Home Improvement Magazine Home Fashions Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 29

6 T ips F or L aundry
R oom R enos
W
hen thinking about fun and exciting
places in your home, one of the last places
that comes to mind is the laundry room.
However, good design is important to
make sure the space is functional for your needs and
that time spent there is more enjoyable! There are
certain elements that can help make laundering time
much easier.
1. The biggest issue in most laundry rooms is storage
and organisation, or rather the lack thereof. Many
things seem to make their way into the laundry
room and need somewhere to live, or else the space
begins to look cluttered and messy. Having space
for things like detergent, softener, dryer sheets,
and single socks is essential. If there is room, tall
pantries or kitchen-style upper and lower cabinets
can hide everything behind closed doors. However,
if there is no floor space, then consider putting
open shelving above the washer and dryer and
using wicker baskets or clear canisters to keep
items organised and looking good.
2. Counter space is great in a laundry room. It makes
folding clothes and laying items flat to dry much
easier. If your space cannot handle a conventional
countertop, think about using a moveable kitchen
island which will give you both extra countertop
space and storage.
3. Having a spot that looks great will he lp you want
to spend time there. Choose a colour palette that
reminds you of crisp, clean laundry, such as bright
white, soft blues, mellow yellows, and fresh greens.
Adding a few accessories creates some interest and
whimsy in the room, such as a seagrass mat and
wicker baskets.
4. To ensure no stain goes unnoticed, make sure the
space has adequate lighting so you can see what
you’re doing.
5. Make sure to leave some space for items that need
to hang dry. If just a small space is required to
hang, try installing a larger version of a bathroom
towel bar on a wall. If more space is needed,
options range from a retractable clothesline to a
rod attached between walls like an oversized closet
rod. The other option is a collapsible rack.
6. Having an iron and board in the laundry room can
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be very convenient. While an iron will fit nearly
anywhere, the board can be a little harder to hide.
One option is to build a flip-down version that fits
into the wall, or install some simple hardware to
hang it on the side of a cabinet.