Checklist: Laundry Room Ideas

The convenience of having a washer and dryer in the home is one that few homeowners want to do without. Laundry rooms can be found in many homes across the country, and their presence has made the task of cleaning and drying clothes a relatively painless one. However, the form of the laundry room is changing. The trend seems to be moving away from hiding the washer and dryer in the distant dark depths of the basement. Most people now want direct access from main activity areas of the home. Because many laundry rooms are now much more visible than their predecessors, good laundry room design is not just beneficial for function, but can make a difference in how your home looks, too!

Improving Laundry Room Design
Doing the laundry is a chore, no matter how you slice it. Especially in homes with multiple children, getting your clothes clean in an orderly manner can be easier said than done. A great deal of work goes into keeping a house running smoothly, and there's no reason to make any task more difficult than it needs to be. In much the same way that a well-planned kitchen can make preparing food and cleaning dishes easier, having a well-designed laundry room can lighten the burden of keeping clothes clean.

The first step in good laundry room design is, of course, the placement of the machines. Make it easy to move clothes from the washer to the dryer. Sometimes purchasing a longer cord or longer hoses can allow you to better arrange your appliances. If your floor plan is a bit awkward, consider altering it to better accommodate your washer and dryer. Though this will cost a bit more than lengthening hoses, it will give you the opportunity to create a laundry room that looks more attractive and functions efficiently, as well.

Laundry Room Upgrade
With so many homeowners feeling the strain of rising utility bills, there's good reason to look into more efficient washers and dryers. Laundry room appliances use both water and electricity, and if they are outdated, there's a good chance that they are consuming too much of both. Newer washers and dryers offer many features that aren't found with older models, and use less energy during operation. Since laundry rooms are becoming common in more prominent areas of the home, the quieter operation of newer washers and dryers is also beneficial.

Laundry Room Accessories
No matter how great your laundry room appliances are, they are nothing without the proper accessories. The trip your clothes make from the dryer to the closet or dresser should be as simple as possible. Installing a table or countertop in your laundry room on which to fold clothes is a great way to reduce wrinkles and get the work done efficiently and conveniently. Installing a built-in ironing board is another great laundry room idea, as is installing shelving on which to place detergent, stain removing agents, fabric softener, and the iron. Have plenty of space to hang clothes for drying.

When bringing dirty clothes to the laundry area, having more than one bin to organize your laundry by color and cycle can be helpful. If space allows, you may also try installing a utility sink in your laundry room for hand-washing delicate items.

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