How to Save Time by Rethinking Your Laundry Room Design

Who wants to hang out in the laundry room?  Any takers? I didn’t think so. I don’t either. I used to avoid my laundry room. 

But since it’s been remodeled, I’ve noticed I don’t avoid it nearly as much.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not currently jumping up and down at the thought of doing laundry (keeping it real, ya’ll)…I do think the aversion I had to laundry was amplified by having to do it in a depressing room. I would close the laundry room door and try to forget about it.  I avoided going in if possible. (My husband can attest to this. One might say that it was an intermittent source of contention;)

I was tempted to hold off on remodeling the laundry room…mainly because no one sees it except us. But now I’m so glad I took the plunge and finally did it!

Even though I still don’t really like doing laundry, I do love going into the laundry room.  I feel a bit brighter when I step inside (I think it’s the animal print wallpaper and checkerboard tile floor!) Everything is organized and right within reach so that I can do laundry quickly.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I’m not avoiding the laundry as much, and I’m able to get it done more efficiently.  So I’m saving time in the long run.

Have you put off redecorating or remodeling a room in your home because no one else really sees it except you?  I know what it feels like to walk into a certain room and think, “uggghhhh.” Maybe you just want to close the door and forget about it?  And when you think about redoing it, you end up thinking, “No one sees it except me, so why bother?”

But, listen…your home isn’t just about how it appears to other people. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Your home is where YOU live. It’s about how it makes you feel and how it affects your everyday life…even if it’s a room only seen by you. 

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So if you’re thinking about making some changes to your laundry room, here are a few tips for creating a laundry room that will save you time: 

1. Only include features that you will actually use.  Often when you remodel or build, it’s tempting to put in extra features just because they are available or novel.  A pull-out ironing board is super cool, but if you don’t really use it, it just takes up space and makes your room less rather than more functional. 
2. When planning, think about where you’d like to store specific items and have cabinets built accordingly.  When you are standing in front of the washer/dryer, you should be within arms length of storage for laundry detergent, fabric softener, etc. 
3. Consider a pocket door.  Most laundry rooms are on the smaller side.  Using a pocket door opens up more space inside for the features you need.
4. Don’t forget beauty…it’s important if you don’t want to avoid that room quite so much!  A laundry room is the perfect space to try something new or bold. So think about unique flooring or wall covering options.  In my laundry room remodel, I kept the existing cabinets but replaced the countertops, flooring, cabinet hardware, lighting and added wallpaper. 

There are so many ways your home can make your life easier.  Do you have a room you’ve been avoiding like I did? I feel ya… and now that I finally bit the bullet and decided to remodel, I wish I had done it sooner!  So if you are thinking of doing the same, click here to see how I can help you.:)