinets on the wall that afford easy access and allow you to hide all laundry supplies out of sight. If you have front-loading machines, you can utilize their tops as a folding station and place a shelf or cabinets above for storage.

Following these layout tips will help you design an efficient, well-organized laundry room that will make doing laundry easier and more enjoyable.