Make washing clothes your favorite chore with a fresh laundry room remodel. While you can’t magically change the task itself, you will be able to solve your peskiest laundry woes and craft a more functional space you’ll enjoy using.
Widen the Playing Field
When Erin Myers, principal of Arlington-based Erin Myers Designs, remodeled a Spotsylvania laundry room, she found it lacked space, so she made more of it.
By “borrowing” a bit of square footage from the kitchen next door, taking out an underused appliance, and rehinging a door to swing in the opposite direction, she carved out more precious territory to
dedicate to the laundry room.
Before starting a renovation, look for any opportunity to incorporate more space into the room, as Myers did with the inward-swinging door. “Grabbing a foot makes a big difference and could be worth the cost of that reframing,” she says.
Maximize Your Space
There are plenty of ways to make the most out of existing square footage when the space is limited. Michael Sauri, co-owner and president of Arlington-based TriVistaUSA Design + Build, says it’s important to prioritize. What functionality do you need in your laundry room? Which features are most important to you?
“Some clients are OK with having a combination washer-dryer. … But if you have enough height to double stack a unit, you can have a full-size washer and dryer stack. There’s also something in between,” says Sauri, referring to the emerging market of compact machines.
If you are able to squeeze in two machines side by side, consider a front-loading washer and dryer. That way, Sauri says, you can transform the tops of both into a workspace for tasks like folding, so that the room’s vertical space isn’t going to waste. Another way to work vertically? “Have cabinetry run all the way to the ceiling,” Myers says. “It maximizes storage, even if you have to use a stepladder to get to it, and then you don’t have a space that collects dust on top of your cabinets.”
Consider Storage Solutions
Tracy Morris, founder of McLean-based Tracy Morris Design, solved a problem for a family of four by crafting a mix of elegant open and closed storage solutions. “The basket with rolled towels can also double as a spot for a hamper or laundry basket,” Morris says of the open storage space. Meanwhile, less glamorous essentials, like cleaning supplies and laundry detergent, can stay hidden behind closed doors.
“Put things inside the cabinets on rollouts,” Morris says. This makes reaching for your go-to products less of a hassle. “You can also put a fold-out drying rack in there as well.”
Add Playful Touches
In the Spotsylvania remodel, lively hues brighten up the space.
“We did fun wallpaper just to add some whimsy and cheerfulness,” Myers says. “A laundry room, a powder room, these are places where you can take a little more of a design risk because you don’t spend a lot of time in them.”
Myers suggests a vibrant wall color, patterned wallpaper, or painted cabinets to spruce up your own space. “I think it’s a chance to have fun.”
6 Quick Tips for Laundry Room Organization
Lauren Sadlon, professional organizer and owner of NEAT Method Northern Virginia, shares simple organizational hacks to kick your laundry room into gear.
- Bins are key. “Create neatly labeled bins and separate cleaning supplies from garment care.”
- Vertically stack containers and drawers to maximize space.
- Prioritize your most-used products by stashing them in the most accessible place (such as the lower shelves).
- Utilize wall and door space to hang supplies by installing hooks or a back-of-the-door storage system.
- Keep a trash can handy for lint.
- Beautify without cluttering. “You can incorporate a family photo or some fresh flowers and keep the countertop clear.”
Feature image by Angela Newton Roy Photograpy
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
