LAUNDRY ROOMS THAT WORK
If you’ve got a laundry list of complaints about the room where this basic household chore happens, you’re not alone. In many older homes, the washer and dryer were relegated to dark unfinished basements. Well, that was then. Today, we want bright, cheery spaces that are easy to maintain and have plenty of storage and sophisticated accessories for the task at hand. Read on to start planning the laundry room of your dreams.
Location, Location
To limit carting clothes back and forth, the ideal location for the laundry room is near the bedrooms, where clothes are stored. But not all houses can accommodate a laundry room there, especially in homes where bedrooms are on a second floor. The next best location is near the home’s main activity area, a.k.a. the kitchen or bathroom. “It depends on what the home’s layout allows,” says Stéphanie Lévesque, cabinetmaker for Rona. “Accessibility is the key.” If the vibration of the machines interferes with family life, Stéphanie suggests adding insulating strips or soundproofing panels to the laundry room, which, she says, costs less than one thinks.
Planning for Perfection
Before tearing down walls to accommodate your new laundry room, make a detailed list of your family’s needs and how this task currently fits into your lifestyle, says professional organizer Mylène Houle Morency. “If we tend to fold clothes in front of the TV, there is no point in providing a nice folding counter. It won’t be used,” she says. Be realistic, she advises, then define zones based on function: laundry sink for handwashing; baskets for sorting; appliances; folding and drying area. Get detailed – do you tend to have a lot of clothing that needs to dry flat or be hung to dry? Work those features into your plan. Don’t forget to include storage for soaps and other cleaning products, a broom closet, and perhaps a special closet that’s ventilated for sports equipment.