Laundries have to work hard, and they don’t get much credit for it. Usually hidden and rarely seen by guests, who knew how vital the laundry would be before having kids!? They used to be just a space to put a washer and sink, but today laundries are far more considered. It’s important to have a functional space that is pleasant to be in, because we spend a heck of a lot of time in there.
I’m going to talk about my favourite things for a family laundry, but remember they may not all be relevant to you. Start by thinking about things that are non-negotiable, and make the space function with them, then you can add in any extras.
Maximise bench space
Laundries often become a dumping ground: things waiting to be mended, school shoes that need polishing, a bucket of muddy soccer clothes, etc. So aim for as much bench as possible. If you have the space, think about extending your bench to a depth of 650 or 700mm so your washer/dryer don’t stick out the front. In a smaller laundry, don’t stack your dryer on your washer; mounting the dryer on the wall above will give you an extra bit of bench space under it.
Drawers instead of cupboards
Just like in the kitchen, deep drawers allow you to use the full depth of the storage, without getting down on your hands and knees. Yes, they are more expensive than cupboards because of the additional materials and hardware required, but they are worth it for functionality.
Hanging rail
A rail is so handy because you can hang things inside to dry. Perfect for that school uniform that was forgotten, or items you’ve hand washed but don’t want to hang in the harsh sun. Locating your rail over the sink is helpful for catching any drips, but not essential. And make sure there’s enough depth and height for work shirts. If you live in an apartment with not much hanging outside, think about a pull-out or folding rail system in your laundry. You can also get racks on a pulley system, which are perfect for tall ceilings.
Left: hanging rail, image Norsu Interiors. Right: Pulley system drying rack, image George & Willy
Tall storage
For brooms, mops, and anything else annoying long and thin. It amazes me how many homes don’t have a place for these tall items! If you have enough space, you also might want to get your vacuum in this cupboard, but measure it first because vacuums are bulky and awkward.
Somewhere to put the ironing board
Full disclosure: we hardly ever iron in our house. My grandmother would be appalled, but we just don’t do it, so I definitely want it behind a closed door. Ironing boards are tall so a good place is to fit it with your brooms and mops. These days there are also other options. A built-in ironing board can live in a box on the wall and fold down for use. Or you can build it into cabinetry or even flush in the wall. But not everyone wants to be stuck in the laundry ironing, so if you have a free-standing board, make sure you allow space for it.
Left: ironing board built into cabinetry, image Pinterest. Right: ironing board folds out from wall, image Zephyr and Stone.
Lots of power points
A few are needed in the laundry right off the bat – ones for the washer and dryer are necessities. But you probably also want a few more: above the bench power points are good for ironing, charging kids toys, battery chargers, etc. Do you have a hands-free or stick-style vacuum? Don’t forget a powerpoint inside a cupboard so you can charge it out of sight.
A practical sink
Bigger sinks are common in laundries, but this depends what you want to do in there. Sometimes the laundry sink is used as over flow from the kitchen, for example scrubbing baking pans or BBQ plates. You might want a sink big enough to soak clothes or put a bucket in there. Make sure your tap has enough room to allow you to get a bucket under it. You also might want to wash your dog in the laundry, so pick the right sink for this.
A door to outside
A game changer, especially if your washing line is just outside the door. No more traipsing back and forth through the living room with the washing basket. Remember though, a door takes up valuable space in your laundry, so if it’s a small room, think carefully about whether you’d prefer bench/storage instead. It can also be good to have a door from the garage into the laundry, then through to the house. The laundry then works as a ‘mud room’ where you can dump and sort all the messy family stuff – school bags, sandy towels, rugby boots, dog leads, etc.
A toilet
This one doesn’t work for every home, but if you have the space, an additional toilet adds lots of value, especially if you don’t have a powder room.
Laundry hampers
I think the best type are pull-out baskets integrated in to your cabinetry. You can get different sizes and some people like two so they can sort lights and darks. But before you allocate space to this, think carefully about how you want it to function for your family. In our house, we use a hamper in each bedroom so we don’t need them in the laundry itself.
Left: tilt-out hamper, image Hafele. Right: pull-out hamper, image Style Curator.
Storage for bulky things
We’ve already talked about brooms, mops and the vacuum, but there are other bulky things in the laundry you might want to hide away. First is the washing basket for putting washing on/off the line. Big and cumbersome, some people want to hide them, which requires more than a standard cupboard. The second item is the clothes horse. Not everyone uses these, but they’re great for drying on a balcony or inside. Sure they fold up but they’re still tall and awkward, so you’ll have to create a specific cupboard space if you want to hide it.
