Put the Wash Away: 10 Ideas to Hide the Laundry
Washers and dryers though essential to everyday life, are not something you'd want out in the open. Check out these hideaway ideas
Melanie Gardener
4 October 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Ex-magazine editor specialising in the kitchen and bathroom industry. I am passionate about interiors and the design of interior spaces. Kitchens and bathrooms are integral to every home and I love seeing how they evolve and play different roles in different families. I travel overseas to attend relevant industry fairs every year and bring back information for the Australian kitchen and bathroom industry on emerging trends.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Ex-magazine editor specialising in the kitchen and bathroom... More
As a utility area, the laundry is often overlooked when it comes to design, but with some clever thinking and smart space utilisation, your laundry can put the fun back in functional. Whether it’s in the kitchen, the bathroom or in any number of other spaces, you can have a fully functional laundry in your home without it needing to be on display. Here are 10 super smart places to hide a laundry in your home, yet ensure it will be accessible when you need it.
1. In a kitchen
Hiding a laundry in a kitchen is actually easier than you might think. Here, the laundry is located at the far end of a single-wall kitchen. Space is a priority in this compact home, so it’s vital every nook and cranny is used to maximum advantage.
Stacking the washer and dryer immediately makes good use of space, while matching cabinetry helps the laundry and the kitchen merge as one. A tall cabinet to one side provides storage for laundry items, and a small bench on the other side can be used to sort and fold clothes.
Hiding a laundry in a kitchen is actually easier than you might think. Here, the laundry is located at the far end of a single-wall kitchen. Space is a priority in this compact home, so it’s vital every nook and cranny is used to maximum advantage.
Stacking the washer and dryer immediately makes good use of space, while matching cabinetry helps the laundry and the kitchen merge as one. A tall cabinet to one side provides storage for laundry items, and a small bench on the other side can be used to sort and fold clothes.
2. In a bathroom
Laundries and bathrooms are both wet zones, so it makes sense to incorporate these two rooms when space is tight. To keep from interrupting the calm, relaxing nature of a bathroom, it’s customary to conceal the laundry in some way – in this case, behind bi-fold doors.
The door profile has been cleverly chosen to be in keeping with the contemporary style of the bathroom, yet it is simple enough that it doesn’t stand out as a feature. Simple shelves above and drawers to one side allow the homeowners to keep laundry items close to hand.
Laundries and bathrooms are both wet zones, so it makes sense to incorporate these two rooms when space is tight. To keep from interrupting the calm, relaxing nature of a bathroom, it’s customary to conceal the laundry in some way – in this case, behind bi-fold doors.
The door profile has been cleverly chosen to be in keeping with the contemporary style of the bathroom, yet it is simple enough that it doesn’t stand out as a feature. Simple shelves above and drawers to one side allow the homeowners to keep laundry items close to hand.
3. In a hallway
You’d never believe there was space for a laundry along this narrow hallway, but careful planning and layout have seen space for a side-by-side washer and dryer with handy hanging racks above. Being in a narrow corridor, it would never have been possible to include a traditional door that opens out for the laundry, so a sliding barn-style door does the trick. When slid closed, the door is almost invisible within the architecture of the home – which is exactly what the owners wanted.
You’d never believe there was space for a laundry along this narrow hallway, but careful planning and layout have seen space for a side-by-side washer and dryer with handy hanging racks above. Being in a narrow corridor, it would never have been possible to include a traditional door that opens out for the laundry, so a sliding barn-style door does the trick. When slid closed, the door is almost invisible within the architecture of the home – which is exactly what the owners wanted.
4. Behind a bookcase
The fabulous idea seen here is to attach a pair of bookcases to a set of sliding doors that face the dining room, then hide the laundry in an alcove behind them. It’s a lovely play on the idea of a secret room behind the library wall panel in detective stories of old, yet the space is modern, innovative and fully in keeping with today’s home design. To manage the weight of the books, special brackets were required to ensure the bookshelves moved from side-to-side evenly.
The fabulous idea seen here is to attach a pair of bookcases to a set of sliding doors that face the dining room, then hide the laundry in an alcove behind them. It’s a lovely play on the idea of a secret room behind the library wall panel in detective stories of old, yet the space is modern, innovative and fully in keeping with today’s home design. To manage the weight of the books, special brackets were required to ensure the bookshelves moved from side-to-side evenly.
5. In a nook
Many homes have a nook, be it a place to store correspondence or sit for a quiet cuppa. Because laundries can be designed to take up very little space, the idea of a laundry in a nook is very clever. Here, mesh doors open and slide back into the surrounding cabinetry so they are completely out of the way when the laundry is in use.
The mesh finish allows for the doors to be closed while the washer and dryer are in use, so air can flow easily through the area without creating condensation inside the cabinet. The doors provide a nearly-opaque barrier, so when closed they are a great way to hide the functionality of the space.
Many homes have a nook, be it a place to store correspondence or sit for a quiet cuppa. Because laundries can be designed to take up very little space, the idea of a laundry in a nook is very clever. Here, mesh doors open and slide back into the surrounding cabinetry so they are completely out of the way when the laundry is in use.
The mesh finish allows for the doors to be closed while the washer and dryer are in use, so air can flow easily through the area without creating condensation inside the cabinet. The doors provide a nearly-opaque barrier, so when closed they are a great way to hide the functionality of the space.
