Let’s be honest, laundry rooms can be awkward. They come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to do with the space. We sat down with Amber Desilets, Design Consultant at Designers Edge, and we asked her advice for laundry rooms.
It’s important to keep in mind the actual size of the appliances. Make sure to be accurate in your measurements and keep in mind when all the pipes are connected and hooked to the back of your laundry. Some people don’t realize how far the appliances sit out, so make sure to include that in your measurements.
As a rule of thumb: everything depends on how you plan to use the space; customize accordingly.
Laundry rooms use a mix of countertop and storage. If you need space for storage - maybe for linens or toilet paper - then cabinets would be your best friend. Cabinets are useful because they can take all the miscellaneous items you wouldn’t want publicly displayed – aka that open, half-used pack of batteries you keep looking for every time you need batteries.
Open shelves and countertops are also something you should consider as they are more accessible. Amber says, however: “I prefer cabinets myself and I recommend cabinets. In my opinion, they just keep things tidy.”
In a small space, if you need a solution for hang-to-dry items, consider retractable hanging racks or clotheslines to conserve space and optimize its use. “Some people throw everything in the dryer; other people hang things to dry, so figure out how you use the space and take that into account”, Amber stresses.
Despite the small space and the utilitarian nature of laundry rooms’ use, there’s no need for the space to be boring. If you want to spice things up, there are many things you can do. Play with tile, maybe tile a whole wall, or make your cabinets a fun colour. Blues are a good colour for laundry rooms because they’re derived from water and feel natural and clean. You can even play with wallpaper, have a cool backsplash and express your personality. Put up art if you want!
Image Courtesy of Designers Edge Interior Design
Ultimately, try to figure out how you plan to use the space, what you are going to put in that space and how you use your laundry room.