Laundry is a constant chore, from what to do with dirty clothes, to the washing and drying, to putting the laundry away. Even though it’s a daily part of our lives, where to put the laundry room is too often treated as an afterthought.
You need a space that makes it easier to take care of laundry. Let’s review the pros and cons of some popular choices of where to place a laundry room.
Laundry in the Basement
In the Midwest, this is the traditional place for the laundry room because it stays out of sight and keeps you from hearing the noise. The space in a basement does allow you to create a productive workspace with tables, lighting and storage around the washer and dryer. But making multiple trips up and down the stairs (often with a load in your arms) can become a problem as we age. And having laundry so far away from where the clothes and linens are stored can be illogical.
Laundry Near Bedrooms
Considering where the bulk of laundry is stored and used, it makes sense to put the laundry room near bedrooms. This would cut down on transporting dirty and clean laundry back and forth, and keeps the chore out of sight in the more private part of the home. But there are noise issues to consider – would someone be able to sleep while running a load? And if the bedrooms are not on the main living level of the home, you’re back to the multiple trips up and down the stairs during the process.
Laundry in a Hallway
Placing the washer and dryer in a hallway is a great space saver, and since bedrooms and bathrooms are often off a hallway, it’s a convenient location. If you place them in a closet, closing the doors keeps them out of sight and cuts down on the noise. A drawback is the hallway traffic congestion while attending to the laundry, and there may not be room for a folding surface and laundry hamper.
Laundry in the Kitchen
The kitchen is where we spend the bulk of our time and it is, essentially, a work room on the main level of the home, so placing the laundry here makes sense. There are already water lines available, and the units can be hidden behind cabinets with space for storage and a countertop for sorting and folding. But this can also take up valuable work and storage space, and everyone in the kitchen will be aware when a load is running. Also, are you okay with someone folding laundry while you’re cooking?
Laundry Off the Kitchen
Placing the laundry room next to the kitchen gives you all the advantages listed above while keeping it out of sight in a dedicated space, which enhances the experience and productivity. Kitchen-adjacent areas include a mudroom, butler’s pantry or the garage, and all these options are multi-purpose spaces used mainly by the family, so it helps with the privacy and noise concerns.
These are just the most common places for a laundry room. Bathrooms and spare bedrooms are also options, and as long as you can run plumbing to it, most any space can work (especially when incorporating sound-proofing techniques).
Work with a Mosby designer to plan a laundry room that best suits your lifestyle, habits and needs. See an example of a Mosby laundry room designed for a family and their pets. To get started on your ultimate laundry room, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.