Why Your Laundry Room Deserves the Same Design Attention as Your Kitchen 

Most people don't think of a laundry room as the first place to spend money in a home renovation, but good laundry room design is actually quite important. You focus on your kitchen, upgrade your bathrooms, and give living rooms special consideration, but laundry rooms? Those get the scraps. This is where they're making a mistake. A good laundry space doesn't need to take up a lot of room in the house, or spend a lot of money, but quality Custom Laundry Room Design is just that: good. How you position your machines, how your materials are stored, if your counters are high enough, it all makes a difference when you use that space on a weekly basis.

Why Laundry Room Planning Deserves More Attention

Laundry is one of those house chores that we wish would just go away. Items of clothing must be washed, towels must be used, beds must be made, and there's always something that needs folded. But it's also a task you want to put all in the corner of the room so the process doesn't take up as much space. And while you might get away with it, you're not doing anyone any favors. How you plan to do laundry determines what kind of space you need. Moving the washer and dryer out a few inches will also provide better room, and better access.

Make Storage Work Harder

Cleaning products are likely to be the most obvious and most unusable item to have in the laundry. Detergent bottles, stain removers, fabric conditioners, cleaning cloths and inventory supplies can quickly fill up available surfaces. Open shelves are good for things you use all the time but consider closed cabinets for everything else. Drawers can make even small supplies easy to find and use while large cabinets and cabinets can make room for mops, ironing boards and other household items that can be difficult to fit otherwise. A basket for whites, darks and whatnot can also be very useful. Keep personal products handy and the rest can stay hidden.

Counter Space Simplifies Daily Activities

Some counter space can make a huge difference to how a laundry works. It can be used for sorting washing, laundering out the odd stain, folding socks and underwear or holding the laundry basket temporarily. We can make the room work by hauling laundry to another room for that final fold, or use an extra bit of space that is eminently practical. A small amount of counter can be located above front-loading washing machines if the laundry is narrow, with space to allow for the manufacturer's recommendation for clearance and installation. In general, having a workable top surface for folding is a better option if the room allows. Use a material that is robust, moisture tolerant and easy to maintain.

Lighting, Ventilation and the Details that Get Overlooked

Lighting is often forgotten in utility rooms. One dull ceiling fixture might be technically enough light, but it's not going to help you when you're spot cleaning stains or hanging wet shirts. More light on the ceiling and work lighting around the counter make it easy to see what you're doing. The important thing is to consider ventilation, too. Utility rooms can trap heat and moisture, especially when dryers are used frequently. Make sure exhaust connections and flow are in place, and that humidity is not going to be a problem. Also, think about flooring. Material needs to be water resistant and easy to clean to be practical; stained or absorbing surfaces are less than ideal, but these are the features homeowners will love in the long run.

Select Durable Materials For Everyday Wear

Your laundry room is a hardworking space. Cabinets are pulled open constantly, floors become covered in lint and counters need to clean up drips from detergent and water. All those details should be factored into the design and materials choices. Consider moisture-resistant cabinetry, tough hardware and flooring that's easy to sweep or mop. Light colour woods will make the space seem larger and less shadowy, or darker woods add a warm note that's not so rustic that it has you dusting your boots every time you walk in. Go for a single complementary colour, add some interesting drawer pulls and select a fun, but easy-clean backsplash. But don't build a laundry room that requires you to spray down every week.

Combine Form and Function

Of course, a functional laundry room doesn't have to be boring. There are many small design features that can add character to the space. A tile backsplash, appealing cabinet hardware, a strategically placed hanging rail or even an eye-catching paint color can add some personality to the room. Remember to utilize the natural light from a window rather than covering it up with bulky storage. A hanging rod can also be functional for air-drying items or for placing garments after ironing. Speaking to laundry room design professionals with Las Vegas Interior Design Services can also ensure that the finishes within the laundry room match up with the rest of the home's spaces to create a cohesive design.

Conclusion

A great laundry room doesn't have to be large or boast pricey amenities. It simply needs to have an efficient design, ample storage, functional lighting and surfaces that will resist wear over the years, so the space improves as time goes by. People often invest in spaces where they entertain, which make sense. But the laundry room is one we visit everyday, so it's worth a bit of planning too. A few key decisions in this space can eliminate clutter, save time and remove some of the annoyance from one of life's most mundane chores. Because luxury is sometimes just removing the little frustrations we experience week after week.