Our laundry was in our basement, like most older homes, but unlike most homes, the washer was on one side of the room, and the dryer was on the complete opposite side. Not only was it not convenient to schlep laundry up and down the stairs, but it was also inconvenient to drag a laundry basket from one machine to the next.
In looking to change my dull laundry routine, I came across this video and I was so inspired I decided to make a change.
We have a guestroom on our first floor that has a walk-in closet that we used for storage, but nothing more. It actually became a catchall and made it so we could keep more stuff that we did not need.
About a year ago, when I was pregnant and had seen the above video, I thought of the genius idea to move our laundry upstairs into this closet.
It was convenient for two reasons:
1. It backs up to our main floor bathroom so plumbing was available to tie into and 2. It moved it from the basement to the first floor, so it was easier to transport to the bedrooms or when getting the kids ready in the morning.
As a bonus, it was a good size room and we already had a stackable washer and dryer to maximize the space.
We started by drawing a layout. I knew I wanted a place to hang clothes to dry, as well as a sink for soaking, a counter for folding items, plus plenty of storage. This was a large order for such a small space. The whole thing is only 64 inches x 63 inches.
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We determined where the washer and dryer had to go, allotted for enough space for the doors to swing open. Then we found shaker-style cabinets that would fit in the corner maximizing storage.
Because the space is so small, we were able to find a small slab or remnant piece of quartz at our local stone store that they had in stock and ready to go. It also saved us money because we didn’t have to purchase a lot or an entire slab.
In order to support the countertops and to allow for an under counter space for a rolling hamper, we installed a corner cabinet and one by the doorway. The cabinet by the door is small in size, but perfect for storing cleaning supplies and for supporting the stone.
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Above that we installed a hanging bar where I can hang clothes. On the opposite wall we hung a drying rack that folds up. This is from Ballard Designs. And finally, we hung an over-the-door ironing board so I can iron items that have been cleaned before they get put away.
I have no regrets transforming a storage closet into a laundry room… well maybe one, that we didn’t do it sooner.
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