7 Ways to Nail Your Laundry Design Through Custom Joinery
Sorting laundry, folding clothes and ironing are some of the most time-consuming chores, with many of us spending more time in the laundry than we may realise each week.
So, if this space isn’t designed with functionality and clever storage in mind, it’s no surprise that the laundry isn’t the most popular room in the house!
Luckily, there are plenty of clever updates that can be achieved with custom joinery to maximise bang for your buck in your laundry renovation.
It doesn’t just involve cabinetry, either – in fact, we have seven suggestions on how to create a big impact in a little space.
1. Open shelving
While open shelving can sometimes feel cluttered in more central areas like the kitchen, it’s a great storage solution for the laundry where you want everything within easy reach.
Open shelving also makes great use of vertical space and avoids the lack of visibility that comes with tall, deep cupboards. With custom joinery, you can also alternate the spacing and placement of this shelving to suit your laundry’s layout.
Another reason we love open shelving for the laundry is how it brings colour and warmth into a space that can skew cold and sterile. Store spare towels on display or introduce a low-maintenance potted plant to add personality without sacrificing valuable bench space.
2. Hanging rack
Another way to reclaim some space in your laundry with custom joinery is by installing a hanging rack beneath your upper cabinetry.
Perfect for drying delicates or keeping things off the bench (or floor), a hanging rack is an element you may not have thought to include in your project.
Match the finish to your door hardware or tap for a cohesive feel.
3. Ventilation
As a wet room, laundries are notorious for accumulating mould if the proper precautions aren’t taken. A thoughtful ventilation system can help to minimise moisture retention in the space.
A door to the outside with glass louvre panels not only provides functional access to and from the laundry, but controls how much light and air flows through the room. This can be great for drying and airing clothes, minimising your energy bills in the process.
Wondering how to create a space that’s convenient and functional, but doesn’t compromise on style? Our 2023 Design Principles eBook has got you covered – download your copy.
4. A deep sink
While most laundries have some sort of sink, they’re often small and impractical. A deep trough-style sink with a pull-out tap is helpful for a range of purposes, from pre-soaking clothes to even washing the dog.
An undermount sink will maximise your bench space, but you’ll need to chat with a custom joinery specialist as this isn’t feasible for all bench materials.
5. Space for ironing
Ironing boards can take up more space than you may initially realise, requiring a lot of standing room to set up and pack down. They can also be awkward to wrangle and create an obstacle to move through the laundry while in use.
Concealing your ironing board in a recessed cabinet, creating a custom-built ironing shelf that rolls out from beneath your bench, or implementing your ironing board as part of your washing machine and dryer cabinetry are all solutions that make ironing more effortless, and giving you back valuable space in the laundry.
6. Home for cleaning supplies
Items like brooms, mops and vacuums can be awkward to fit into standard-size cabinets, too tall for under-bench cupboards but too short for floor-to-ceiling units. Using custom joinery, you can create a bespoke storage solution for these tools.
A shorter cupboard with hanging racks creates a home for taller cleaning tools, while cubby holes above can be used to house caddies of cleaning supplies, grouped by room for an easy, grab-and-go solution.
7. Cohesive joinery throughout the home
As laundries make up one of three ‘wet rooms’ in the home, matching your custom joinery with the kitchen and bathroom can make for a cohesive overall design.
It can also be a cost-saving measure if you’re updating multiple areas of the home at once, as you can order larger quantities of materials and minimise wastage.
Cohesive joinery doesn’t have to mean identical, though. In the laundry, you could opt for a lighter tone of the same material used for your kitchen cupboards, or use the same benchtop in both rooms. These references will help to make these areas feel connected without being too similar.
Is your laundry in need of a design refresh? Apollo Joinery Group specialises in custom joinery solutions for your home. Visit a showroom to chat with one of our design experts about how we can help transform your laundry, within your budget.
