Something I see time and time again when redesigning homes is a dull, nonfunctional laundry room; this was the case in my house too. We didn’t build or design our house, and over time you have seen me do little projects to make it more my style. I decided to redesign our laundry room to create a functional room. As I began (re)designing my laundry room I struggled to find information and inspiration on how to design built-in cabinets for a top load washer. There wasn’t much information or inspiration; this inspired me!
When you take a look at my laundry room before, you will notice the room was dark, unorganized, and had ZERO wow factor! I used these 3 factors and let them inspire me as I sketched out a plan. Once my sketch was complete my favorite architect transformed it into a beautiful rendering. Thank you to Krista Peters with Drafthouse Design and Drafting here in the Houston area.
Renderings bring my ideas to life and also help my clients get a better visual of their newly designed space. Wanting to create the illusion of built-in appliances I decided to add all new custom cabinets. To achieve this look, we had the plumbing and electrical outlets for the machines lowered so that there were no distractions in the design aesthetics. Storage is always needed and I can’t ever have enough so I knew lots of (adjustable) shelving was a must.
Creating Functionality
Making this room more functional was a top priority so I added a few hidden features. Inside the cabinets, you will find electrical outlets perfect for the steamer, vacuums, massagers, etc. These handheld appliances stay charged so they are ready to go when we need them. What I love most about this feature is that the unsightly, yet necessary appliances are concealed. The shelves inside the cabinets are all adjustable (great if you are storing party tiers or party supplies). I love that I have the option to store our steamer in this cabinet also. Lastly, and probably my favorite feature is the hidden ironing board! Having all these hidden features make this room feel less cluttered!
*I will show you the full ironing board in the after pics*
Creating a Seamless Space
To create a seamless appearance the cabinets and the walls are painted the same color (SW City Loft). This creates the illusion of a much larger room. Adding the open cabinets directly above the machines allows me to add accessories, yet keep a clean, sleek look. I had the existing cabinet doors removed from the sink area. They were poorly constructed and didn’t match the rest of the home. We replaced them to match the shaker style that you will find through the other areas in our home.
Pro tip: Your laundry needs to be beautiful (obvi) but keeping it bright will make this room function and feel better.
While it is dreamy to have a window in this room it isn’t all that common so keep it bright with your finishes and good lighting. I love a patterned floor in laundry rooms so if the flooring is something you’re changing/adding consider a fun print on the floor. This room already feels like an extension of the rest of my home instead of a hidden dungeon.
Details That Matter
When designing cabinets to surround your washer and dryer be sure to leave at least 2.5 inches of extra space so that the appliances don’t rub against one another. I also took measurements carefully so that the floating shelf just above the appliances was accessible but also allows the washer lid to open properly. It was imperative that we had a place to hang shirts that need to hang dry. These dimensions are all key and will keep the room beautiful but also functional. Here are the finished measurements:
Our laundry room is somewhere I have dreaded spending time. The initial design of this room left me with an unorganized and chaotic space. With the addition of these cabinets, mosaic tile, and the other essentials, this room will become a space I enjoy using. Completely customizing this area will allow me to have a laundry room that is ACTUALLY efficient.
I hope this inspires you to make any room in your home the perfect space for you! I can’t wait to show you the full reveal!
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