The Laundry Room Reno: Save or Splurge

They come in all room size, shapes and layouts. The laundry room does not have any standard size, as it can be a spot in the basement or a closet on the second floor. However, what used to be a spot tucked away and only used for chores, has evolved into a multifunction space that is no longer just functional but also aesthetically pleasing. It has become similar to the powder room. Homeowners are more open to creating a bold or funky design that they may be hesitant to do in a main room in their home. The laundry room most definitely is no longer an afterthought; rather it is now an important design feature in any home renovation.

Here are our expert tips on where you can save, and what you should splurge on when doing a laundry room renovation.

Where to SAVE in your laundry renovation:

Work with existing space

The key aspect to the laundry room is functionality, therefore it is important to understand what tasks take place in that space in order to decide if the current layout functions for you. A few of these tasks include, sorting, drying, folding and ironing. Anytime you have to move plumbing or anything major to completely reconfigure a space, it will cost you more. A great way to save is to look at your current dryer vent location and plumbing, and see if you can reconfigure the space without having to relocate those elements.

Tip: Keep in mind the dryer vent has to be directed outside, and there is a maximum restriction of a 35ft length, which can be less if the duct, has to be angled or turned. Naturally, the sorter the vent, the better result.

Electricity

The washer and dyers can consume a lot of power. This is why it is important to purchase good quality appliances, which we will explore in the splurge part of this article. However, aside from the short term construction savings in the laundry room, adding drying racks can also save you money throughout the year in energy. Having the option to air dry your clothes is a great way to save. We used this cute Galvanized Laundry Drying Rack from Pottery Barn in our Milton Bungalow Laundry.

Tip: hanging clothes indoor will increase the room’s moisture level, so you want to ensure your space has good quality ventilation and air circulation in order to avoid mould and musty smelling clothes. Having an open window can be a bonus in this instance.

C­­abinetry

Storage is extremely important when it comes to the laundry room. You do not necessarily have to do custom cabinets for your laundry like we did in the Milton Bungalow Project. Take our Vellore Village home, the laundry is located on the landing between the main floor and basement. It was essentially a closet door. We utilized the Ikea Sektion cabinets to maximize the storage within the small space.

Plumbing Fixtures

Incorporate a sink and faucet in your laundry if you can. It is a great addition allowing you to hand-wash garments, or clean out dirt or crafts from the kids. However, it is not something you will typically use as much as your kitchen sinks. Selecting items of a reputable brand that are more cost effective will save you money. When selecting a faucet, choose a high-arching faucet with a pull-down sprayer. As you can see below, there are two options, a higher end version (Delta Trinsic) and one that has the same basic functions for a third of the cost (Delta Essa).

Lighting

As mentioned in our bathroom addition of save or splurge, there is so much selection when it comes to lighting, that you can find something at a great price that will look equally as good. For instance, we have two light sockets for the laundry/mudroom combo in the the Milton home, so we decided to go with the Bell Black Flush Mount Light by CB2, a simple streamline flush mount fixture that doesn’t over power the space, provides efficient lighting, and they cost only $59.95 US ($89.95 CAD).

Where to SPLURGE in your laundry renovation:

Washer & Dryer

Washer and dryers can vary in size depending on the drum size. Before purchasing new units you need to take into consideration how much laundry you do in order to determine the capacity and dimension of your new washer and dryer. You want to ensure the units you purchase can fit into the space. We love using stackable units in small spaces. We also recommend selecting your washer and dryer before designing your space. They are the most important items in this space, so you do not want to compromise the size because you laid out cabinets firs,t and now that is all you can fit.

Here are a few tips on what to look for when buying a washing machine:

• Full-size front load washer and dryers. The front load machines not only help reduce strain on your back while loading and unloading your clothes, but they are built for efficiency. They can use one-third the amount of water, energy, and detergent when compared with top loaders.
• Steam technology. Maximizes cleaning, wrinkles, and remove allergens. For anyone with children or allergy issues, steam is definitely the best option.
• Energy Efficiency. This is a must. The LG WM9000HVA is a great example for saving on energy and on water consumption.  It detects the amount of laundry in the washer and adjusts the water level accordingly.
• Smart applications and Wi-Fi connectivity. This feature allows you to manage your laundry with voice commands, quickly troubleshoot any minor issue before it becomes a bigger one, download new and special cycles to keep your washer optimized and up-to-date (the Smart ThinQ technology). It also alerts you if there’s any issues with your washer.

Washer Pedestals

Whether you stack your washer and dryer or have them side-by-side, laundry pedestals can add more storage space and they lift the machines up, making it easier to load, transfer and unload clothes. This is a great extra feature to make your clothes loading and unloading easier.

Elements to improve Space and Function

When rethinking the flow in your laundry room, we recommend considering adding counter space and upgrading any interior storage/organizational hardware components within your cabinetry. Having that bit of counter space for folding and other tasks will really help with functionality. Quartz is a great countertop material for this space as it is durable, low maintenance, and available in a variety of colours and designs.

Tip: Typically a counter in the laundry room is on the smaller side, when doing counters the supplier has to purchase the entire slap for you regardless the size. You can utilize the entire slab on the counter and as a return on the wall for a backsplash. This way you do not have to purchase extra tiles.

As mentioned in the save section, you can save on cabinetry. What we recommend splurging on is the guts of those cabinets. Incorporate hardware and storage units that can be added into your cabinets to keep yourself organized. In our Milton Bungalow we added shelving for detergents in the pull out cabinets, and a foldable ironing board in one of the drawers. These extra little features will really maximize space and keep you organized.

Smart home technology

This is not a necessary splurge, but one that will make you smile and dance while doing laundry, hopefully passing the time quicker and making the chore less daunting. Adding a speaker and being able to dance to your favourite tune will make laundry more fun, especially when it feels like aside from cooking in the kitchen, we are always doing laundry.

Pet Shower/Dog washing station

If you have a furry friend that runs outside and needs to be bathed, adding a pet shower in the laundry ends up being a life saver. Your furry friend doesn’t have to drag the mud through the house when they run inside. This can also double up as a spot to wash your feet or shoes if the need arises. If you can carve out a little extra space for the washing station, this is a great splurge.

Laundry rooms are a lot of fun to design, it is a welcomed challenge to maximize the entire space and utilize ever inch in order to create to most function possible. If you have a laundry room renovation in mind, contact us, we’d be happy to talk to you!

If you have already been through a renovation, we would also love to hear about your experiences. Leave us a comment below or join us on our Instagram.

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