A laundry room is an essential part of any home. Having a dedicated laundry area streamlines the process of washing clothes, helping you maximize efficiency and save time. It also reduces clutter, making your home look clean and organized.
If you’re designing a laundry room or remodeling an existing one, it’s crucial to understand the correct dimensions to achieve the perfect balance of space and functionality. Stick around to learn how big a laundry room should be and how to optimize your available space for the best results.
What Is the Ideal Location for a Laundry Room?
Location is a crucial consideration when planning a laundry room. Where you decide to set up your laundry area can determine how convenient doing laundry becomes for you. However, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to laundry room placement options. The best location depends on variables such as your lifestyle, the amount of laundry you do, how often you wash, and whether you mind your guests walking in on piles of dirty clothes during your laundry days.
While the ideal location will differ according to your household’s unique circumstances, there are several options that most homeowners tend to go for. Perhaps the most preferred location for laundry rooms is near the bedroom, and it’s not hard to see why many homeowners gravitate towards this layout. Setting up a laundry room in the vicinity of your bedroom is super convenient, as you can quickly toss your dirty laundry where it needs to go or move clean laundry to your dresser or closet. This removes much of the hassle of organizing your laundry, making the process more seamless.
Another commonly preferred location for laundry facilities is in the kitchen. This option is ideal for a small home with limited space. If you live in a one-story apartment, for instance, having a laundry area in your kitchen allows you to incorporate laundry tasks into daily routines, such as preparing meals or cleaning the kitchen. Proximity to plumbing and electricity is an additional perk of in-kitchen laundry provisions.
If the idea of incorporating your laundry facilities into your kitchen doesn’t appeal to you due to concerns about food contamination, you might want to consider setting up your laundry room in the basement. These zones typically experience little foot traffic, making them prime locations for a laundry.
Setting up your laundry amenities in the basement provides ample room to wash, dry, and fold your laundry, maximizing productivity. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about noise disturbances as you do your other household tasks.
Small Laundry Rooms (5 by 7 feet)
A 5-by-7-foot laundry room is the smallest you can have without needing to compromise on comfort and functionality. If you live in a small apartment, a small laundry with these dimensions should be enough to seamlessly accommodate your washer and dryer placed side by side, while leaving just enough room for movement and storage.
You can enhance the functionality of your small laundry room by making good use of vertical space. For instance, installing shelves above the washer and dryer provides storage solutions for cleaning essentials, such as detergents and fabric stain removers, while maintaining a clean and organized layout. Likewise, you can install a washer and dryer that stack on top of each other. This reduces the footprint without compromising functionality. You can use this layout’s extra room to install a folding area in your small laundry room, enhancing your productivity.
Medium Laundry Rooms (6 by 8 feet to 8 by 10 feet)
If you’re not too restricted by space considerations, a medium laundry room measuring 6 by 8 feet to 8 by 10 feet is an excellent proposition. This size allows you to place a washer and dryer side by side while creating room for cleaning supplies and other household appliances.
Depending on the dimensions of your washer and dryer, a medium laundry room can have extra space for a sink for stain treatment and a table where you can sort and fold your freshly done laundry. Installing these features in your laundry room can significantly streamline your home laundering processes in the long run.
Large Laundry Rooms (10 by 12 feet and above)
Large laundry rooms measuring 10 by 12 feet offer plenty of flexibility, making them ideal for large households and families with extensive laundry needs. They can easily accommodate a washer and drying unit in a side-by-side layout while offering room for additional utilities, such as folding tables and ironing boards. A large laundry area also enhances accessibility, which is an important consideration, particularly if you or a household member have limited mobility.
As with the aforementioned room sizes, you can improve functionality by making effective use of vertical space. For instance, installing wall-mounted shelves and cabinets provides storage for cleaning supplies while keeping the vicinity organized and clutter-free.
Design a Custom Floor Plan With Steiner Homes Today
If you’re seeking a professional builder to bring your home construction or remodeling project to life, there’s no better place to start than at Steiner Homes. Our company is dedicated to helping our clients build homes that they’ll enjoy living in for years. We believe the process of home construction is just as important as the result. We’ll update you at every stage so you can relax and watch your dream become a reality. Contact us today to begin designing your custom floor plan and kickstart your home ownership journey in style.
Image by Christy Bright is licensed with CC BY 2.0
