I remember as a child my mother doing the laundry on an old wringer washer down stairs in an unfinished basement then hanging the clothes on an outdoor clothesline. We've come a long way, baby. The laundry room isn't what it used to be. The options in modern appliances and their dramatic designs have made the laundry room another attractive facet of the home. Yes, the drudgery of doing laundry is still mundane but making the space pretty and efficient makes the task much more palatable.
I may have mentioned before that I still have not addressed my laundry room décor. It's the last space of my home that still remains unfinished. I guess I was just never inspired to put much effort into the décor but with the new attractive appliances that are available and the multitude of eye-catching storage options I'm now excited at the prospect of giving the room a facelift.
Our feature photo, courtesy of GE appliances, is just the kind of room I'm talking about. It's attractive and functional which makes it much more appealing than a washer and dryer thrown into a corner of the basement. The gorgeous red GE appliances pop against the charcoal cabinets and give this room a little spice. The appliances remind me of a vintage 1950s car with the chrome details, glossy paint finish, vivid colour and stylish lines. Thank goodness someone has finally designed appliances with some flair. Not only that but these appliances talk to each other, so to speak. The CleanSpeak Communication System is a feature wherein the washer communicates electronically with the dryer, which then presets dry cycles for better clothes care. What more could you ask for?
With the school year starting the need for an efficient laundry room is more important than ever. Sporting uniforms, school clothes, heavier winterwear and everyday laundry needs will keep you busy. The new appliances are front loading which allows you to wash larger items, like uniforms and large quilts with ease. They also offer a larger capacity per load which is time saving and easier on the environment. It used to be that the front loading appliances were only available to commercial businesses like dry cleaners. Now this technology is available right in our own home.
Storage
Most of us are not going to spend a fortune on high end storage units for a laundry room. You don't want to put your antique wardrobe in a room full of moisture and soap remnants. However, additional storage is always a plus so planning ahead for your laundry storage needs will be helpful in the end. IKEA-style cabinets similar to the ones in our photograph are modern, clean and practical while still offering style. These modular cabinets can be configured to help make your laundry room pretty and efficient. Easy-to-clean flooring with a bit of give will be easy on your back. Fiberfloor is a product that is easy to dry lay, usually without adhesive, and has a spongy backing that makes the floor a little softer on the feet and back.
The stainless steel folding table and stylish stool in our feature photograph give this room a little flair. These moveable items can also be used in other areas of the home if your needs change so a little investment in something stylish up front is worth it in the end.
If your laundry room is on the small side you may opt for open style storage which will keep the space light and airy. In this case you could choose to have open wire rack shelving units on rollers which you can configure as needed. The options for storage are endless so have some fun with this aspect of the space. Look at your specific needs and go from there. If your budget is tight, simple items like apple baskets, colourful plastic stacking storage units and so on are all fun options.
Finishing touches like pretty window treatments, some greenery and perhaps some sort of entertainment (TV or CD player) will make the time you spend in your new laundry room enjoyable.
You'll want to consider some of the basic necessities for the laundry room like a folding table with a comfortable chair (or stool), a sink if possible, space for an ironing board if needed and so on. Make a list of what you need for the space before you begin. You may be able to configure your storage to hold that huge box of laundry soap that you're always tripping over. These little things make a huge difference in how efficient the room will be.
If I decide to decorate my laundry room I will certainly keep you posted. I am going to do some preliminary research and floor plan for the space just to get myself in the right frame of mind. This is a good winter project to look forward to.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