6. In a purpose-built shared space
Because laundries and bathrooms go so well together, a good approach is to design one large room with both areas inside. Here, the laundry is carefully designed to maximise space with the washer and dryer stacked and a small laundry sink to one side, with storage top and bottom. The cabinetry is taken to the ceiling to make the most of all available storage space. On the other side is a bathroom with shower and toilet. The laundry sink doubles as the bathroom basin.
Because laundries and bathrooms go so well together, a good approach is to design one large room with both areas inside. Here, the laundry is carefully designed to maximise space with the washer and dryer stacked and a small laundry sink to one side, with storage top and bottom. The cabinetry is taken to the ceiling to make the most of all available storage space. On the other side is a bathroom with shower and toilet. The laundry sink doubles as the bathroom basin.
7. In a colourful cupboard
This laundry is concealed behind bright aqua doors, which cleverly attract attention and distract thoughts away from the prosaic functionality of the space behind. When closed, the doors are a lovely splash of colour within the room. The style also mimics the look of wardrobe doors, so it’s not immediately apparent what’s hidden behind them. Here, an extra unit has been built inside the cupboard to provide the necessary counter space.
This laundry is concealed behind bright aqua doors, which cleverly attract attention and distract thoughts away from the prosaic functionality of the space behind. When closed, the doors are a lovely splash of colour within the room. The style also mimics the look of wardrobe doors, so it’s not immediately apparent what’s hidden behind them. Here, an extra unit has been built inside the cupboard to provide the necessary counter space.
8. In a workroom
Combining a few functional spaces together is a great way to ensure your home layout is practical. Here, a utility room has been created to house a number of functions, including the laundry. There is space for a home office, hobby area, a large multi-purpose central island, and storage for a range of household paperwork and other items. For busy households, a room such as this is a dream to help you keep on top of chores.
Combining a few functional spaces together is a great way to ensure your home layout is practical. Here, a utility room has been created to house a number of functions, including the laundry. There is space for a home office, hobby area, a large multi-purpose central island, and storage for a range of household paperwork and other items. For busy households, a room such as this is a dream to help you keep on top of chores.
9. In a corner
Carve out a space behind a wall and transform a small area into a functional, compact laundry with lots of storage. Again, stacking the washer and dryer makes the most of the area available, while plenty of shelving to the side allows for laundry items to be kept close to hand. Note the inclusion of strip lighting above to ensure this nook is well lit.
Bi-fold doors are a popular choice, and it’s easy to see why: they fold right back to allow easy access within the nook, but slide closed with a simple push to hide those things we’d rather our visitors didn’t see.
Carve out a space behind a wall and transform a small area into a functional, compact laundry with lots of storage. Again, stacking the washer and dryer makes the most of the area available, while plenty of shelving to the side allows for laundry items to be kept close to hand. Note the inclusion of strip lighting above to ensure this nook is well lit.
Bi-fold doors are a popular choice, and it’s easy to see why: they fold right back to allow easy access within the nook, but slide closed with a simple push to hide those things we’d rather our visitors didn’t see.
10. Next door to a kitchen
Part of an open-plan space, but designed to be concealed when not in use, the laundry can be incorporated adjacent to the kitchen. It becomes almost invisible once the doors are closed thanks to matching cabinetry, but the easy opening action means the laundry can be accessed when needed.
Note the clever use of a window within the laundry to allow extra natural light to stream into the room. A simple, white colour scheme with natural tones matches the kitchen and dining table for a cohesive finish.
TELL US
Do you have a concealed laundry? Where is it and how is it hidden? Show us in the Comments below.
MORE
Designs for Living: Cheerful Laundries
Part of an open-plan space, but designed to be concealed when not in use, the laundry can be incorporated adjacent to the kitchen. It becomes almost invisible once the doors are closed thanks to matching cabinetry, but the easy opening action means the laundry can be accessed when needed.
Note the clever use of a window within the laundry to allow extra natural light to stream into the room. A simple, white colour scheme with natural tones matches the kitchen and dining table for a cohesive finish.
TELL US
Do you have a concealed laundry? Where is it and how is it hidden? Show us in the Comments below.
MORE
Designs for Living: Cheerful Laundries
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This is a great solution for using space under a laundry sink. The slide out laundry basket is stainless steel, so no rust. The bottom mount basket on the other side makes everything accessible so no need to dig at the bottom of the cabinet.
Here is a link with more info...
I live in a 1970s rustic cottage which might have been a holiday home. The rooms are tiny but the forested outlook is breathtaking. It's also very dusty. I really like the emerging country style kitchen and laundry, deep, off-white, ceramic sinks. Instead of hiding my laundry behind a cupboard in my bathroom (which would make the bathroom even darker than it already is) I have decided to make a feature of it by embracing times past. As soon as the bathroom door is open, the window at the end of the room is the first thing you see. That is where I intend to have my country sink with antique-styled brass taps, a broad, pendant light and strong, raw, wooden windowsill and a matching shelf on the side wall. I quite agree with the writer of this article that it is best to have washing machine and dryer at non-bending height; I will have mine on the side wall side by side with a matching strong, raw, wooden benchtop. The bath is behind a wall and I will choose an antique style for that, too. Just like my grandparents. Texture and style! Thank you for reading this; I have been planning this for months and am now able to go ahead!