The average cost for a laundry room
The cost of a new laundry room would depend on whether you incorporate it into an extension of your kitchen or redesign your kitchen to accommodate it. No matter what, this wouldn't be much different than planning for a small kitchen as it involves relocation or redirection of various services, such as water, electricity, gas, worktops, lighting, and storage. Aligning the laundry room's appearance with the kitchen can cost anything from USD$3,000. It consists of plumbing and wiring. If you wish to cut down, get freestanding furniture and install the units for a fraction of extra dollars. Or, you can hire a local carpenter to fit your appliances and white goods into the existing space for a small budget.
Usage of the laundry room
What do you want to achieve in this room? You have to be clear about your goals or expectations from this corner to design it perfectly. In this area, the minimum requirements are running hot and cold water, waste pipes for the washing machine and the sink, and proper storage units. Do you use a vented tumble dryer? In that case, it would need the right channel to expel the moisture. Then, fitting an extractor will be necessary if there is no window in the room to avoid dampness when air-drying clothes. All these will give you a clue about the suitable size of the laundry room, no matter whether it involves extension or shifting of internal walls.
Nevertheless, when designing, you will have to take calls on numerous critical aspects, such as the location of the washing machine and dryer, ironing space, storage, etc. Some people move the fridge, prep sink, storage, and worktops to this area to keep their kitchen free. Will you wash your sports gear, boots, and dirty dog in the sink? Pick a large-size sink, then.
Location of the laundry room
It depends on your needs. For example, you may want to preserve the garden view while ensuring that the entrance of the utility space leads to the garden. For this, you can build it on the external wall. The designers suggest that visualizing the laundry room as subordinate to the kitchen can be helpful. However, it is not a rule. It is up to you to determine. Alternatively, you can choose a laundry space in a spacious bathroom. Other places can be a garage, garden room, etc.
Laundry room space building
Often, this space gets wasted due to under-use or clutter. It would be best to leverage even the tiny corners in this room to free up some kitchen space. Sometimes, houses include cupboards under the staircase. People use them as dumping ground. You can convert this zone to keep the washing machine and dryer. The storage cupboard can also make room for a worktop. And if you get additional space for plug sockets, you can shift a few appliances from your kitchen to this portion.
Features of a laundry room
Although various items go into this space, a quality stainless laundry room sink, worktops, washing machine, and dryer are essential. Other than them, you can keep a fridge-freezer, dishwasher, toaster, microwave, etc. You can store them here to save your kitchen countertop.
Planning a laundry room
You can put the dryer over the washing machine to save some floor space. As hinted at once, deep sinks can make a better choice for soaking and washing purposes. The storage space has to be intelligent. Build cupboards to store all types of cleaning supplies. Ironing board and vacuum cleaner can also find their place there. Due to lack of space, you may not accommodate drying racks. However, you can opt for a pulley-based cloth drying hanger. There has to be an extractor fan to reduce condensation. And if you choose underfloor heating, your washing can dry up faster. Therefore, it also becomes a critical feature.
In the end, the objective should be to create a fuss-free and clean room with worktops and storage. If space permits, you can also keep your fresh clothes on the shelves. So keep an eye on storage options. Consider storing your shoes, boots, and outdoor costumes there. Damp clothes would need hooks and drying space. Plus, having a bench where you can sit down and remove your muddy shoes can be excellent.
A few critical considerations
You have to work on the drainage system to ensure there are enough connections with the mains. Your plumber can guide you about the expenses. Rooflights, glazed doors, windows, and other such things can take care of lighting. No matter what you plan to keep in the utility room, the cupboards have to be spacious. Hiding all the appliances behind closed doors can help create a neat appearance. Also, the choice of worktop and flooring has to be innovative. These should be able to deal with everyday pressure.
Some homeowners like to have a laundry facility in their kitchen space. But if you can afford space and budget, it will be better to have a separate section. Used clothes and other items carry different types of germs. When you wash them, bacteria can splash around through water droplets and contaminate your kitchen and anything that comes into contact with them. That's why it is essential to plan safely. In the long run, you can appreciate your decision because of the multiple benefits of this kind of arrangement.