How to Design a Custom Laundry Room
A busy household needs to be as functional as possible and a designated, custom laundry room can be a great way of removing bulky appliances from other rooms to create more space and reduce clutter. Many Californian homeowners are adding their own utility rooms to help maintain a minimalist, modern design while improving the practicality of their available space.
In this guide, we will discuss how to design a custom laundry room, the potential costs involved, and the overall benefits.
What is the recommended size for a laundry room?
It is difficult to put an exact measurement on a custom laundry room as it is totally dependent on your available space. The main factor to consider is whether you have enough room to fit in a washing machine and tumble dryer. Then you can begin to think about other considerations such as; an area for ironing, space for drying clothes, storage, and possibly even a sink.
With a front-loading washing machine and tumble dryer, you will be able to stack them on top of each other, creating an additional room. Alternatively, shelving can be placed above the two appliances if they are stood side by side, making front-loaders a much better option for a designated laundry room which is constrained by size.
Smaller laundry rooms can still have all the amenities and features of a larger room but it may require a little more planning and ingenuity.
How much does it cost to build a laundry room?
The cost of building a custom laundry room can vary based on a number of factors, such as; the size of the room; the specifications of the appliances; bespoke fittings; additional plumbing and electrical requirements; and the quality of the finishings.
A small and simple laundry room with no changes to the plumbing, electrics, or room layout can be achieved for as little as $2k-$3k. However, a large, custom-designed laundry room built to a high specification can cost up to $15k.
In most cases, you can expect a laundry room to cost somewhere in the middle of these two figures but luckily, this is entirely dependent on you and your laundry room design so there is a workable solution for any budget.
Does a laundry room add value to your home?
According to data provided by Homewyse, a laundry room can achieve a good return on investment if the home is sold within 12 months of the remodel. This could potentially yield an ROI of between 67%-91% if the laundry room renovation is to a particularly high standard.
How do you design a functional laundry room?
Below is a step-by-step guide of the individual considerations when designing a bespoke laundry room.
Location – In the first scenario, you would have an empty room which is the ideal size to house a laundry room, a basement, or garage for example. In the second scenario, you may need to add walls to section off your kitchen, which would obviously result in a bigger home renovation project.
Design Process – During the design process you would need to determine what functions you need to have in the laundry room. Primarily the room would be where the washing machine and dryer would be located, but you may also want to include areas for drying, storage, and ironing, as well as maybe a sink area.
Once the initial floor plan has been developed, then you can think about interior design, including what fittings and finishings you want to have in your laundry room. If you are not confident in designing the room yourself and are concerned about the finer details, then it is recommended to use the services of a professional kitchen designer and remodeler.
Learn more about laundry room design services here
Selecting Appliances and Fixtures – When designing the layout of the room, one of the first steps is to decide where each appliance will be located, especially the washer and dryer which will be the centerpiece of the room. As discussed previously, front-loading washers and dryers can be a great space saver for smaller rooms.
These appliances can also be raised on a pedestal to help make them more accessible (ideal for people who experience back issues) but of course, this would come at an extra cost and may require a contractor.
Does the space have a working water supply? Or would this need to be installed, or moved to connect to your washing machine? Some machines may also require both a hot and cold water supply.
Do you have adequate ventilation and air extraction for the tumble dryer? To combat the build-up of steam? If not, then air ducts may need to be installed, or perhaps a window.
If your laundry room is located in the basement, then could you install a convenient laundry chute? This is one of many options to consider, others include ironing, drying, and storage which we will discuss in the coming sections.
Additional Requirements (I.E. A Sink) – If you expect to have ample counter space then it may be a good idea to install a sink that can be useful for cleaning purposes. This would make tasks such as mopping much easier, instead of having to transfer the mop bucket from another room.
A Section For Ironing – Will the laundry room also be used for ironing? If so, then ensure there is a sensibly placed powerpoint and enough room to set up an ironing board, as well as somewhere to store both the board and the iron when they are not being used. This could be a cupboard with a wall mount, to avoid the room feeling cluttered.
An Area For Drying – Constantly using the tumble dryer can significantly increase your energy bills and isn’t very eco-friendly, so alternative options to dry your clothes could be required. A simple drying cabinet or hanging device could be a practical solution for those rainy days when hanging clothes outside isn’t an option.
Remember, drying clothes indoors requires adequate ventilation.
Storage – We have already discussed storage for things like ironing boards but what about items like detergent, clothes pegs, and cleaning products? There should be a designated cupboard for such items in any laundry room to limit the need for going back and forth between different rooms.
Counter space – You will need plenty of counter space for folding and sorting your clothes once they have been dried, and enough room to separate colors before they go into the wash. We would always recommend including as much counter space as possible, preferably with a depth of 24 inches based on suggested guidelines.
Should I hire a contractor to build my laundry room?
If you lack experience when it comes to a home remodeling project, or you have ambitious plans for your custom laundry room, then it would be sensible to use experienced and trusted home remodeling contractors.
If you are based in California, then SOD Home Group is a San Jose home remodeling company that has delivered countless projects across the state which have been met with glowing reviews.
