Too often, people tend to think in broad strokes. For instance, when contemplating your home’s layout and design, it’s the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms that usually get all the attention.
On one hand, this makes sense. You’re bound to devote more attention to the rooms where you’ll be spending most of your time.
But what about your laundry room? It’s rare to put much thought into it, even when you’re planning a custom home from scratch. After all, the laundry room is a means to an end to complete a chore!
Here’s a fact that might surprise you: according to a 2016 study, most people spend 17 minutes a day doing laundry. That equals 103 hours per year spent in your laundry room!
When you think of it that way, it’s well worth the effort to make your laundry room comfortable. And it’s possible to design your laundry room so that it’s both cozy and functional ‒ so this chore won’t chew into your busy schedule any more than it needs to!
Here are a few tips to help you plan a cozy, functional space.
1. Location, Location, Location
Where your laundry room is situated is as important as its style! Of course, when you buy a pre-built home, this decision is already made for you. As such, you’ll regularly find yourself running up and down the stairs carrying heavy hampers full of sweaty, dirty laundry.
That’s the beauty of building custom! In your custom, prefabricated home, the choice is yours. In fact, you can even put your laundry room next to your bedroom ‒ the ultimate convenience!
2. Leverage Natural Light
Don’t let yourself get bogged down by a dark and dingy laundry room!
So often, we tuck this space away in a basement or closet. There’s not a window in sight, making this chore a drab experience at best and a miserable one at worst (it’s worth mentioning the tremendously positive impact natural light has on your mood.)
In your custom home, your laundry room can have an abundance of natural light with as many windows as you wish! This way, cleaning, drying, and folding your clothing will always be a pleasant outing that puts you in a good mood.
3. Stack Your Washer and Dryer
Thinking of downsizing to a more manageable, comfortable home? In this instance, your washer and dryer could potentially take up too much space, impacting your quality of life and enjoyment in your home.
When space is at a premium, you must maximize every square foot! Therefore, stacking your washer and dryer ensures that you won’t be crowded by these bulky appliances.
4. Maximize Your Storage
If you had to guess how much stuff you own, your estimate would probably fall short. One professional organizer reports that the average house contains well over 300,000 objects!
The more space you can utilize, the better ‒ and the laundry room is a prime location to carve out some extra storage. Built-in shelving, cubbies, and islands can turn your laundry room into a multi-purpose space that adds more value and functionality to your home.
5. Make Laundry Luxurious
Most laundry room designs are uninspired at best. It’s an afterthought. But there’s no reason why this space shouldn’t reflect your personal style ‒ especially considering how much time you’ll spend there in the life of your home!
From painted cabinetry and tilework to unique hardware and storage baskets, there are countless ways to customize your laundry room to your heart’s content. When you embark on your custom home journey, our Design Specialists will work with you to design a laundry room that’s as stylish and organized as the rest of your home.
Your laundry room has the potential to bring an added burst of life, comfort, and functionality to your living space. Follow the above tips, and you’ll have added another standout point to your already-incredible custom home!