October 18, 2019
Small laundry ideas
Originally published by realestate.com.au on 2 September 2019.
Many of us live with small laundries, laundries integrated with the bathroom, or the washing machine hidden in a cupboard. We showcase some of the latest innovative ideas for small laundries.
Planning on renovating a laundry that’s the size of a shoebox? You’re not alone. We showcase some of the latest innovative ideas for small laundries so you can get nifty and creative and make the most of a little laundry.
1. Create a laundry and guest bathroom
Just because you have a small space to work with doesn’t mean it cannot be beautiful. Case in point this gorgeous guest powder room that doubles as a laundry (pictured below). The penny round tiles pair perfectly with the gold tapware and rail, which makes great use of space when drying clothes. The toilet is smartly hidden behind the functional benchtop and there’s still plenty of space for cupboard storage.
Tuck the toilet behind the bench to create a functional guest bathroom and small laundry. Picture: Lisa Cohen
2. Add a double laundry sink
If you have a young family and do a lot of washing it’s likely you need a decent-sized laundry tub to soak all your little ones’ gear in. A double laundry sink with a removable lid designed to withstand the rigours of family life is the answer. Look out for options that feature a stainless steel tub, a combined cabinet and can be shoehorned into a small space.
A double sink with removable lid plus a rack for hanging clothes are great space savers in a small laundry like this, designed by Cantilever Interiors.
3. Be smart yet have fun with accessories
Smart accessories in a small laundry go a long way in making your life that whole lot easier. Find some cute storage tubs that you can decant your laundry powder into and it’ll make laundry day a breeze, plus it’ll look sweet on your laundry benchtop too.
4. Install a clothes rail
We know how practical towel rails in a small bathroom are, but what about clothes rails in a small laundry where you can hang freshly ironed shirts and the like? It’s a no-brainer.
5. Consider an integrated ironing system
If you don’t have enough space for a full-size ironing board in your laundry, consider an integrated ironing system such as the Robinhood Ironing Centre IC1300. Not only can it be surface mounted or recessed into a wall cavity but it contains a stable, swivelling ironing board with adjustable height, a power outlet and a built-in light.
6. Don’t forget moveable storage units
Moveable storage units are perfectly suited to small laundries as they can easily be relocated – no matter the size of the unit – from storage cabinets on wheels to store under-the-sink essentials to mini storage cube boxes to pop all your laundry essentials into.
7. Laundry hampers or baskets are lifesavers
There’s nothing attractive about dirty clothes, but a snazzy hamper can simultaneously brighten up your laundry and keep soiled garments out of sight.
This cute-as-a-button laundry basket from IKEA (pictured below) has two nifty handles and is 66cm tall, meaning you can fit a whole lot of dirty shirts inside.
8. Add a shoe organiser
In many homes, the laundry acts as a bridge between the backyard and the living area. So if you don’t want mud and grass tramped through your home, it’s a good idea to provide shoe storage within your laundry. Look for a shoe organiser that is well-suited to small spaces, is stackable, lightweight and holds several pairs of shoes.