Design GIA Renovations — **Design** GIA Renovations

Looking to create the ultimate laundry? Interior designer, stylist and content sourcing assistant at Adore Home, Kate Moss shares with us her top four tips to designing a practical yet beautiful laundry.

1 SPACE SAVING/STORAGE

Photography Lisa Cohen / Styling Beck Simon / Design Norsu Home — **Photography** Lisa Cohen / **Styling** Beck Simon / **Design** Norsu Home

In a laundry, maximise storage where possible – increasing the height of your joinery by using floor to ceiling storage cupboards will greatly help to use every square inch. Include a combination of cupboards, overheads, drawers and bench top space to really get the most out of the space. Also ensure you have a cupboard for the bigger items such as ironing boards, mops, drying racks, brooms, vacuum cleaners etc. so they don’t clutter the space.

Consider built in ironing boards and open hanging rails – this will allow you to have clothes drying on hangers and reduces ironing time too. Also make sure you have enough bench space to sit a washing basket, fold clothes or rest necessities.

Design Smarter Bathrooms+ — **Design** Smarter Bathrooms+

Including open shelving will allow you to store items that are used regularly (washing powder, stain remover etc.) within easy access and can also be used to display plants, vases, candles, soaps or fresh towels – finishing touches that will give your laundry the designer look. Don’t include too much open shelving as it will create clutter.

Use concealed cabinetry to create smart, space saving solutions – this reduces clutter and creates a seamless, free flowing laundry space. Ensure you install appropriate ventilation if concealing washing machines etc.

2 BE BOLD

Photography Martina Gemmola / Design GIA Renovations — **Photography** Martina Gemmola / **Design** GIA Renovations

Doing the laundry is bad enough so why not brighten the space a little bit with some bold wall tiles, tap ware or flooring. If you aren’t game enough to add bold tones, you can still add colour by using muted pastels or create a point of difference with varying textures. Also add interest with patterned towels, baskets, and greenery.

3 LAYOUT & LOCATION

Photography Annette O’Brien / Styling Alana Langan / Design Julia and Sasha — **Photography** Annette O’Brien / **Styling** Alana Langan / **Design** Julia and Sasha

Photography Rikki Lancaster / Design Kate Cooper — **Photography** Rikki Lancaster / **Design** Kate Cooper

Consider the location in the house – ideally the laundry needs to be in or near a services area, away from bedrooms and living areas so that when your washing machine or dryer is in use, it doesn’t resonate throughout resting or entertaining zones. Also, ensure it has reasonable access to a clothes line or drying area. In this laundry pictured above, designed by Julia and Sasha, they’ve opted for a window door to let plenty of natural light in, and the door obviously makes it easy to take washing out to the line.

Short on space? Consider underutilised spaces such as hallways, or even bathrooms to create a laundry nook with sliding doors for a space saving solution.

In this laundry nook pictured opposite (designed by Kate Cooper Interiors), she created a laundry in the hallway by using the space which used to be a storage cupboard. Consider combined appliances to save space or stack washers and dryers on top of one another like Kate has done below.

4 FINISHING TOUCHES

Photography The Palm Co / Design The Stables — **Photography** The Palm Co / **Design** The Stables

Last but certainly not least, remember that the finishing touches can really complete the space. Artwork, display shelving, wall hooks, baskets, nice containers, towels and even plants can all help to create a beautiful laundry. Also if space permits consider combining a mud room with the laundry like in the laundry shown below left.