When you design a laundry room, you must consider the physical dimension of the room because the dimensions will determine how you can incorporate the washer and the dryer into the room. A person must measure the floor area of the room, the height of the room, and the width of the room. If the laundry room is to be a small closet within the room, then the appliances that you will place within the room will be those that is stackable.
The advantages of choosing appliances that are stackable are that they will utilize the vertical space of the laundry room rather than the floor space of the room. A gap must be left between the appliances and the wall of the laundry room for the machines hoses and vents to have the space necessary to function proper. If these gaps are not left, these hoses and vents may leak or develop breakdown.
How to Plan Your Laundry Room
In small laundry rooms that are dedicated to the laundering of the clothes of only one individual, it may be possible to incorporate side-by-side appliances into the room. Side-by-side appliances do require more width within the laundry room than do stackable appliances. Furthermore, you will need to provide an aisle within the laundry room for the individual to move between the appliances and any counter that may be placed within the laundry room.
The bulk of the appliances must be balanced against the needs of the individual to have an efficient laundry room. In medium and large laundry rooms, it is possible to include additional feature. For instance, it is possible to include a utility sink to allow an individual to clean the clothes that they will wash, the cabinets necessary to store the laundry detergent and linens, and a folding counter that is positioned at a height that is comfortabley for the individual to fold their clothing.
Additionally, if the laundry room is of a medium or large size, it may be possible to also include a hanging rod to allow clothes to air-dry. Finally, these types of laundry rooms can include central island and counters within the space, which may prove useful for individuals who have a high volume of laundry to launder. The type of appliances that you purchase will dictate the layout of the laundry room.
Front-loading washers and dryers are among the most useful because you can stack the washers and dryers to save on the width of the laundry room. Side-by-side models require more width within the laundry room, but they are easy to access without having to stack the appliances. You must account for the clearance around the appliances.
The appliances require several inches to be allowed behind the appliances for plumbing, on the side to allow for vibrations from the washing machines operation, and in the front of the appliances to allow the doors to open. If you dont make these considerations when purchasing the laundry room appliances, the appliances may not perform correct or may require more repairs than those that typically occur with these appliances. The plumbing and electrical hookups for the laundry room must be positioned correctly in relation to the location of the washing machines.
The plumbing must be positioned to allow the ports on the washing machines to line up with the height of the plumbing. The drains must be tall enough to allow for the water that rushes out of the machines during the laundry process. The water supplies must be positioned to allow the water to reach the washing machines without strain on the water supply system.
Each of the machine will require its own dedicated electrical circuit. Dedicated electrical circuits will prevent the circuit breaker from tripping when the washing machines are in operation. Additionally, you must equip all of the electrical outlets that are used for the laundry room appliances with GFCI protection to avoid laundry room accident that may occur around the water.
There are several options for cabinetry systems that you can use to customize your laundry room. You can place the cabinets around the washer and dryer. You can use base cabinets to create countertops around the appliances.
Tall cabinets can be used to provide storage for laundry room item. Drawers can be used to store small item in the laundry room. Open shelving can be installed to provide easy access to laundry basket and racks for clothing that needs to be dried.
When you plan your laundry room, avoid these common mistake. Do not overpack your small laundry room with cabinets that get in the way of the appliances. Skimp on providing aisle space in front of the laundry room appliances.
This space is necessary for you and for folding your laundry. Make sure you consider the height of the ceiling in your laundry room. If you plan on using some of the appliances that fold onto each other, the height of the ceiling will have to accommodate these appliances.
Consider your laundry habit and needs before finalizing your laundry room layout. Lay tape mark on the floor to represent your planned laundry room layout. This will let you see how the laundry room could function in your laundry room.
Plan your laundry room to help your laundry routine and ensure that the two laundry room appliances is easy for you to use.
