Laundry Bathroom
Utility bench If you have the space for a long run of units and benchtop down one wall, the appliances will tuck in neatly below for a smart, considered look. To visually zone the room, add wall-hung cupboards above the laundry spot to define the clothes cleaning area, while a mirror above the basin will mark the pamper-and-preen position.
5. Use vertical space Having a hanging rod and two laundry hampers on wheels is a great way to use vertical space. In this set-up, the laundry baskets are completely accessible and don’t clutter the circulation area, while providing easy access to the washing machine. The upper cabinetry also makes good use of the space, and provides additional storage for those items not required on a regular basis. A compact wall-mounted clothesline is a clever idea for laundry smalls.
Ensure the machine doesn’t shake itself to pieces within the cabinetry during the wash or spin cycle. Most machines come with brackets and adjustable feet designed to reduce damaging vibrations, movement and ‘walking’. To serve the same function, the machine base within cabinetry must be perfectly level.
7. Integrate your ironing board If you’re like me, you’ll regard ironing as a necessary evil: not only is it the most joyless of jobs, but portable ironing boards can wobble precariously, there’s no stable room for a hot iron and the placement of power points can force you to iron in odd spaces. Integrated designs that swivel smoothly back into your joinery and fold-out ironing boards like this one can change all that. They are usually more stable, offer a streamlined look when they’re hidden away and free up tall storage space – no more wrestling with freestanding cumbersome ironing boards. These canny creations won’t do the ironing for you but they’ll
If you have a top-loading washing machine, factor in plenty of landing room to one side (or preferably both). Front-loading washers and dryers at floor level will benefit from landing space above them. And, if your appliances are wall-mounted at chest height, allow plenty of bench room below – your back will thank you for it. Sink inserts such as this one are smart ways to snatch some extra bench space in small laundries.
4. Select a deep, wide sink… and the right tap Regardless of whether you choose a single- or double-bowl laundry sink, the most important thing is that it’s deep and wide. This stainless-steel butler’s or farmhouse sink has only one bowl but it’s large enough to fit bulky buckets for soaking clothes. Farmhouse sinks have the ergonomic bonus of letting you get closer to the bowl because there is no bench separating you from the rim of the sink. Consider a laundry tap with a flexible hose and pull-out spray nozzle such as the one pictured here. If you only have room for a small sink, try mounting your tap at a far corner of the sink instead of in the centre at the back, and opt for swivel models that you can rotate out of the way. I like the look of this one.
3. Choose drawers over cupboards A humble ergonomic revolution swept through houses across the world when drawers started to replace cupboards in the kitchen, and there’s no reason why our laundries can’t be transformed in the same way. It is much easier to open a drawer and quickly locate what you’re looking for than it is to rummage around the back of a dusty cupboard for the fabric softener.
2. … And your appliances Benches aren’t the only things that could do with a raise – front- loading appliances benefit from a lift to save you from crouching uncomfortably at floor level when loading and unloading them. Some newer front loaders have drums that are positioned higher in the machine’s frame. Generally, 750 to 1000 millimetres is a comfortable height.
Solution: Think creatively about your small-space storage and look around for under-used areas, such as the foot of the bath. Here, a simple platform has been built above the ledge to give two tiers of storage instead of one. Make the most of small areas, such as wall space beside a window or a high spot above the doorway, and construct shelves to fit. Even a small shelf can be useful for storing toiletries.
Solution: Rather than use up valuable space, create some extra areas by getting a builder or joiner to cut into the wall. In this compact washroom, storage niches have been built into the shower area and wall above the toilet, providing plenty of space for towels and toiletries. WE don't need a vanity if we have a nice laundry sink
cupboards above with shelves
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