Are you tired of doing laundry in your existing space? If you are looking for a way to have a new laundry room, perhaps you need to get creative in restructuring your existing living space.
Without the option of actually adding on to your home, you might need to sacrifice another room, or at least some space out of an existing room. We combined our master bedroom and bath with an extra bedroom next to it, and then turned it into a master suite with a laundry room.
By doing this, we were also able to add another hallway with a double closet and an additional half bath. So, while we sacrificed a bedroom, we gained a main floor laundry room, a double closet, and another bathroom. My point is, get creative.
Help with Layout
After determining what space you are willing to part with, you will need to work up a layout for the new space. You will want to talk to your builder about this, to see what your options are. Where you can place the washer and dryer will be dictated by existing plumbing and electrical, unless cost is not a concern.
If it’s a complete tear up, then you have more options. Once you have this information, then you can draw up some plans freehand and consult with your builder, or have him design it for you. However, there’s another option, which is an online room design and layout program. There are a few available, and some at no cost.
I had a lot of fun with this, switching it up for various ideas. After you have the layout determined, then it’s time to go shopping.
The Star of the Show
The first thing I did was pick out my washer and dryer, since they were the purpose for the room to begin with. I looked at several styles, brands and even colors. However, because there are so many to choose from, it can get overwhelming.
I recommend that you look at reviews for all brands, before entering a showroom. From Maytag, to LG washers and dryers. Look to see what other people who work with them have to say. They often come in sets, so make sure you check reviews on both the washer and dryer.
The options you have to make are whether or not you want a trendy color, front or top load, and whether or not you want a pedestal draw on the bottom. Just know that you may be paying extra for that trendy color, and trends go out. Since it’s not a typical area for guests to see, I opted for basic white, and put the money I saved towards something else.
Next, we’ll take a look at other items to consider.
Hold ‘em or Fold ‘em
One item to consider is the folding area. This will really depend on how much space you have. If you have a lot of space, you could have a full table off to the side, which is stationary.
Another option is to have a table which can fold up and out of the way with chains and hooks, when you are not using it. I opted for something else.
Our new laundry area is in our master suite, so I didn’t want to take up too much space, especially since I also wanted an additional bath and closet. I decided to have a custom built table made for right over the washer and dryer. Going without the pedestal drawers underneath, it is the perfect height for quickly pulling the clothes out and simply placing them on the table to fold.
If you do this, make sure to leave enough space between the table and the machines, so you can pull them out for repair, if necessary.
Ironing Out the Details
If you do a lot of ironing, then you should also consider where you are going to put the ironing board. And again, it will depend on the space available.
When limited on space, or if you simply don’t want to store your board in another closet and have to take it out all the time, you could attach it to the wall, with a drop down feature. It’s almost like a Murphy Bed, only with the ironing board instead of a bed.
These can be hidden nicely, with a shallow cabinet.
I don’t do a lot of ironing, so I just use my folding table, without using up any more space.
Sink It
If space allows, have a sink put in. Sinks are wonderful for hand-washed delicates and soaking stubborn stains. The plumbing isn’t an issue here, since you already need it for the washer.
Our master bath sink is literally 3 steps from the washer. So, I chose to not have another sink put in and save the space.
Cabinets are a Hidden Blessing
While the cabinets themselves are not hidden, they can hide a multitude of items. This is especially important if you don’t have the pedestal drawers under the machines.
Actually, you have more options for storage, such as:
* Fully enclosed cabinets
* Cabinets without doors
* Shelves
It might just come down to how many people will be seeing your laundry area, and cost.
Top or Front Loaders
Getting back to the washer dryer, do some research on top and front loaders. Everyone has their preference, with their own reasoning. For example, a tall person might not like a front loader, if it’s not elevated with the storage pedestals. The opposite is true for someone who is height-challenged, like me.
I prefer my front loader, mainly because I don’t have to reach into the bottom of the washer and get all wet from hanging halfway inside.
When shopping for washers and dryers, search online first for reviews for all styles, and every brand from Electrolux front loading washing machines, to brands you have never heard of before.
Ultimately, it comes down to which area of your home you are willing to sacrifice, and how much space that gives you to work with for this project.
We sacrificed an extra bedroom, which was only being used to collect things we really shouldn’t have been collecting anyway. So, bonus.
As I mentioned earlier, get creative!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Cameron is a freelance writer, living in Texas with her husband and 2 young children. She loves to write on topics that will help consumers save money and try innovative ideas. In fact, her husband has called her a walking infomercial. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family. She has also just recently discovered Twitter.