Reclaim your home: The laundry room
Not every home has a dedicated laundry room. I don't think every home needs one, either.
In fact, some of the most successful (meaning convenient, functional, and pleasant) laundry areas I've seen are integrated into other rooms of the home. In my home, for example, I have a small laundry area in a corner of the kitchen and I love it. With twin boys, it makes it easier for me to casually do a load while stirring the spaghetti (so long as I keep small socks out of the sauce!).
Here are some suggestions for shared laundry space that will make both life and laundry a little easier.
Mudroom: Most mudrooms are used only by the immediate family, which means they are relatively private. A perfect place to air your dirty laundry! Another great thing about laundry in the mudroom is that grimy socks and pants from outdoor play time can get dropped right in the wash without leaving a trail of filth throughout the house.
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
Work Room/Project Space: Granted, many homes don't have this kind of space. But if you do, lucky you!
Putting laundry in a work or project space makes way for multi-tasking at it's finest. Long, large counters are ideal for creative (or practical) projects AND sorting socks, plus you just might enjoy laundry a little more if you get to indulge in something fun at the same time.
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
Kitchen: Like I said earlier, I'm a fan of laundry in or near the kitchen. If you don't want your washing machine to be the centerpiece of the room, build a simple cabinet to frame the set while creating additional counter space. Want a little more camouflage? Transfer laundry soap to a cute container and no one will even know it's there.
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Photo source: Pinterest |
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
Bathroom: Who doesn't love stepping out of the shower into a warm towel fresh from the dryer? And the steam from a hot shower can work double-time to relax wrinkles on delicates. Naturally, putting away towels is a breeze.
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
Master Closet: If only I had this problem: a master, walk-in closet with extra space! But I know you people are out there. Dirty clothes go right in the wash, the clean come out ready to hang. No more toting laundry baskets all over the house!
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Photo source: Houzz |
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Photo source: Houzz |
The bottom line is this: Even if you don't love doing laundry, it is an activity that can fit quite nicely in many areas of your home. So look beyond the standard laundry room. You might be surprised at how much location matters.
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Sara Eizen is a Seattle-based interior designer and home organizer with a passion for helping busy families reclaim style and space in their homes on any budget. In a bi-weekly column for Seattle's Child, Sara shares creative, fun, affordable tips and tricks for clearing clutter, sprucing up rooms with minimal effort, creating systems that simplify family life, and much more.
