Combining your bathroom and laundry area can prove to be either or - an ultimate convenience, or an absolute, cluttered disaster. If you live in a city apartment where space is a rare commodity, you may find that the best, and most sensible area to place your washer and dryer is in the bathroom. So, how can you ensure that doing so will not lead to the aforementioned disaster? Well, today, we bring you 10 handy design tips for combined bathroom-laundry areas that will help you streamline your design and make it as effective as possible. Read on to find out more!
1. The European Laundry
The European laundry is a fantastic way to save space if you’re using front loaders. European laundries allow you to stack your dryer directly on top of your washer, thus making it easy to pack them away into a built-in cupboard. A cupboard will also allow you to separate the bathroom into two distinct zones, and reduce the noise level when cupboard doors are closed. A win-win situation if there ever was one!
2. The Bathroom Entrance
Prefer having the washer and dryer completely out of the bathroom space? Well, if you have the luxury of extra space near your bathroom entrance, it could very well make the ideal spot for your laundry. Installing slim bi-fold doors will ensure that you combat even the narrowest of pathways, allowing you to maximise the potential of your space to the maximum. If you are lucky to have space at the top of your machines, you could even install a few shelves that can be home to your laundry powders and detergents.
3. Built-in Washing Baskets
If you’re struggling to find space in your combined bathroom-laundry area, the last thing you need is for a giant laundry basking taking up the entire floor space. This is why built-in washing baskets are so handy - dump wet towels or dirty clothes in your carefully hidden basket, eliminating the chance of unsightly piles of laundry all over the bathroom floor.
4. Utilise Wall Storage
In need of space in your bathroom-laundry area? Well, look to the walls. Are there any spots of unused wall space that can double up as storage? Some great options include floating shelves or simply installing hooks that can be used to hang towels, hair irons, hanging laundry baskets and more. Hey presto, brand new storage space!
5. Opt For A Bathroom Trolley
Bathroom trolleys are an absolute godsend when it comes to mobile storage solutions. A bathroom trolley can be moved around as required and offers a significant amount of space for you to keep toiletries on top and laundry essentials on the bottom. You could even use one of the baskets on your trolley to help lug laundry around the home - think of it as your very own laundry on wheels!
6. Under Bench Storage
Looking to keep the clutter at bay? Under bench storage is here to save the day. Pull out organisers are our first choice, simply because they are effective, inexpensive and widely available at stores such as IKEA. organisers. Consider installing pull out organisers under the bathroom sink or anywhere else they will fit, to store bulky laundry items such as washing powder, softener and other larger bits of toiletries such as spare shower gel canisters and so on!
7. A Smart Finish Makes All The Difference
A smart finish to your bathroom-laundry area can turn it from a complete mess into a space that looks organised and well put together. Don’t let your laundry dictate the overall look of the space -- instead, focus on adding style to the rest of the room so that the washer becomes inconsequential to the overall room aesthetic. Choosing bold floor tiles and intricate wall tiles that capture the eye and direct attention away from the working area.
8. Add A Touch of Luxury
Just because your washing machine is in your bathroom doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a touch of luxury. Why not opt for a Hollywood Mirror, acrylic cosmetic organisers or even some high-end soaps, luxury hand towels and bath products? These small yet consequential touches allow you to spoil yourself and create a sense of glamour, even in the tightest of spaces.
9. The Disappearing Door
This one sounds like it’s straight out of Harry Potter, but let us elaborate. Disappearing doors, better-known pocket or cavity sliding doors, are a clever choice that allows you to separate the laundry zone from the bath zone without forfeiting any precious space that would usually be lost by the door’s swing. This is the ideal solution for those who want a separation of both spaces and allows you to feel like you have two designated areas for two different tasks.
10. Keep The Ironing Board Out Of There
Last but not least, if you're working with a bathroom-laundry space, your best bet is to keep the ironing board out of there. While it may seem like a hassle to ferry crinkled laundry to another room, trust us when we say -- it’s worth it. Iron boards take up a lot of space, and the last place you want to get the ironing done is in a warm, humid and steamy bathroom!
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And there you have it -- 10 expert tips that will make a combined bathroom-laundry area just that much more effective, efficient and well...tolerable! We hope that this article has inspired you to make the most of your tiny living space, without having to make any major sacrifices in your daily lifestyle.