Renovating
10 Great Little Ideas for Your Next Laundry Makeover
Sometimes it's the thoughtful inclusions that make a laundry the jewel of a home – don't miss 10 of the best
If you’re planning, dreaming of or collecting inspiration for a new laundry, grab a cuppa and get comfortable – here are 10 of the best design features we’ve spotted in laundries around the world that make washing day a joy.
This small laundry in San Francisco demonstrates how it’s possible to factor in extra benchtop space with its handy slide-out surface, which slots away neatly when the folding is done.
Is a new laundry on the cards? Find interior designers near you, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
Is a new laundry on the cards? Find interior designers near you, browse their projects and read reviews from previous clients
2. Clothes drying solutions
A laundry without space to dry your clothes is like a bathroom without a basin. We can’t always dry garments outside, so after ensuring your laundry is vented with a fan or operable windows, go wild with selecting the drying racks of your dreams.
If you’ve been perusing the photos of beautiful laundries on Houzz or reading articles about this all-important room, the breadth of options to dry your clothes will come as no surprise. Tight spaces can benefit from scissor-style drying racks such as the one by New Leaf Design Studios in this Brisbane laundry…
A laundry without space to dry your clothes is like a bathroom without a basin. We can’t always dry garments outside, so after ensuring your laundry is vented with a fan or operable windows, go wild with selecting the drying racks of your dreams.
If you’ve been perusing the photos of beautiful laundries on Houzz or reading articles about this all-important room, the breadth of options to dry your clothes will come as no surprise. Tight spaces can benefit from scissor-style drying racks such as the one by New Leaf Design Studios in this Brisbane laundry…
…Or if you have a little extra vertical space, fold-down drying racks will feel heaven-sent.
If wall space is tight but your floor-to-ceiling height is tall, vertical slide-out drying racks could be the ticket.
And if you’re fortunate to have ample room to play with, you could go the whole hog and choose this snazzy set-up. No-one with multiple people living under one roof ever complained about having too much drying space.
3. Hanging rail
One nifty little inclusion that’s recently taken laundries around the country by storm is the hanging rail. Rails are usually tucked discreetly beneath upper cabinetry, as in this well-detailed Melbourne laundry by Lisa Breeze Architect. These genius little gems can be surprisingly budget-friendly to include and, when combined with a coat hanger or two, can work beautifully in the place of a drying rack.
One nifty little inclusion that’s recently taken laundries around the country by storm is the hanging rail. Rails are usually tucked discreetly beneath upper cabinetry, as in this well-detailed Melbourne laundry by Lisa Breeze Architect. These genius little gems can be surprisingly budget-friendly to include and, when combined with a coat hanger or two, can work beautifully in the place of a drying rack.
4. Ironing zone
It’s sad but true: someone has to do the ironing. And if that person is you, the job may as well be done in a nice, highly functional space. Sleek foldaway ironing boards such as the one in this Sydney home by Collaroy Kitchen Centre can make easy work of ironing. And as an added bonus, out of sight means out of mind.
It’s sad but true: someone has to do the ironing. And if that person is you, the job may as well be done in a nice, highly functional space. Sleek foldaway ironing boards such as the one in this Sydney home by Collaroy Kitchen Centre can make easy work of ironing. And as an added bonus, out of sight means out of mind.
Not every laundry, however, has the space to make foldaway ironing boards work well. If you have a European laundry or one without much floor space, get your designer, architect or builder to factor in a way to neatly store your ironing board so it doesn’t get in the way and you can access it with ease.
5. A double-bowl sink
Ever tried soaking one garment in your laundry sink while handwashing another? This is where double-bowl sinks come into their own. They don’t take up a huge amount of extra space, so if you have room on your side, you won’t regret it.
Take inspiration from this luxurious Sydney laundry by Pure Creative Group. Just be sure that at least one of the bowls can fit a bucket for all those random yet necessary reasons buckets seem to find their way into the laundry.
Ever tried soaking one garment in your laundry sink while handwashing another? This is where double-bowl sinks come into their own. They don’t take up a huge amount of extra space, so if you have room on your side, you won’t regret it.
Take inspiration from this luxurious Sydney laundry by Pure Creative Group. Just be sure that at least one of the bowls can fit a bucket for all those random yet necessary reasons buckets seem to find their way into the laundry.
6. Laundry chute
This may not work in every home, though if you live in a multi-level property and are giving it an overhaul, ask your chosen pro if they can include a laundry chute. This clever Sydney bathroom by Naz Design has a chute built discreetly into the cabinetry…
This may not work in every home, though if you live in a multi-level property and are giving it an overhaul, ask your chosen pro if they can include a laundry chute. This clever Sydney bathroom by Naz Design has a chute built discreetly into the cabinetry…
…While this bathroom has a laundry chute in the floor. And the best part about this zoomy little inclusion? It means there are no more excuses for your roomies to leave their dirty laundry lying around (because surely we would never do such a thing ourselves).
