Most of us spend a fair amount of time doing laundry, and yet we too often leave our laundry rooms unfinished, badly-lit, and without adequate storage. Like any other space, your laundry room should be a functional, pleasant place to spend time.

If your current space feels cramped, unfinished, or inefficient, you might want to consider a laundry room remodel! With the right design and plan, your laundry room can become a beautiful, organized part of your home.

Planning for Your Family’s Specific Needs

Every room in your home should work for you and your family. Each family and home is different. Because they are often relegated to closets, basements, or garage spaces, there is no standard size, shape, or layout of a laundry room. You also have your own unique schedule and method of doing and sorting your laundry. That’s why the first step to remodeling your laundry room is to think about what your specific needs are and how best to meet them.

Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself:

  • How often do you do laundry?
  • How big are your loads?
  • How many people live in your home, and would it be convenient for each person to have their own laundry basket?
  • Are you planning to work with your current space or relocate your laundry room?
  • Do you need more storage space?
  • What are your biggest frustrations with your current laundry room?
  • What is your budget?

Your answers to these questions, and any others you think are relevant, will determine some of the important design elements in your space. Telling your designer or contractor how you feel about your current space and what your top priorities are will help them work toward designing and building a laundry space that works for you and your family’s needs.

Selecting Appliances

Your washing machine and dryer are the centerpieces of your space. That’s why the appliances you choose (or your current appliances) will have a big impact on the other design solutions in your laundry room.

A big decision is whether you want side-by-side or stacked appliances. Both options have their pros and cons. For example, side-by-side appliances can typically accommodate larger loads, but tend to take up space, while stacked appliances save room for storage space or an ironing board, but they tend to be smaller and you may need a stool to reach the top if you’re on the shorter side.

If you go the side-by-side route, you’ll need to choose between front- or top-loading appliances. Some front loaders tend to have longer wash cycles and require more bending and kneeling, but font-loading machines tend to be more energy efficient. Top loaders typically have much shorter cycles and require less physical mobility from users. That said, they tend to have fewer settings and less efficient designs.

Choosing Special Features

Once you’ve decided on a basic layout and the appliances you want in your space, you can turn to making decisions about the other supporting elements in your laundry room. One of the most sought after special features is a dedicated folding table or countertop. You may also want to add cabinets or drawers for storage, an ironing board, cubbies for bins, or even a chalkboard or calendar to keep track of your laundry schedule.

Again, consider your specific needs. Do you have formal or delicate clothing that needs to be hung up rather than folded? Think about adding a small closet with hangers and dress bags. Do you have a large family and need to sort each person’s laundry separately? Think about adding cubbies that allow you to organize multiple baskets so everyone can find their things easily.

Designing a Functional, Stylish Space

Laundry rooms tend to be thought of as practical spaces. But as an important part of your home, your laundry room shouldn’t just be functional, but beautiful as well. Your layout, appliances, and storage solutions should all meet your functional needs and your style preferences. Your color scheme, flooring, lighting, and other design elements are all important as well!

Is your laundry room in a basement or garage with few or no windows? Does it feel dark or cramped? Think about choosing a light color scheme with soft artificial lighting and some natural elements like wood floors or indoor plants to make your space feel larger and more welcoming. Does your space feel sterile and uninteresting? Add pops of color, patterned wallpaper, or an ornate area rug to create dimension.

A good rule of thumb for laundry rooms is to stick to materials that can stand up to spills, stains, and some basic wear and tear. After all, even with the best organizers and storage, you’re bound to put dirty clothes on the floor sometimes, and you’ll be using detergent and bleach. Granite, concrete, quartz, stainless steel, and bamboo (among others) are all strong, durable, and relatively low maintenance.

Looking to remodel an existing laundry room or add a new one to your home?

At Square Deal Remodeling, we’re all about maximizing the value of your home and making it a beautiful and functional space where you and your family love spending time and making memories. We have more than 20 years of experience remodeling homes in the Portland/Vancouver area, and we love making each client’s vision a reality with smart, practical, and beautiful design solutions.

If you’re planning to remodel your laundry room or other space, we can’t wait to hear from you! Contact us online or give us a call at (503) 254-4156 to tell us about your project.