12 Tips To Design Your Dream Laundry

We’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to make your laundry a space you’ll actually want to spend time in
 

It’s an often ignored room in the house,a spot to dump unironed clothes, store household bric a brac or stick the dog when you go out for the day. But with a bit of pre-planning and design know-how, you can turn your laundry into an oasis of calm functionality. Read on to find out how you can design the perfect laundry space.


Jenny and Dylan created an incredible laundry on The Block 2022, with endless benchspace and storage, aswell as being right next to the back door!

12 Tips To Design Your Dream Laundry

1. Your first consideration should be laundry functionality

We can’t stress this enough - there’s no use having a good looking laundry if it doesn’t actually function the way you want it to. It’s important to consider just how you use your laundry - and plan accordingly.

“Functionality needs to be at the centre of your design plan,” says Block judge, Neale Whitaker.

“Aesthetics are important, but the purpose is the primary consideration. Nobody says it shouldn’t look good, but the laundry is a hardworking room.”


Take yourself back to The Block 2022, Scott Cam and a team of trades renovated a house in a Block first. The functionality was incredible! Stepping straight out into the backyard, ample nench space, hanging space, a pooch palace and a spot to kick those trusty steel caps off. All those years on The Block saw Scott Cam nail the brief!

2. Plan your laundry design – Then plan again!

Yep, it might be boring and tedious, but make sure you spend LOTS of time working on your floor plan for this space. You need to make sure your laundry has enough room for a multitude of must-haves, including a washer and dryer, a sink, countertop space, storage and laundry baskets.

You also need to make sure you have room to move and work. Plan everything out before purchasing inclusions - you can thank us later.


Nobody makes plans quite like Steph and Gian, the attention to detail these two put into every room made them a force to be reckoned with on The Block 2023, and ultimately saw them win and take home the highest earnings record come auction day.

3. Choose your laundry room appliances first

Or at least have a good idea of the dimensions of the products you might like to purchase, or that you already own - benchtops can be built around your appliances and sink. You need to make sure your bench is also deep enough - this is usually a minimum of 650mm, and you also need to consider whether you will be using a top-loader or front-loader washing machine. Knowing which way your appliance doors open is also a must - this will dictate where you place your machines.


Eliza and Liberty took home the win in Kitchen and Laundry week on The Block 2022, apart from their high end appliances, the girls wowed the judges with a linen cupboard at the side of the laundry, game changer! 

4. Don’t forget a spot for in your laundry for mops and brooms!

“Maximise cabinetry as much as possible. Consider tall cupboards to store items such as brooms and mops,” says Darren Palmer. And he’s right - functional storage in laundries is an absolute must. You’ll need to include room for everything from cleaning products and pet supplies to dirty washing and that tiresome ironing board. A combination of cupboards, overhead storage and drawers work well in this space. If budget is a concern, think about using open storage - just make sure you keep your things neat.

Functional storage in laundries is an absolute must. And it is at this moment I realised mini art might be a must too! Throwing back all the way to Block royalty Jimmy and Tam on this one.

5. The laundry is a good spot to be thrifty

The laundry is a good area for reigning in the budget. “Even just including open shelving instead of built-in cabinets is a good way to save some cash,” says The Block Glasshouse’s Carlene Duffy.

You might also want to consider using laminates over expensive marble. “They’ve come a long way in recent years, and you can achieve marble or timber looks for a fraction of the price,” says Darren.

Regardless of which tops you use, just make sure your wet space countertop has a non-porous surface - this is a must.


Kyle and Leslie's laundry was the perfect example of less is more, they ticked all of the right boxes and proved with a couple of key styling pieces a minimalistic approach works! 

6. To conceal or not to conceal your laundry appliances?

Concealed appliances are all the rage across Europe - the Europeans actually love to integrate their laundries into their kitchen areas, hiding washers and dryers behind doors.

This is a good option if your room is being used for dual purpose - who wants to look at ugly big washers anyway? Just be mindful that this will impact significantly on your budget if you choose to hide things away.

Concealed laundries can be a game changer if you don't have a big space to work with, it will create a minimalist look and keep the chaos hidden.

7. Don’t forget your laundry exhaust fan

Having a well-ventilated laundry space is an absolute must. If you’re designing from scratch, think about positioning yours adjacent to an outdoor space - that way you can leave the door propped open if you’re home, providing fresh air to the room which will help with drying anything left to hang indoors.

Ideally, you’ll also want to position your outdoor line near the laundry door, thus minimising travel time (we’re all about the short cuts!).

Regardless of access, make sure you include good exhaust fans into your designs - excess moisture in laundries can cause significant damage that’s costly to repair, not to mention the health issues that arise from damp and mould. Get that breeze a-flowing!

Eliza and Liberty ticked all of the boxes on The Block 2023 in their laundry having an exhaust fan above the hard working appliances and a door to the left, easy and breezy! 

8. Opt for a neutral palette

“Your laundry needs longevity and durability so neutral palettes are generally the best option,” says Neale Whitaker.

And Darren agrees although he’s all for adding bold statements to plain base cabinetry. “Don’t be afraid to be bold with your design choices. You can create any number of looks if you start with a simple grey or white cabinetry as your base – then accessorise creatively.”

If budget is a concern, opt for cheap pre-made white cabinetry, and perhaps splash out with a statement sink and tapware, or a marble splash-back. Trust us - no one will ever know.

Rachel and Ryan used plain white cabinetry and made their flooring the feature in their country cottage, the laundry and mud room combined would be the work horse in the house now!

9. Include a laundry bench for folding clothes

Above the washer/dryer is ideal - that way you can simply remove your clothes, and start fluffing and folding accordingly!

If you want to get super organised, create an open space in your cabinetry for every member of the family to have their own designated spot, and have them collect their freshly ironed or folded clothes.

Let the onus be on THEM to put their things away. Although be warned, this may backfire, and you may end up with a laundry that resembles a walk-in robe!  
 

Omar and Oz didn't finish their laundry on time in 2022, but what they produced at the end more than made up for that, the windows, the benchspace, the storage, yes yes yes!

10. Got pets? Don’t forget them in your laundry plans!

If space allows, consider including dedicated spaces for your pets in your laundry design.

This might mean a spot for their bed or a designated place where they eat (or poop, in the case of a cat who uses a litter tray). If you use the laundry as a place for your pet to chill while you’re out, think about making it as comfy as possible for them, with outside access if possible via an in-built dog or cat door.

It really felt like the year of the dog on The Block 2022, with all houses making accomodations for potential farm dogs, Sharon and Ankur are dog lovers so a dog bath seemed perfect! If you have the space we are all for it!

11. Include a rod for hanging clothes in the laundry

This is a game-changer, especially in places like Melbourne where the weather can be more than a little inclement. Kara (The Block: Fans vs Faves) is a particular fan of including rails for indoor hanging: “[Remember to include] lots of room for hanging shirts that have just been ironed or don’t need to be ironed,” she says. “We won’t design a laundry now without some hanging space because it’s been so handy.”


Ensure you include a rod for hanging clothes - this is a game-changer! 
 

12. Laundry lighting is important

Task lighting is perfect for including in laundry spaces that might be tucked away in bathrooms. Having lighting above the sink/shelf will mean you can always see what you are doing, even if your laundry is hidden in a cupboard someplace else. If you can, try to make your laundry as light and bright as possible - this will help with drying if you plan to hang your clothes - and think about placing your hanging area next to a source of natural light.


Josh and Elyse were able to create a laundry space filled with lots of natural bright light.
 

Looking for an easy way to transform your laundry? The Block Shop has a great range of Laundry Accessories and more HERE