Laundry room renovations you’ll love
March 15, 2021
Updating laundry rooms can be a great way to make doing laundry more enjoyable and efficient.
Does it seem like your hamper is always full and the washing machine is running constantly? You may not be imagining it. Laundry Butler for You, a wash, dry and fold service, says the average household washes 50 pounds of laundry a week and 6,000 articles of clothing every year. Families with children at home are doing laundry most often, and those with pets may find there is ample laundry to wash as well.
With so much laundry being generated, homeowners may want to consider paying extra attention to the space in the house where their clean the clothing. Laundry room renovations may not top homeowners’ priority lists, but it may be time to give these rooms another look.
Assess your equipment
If your appliances are aging, a laundry room renovation can start with an investment in new appliances. New models have large
capacity loads, tend to be energy-efficient and could have innovative features that help fit with your laundry lifestyle. Purchasing front-loading models also can free up design space, as you can install a counter directly above the units, saving room for other items like drying racks.
Figure out your room needs
A laundry room doesn’t need to be a laundry room only. Many homeowners make large this rooms catch-all spaces that can serve as utility or mud rooms, pantry overflows, or off-season storage areas. Consider the functions you want the room to serve and include those ideas in your designs.
Add some natural light
If possible, include a window in your laundry room. Natural light can help make the room more enjoyable. It also can help you identify stains on clothes that need to be addressed and make it easier to fold matching items like socks.
Think about a utility sink in the laundry
Many washing machines drain out directly to waste pipes in the floor or wall, but you also can opt to have them empty into a utility sink. This sink also provides a convenient place to handwash items; clean tools or paintbrushes, or store items that perhaps you do not want to bring into a bathroom or kitchen sink.
Include some flair
This utilitarian space need not be boring or bereft of design elements. Mirror your home’s style in the laundry room, and include wall hangings, plants, accent items, and even task lighting. Play up certain features with a bold floor tile or brightly colored walls.
Create Storage
Cabinetry is crucial in a laundry room to store linens, hide dirty laundry, and keep cleaning supplies organized. Most will only need two or three base cabinets and two or three upper cabinets—enough to hold a laundry basket, folded towels, and things like detergent and extra paper products. Stock cabinets are the most affordable, at $100 to $280 per linear foot. Semi-custom cabinets give you more style choices; but can cost upwards of $2,500. Custom cabinetry is the most expensive, at $2,000 to $4,500.
Another budget-friendly option is to forgo upper cabinets and add DIY open shelving. You can find simple wire shelves for less than $15 for a six-foot span; but even solid wood floating shelves are inexpensive, with four-foot options available from major retailers for less than $40.
Organizing Outerwear
One of the hardest parts of keeping a mud room in order (whether it is part laundry room or not) is the coat and shoe situation. These items need to be accessible, but also easy to hide away. A simple solution for smaller spaces is a wall mounted coat rack 
with a bench below that serves double duty as shoe and bag storage. A basic hook rack can be found for less than $20, and a slab bench for under $200. A custom storage system, with cubbies and shelving, is much pricier, at $1,000 to $3,000.
If you have space to build a reach-in coat closet, expect to spend $1,000 to $2,500, including the interior organizers. Revamping an existing closet can be done for as little as $200, as you only need to buy new shelves or hanging rods.
Installing Flooring
Laundry rooms and mud rooms need durable, easy-to-clean flooring that can withstand water, dirt, salt, and more. Vinyl is one of the most water-resistant materials available and is easy to clean. And at $2 to $8 per square foot, it’s also the cheapest. Porcelain tile, $10 to $20 per square foot; is also a great choice, as there are non-skid types, and it is extremely durable and will not scratch.
Skyway Home Improvement is the professional home for an affordable renovation and remodeling service. So, if you are planning to renovate your laundry room, Skyway Home Improvement is the best option for you.
Place a call to us at (732) 410-1306 and schedule your appointment.