The design of your laundry room depends on the amount of space you have,
and the requirements of that space. By necessity it must be a functional
room, its very name spells out its purpose. However most laundry rooms
are small, leaving little space for decorative considerations. That is
why it is important to use creativity, and the full range of room elements,
in order to develop an attractive design for this setting. .
Space Considerations
The first thing you should do is assess the amount of room
you have, and decide what you can accomplish within it. Some laundry rooms
are large enough to fit a table for folding clothes, an ironing board, shelves,
wall units, or even a closet. While all of these things do increase the usefulness
of this room, it is important not to clutter the space by trying to fit too
much into it.
You can stretch your floor space in the laundry room by using folding accessories
such as ironing boards, folding chairs, and tables. Temporary fixtures
such as rolling tables and shelves are another way to accomplish this.
These types of accessories give you a fluid decor, allowing you to choose
where and how you want to work. If space is especially limited, these items
even give you the ability to set up a space in another room for working
or storage.
You can stay organized in a laundry room with limited space by using hanging
shelves and even ceiling storage. The area just above a washer or dryer
is generally useless, but can be the perfect place to install these kinds
of organizational fixtures. If you do have a permanent table or chair in
the room, placing storage boxes beneath them is another great way to stretch
your room.
Lighting
Light is very important in the laundry room. You have to be able to see
your clothing clearly in order to be sure that it is getting clean. A bright
decor will also give the room a more cheerful demeanor, and can make doing
laundry a less onerous task.
The best kind of light for this space is natural sunlight. Not only does
it save electricity while providing a wealth of bright illumination, but
it is also important for controlling the spread of mold. In the laundry
room, you are often dealing with wet clothing which is a perfect breeding
ground for mold, especially if left to sit while wet. However allowing
plenty of sunlight into the space is an easy and effective way to greatly
limit the infestation.
Decoration
There is often very little space for decoration in a laundry room. However
there are a number of creative tricks which can be used to dress the area
without cutting into valuable floor room.
Every laundry room is going to have certain necessary fixtures. These include
trash bins, hampers, and other storage accessories which are necessary
for carrying out the various laundry tasks. Since these items are already
taking up space, you should purchase models which are decorative, and which
create a matched decor with one another. There are whole stores devoted
to the sale of linen accessories, and spending some time in Bed Bath and
Beyond, Pier 1, or even a Target should provide you with a wealth of choices
for accessories to use in this space.
Aside from the space you need for
shelving, laundry room walls are completely free for decorative purposes.
This makes them the perfect canvas upon which to develop the rooms ambience.
Various types of wall decor include posters, works of art, wall clocks,
and mirrors.
Altering the walls themselves is another way to customize the space. You
can paint them, add wall paper, or install a textured finish. Try to choose
interesting colors for your laundry room walls, as they will invigorate
the space and be more stimulating to look at when doing laundry tasks.
If you are artistically inclined, a small mural or stenciling can give
the space a defined feel.
Surfaces - Flooring and Counters
Natural stone is durable, slip resistant, and doesnt suffer from
water damage
As far as flooring, it is important to use a material which has a certain amount of traction. Spills are commonplace in the laundry room, and a polished or slick floor can quickly become a slipping hazard.
Safety
A washer and dryer can create a tremendous amount of heat, making them a risk for starting a fire. For this reason it is important that you get them checked out immediately if you notice any unusual behavior. This includes clothes taking an inordinate amount of time to dry, or clothes coming out extremely hot. For more information on washer and dryer safety, click here