It came from the basement. Long tucked in a dusty, cold corner, a bare lightbulb casting eerie shadows behind it, it was ready to join the living…
Then main floor laundry rooms became popular. Now, there was no longer a need to lug a load of laundry down to the dreary basement to wash it, then lug it back up again. But in two-story houses, there was still a lot of hauling involved. After all, most laundry’s generated in the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. The solution, an upstairs laundry room.
These days, many new homes are built with upstairs laundry rooms, and if you’re planning on building, make sure you give some thought to its benefits. But even if you have to renovate to create one, it’s worth thinking about. Maybe you can steal some space from an under-used guest room. A large linen closet might be big enough to have a tuckaway room.
Whatever your plans, here are some things to consider when building your upper level laundry room.
If you have the opportunity to build from scratch, your options are wide open. You don’t need to settle for a cramped closet you can’t move around in; you can allow for enough space for appliances, a wash sink, folding area and ironing table. Consider elements you might normally think of only for kitchens and bathrooms: solid surface counter tops, built-in cabinets and lots of shelving.
(And if you’re going to spend that much time in there, make sure you wire it up for some home entertainment — a TV and a DVD player will make the workload lighter.)
You’ll appreciate good lighting — ideally a mix of natural and artificial light for good working conditions and comfort. Opening windows or a venting skylight can be a great addition, and they’re functional in helping to release heat and humidity.
Next time, we’ll look at some of the specific structural, plumbing and electrical issues you should consider whether building or renovating.