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Your laundry room design can save time and lighten your load!

Do you like keep up with laundry daily or dedicate one time per week to conquer this challenge?

The answer to this and other key factors will influence the design.

  • How many people live in your home?
  • Is anyone or everyone involved in fitness or sports?
  • Does everyone at home have enough basics to get through the week?
  • Do allergies or sensitivities require special laundry handling?
  • Is most clothing “easy-care” or “handle-with-care”?

This information will help your Geneva Cabinet designer guide you to the right solutions.

  For details about where to locate your laundry room and how large it should be, check our past blog.  But for now, let’s take a look at the latest pick-me-ups for wash day.

Make Functional Fabulous

Inspire your day with a perky laundry room

Plato Woodwork, Lowell Custom Homes, Shanna Wolf Photography

In the past, the laundry was consigned to the basement or squeezed into the mudroom.  We prefer a fresh approach that will place a positive spin on the task.   Since laundry is inevitable, why not make the task more pleasant?  Go from functional to fabulous by adding color and pattern to your space.  Easy-to-clean wallcovering is the perfect backdrop for durable cabinetry.

laundry room trends

Kippps Bay Showhouse, Designer David Fazier, Staff Photo

This year the Kipps Bay Showhouse flooded the laundry room with a matching pattern for wallcovering and fabric.  The cafe style curtain hides washer, dryer and sorting bins behind a classic acanthus pattern from Sloan.

Laundry Room Multitasking

Hybrid laundry rooms

Woodmode, Lowell Custom Homes, Elizabeth Drake Interior Design, Victoria McHugh Photography

Laundry space is the ideal place for multitasking.  This is a natural for built in flexibility.   The sink can be used to presoak and rinse clothes, as well as potting plants or cleaning art supplies.   Cabinetry will conceal laundry while providing space for games and craft supplies.  A home office, art studio, or craft station would all be compatible, with plenty of shared counter space.

Laundry Innovations

Fall in love with a 2-in-1 Washer/Dryer from the GE Profile collection.  This new generation of appliances offers space saving convenience, energy savings, a smart dispenser to hold enough detergent and softener for up to 32 loads, and antimicrobial technology.  Especially notable is the HQ app to keep you appliance software updated.

Learn more about this new technology here.

Compact Second Laundry

second story laundry

Das Holz Haus Cabinetry, Lowell Custom Homes, North Shore Nest Interior Design, Photo by Aimee Mazzenga

Adding a second laundry room, right where the messiness happens, is a real time saver. Popular spots include the Primary Bath, Second Floor Bedroom Hallway, and Pool Bath.  This feature is growing in popularity.  Processing laundry in the same zone eliminates the extra step of carting it around, while conserving personal energy.

plans for laundry

Storage Features

For a weekly laundry schedule, concealed storage is the key to organization.  The addition of a drip dry rod and pull-out hampers will keep the room streamline and clutter free.

Drip Dry Rod, Pull-out Laundry Bin

Shiloh Cabinets, Josh Z Photography – Plato Woodwork, Shanna Wolf Photography

Open Shelving is designed for easy access.  It’s the perfect fit for a daily laundry habit.

Quality Lighting, Open ShelvingPlato Woodwork Cabinetry, Lowell Custom Homes, Shanna Wolf Photography – Lowell Custom Homes, Staff Photo

Countertops & Laundry Sinks

Laundry Sink

Medallion Cabinets, Josh Z Photography

Gone are the days when utility sinks on stilts were the standard.  In today’s modern laundry room, ergonomics wins.  A sink built into the cabinet is good for pre-washing and stain fighting without a deep back bend.  The cabinet base naturally improves storage and increases counter space for folding. For an extra bonus, choose a sink as beautiful as this hammer copper!

Pet Stations

laundry room sink and dog wash

For those with furry friends, adding a pet washing station is a nice fit for a spacious laundry room.  This large basin can also be used for cleaning outdoor equipment and muddy boots as well as pets.  Tile walls will wipe down easily after the final shimmy and shake dry.

