Top tips for making your laundry work for you

Location and access

The laundry needs to be easily accessible from the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms, so family members can drop off and pick up their washing without going out of their way.

If you dry your washing outside some or all of the time, you’ll need to make sure there’s a door providing easy outdoor access from the laundry.

Functionality and layout

Laundry layout will revolve around the placement of the main features: washing machine, dryer and laundry sink (or tub).

If you’re short on space, a front-loading washing machine with the dryer mounted on top or above it is a great space saving combo. Another option could be to invest in a washer dryer – one machine that does both jobs.

Whatever appliances you choose, it’s important to have the washing machine and dryer close to each other, so it’s easy to transfer laundry between the two. It’s also a good idea to have the laundry sink close to the washing machine – so that anything that’s been soaking in the sink can be transferred to the washing machine easily, with minimal risk of anything dripping on your floor.

Your laundry will need plenty of bench space for folding and sorting washing and there are lots of options available to achieve that. You can have your washing machine and dryer under a laundry bench, and you can also have an insert made for your laundry sink – so that it effectively becomes part of your bench space when it’s not being used as a sink.

If you want an iron, you could include a cupboard to store your iron and ironing board when you’re not using them, or choose a wall mounted ironing board that can easily be folded away.

For delicate clothes that need to dry inside, you might like to consider adding a small hanging rack in your laundry – possibly even one that folds down (or concertinas out) from the wall. Another option is slimline drying rack drawers where wool and knit clothing items can lay flat to dry.

If you’re planning the laundry for a two or even three-story house, it’s worth considering a laundry chute that will take dirty clothes and linen directly into the laundry.

Storage

There are lots of options for storage in the laundry – including cupboards and drawers that will keep the room looking tidy and uncluttered, and shelves for things like washing powder that you want easy access to.

You could even have your washing machine, or washing machine and dryer, raised off the ground. This makes it easier to get washing in and out and also helps create space underneath for a drawer or cupboard where you can store a washing basket out of public view.

For a really sleek and tidy laundry look, you could have your washing machine and dryer behind sliding or folding doors. Another option is cupboards where you can keep laundry hampers for sorting clothes into whites, darks or delicates until you are ready to wash them.

You will need a safe place to keep laundry products that might be dangerous to small children or pets. This could be behind a childproof latch under your laundry sink or in a high cupboard out of reach of your little ones.

Additional features

If you’ve got plenty of room for your laundry you could include a pet washing tub for your furry friends. This can also double as a place to wash muddy sports shoes and boots – leaving the main laundry sink nice and clean.

The laundry can also be a good place to hang wet weather jackets or ski gear, and you could include a row of hooks or shelves in the corner of the room.

A well-planned laundry is more than just a place to wash clothes and can help make your life a lot easier.