Experts Reveal: 8 Laundry Must-Haves That Come Highly Recommended
Four laundry-design experts reveal the eight essential inclusions that will take a laundry from so-so to spectacular
Adding the right features to your clients’ laundries can make everyday tasks easier and elevate the look of the space. Here, we spoke to four pros to discover the eight must-have inclusions they always recommend to clients who want a laundry that functions brilliantly and stands the test of time.
The minimum amount of space I would recommend for a laundry is 7.5 square metres. This provides enough space for a single row of cupboards, including a recess for the washing machine, a generous trough and a decent-size hamper space, plus sufficient thoroughfare space.
You will, of course, need more space than this if you plan to include storage areas, for example a linen or broom cupboard, or if you specify an under-bench dryer rather than one that goes overhead.
You will, of course, need more space than this if you plan to include storage areas, for example a linen or broom cupboard, or if you specify an under-bench dryer rather than one that goes overhead.
2. Choose deep benchtops
Brett Patterson, senior designer and managing director at The Renovation Broker, says:
Having a decent amount of bench space is a godsend in a laundry, giving the client room to fold and sort clothes, pop a clothes hamper down and more.
Sometimes it’s better to forego
a top loader and put the machine under the benchtop to create more bench space. Or even go for a two-in-one washer-dryer to free up room for more usable bench space.
Brett Patterson, senior designer and managing director at The Renovation Broker, says:
Having a decent amount of bench space is a godsend in a laundry, giving the client room to fold and sort clothes, pop a clothes hamper down and more.
Sometimes it’s better to forego
a top loader and put the machine under the benchtop to create more bench space. Or even go for a two-in-one washer-dryer to free up room for more usable bench space.
You’ll want the benchtops to be at least 600 millimetres deep – or ideally 650 millimetres deep, if you have the room – so you can include a decent-size sink as well as bench space to put baskets and folded clothes on top.
3. Include space for a hamper
Pillinger says:
Professionals often forget to factor in space for a hamper in their laundry design, which means that dirty washing has to be stored elsewhere, creating clutter throughout the laundry or in other rooms in the client’s home.
A pull-out hamper fitted into cabinetry with dividers to separate colours, darks and whites is the ideal solution. A simpler and more inexpensive option is to include a recess space for a basket.
Pillinger says:
Professionals often forget to factor in space for a hamper in their laundry design, which means that dirty washing has to be stored elsewhere, creating clutter throughout the laundry or in other rooms in the client’s home.
A pull-out hamper fitted into cabinetry with dividers to separate colours, darks and whites is the ideal solution. A simpler and more inexpensive option is to include a recess space for a basket.
Julianne Bull, principal designer at The Den Interiors, says:
Pull-out laundry hampers make sorting laundry easy and keep your client’s dirty laundry hidden out of sight. Sturdy plastic tubs can be integrated into the cabinetry and can be removed and cleaned as needed.
Pull-out laundry hampers make sorting laundry easy and keep your client’s dirty laundry hidden out of sight. Sturdy plastic tubs can be integrated into the cabinetry and can be removed and cleaned as needed.
4. Add drying racks
Bull says:
Installing drying racks or a drying cupboard in your laundry design means your clients can say goodbye to having those pesky freestanding drying racks all over the house. Placed over a heating vent or in a purpose-built cabinet, these racks can be purchased from storage retailers or custom-made.
Bull says:
Installing drying racks or a drying cupboard in your laundry design means your clients can say goodbye to having those pesky freestanding drying racks all over the house. Placed over a heating vent or in a purpose-built cabinet, these racks can be purchased from storage retailers or custom-made.
5. Include smart storage
Patterson says:
If the space to design your laundry is small, you’ll need to plan the design carefully in order to fit in everything you need.
If your client wants a multi-purpose laundry that includes dedicated storage for the vacuum cleaner, brooms, ironing board, mops and baskets, then you may need to incorporate smart storage solutions, which can bump up costs, but will give your client a more tailored and efficient storage solution.
Another tip – include power points in the broom or vacuum cleaner cupboard so your client can charge a hand-held vacuum cleaner while it’s tucked away.