Visit our Laundry Room Gallery to make a list of your favorite ideas.

Then Contact Us Here!

 

Often overlooked but impossible to ignore, a laundry room is the workhorse of any home.  It is usually  assigned the standard treatment with a washer, dryer and maybe wash tub, but it deserves better.  Take your laundry area from mundane to multifaceted with our laundry room design tips.

Where should you put your laundry room?

Convenience is the key to efficiency for this space.  There are two ways to approach the placement of your laundry.  

  1. Keep it close to where you spend  most of your time.   In the floor plan above not only is it adjacent to the kitchen, but can easily be reached from the center of the home or while coming and going through the garage and outdoor exit.  
  2. Position the laundry where the clothes are, as in the bedroom wing of your home.

Before deciding on a new location be mindful of the noise levels produced by your brand of washer and dryer.  Adding extra insulation will help soundproof and reduce noise from vibrations during your spin cycle so everyone can sleep through early morning or late night wash emergencies.

How much space do you need?

 

Lifestyle factors and home size will help decide whether you should have a dedicated laundry or multifunctional room.  We like to start every cabinet design project with an evaluation of your space, family members and daily routine.  This is when we determine the minimum space requirements and offer ideas that will help you breeze through the laundry.

Often size restraints complicate the natural flow for these common tasks.

  • sorting
  • stain treatment and soaking
  • hand washing delicates
  • washing bulky items
  • drip drying
  • hanging
  • folding
  • storage

Ample work space allows you to complete each task in one area without lugging baskets of clothing from laundry room to kitchen or bedroom for special care.   At first glance expanding the laundry may seem like an indulgence but when designed with versatility, it is a multitasking dream.  Some of our favorite combinations add a laundry zone to these active areas.

  • mudroom
  • home office
  • adult and children craft zone
  • rec room
  • gardening space
  • homework station
  • workshop

Be open to the idea of borrowing space from an adjoining room.  Once freed from a confining closet, laundry tasks easily integrate into your daily routine.  That expansive work counter can be used for all types of projects when laundry is finished.

The use of a pocket door or sliding barn door is another space saver we love to completely access to the entire work zone without the interference of an awkward door and door swing.

Ultimately it’s about the caring for your clothing, which can be quite an investment even if you avoid designer labels.

Special Amenities

Are you all about the drip dry or do you love to press in a sharp crease?  Whatever your talents,  laundry space should be there to support you.  Here are some of our favorite features.

Drip Dry Rods & Valet Hooks

 

Rev-a-Shelf Fold Out Ironing Board

 

Pull-Out for Laundry Supply Storage & Laundry Bin

 

Open Shelving for Easy Access & Storage

 

Multiple Bins to Sort-As-You-Go with Ventilation to Reduce Odors

 

Double Your Leisure

There is a nostalgic appeal to the laundromat where you can load up several washers and dryers to finish in 1/2 the time.  But multiple units at home allow you to be the head honcho of your own laundry universe without pockets full of change.  This is a productive solution when you have a large family, frequent guests or an active crew with lots of sweaty workout clothes and uniforms.

You can even tuck in an extra set of stacked washer and dryer units in the master closet, in the bedroom hall, or near any indoor-outdoor activity area.

 

Style to Smile

Once you’ve created a highly functional laundry, it’s time to tackle it from the standpoint of style.  Interesting cabinet doors, bold hardware, colorful appliances and an attractive backsplash will infuse your space with character.  You are spending anyway on new tile, cabinets and hardware, why not have a little fun in this space.  There is little to no price difference in choosing cherry red over white.  Have some fun in this room with the basics or be sure to add art.

 

Photography by Shanna Wolf S Photography and Victoria McHugh

Explore more of our inspirational ideas here!

 

And stop in to our Lake Geneva showroom to explore more great cabinetry design and ideas for every room of your home!

201 Geneva National Ave S

Lake Geneva, WI

262-245-9600