7. Happy hampers
The humble laundry hamper does a superb job in its simplest form, though if you want to up the ante you can take your sorting system next level. This could be as simple as getting an extra laundry basket or two to separate your lights, darks and colours…
The humble laundry hamper does a superb job in its simplest form, though if you want to up the ante you can take your sorting system next level. This could be as simple as getting an extra laundry basket or two to separate your lights, darks and colours…
…Or upgrading your existing set-up to hampers on wheels. Neither requires a renovation and both are fairly inexpensive – you’ll just need a place to store them.
Browse beautiful laundries from Australian pros with white cabinetry and timber benchtops
Browse beautiful laundries from Australian pros with white cabinetry and timber benchtops
If you’re up for a more radical rethink of your laundry sorting system, ask your architect, designer or builder to include integrated cabinetry to store and separate laundry. There are many different systems available, so save images of ones that will work for you, such as this integrated double hamper in a Sydney laundry from Provincial Kitchens.
When deciding how many hampers you need, take stock of the types of clothes you wash. Separating garments into lights, brights and darks generally works a treat. Alternatively, if you wash shirts or delicates separately, you may wish to give them a hamper of their own.
When deciding how many hampers you need, take stock of the types of clothes you wash. Separating garments into lights, brights and darks generally works a treat. Alternatively, if you wash shirts or delicates separately, you may wish to give them a hamper of their own.
8. Direct outdoor access
This, my friends, may be simple, but the simple things are often the best. Ensuring outdoor access from your laundry can, if it’s possible, lessen your reliance on tumble dryers and prevent high moisture levels in your home.
Plus, if you have the space, you may be able to work in some mudroom-style inclusions to store boots, sports equipment and more. Win-win.
This, my friends, may be simple, but the simple things are often the best. Ensuring outdoor access from your laundry can, if it’s possible, lessen your reliance on tumble dryers and prevent high moisture levels in your home.
Plus, if you have the space, you may be able to work in some mudroom-style inclusions to store boots, sports equipment and more. Win-win.
9. Storage for a queen
Unlike kitchens and bathrooms where homeowners are well versed with the virtues of drawers over cupboards, the laundry is lagging in receiving the memo. There’s no such thing as too much storage, so try to dedicate every spare millimetre of your laundry to drawers, open shelving, cupboards and hanging space à la this great Aussie design from Wilson & Bradley.
Unlike kitchens and bathrooms where homeowners are well versed with the virtues of drawers over cupboards, the laundry is lagging in receiving the memo. There’s no such thing as too much storage, so try to dedicate every spare millimetre of your laundry to drawers, open shelving, cupboards and hanging space à la this great Aussie design from Wilson & Bradley.
As with all types of storage, it’s often what’s inside that counts, so if budget allows, try fitting out your cabinetry with clever internals. This picture tells a thousand words about how experienced designers can customise the interiors of cupboards and drawers for custom storage that’s worthy of royalty.
10. Ergonomics are king
Don’t limit yourself to stacking your washing machine and dryer or aligning them side-by-side at floor level. Raised appliances lessen stooping and bending and can also be mighty convenient when placed at bench-height, which this Auckland laundry by Du Bois Design demonstrates.
And you don’t need a bad back to opt for an ergonomic laundry set-up such as this one. Be sure to use the space below and above your raised appliances for hampers or storage and you’ll have a washing zone that’s fit for a king.
Don’t limit yourself to stacking your washing machine and dryer or aligning them side-by-side at floor level. Raised appliances lessen stooping and bending and can also be mighty convenient when placed at bench-height, which this Auckland laundry by Du Bois Design demonstrates.
And you don’t need a bad back to opt for an ergonomic laundry set-up such as this one. Be sure to use the space below and above your raised appliances for hampers or storage and you’ll have a washing zone that’s fit for a king.
Your turn
Which of these 10 inclusions are at the top of your laundry wish list? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of design inspiration? Catch up on the previous article in this series with 10 Great Little Ideas for Your Bathroom Makeover
Which of these 10 inclusions are at the top of your laundry wish list? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next dose of design inspiration? Catch up on the previous article in this series with 10 Great Little Ideas for Your Bathroom Makeover
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A laundry with space for folding clothes means you don’t need to commandeer the sofa or bed whenever there are garments to sort.
Benchtop space is often not prioritised in this workhorse of a room, so if you’re planning a new laundry, don’t fall into this trap. Even small laundries can punch above their weight by adding extra folding space, as this London laundry proves with its clever little benchtop inset that sits over the sink.