Patterson says:
If the space to design your laundry is small, you’ll need to plan the design carefully in order to fit in everything you need.
If your client wants a multi-purpose laundry that includes dedicated storage for the vacuum cleaner, brooms, ironing board, mops and baskets, then you may need to incorporate smart storage solutions, which can bump up costs, but will give your client a more tailored and efficient storage solution.
Another tip – include power points in the broom or vacuum cleaner cupboard so your client can charge a hand-held vacuum cleaner while it’s tucked away.
Giulianna del Popolo, principal designer at GDP Interior Design, says:
In a compact laundry, having specific, purpose-built areas is key to making it functional, particularly in a busy family home.
For example, if your client only irons sporadically, a fold-away ironing board in a drawer is great for single use, rather than storing a large, clunky ironing board.
If pets are fed or toileted in the laundry, then appropriate drawers for food bowls or space for litter trays can be accommodated with a little planning.
And, of course, including space for a hamper or washing basket keeps dirty laundry off the floor.
In a compact laundry, having specific, purpose-built areas is key to making it functional, particularly in a busy family home.
For example, if your client only irons sporadically, a fold-away ironing board in a drawer is great for single use, rather than storing a large, clunky ironing board.
If pets are fed or toileted in the laundry, then appropriate drawers for food bowls or space for litter trays can be accommodated with a little planning.
And, of course, including space for a hamper or washing basket keeps dirty laundry off the floor.
6. Don’t forget a hanging rail
Bull says:
A hanging rail installed above a benchtop makes drying shirts easy and reduces the amount of ironing.
A simple solution is to install the rail underneath the overhead cabinets, or make it a feature by installing it to hang from the ceiling. Just be sure to allow for enough clearance between the rail and the bench for shirts to hang.
Bull says:
A hanging rail installed above a benchtop makes drying shirts easy and reduces the amount of ironing.
A simple solution is to install the rail underneath the overhead cabinets, or make it a feature by installing it to hang from the ceiling. Just be sure to allow for enough clearance between the rail and the bench for shirts to hang.
7. Choose forgiving finishes
Del Popolo says:
When it comes to flooring, I always recommend tiles that have a patina or stone look as they are great for minimising scuffs and smudges that regularly occur in a hardworking spot such as the laundry.
If you are recommending laminate or melamine for your client’s benchtops, choose post-formed edges or toughened ABS edges (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a tough thermoplastic that’s resistant to knocks, scratches and moisture) to minimise joins and potential water seeping in.
If budget allows, solid-surface benchtops, such as Corian with integrated troughs, make a really lovely feature in a laundry.
Del Popolo says:
When it comes to flooring, I always recommend tiles that have a patina or stone look as they are great for minimising scuffs and smudges that regularly occur in a hardworking spot such as the laundry.
If you are recommending laminate or melamine for your client’s benchtops, choose post-formed edges or toughened ABS edges (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a tough thermoplastic that’s resistant to knocks, scratches and moisture) to minimise joins and potential water seeping in.
If budget allows, solid-surface benchtops, such as Corian with integrated troughs, make a really lovely feature in a laundry.
8. Keep it streamlined
Del Popolo says:
With fixtures, I recommend washing machine connections to be concealed and direct bypass draining, to reduce visual clutter. Pull-out hoses are great in this application.
Del Popolo says:
With fixtures, I recommend washing machine connections to be concealed and direct bypass draining, to reduce visual clutter. Pull-out hoses are great in this application.
Your turn
Do you have a laundry you designed that you’d like to share? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next read? Catch up on this story: Pros Share How They Help Clients Select the Right Materials
Do you have a laundry you designed that you’d like to share? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Ready for your next read? Catch up on this story: Pros Share How They Help Clients Select the Right Materials
Anthony Pillinger, director at Swell Homes, says:
Don’t make the mistake of designing a too-small laundry, particularly in a busy family home. A small laundry might work for a couple, but add a client’s children into the mix and chances are they’ll likely end up with washing on the kitchen floor, sofa or dining table.