Elevating your laundry design: 6 tips from the experts
The humble laundry is the most underappreciated and underdesigned of all spaces in most home renovations. And fair enough, when budgets are tight the laundry may be the easiest space to cut costs.
To help give your laundry the attention it deserves and transform it into a beautiful functional space (without blowing your budget) we’ve put together 6 tips from design experts.
Splash out on tiles
Glass splashbacks and vinyl are often used in laundries, but there’s no better alternative than good old fashioned tiles. Large format tiles are a great option for the floor, while smaller, more textured tiles typically suit your splashback.
There’s no need to choose fancy imported Japanese or Italian options either – your local trade shop has plenty of locally made options that look great and don’t cost the world.
Match your kitchen
Struggling with design choices for your laundry? Why not just replicate your kitchen’s look? Simply exporting your kitchen’s colour scheme to your laundry is a great way to reduce work for you (and an interior designer if you’re working with one).
It’s also a good way to ensure your home’s design is cohesive, with one space complementing the other.
Go for quality tapware
You can cut costs from most aspects of your laundry design, but as an expert on the topic – we highly recommend that you don’t skimp on tapware. Go for a local, trusted manufacturer if you can, and select materials that are both attractive and hard wearing (like stainless steel, or brushed stainless).
Our favourite option is the Gareth Ashton Lucia Gooseneck, which has an attractive, curved shape and comes in a contemporary stainless finish.
Think about functionality
The design choices you make now will inevitably decide how functional your laundry is. Make good choices, and it’ll be a pleasure to use, helping you get more done.
Here are a few ideas:
- Ensure there’s plenty of bench space for stain removal and other jobs.
- Consider hanging space – such as a rail above your bench, or a roof mounted clothes horse.
- Make sure your laundry is childproof from the get-go.
- Soundproof to ensure you can’t hear your appliances while they’re in use.
- Build an ironing board into your cupboard.
- Install laundry baskets within your cupboards (with a bin for white and colours if you separate).
- Make sure there’s proper ventilation in your space, for drying clothes and your appliances.
A few small additions now, could make your life much easier later – so spend a little time thinking about how you use your laundry and what you really need.
Invest in a larger sink
A large laundry sink is never a bad thing. They’re great for soaking clothes, cleaning shoes, washing pets, or even the kids if you don’t have a bath! We recommend a large single bowl for most people, but if you’re frequently soaking clothes a double bowl can be great (allowing you to soak in one sink, and continue to use the other).
Maximise storage
Think about everything you’d like to keep in your laundry and how much storage you need – then forget about that and just include as much as you possibly can!
More storage means that your laundry will never become cluttered and you’ll always have a space for all the essentials – from washing powder, to stain remover, cleaning chemicals, linen, towels, and even off season clothing.
Need a little inspiration?
Before you get started with your laundry renovation, it’s a great idea to see options for sinks and tapware in person. Drop into your nearest Abey showroom to view a range of mixers, spouts, taps and sinks, and speak to one of our design experts.