A laundry room is both luxurious and convenient, allowing for clean clothes at any given moment. Usually separated from the rest of the home, this room is often treated as an afterthought, a place to dump dirty things and forget about them. However, there are plenty of ways to set up a laundry room properly to foster organization and efficiency.

If you’ve neglected this space up until now, there is no better moment than the present to start changing this! You can get the laundry room of your dreams in just a few hours by following our tips on how to set up an organized and charming laundry room!

Determine Your Needs

Before making any major moves, it is important to determine what will be going into your laundry room. Ask yourself these questions: how small is the space you’re working with? Will you need to add extra storage to accommodate things? Does this room serve any other purpose? Once these factors have been determined, it will be much easier to know how to move forward.

Make a checklist of items that you have already, as well as things you may need. Items to consider having in your laundry room are as follow: washer, dryer, drying racks or mounted bars for hanging clothes, laundry bins, ironing board, iron, steamer as well as all of the necessary cleaning products and utilities you may require.

Plan for a Functional Laundry Room

source: Pixabay, reimoon0

Now that you have selected all the items that are needed for your laundry room, you must determine how to fit everything in the most functional way. Consider a way to save time by giving everyone in your home their own hamper, making lights and darks easier to separate. Alternatively, set up a sorter in your laundry room to provide an efficient method for clothing to be divided.

Now of course, you’ll need counter space, as this will help contain tasks, like folding, to their place. If your washer and dryer are front-loading, it is possible to set up a counter on top of them. You will need to install wood blocking and make sure to leave space for the machines to move around without hitting the counter.

The counter could easily double as an ironing board if the room does not allow for both. Make sure that when installing the washer and dryer, the door swing on each is the opposite. You don’t want the door of the dryer getting in the way of the washer, as your clothing is moved from one to the other. Further, have an area for clothing that can’t go in the dryer to hang. 

Efficiency

Not only must the laundry room have a functional layout, but it should also foster efficiency for completing tasks. Better lighting is another important aspect of the laundry room, including under cabinet lighting as well as task lighting. Especially if you don't have access to a window, you'll want to flood the space with lights. This way, you can properly see clothing and avoid leaving home in a shirt with a stain on it.

Another important thing to consider is the noise coming from this room. Although contemporary washers and dryers don’t emit too much noise, there are still plenty of ways for noise to bleed from this space into other areas of your home. Install batt insulation in the walls to reduce noise, as the washer and dryer are heavy appliances that can definitely make noise.

This is especially important if the laundry room is going to be on the upper floors, as the washer or dryer may move around and cause an excessive amount of noise.

Another common problem with modern washing machines is the noise known as a “water hammer.” This consists of small bursts of water being added repeatedly into newer machines, and this rattles pipes. Not only is the sound annoying, but has the potential to cause leaks. If you hear a clunking sound while the washer is running, make sure to get in touch with a plumber. A burst water hose can damage the interior of your home, so stay aware and tend to any potential problems before completing this renovation project.

Safety First!

The laundry room might not seem like a place of danger, however, there are several ways that this room can be unpredictable. We’ve discussed the washer quite a lot, but now let’s focus on the dryer! One of the safety concerns of a laundry room is the dryer duct. Make sure to always clean the lint filter and check ductwork, as well as the exterior outlet at least once a year for buildup.

Make sure the dryer hasn't been pushed up against the wall, as this will crimp the exhaust. Ignoring these things could lead to damage as well as the potential for a fire, so be extra cautious. You don’t want to spend hours organizing your laundry room to have to become a hazardous space.

Ambiance

source: Flickr, Edna Kiser

Finally, the fun part! After the space is functional, efficient and safe, you can begin to play around with making it your own. There are some small touches you can make to create a space as livable as all the other rooms in your home. If the floor of your laundry room is concrete, consider getting a rug or carpet to cushion feet and add some cozy appeal to the space.

Put up some frames with family photos or postcards that you’ve collected. Also, consider getting a dish or basin to catch all the contents that may be left in pockets. Another great addition to this room is a trash can, where you can throw leftover linen and lint. Other than these minor things, do whatever it takes to make this space dazzling. By adding some fun into this room, you’ll forget that laundry is a chore in the first place!

Get 3 renovation quotes for your laundry room renovation project

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