The laundry is the mule of the home, the household’s dumping ground and a hard-working room that churns out loads (and loads) of clean washing! Despite its tireless service, this is a space that often receives the least amount of love.

But what if we told you that your laundry could be another room in which you can express yourself stylistically? A space where you can tap into the best interior design techniques and wrap function and style up in one showstopping package.

If you are designing or renovating a home and have the luxury of building a laundry from scratch, many considerations should influence your choice.

We have so many exciting ideas for you, so let’s begin!

Smart Location

Position your laundry away from bedrooms if possible. Anything out of eat-shot is best. Even if you believe your machines to be among the quietest on the market, the gentle hum of a wash in progress can still be enough to disturb a sleeping household.

Think about easy access for offloading dirty and hanging clean washing on the line. As most dirty laundry comes directly from the bathroom, try to position these two rooms close to each other.

If you have a garage with internal access, this can be an excellent spot to create a laundry space without giving up any of the valuable room inside your home. Avoid this option if you only have external access to your garage. The idea of having to head outside to do laundry will undoubtedly take the shine off an already mundane job!

Smart Layout

Before you begin designing your laundry layout, consider how you will use it. Will you require a bench for folding clean washing, a tub for soaking heavily soiled items, or will you use this room for storing overflow items from your home and therefore require extra storage?

Stacking machines on top of each will allow space for tall storage cupboards, ideal for ironing boards, brooms and mops. While arranging them side by side forms the perfect base upon which to lay a benchtop. And positioning the laundry tub close to your machine means avoiding messy transfers.

The more you imagine yourself using this space, the more likely you will execute a perfectly functional layout.

Smart Features

Practical features like ventilation and a decent laundry tub are must-haves in any modern laundry. Additional extras like a pull-out ironing board and a hanging rail come down to personal preference.

Laundry storage solutions are many and varied, and again, it will come down to preference. Open shelving or closed-in cupboards both work well in a laundry setting. Your overall aesthetic and budget will determine the choices you make here.

Open shelves can become features in their own right. Stylish storage containers and plants can add exciting texture and pops of colour to energise the space; this can be particularly exciting for someone who spends a lot of time in their laundry.

Smart Materials

As we mentioned earlier, the laundry is one of the hardest working rooms in the house. By default, it must be hard-wearing. Choose finishes that can withstand exposure to muddy sports gear, laundry detergents and other cleaning chemicals. Even the most environmentally products can be stringent and abrasive on some surfaces.

Tiled floors and walls are a perfect choice. Both waterproof and easy to clean, they will stand the test of time. For cabinetry, veneers, hardwoods and particular laminate finishes are all suitable laundry solutions. Again, budget and preference will guide your choice.

Smart Styling

With a functional layout and all the finishes sorted, it’s time to turn this workhorse into a vibrant and stylish space. Abandon the rule book and let your imagination run wild; this is the perfect space to inject bucketloads of personality. Hang that wacky print or use those bold colours you aren’t brave enough to use in the central parts of your home – anything goes, so go for it!

Doing the laundry might not be your favourite household chore, but there is no reason you can’t create a functional, stylish, and vibrant space. You never know; a change of scene might invite a change of heart and suddenly, processing the household’s washing might not seem like such a drag!