No room, no problem for laundry
Not quite ready to brave the local laundromat?
If your home is lacking the space required for a designated laundry room, a space saving and concealing arrangement can save valuable household space and time spent on household chores.
‘‘Whatever space you have for your laundry, it doesn’t have to be boring and plain, rather, modern laundries can be just as pleasing to the eye as they can be functional, that can make clothes sorting, washing, folding and ironing a breeze,’’ says Dennis Harvey, appliance expert at electronics retailer The Good Guys. ‘‘Integrated cabinetry with pullout laundry bins, storage for cleaning products, built in ironing stations and hanging rails for clothes that can’t be put in the dryer are ideal if space permits.’’
1. Cleaning cupboard
Using outwards opening cupboard doors with interior shelves, hooks, sliding draws and a benchtop, a well-fitted cleaning cupboard can house all your cleaning and laundry needs in the one location.
2. Sliding feature wall
In the absence of a designated room, try disguising your laundry with a brightly coloured feature wall. Close the doors while entertaining, and when guests are away simply, slide open to access your laundry.
3. Kitchen cupboard
With smaller apartments on the rise, some kitchens also house the washing machine. Install under the benchtop behind a closing door. For ultimate space saving, opt for a combination washer and dryer unit.
4. Built-in-wardrobe
Got a spare built-in-wardrobe? Transform it into a mini-laundry space, using racks to store ironed clothes. ‘‘If you are wanting an ironing zone within the laundry itself the best idea is to purchase an ironing board that can be fixed to the door so it can be flipped up when not in use,’’ Harvey says. ‘‘Make sure you are within range of an electrical socket though.’’
5. Curtain cover
For a budget friendly way to hide the clutter of a larger laundry, install a curtain railing to slide over the area when not in use. With vertically stacked appliances, shelves and a space to store dirty clothes, a curtained-off nook will have you wondering why you ever needed a designated laundry in the first place.
7. Bathroom cabinet
When there just isn’t the space for a separate laundry, a bathroom cabinet with appliances stacked on top of each other can provide the perfect solution.
8. Folding door
When you have the space for a laundry but the aesthetics are lacking, conceal the area with a floor-to-ceiling folding door that gives the illusion of a clear space.
9. Sliding bookcase
Why stop at a standard door, when you can install a sliding bookcase to cover your laundry? A functional and attractive solution.
10. Outside cabinet
If you have an outdoor entertaining area, use the extra space with an enclosed, weatherproof, sliding cabinet. Built next to a fence with appliances set up side-by-side, it won’t affect your living space.