Laundry rooms and cloakrooms combine in contemporary homes to enhance wellness design.
The 1930s house I grew up in had its washing machines in a dark, uninviting basement, two stories from our bedroom closets. Today’s laundry rooms tend to be brighter, more welcoming, more functional and generally better located! This is a huge benefit for young families and older homeowners who may struggle to carry loaded laundry baskets up and down stairs. It’s also a huge asset to a home’s functionality, one of the five facets of wellness design.
Home renovation platform Houzz predicts that upgraded laundry spaces with mudroom features will be a strong trend for 2024. I agree. The same goes for the many home improvement professionals I’ve interviewed via email and social media groups.
Smart location
“Combining a laundry room with a mudroom is a natural step for homes that see a lot of entry clutter,” observed Mitchell Parker, editor-in-chief of Houzz. “This increasingly popular setup allows homeowners to place their grimy sports uniforms, muddy winter jackets and sandy beach towels directly into the wash before dirt penetrates further into the home,” adds- he.
“The popularity of the combined laundry-mudroom trend is no coincidence,” comments the San Antonio-area custom home builder. Tommy Lipe. “By seamlessly merging two rooms with similar material needs, we not only streamline construction, but also reduce square footage, simplifying the often hectic nature of our lives. »
Resilience imperative
Resilience is essential for Scott TjadenLaundry and mud projects in the St. Louis area, says designer. “You use it frequently and this is where your money should be spent in terms of quality machinery, workspace flooring and any sort of paint or wall covering. The paint must be wipeable and of high quality, just like the wall covering.
Resilience is a criterion for the New York architect Harvard Cooper Also. “I use stainless steel, tile or concrete for sinks and countertops because of their durability and ease of cleaning. The selected devices are aesthetically pleasing but also robust, energy efficient and capable of handling large laundry tasks. To combat humidity, materials like waterproof paints and backsplashes are used to protect walls from water damage,” he adds.
Tjaden also suggests a large curved faucet for water. “Some people prefer a garden hose,” he notes, “if the laundry is near a back door, people sometimes use it for cleaning and potting.”
Resilience is Mandatory for a Central California-Based Interior Designer Wendy Glaisteragricultural customers. Their homes are “surrounded by orchards, farms and lots of land,” she muses. She also favors durable materials like antimicrobial stainless steel for sinks, especially when you need to use stronger stain removers that might damage other materials. Glaister specifies vinyl planks and porcelain flooring for their resilience and cleanability, she says.
Pet-Friendly Multitasking
Flexible spaces such as combined laundry and mudroom spaces are ideal for busy households. “Having everything in one place makes multitasking easier,” comments Parker, which can include household chores, hobbies and pets. “Changing rooms can be a convenient place for your dog to stop, whether they include a space for your pet to dine or a storage area for walking-related items to grab on the way out; Many homeowners on Houzz also incorporate a pet shower into their muddy laundry room to ensure muddy paw prints don’t make their way into the main house.
Cabinetmaker based in Ottawa Deborah Gervais definitely sees more features for pets in her area, including “dedicated washing machines for pet blankets, clothing (for people who have livestock and/or horses) so they don’t get mixed up not with everything else.”
A “sink” can also serve as a washing station for small dogs, suggests the owner of a New York-based home improvement company. Jean Brownhill. Designer based in Atlanta Stephanie Ives likes to see a cat flap, litter box with exhaust fan, and built-in kennels and feeding areas. She also likes to include space for recycling management and robot vacuum charging stations.
Locker rooms can also be the perfect place to store outdoor sports equipment, like wall-mounted ski racks, cubbies for hats and helmets, and places under benches for boots and shoes, shares Parker .
Essentials
If this is a trend you’re considering for your own home, there are some elements you’ll definitely want to include. Parker cites a utility sink with a pull-out faucet for easy hand washing and rinsing muddy gear. Hooks, sorting space, cabinets for supplies and storage are also a boon for these utility spaces.
Interior designer based in Las Vegas Patricia Gaylor incorporates a bench into drop-off areas located near the family entrance of a home. “Low, built-in seating with open cubbies for removing shoes before entering the main part of the house” helps these spaces keep a cleaner home. A small shower space can also be helpful in this regard.
Nice ones to have
“Underfloor radiant heating is a plus, especially in colder climates,” the Houzz editor comments, noting that it not only keeps feet warm, but also helps dry boots.
Parker also suggests incorporating a workstation if there is space. This can be used for folding laundry, wrapping gifts, handling package shipping, and hobbies. “Having everything in one place makes multitasking easier,” notes Parker. Glaister likes to have space to hang and dry hand washable products and Gervais suggests a built-in ironing board and extra pantry.
Cooper suggests integrating a home automation panel. “This feature allows homeowners to control appliances, lighting and security systems from the laundry room.” Laundry sorting bins are also useful, he notes. “Tech enthusiasts appreciate built-in phone charging centers and robotic vacuum cleaner bases,” he adds. Several designers include device charging stations and family calendars in their projects.
New York designer Isfira Jensen cites “beautiful multi-level lighting” among its nice-to-haves. “This means having a nice central fixture to provide ambient lighting and layering it with task lighting in the form of wall sconces or LED light strips.” She also recommends ventilated drawers for shoe storage.
Boulder-based interior designer Megan B. Girl suggests having “a designated basket and large cabinets for each family member to store their gear.”
Personalization
A trend we’ve been seeing throughout the home for a while is personalization. The fact that it appears in these utility areas speaks to its growing importance to homeowners and their families. “Photos of popular changing rooms on Houzz feature welcoming styles, smart built-in cabinets, attractive furniture and decor, and vibrant colors,” Parker shares.
Brownhill sees “fun tiles and printed wallpaper.” These high-traffic areas benefit from busy structures that hide scuffs and wear, she points out. Daughtry creates a personalized calendar and charts to track family activities and children’s growth. Ives is starting to get requests for digital family calendars, she said.
The style upgrades certainly make laundry a more enjoyable chore. I think my late mother would have appreciated many of these features, but luxury laundry detergent didn’t cross her mind at the time. Right now my house has a compact laundry room, but a laundry room with mud flexible space is definitely on my next home wish list.