We all make mistakes – don’t let your laundry renovation be one of them!

We all know that doing the laundry is a chore, however with a functional well-organised space it doesn’t have to be. For most people endless hours of washing, drying, sorting and folding clothes have instilled a hatred of laundries so strong that they make the mistake of glossing over the design and layout details simply to get the job done.

Without proper planning you could end up with a laundry that doesn’t function effectively only to increase the amount of time spent in your laundry. Therefore, here are the most common laundry renovation mistakes, and how to avoid them.

Designing without the future in mind

Before you make any laundry design decisions, it’s important to take your lifestyle into consideration. Take the time to consider the inclusions and appliances you want now as well as how your needs may alter in the future.

For example – do you work full-time, with a rapidly expanding schedule? Then you might want to include a drying cupboard or condenser dryer to save precious time. Or maybe you’re planning on a few extra family members in the future, and allowance for a heavy duty washing machines might be necessary. Our advice is to consider and prepare for these things in advance before finalising your laundry design, as the laundry is usually a small space with minimal room for future alterations.

Lack of storage

Every functional laundry needs adequate storage to house you laundry items, from detergents to washing baskets, and everything in-between. Space permitting, your bench top should be positioned either over laundry bins or over your appliances. This will allow you to easily pull out clothes from the bins or appliances to be seamlessly and immediately sorted on the bench top. If you don’t have a dedicated laundry room, consider installing a pull out benchtop that can serve this purpose.

Don’t make the mistake of not including a combination of versatile storage options, as this is key to a functional laundry design. A mixture of open shelves, cabinets and purpose-built cupboards will keep all of your laundry products within easy reach. Make sure you vary the size of your cupboard too – tall, narrow cupboards can be used to store mops and brooms for example while open shelving should be used to store items that are used on a regular basis. And importantly make sure the shelves in your over head cupboards have adequate clearance height, to store your laundry/cleaning products that are harmful to children or pets.

Not installing a deep sink

You may think selecting the right sink seems boring and trivial, however don’t make the mistake of settling for any old laundry sink. The right sink will make a world of difference to your laundry space and how you work in it. Our advice is to choose a deep sink that will allow you to not only hand-wash delicates with ease, but also the ability to fill up a mop bucket.

Forgetting about functional features

There are so many inclusions to consider that will go a long way to creating a functional design.

Simple inclusions such as pull-out laundry hampers designated to whites and darks, dirty and clean will go a long way stream lining your laundry chores. Installing a hanging rails from the under side of your over head cupboards is a great option to hang up cloths to dry, or after they have been ironed. And to make life that much easier, if space is available, a great idea is to install a pull out ironing board.

Failing to follow a ventilation plan

Laundries are damp places. With all that washing going on, wet clothes and condensation, it’s a wonder so many home laundries are missing exhaust fans. It’s a small expense that should not be over looked, as it will ensure your drying clothes receive adequate ventilation and avoid damp, musty smelling clothes, and damage to your new laundry.

Our  design team can help you avoid these common laundry mistakes and create a functional design that will make your laundry chores a breeze. If you’re ready to renovate, book a FREE in-home consult with one of our designers today.