Laundry

Streamlined and practical are the two most important design elements for a practical laundry.

The laundry can be a hive of activity on a wash day and large or small, a well laid out laundry not only helps you work easier but can also provide valuable storage space for those miscellaneous things like vases, childrens' paint sets, vacuum cleaners etc etc.

The laundry needs to be a functional room and with clever design you can make this area more versatile and practical and get more use out of it rather than just a room to keep the washing machine and dryer hidden away.

Traditionally laundries are compact rooms that house the appliance and a tub.  But with the newer products available now you can get a lot more use of out of this space. More compact laundry tubs and machines that combine washing and drying could benefit you and maximize the space you have available.

If you do not do a lot of hand washing or soaking, you may be better with a slimline tub.

A renovated laundry becomes more than a room which you tend to shut the door on, it can become an integral part of the home.  Whether you do 5 loads or 2 or require indoor hanging space, your washing methods differ form other people so why not customize the laundry to suit yourself?

By choosing colours that compliment the other tiled rooms in the home, or even using the same tiles and colour schemes as the bathrooms, it will naturally fit into your home style. The same amount of consideration spent on the design and colours as you would for a bathroom renovation will help you achieve a well thought out room.

Like most tricky renovations, this is not a do-it-yourself project.  Event though it  is usually a small room, and may appear an easy job, particular attention needs to be paid at every stage of the renovation.  Flooding from faulty washing machines or broken hoses is quite a common occurence.

Slippery floor tiles are very dangerous and with the condensation from the dryer and water splashes you need to carefully select the type of floor covering you are going to use.

Don't under estimate the amount of mositure that the dryers will emit when in use, even if you have large window open. Consider ducting for windowless laundries or add an exhaust fan. 

The amount of storage space you need also needs to be considered.  Ironing boards, mops, brooms or the extra fridge? Need for  hanging space for drying delicates?  Sufficient bench space is handy for folding and sorting. A very handy addition is a mini fold away ironing board for that last minute shirt.

Access from the laundry to the clothes line is also important especially when you need to carry a basketful of wet clothes.

You may also want to consider adding a water tank to store the used laundry water for use on the garden.

Impressions can help you get maximum use from the laundry room and update the decor to suit the rest of the home.