Laundry Ideas for a Room That Handles Real Washing Loads

Start with how washing moves through the house

Before choosing cabinets or tiles, follow a load of washing. Where does the basket come from? Where does it get sorted, washed, dried and folded? Where does it go afterwards? The best laundry ideas all come back to shortening that loop and giving each step a place.

A useful sequence is: drop zone, sort, wash, dry, fold, put away. If you can lay the room out roughly in that order, the laundry will feel easier to use no matter its size.

Layouts that work

Single straight run

The most common layout: washer and dryer side by side under a benchtop, a tub at one end and overhead cupboards above. It suits the long, narrow laundries found in many houses and gives a continuous folding bench.

Galley

Two parallel runs, with machines and a tub on one side and tall storage or a second bench opposite. Leave enough space between the runs to open the machine doors and stand in front of them with a basket; around 1,000 mm or more is comfortable.

L-shaped

Wraps around a corner, giving a longer bench. Corner cupboards can be awkward, so use the corner for something that does not need everyday reach, or fit a corner shelf rather than a deep blind cupboard.

Cupboard (European) laundry

Machines stacked or side by side behind bifold or sliding doors, sometimes with a small tub. It suits apartments, townhouses and homes where the laundry has been moved into a hall or garage. Ventilation and access for the plumbing matter more here, because the space is enclosed.

Laundry and mudroom

Where the laundry is also the back door, add a bench seat, hooks, shoe storage and a spot for school bags and sports gear. It keeps the mess out of the rest of the house.

Bench heights and machine spacing

A common benchtop height is around 900 mm. Where the bench runs over front-loading machines, it usually needs to sit higher so the machines can slide in and out and have some air around them, so measure the actual machines before the cabinetry is built.

Machine spacing to plan for:

• Width — most full-size washers and dryers are around 600 mm wide; allow a small gap either side so they can be pulled out for servicing
• Depth — allow for the machine plus the hoses and power lead behind it, so the machine does not sit proud of the bench
• Doors — check which way the dryer door swings and make sure it does not clash with the tub or a wall
• Taps and power — washing machine taps should be easy to reach to turn off, and power points positioned as your electrician advises, away from the tub and splash zone

Front-loaders give you bench space above; top-loaders need clear space overhead for the lid, which rules out a benchtop over them.

The tub

A good tub earns its place. Soaking muddy sports gear, washing paint brushes, rinsing a pet's bowl and filling a bucket all happen here. Things to consider:

• Size — a deep bowl is more useful than a wide shallow one
• Inset or freestanding — an inset tub in a cabinet gives a continuous bench and storage underneath; a freestanding tub on a stand is simpler and easier to replace
• Tapware — a tall mixer, ideally with a pull-out spray, makes rinsing and bucket-filling much easier
• Position — next to the washing machine so hoses and the waste can be shared where the plumbing allows

Storage ideas

A laundry often ends up storing more than laundry. Plan for:

• Tall broom cupboard for the mop, bucket, vacuum and ironing board
• Pull-out baskets under the bench for sorting lights, darks and sports clothes
• Overhead cupboards for bulk cleaning products and spare household items
• A lockable or high cupboard for chemicals, well out of children's reach
• Open shelves for everyday detergents, if you are happy to keep them tidy
• A slot beside the machines for a folding drying rack

Deep drawers are more useful than deep cupboards; things at the back of a cupboard get forgotten.

Drying space

Outdoor drying is ideal when the weather allows, but most households need an indoor option too.

• A hanging rail above the bench or tub for shirts and drip-dry items
• A ceiling-mounted airer that lowers for loading and lifts out of the way
• A retractable line across the room
• A heat pump or condenser dryer, which does not pump hot, damp air into the room the way a vented dryer does

Ventilation

Laundries produce a lot of moisture, and mould on the ceiling or cabinets is the common result of poor ventilation. An exhaust fan ducted to the outside, not just into the roof space, is the practical fix. If you use a vented dryer, it should be vented to the outside as well. A window helps, but on its own it is rarely enough in winter.

Floors, waterproofing and finishes

Laundries are treated as wet areas, so the floor and the junctions between floor and walls need waterproofing, with extra protection around the tub. The exact extent depends on the current building standards and the layout of the room, so confirm the detail with your builder or a licensed waterproofer rather than assuming. A floor waste is strongly recommended where it can be installed, in case a hose bursts.

For finishes, choose:

• Slip-resistant floor tiles and a stain-resistant grout
• Moisture-resistant cabinet carcasses with all edges sealed
• Laminate or compact laminate benchtops and doors, which cope with water and knocks
• Soft-close hinges and runners rated for heavy use

Engineered stone has been banned in Australia since 1 July 2024, so it is not an option for a new laundry bench.

Moving the laundry

Some households move the laundry closer to the bedrooms, into a hall cupboard or into the garage, or turn the old laundry into a powder room. This means new water, drainage and power, and on a concrete slab it may mean cutting a trench. Get advice from a plumber and builder early, as it changes the scope of the job.

Getting it done

If you are planning a laundry upgrade, see our laundry renovations service, and for how budgets are worked out, the price page. If you are in the Campbelltown area, we can come out, measure up and quote it.