Plan your laundry room with these smart ideas on counters, storage, sinks, lighting and more.

We found the following article on the Canadian House and Home magazine website. It provides great tips on how to perfectly design your ideal laundry room. It is important to understand what you want out of the space you are designing and how to stay within your budget. We hope you enjoy the article!

“Tasking in the laundry room. Whether it’s incorporating a gift wrapping station, a project work area or spot for arranging flowers and repotting plants, we’re using the laundry room as a space for more than just cleaning clothes.

Whether your laundry room is a dedicated space of its own or tucked away in the corner of the basement, consider the ways in which you can expand its role in your home. With a little imagination and effort, you can make any laundry area a more organized, appealing space where you can work on your latest project while washing a few loads.

A good starting point is to think of your laundry room’s design as similar to that of a kitchen, incorporating a work surface and storage.

Add a countertop

Front-loading washers and dryers can be placed beneath a countertop on which to sort or fold laundry.

Don’t settle for an ugly sink

A utility sink need not be the typical old plastic tub on feet: A stainless steel, enamel or bathroom sink with gooseneck faucet (high enough to fill a bucket) are all good choices for the laundry room. A sturdy deep sink will enable you to clean rubber boots, soak large items, arrange flowers or fill tall vases.

Mix open and closed storage

Open shelving above the sink and appliances can hold neatly arranged storage baskets, bins and glass containers full of powder detergent, clothespins or soaps. Wall-mounted cupboards with doors can be used for tucking away detergent bottles, cleaning supplies and other miscellaneous laundry or project necessities. If square-footage allows, install lower cabinets under the sink and anywhere else in the room where you may be able to fit them. This will provide extra storage and add warmth and interest to the space. Install a tall, narrow cabinet at one end of a wall for storing mops, brooms and a vacuum.

Remember lighting

Recessed lighting can be installed under upper cabinets for illuminating the task at hand. However, if you plan to use the laundry room for other jobs, you’ll want to install ambient and task lighting throughout the space as well.

Find a spot for everything

When planning the room, map out a space where you can comfortably set up an ironing board near an electrical outlet. Choose practical locations for mounting hooks and installing shelves for storage of laundry supplies or project materials. Keep some wall space free for hanging framed artwork that will help make the room feel as comfortable as the rest of your home.

Tip: Make laundry distribution an easier task by placing clean clothes in separate baskets, each tagged with a family member’s name.

Make a small space work

For small spaces, try all-in-one laundry racks, available at home hardware retailers. The units usually consist of laundry bags, a hanging rod and a hinged shelf for folding laundry.

Even a compact space can accommodate a multi-purpose laundry room: A small drop-leaf table and chair against the wall can be pulled out for folding laundry or can work as a gift wrapping or crafts station when needed.

A retractable clothes wire is an inexpensive and clever tool for hanging clothes in a small laundry room, conveniently disappearing when not in use.

Incorporating a laundry area in a mudroom is a growing trend. A washer and dryer can be at the ready for cleaning muddy, grass-stained or wet clothes. Folding doors in front of the appliances can conceal them when not in use.Plan your laundry room with these smart ideas on counters, storage, sinks, lighting and more.”

Article Source: House and Home Canada