Laundry Room Universal Design Ideas
Making the Laundry Room Enjoyable for Everyone
As founding members of the 50+ Housing Council in Raleigh, we enjoy sharing universal design ideas with top new home builders and interior designers in the Raleigh area.
The laundry room can be a forgotten area of the home - but here are some universal design ideas that will make your new home's laundry room enjoyable and easy to use, no matter who wants to help with the wash.
Laundry Spaces - Easy to Use Laundry Rooms
A universal design home is safe, easy to access, and comfortable. Whether you're planning to be in your new Raleigh home for a few years or for the rest of your life, implementing universal design at the beginning of the process will save money and give you a more versatile home, for everyone to enjoy.
Where is the Laundry Room?
The location of the laundry room should be carefully considered. In a two story home, it can be very convenient to have the laundry room upstairs, close to the bedrooms for easy access.
But in a main floor master suite home, it may be best to keep the laundry room on the first floor, and eliminate the need to climb the stairs multiple times on laundry day.
Is the Laundry Room Big Enough?
A universal design laundry room should ideally be large enough so that anyone can use it, with or without a mobility device.
Plan to include wide doorways (ideally 36"), and a 5 foot diameter open space in front of the washer and dryer if at all possible. In the plan to the right, it's easy to substitute a 4" wider doorway for the 2-8 door drawn.
Not enough room for a large laundry? A hallway closet laundry can still work well, if the hallway is wide enough, and the closet doors should open in a way that still allows access and room to move.
What about the Washer and Dryer?
Front loading washers and dryers are becoming much more popular. Front loaders can easily be loaded and unloaded while seated.
But a standard front loading washer and dryer may still require excessive bending.
Consider having your builder add a 12"-15" platform under the machines, or purchase models that have matching pedastals to raise them above the floor. This Whirlpool set in red has optional matching pedastals.
Room to Fold in the Laundry Room
Many of today's laundry rooms are large enough to include a small countertop area. Instead of installing a standard height countertop, choose a 28 to 30 inch height countertop, with knee space below. You'll be able to pull up a chair to fold and sort, instead of standing.
Laundry Room Lighting
Laundry rooms don't often include windows, so think carefully about the amount of light you'll need.
Consider motion detector lighting, for when you enter and leave with your arms full. In a room with workstations, think about adding under cabinet lighting or other supplemental lighting. Flexible track lighting can be another great accent, particularly in a multiple use room.
Laundry Room Flooring
Choose a flooring that's easy to clean, and water resistant. Cork flooring can be considerably more expensive than most standard types of flooring, but a laundry room is a comparitively small space and may be a great room to consider for cork. Cork is comfortable to stand on when ironing, and naturally water resistant.
A little planning ahead can make a BIG difference. Look for a new home builder experienced with universal design, and willing to be flexible enough to meet your goals. More in Stanton Homes' special "Universal Design" series coming soon!
Universal Design meets the needs of the present and the future.
Consider universal design concepts for your next home - universal design is most cost efficient and effective when incorporated directly into your new home.
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Article copyright Stanton Homes 2010. Provided for informational purposes only, no claims are made by Stanton Homes regarding the validity of any statements. Please note: all listing information per MLS, and current as of posting date. Information subject to change. Stanton Homes does not make claims to ownership of above lot listings, but can work with homebuyers to purchase lots and build. Home plans to be approved on an individual basis, subject to neighborhood restrictive covenants and lot restrictions. Ask for further information regarding any community, lot or floor plan. Photos represent typical homes and details of each neighborhood, to help highlight different options available in the Raleigh/Triangle area. No claim of ownership is made to homes or land pictured.
Good luck in selling new construction . Many People like laundry rooms next to main bathroom .
Good points...I did take the pre-marital vow of no ironing but will look into the cork floor...have a great day !
Now that's a laundry room with some thought behind it--too often in the past the washer and dryer were tucked into a closet or in a corner of the garage with no room to fold etc.
I have a listing right now that has the laundry room and master closet combined. The owner is an engineer and felt that it made more sense that way. He puts his clothes in the closet, washes them and hangs them back up. Makes sense to me too. However, it's not the "norm." And buyer want to allow others to do laundry as well without them having to go in their master bedroom.
Gita - yes, it's fairly traditional to place the laundry room next to the garage and the powder room or full bath on the first floor. Makes it convenient for clean up coming in, works for space efficiency, and keeps plumbing connections close together.
Sally - I hate to admit it, but I only iron about once a year. If it's 100% cotton, I don't buy it!
Norma - As home sizes are starting to trend downwards again, it can be a challenge to include a very large laundry room without sacrificing another area of the home. It depends on the priorities of the homebuyer.
Rich - I've had requests for two full laundry set ups. A "traditional" laundry room, plus a small laundry area inside the master closet. Personally, I tend to run laundry late at night, and I'm not sure if I'd want to hear the machines running from my bed next to the closet. But it can work for some people!
Penny....Your post is certainly a blueprint on how to do a laundry right! Thanks for the great information.
Great tips! I think the second floor laundry closet is a turn off. It's got to be a full laundry room on the second floor -- or go with the full laundry room on the first floor.
Richard - absolutely agree. I would only suggest a laundry closet on the first floor in a universal design home. A full size laundry room works best, if the space is available!
Penny~
I now am SITTING before my front loader...thanks for the clue. Now energy efficiency can be even more comfortable. I'm "suggesting" this one!
JaneAnne - thanks for the suggest! It's so much easier to work with those front loaders while seated....