How Do I… Plan a Laundry Area?
Don't let this area be an afterthought, begin planning it at the start of your renovation
Many of us don’t plan a dedicated laundry area with storage, a laundry sink and/or ironing station; we merely place our washing machine and dryer in the service yard at the back of our kitchens.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to set aside a lot of room to create a practical laundry space, you just need to plan it well.
Plan your laundry area as you would your kitchen and bathroom
You need to think about things like:
You need to think about things like:
- Will you need a washing machine and a dryer? Or just a washer?
- How and where will you dry your laundry?
- Will you be storing cleaning supplies like brooms and mops here as well?
- Do you need space for ironing or will you be steaming your clothes instead?
- What about folding? Where will you be doing that?
Where to put your laundry
The service yard, whether in a flat or apartment, is designed for the purpose of doing laundry and comes plumbed and wired but that doesn’t mean that you can’t ‘design’ the space better.
The service yard, whether in a flat or apartment, is designed for the purpose of doing laundry and comes plumbed and wired but that doesn’t mean that you can’t ‘design’ the space better.
Housing the washer and dryer in a built-in cabinet or having an ironing board that folds neatly into a cupboard are some things to consider especially if your kitchen has an open concept. Or use a half-wall (also known as a pony wall) to screen your washer from plain sight.
Get the look: Laundry baskets that look more decorative than utilitarian look good out in the open.
Smart solutions to store your laundry basket
Smart solutions to store your laundry basket
If you don’t have a service yard and your kitchen is large enough, you could dedicate a cabinet to a washer and dryer. This hidden laundry space will look like part of your kitchen.
Get the look: A two-in-one machine is a real space-saver in small homes.
Cut and dried tricks for small service yards
Cut and dried tricks for small service yards
Laundry in non-typical areas
It might seem odd to us in Singapore, but many American home buyers actually want to have their laundry area next to the bedrooms. Consider placing your laundry area in the bedroom, hallway, covered backyard or bathroom.
The last one is the most practical, since the plumbing is already there plus it’s already a wet area. Whichever area you decide on, do check HDB guidelines and for private apartments, your strata management, if you can do this.
It might seem odd to us in Singapore, but many American home buyers actually want to have their laundry area next to the bedrooms. Consider placing your laundry area in the bedroom, hallway, covered backyard or bathroom.
The last one is the most practical, since the plumbing is already there plus it’s already a wet area. Whichever area you decide on, do check HDB guidelines and for private apartments, your strata management, if you can do this.
Tip: A hand-held steamer is ideal if you don’t have a lot of clothes that require ironing and don’t have the space to store an ironing board.
Get the look: If you do have your laundry in the bathroom, install a ventilation fan and use a dehumidifier to keep the moisture level in the air down. You don’t want to encourage mould and mildew growth.
Tip: If you iron frequently, a wall-mounted ironing board is something to consider.
Tip: Another handy item is this ‘foldable’ iron which is small enough to hide away in a kitchen drawer.
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