How to Design a Laundry Room

A dedicated space for laundry is the requirement of every house. When you don’t have a dedicated room for it, you face lots of problems such as having to dry laundry in the hallways, or hiding the clothes drier and washing machine in the bathrooms or under the stairs. Even if you have dedicated a proper space for laundry, but did not pay proper attention to its design, you may find yourself facing frequent issues. Whether you are planning to have a new laundry room or upgrading an existing one, continue reading for helpful design advice for a fully functional laundry room.

Choose the right location

The default location for a laundry room is usually the basement, and there are several good reasons for that, since the basement is separated from the general living space. However, you can also consider installing the set up in your backyard or side gallery, if you have room. If you are choosing a location close to the living area, the invest in appliances with extra insulation.

Task-Based Design

To design an efficient laundry room, think of the tasks that you will perform in it, like storing dirty clothes, washing, drying, folding and then storing clothes. Arrange the appliances and work surfaces that facilitate the flow of your tasks. This will not only help you work efficiently but will also save your time and energy.

Laundry room measurements

Washing machines and clothes dryers usually measure from 24 to 33 inches in width. Your laundry room should have at least 36 inches in front of washing machine and 42 inches in front of a dryer to ensure comfortable loading and unloading.

Furthermore, make sure your laundry room has all the utility lines needed to function properly. For example the washing machine requires hot and cold water lines, drains and proper electric circuits (120-volt). If you have a gas dryer, then you will need a gap connection as well in the laundry room.

Wet and dry zones

To make the laundry room more efficient, it is recommended to divide it into dry and wet zones. Perform all the wet tasks in the wet zone, and drying tasks in the dry zone.

Create space for folding

Install a countertop where you can place the washed and dried clothes as they come out of the dryer. Ideally, the countertop should be above the clothes dryer, but you can make it anywhere in the dry zone, depending on your convenience.