Laundry Room Design
Is the Laundry the Next Showpiece of the Home?
At one stage of house design the washing machine was banished to the garage. This worked well for hiding the unsightly appliances but it made the space a horrible place to work in. Concrete floors and a less than clean environment made an unpleasant chore even drearier. Here are some ideas about making your laundry area beautiful as well as functional.
Storage for the Entire House
Every house needs storage, and you can never have enough. In your laundry, mount a cupboard high on the wall and install child locks. Keeping soap powders, cleaners and poisons here makes sense, as most on them are used in the laundry. It also makes sense to store them in a safe place, high away from prying hands.
A tall storage cupboard is another essential. Brooms, mops, and even the ironing board need to go somewhere, so why not make a place that can hold them? A specialised garbage and recycling area should also be considered.
Linen and Towels
Storing towels and sheets next to the hot water cylinder keeps them warm and dry. Another option is to have designated drawer units for sheets, pillowcases and towels. Drawers are a far better storage solution than cupboards, and by putting a countertop on this unit you will also create more working space.
Drying Rooms and Spaces
Where possible have an indoor area for drying during winter or on rainy days. Sometimes this is no more than a place to safely drip dry woollens above the sink, but it can go as far as specialist drying rooms. Built-in drying racks or even just space for a freestanding clothes rack is a great addition for the laundry. And if you are lucky enough to have underfloor heating, this will greatly reduce drying times.
Countertops
The countertop in a kitchen is an important workspace, and it is the same for the laundry. The laundry is a work room and should have a designated work area and a big countertop. A place to land clothing from the washing machine or dryer is fantastic. The best option is a stainless steel. Easy to clean, non staining and hard wearing, it is a wonderful work surface. Specify a large, deep, stainless sink bowl or butler sink as well. A stainless bowl is great for bleaching, dying, and general cleaning of muddy clothes, shoes, small children or pets. A good high tap, ideally one that you can fit a bucket under and one that can swivel, is also required.
A Pad For Pets
A laundry is a great place for pets to eat and and sleep; plan for this. A space under a bench top is a good place for a pet door, food bowls or sleeping mat ,as they are all out of the way when you want to wash.
Remember, any work environment should have some consideration for the user. There is no reason why a laundry should not look good and work well for you.
Drying rail and stainless countertop laundry
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