Laundry – a chore no more (well, not exactly). Laundry will inevitably remain a cumbersome chore – especially for big families. This is reason enough for trying to simplify the process. A well-organized laundry room design makes doing the laundry a much more manageable task. It doesn’t have to be a complete remodel (although – it can be), but for now, we have some simple laundry room design ideas which will help keep your laundry space clean, organized, and functional.
Storage and Organization
Keeping a tidy laundry space can be challenging but rewarding if done right. If adding cabinetry and built-ins are in the budget, then you’ve met the ultimate laundry room storage solution. For starters, store detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, stain removers, bleach and other laundry supplies out of sight, but close enough for convenience and optimal use of counter space.
Other laundry room storage ideas include shelving to temporarily hold folded clothes. Additionally, a hanging rod, clothes line or drying rack is useful to hang items that can’t be dried with heat. It doesn’t have to be fancy; even the simplest rollaway storage units can help keep things optimally organized.
Folding Space
Counterspace is essential. Arguably, the most tedious task in the laundry process is folding. But folding straight out of the dryer is a great way to avoid wrinkles, keep clothes organized, and save time. Building in a folding space to fold and stack clean, dried clothes is a must-have.
If you have a big family, you can even take this one step further by organizing your folded clothes into baskets labeled with each family member’s name or initials. If you don’t have the space for big shelving to house these baskets, you can use stackable laundry baskets to do the job.
Durable Surfaces
Not just any folding space will do. Having durable surfaces in your laundry room design is key. Remember, these surfaces encounter soiled clothing, spilled detergents, bleach, water – you name it. You want something that’s easy to clean and strong enough to handle any sort of laundry calamity.
Let There Be Light
Many laundry rooms are situated either in the basements of homes or interior rooms without windows. This is an almost traditional spot for the laundry room, and it makes sense for several reasons (chief among them are noise and overflow concerns). Moving the laundry room closer to bedrooms and/or combining it with a bathroom or kitchen, however, seems to be the latest trend. And, it makes sense to have the laundry room in a more convenient location for our messy, non-stop lives. If you have the luxury of relocating your laundry room to a sunnier spot, consider doing so. (The atmosphere alone may be brighter and cheerier, making it a less daunting task.) But if moving your laundry room space isn’t an option, brightening up the basement space is key. Being able to see what you’re doing and having enough light to examine clothes for stains is very beneficial. The right kind of lighting comes in handy for folding, sorting and brightening your mood as well.
No matter what your budget may be, there are plenty of ways to step up your laundry game. Whether you are looking for laundry storage ideas or laundry room designs, your space can indeed become more functional. Figure out what’s most important to you and what you can afford, and make your laundry room a space for others to envy.
Visit granitetransformations.com to set up your free in-home design consultation.
Last Updated on January 3, 2020
Who needs to go out to a bar and spend up to $15 per cocktail (plus tip) when you can relax and unwind with a drink at home for free? And, the best part? No designated driver is needed! Invite your friends over for drinks, host game night, play poker, watch a movie, or just hang out in the comfort of your very own basement. That’s right – make room for a bar in your basement. We have tons of basement bar ideas that will get you inspired to turn your basement into a functional entertaining space.
Basements make convenient spaces for building a functional bar. To begin with, hooking up plumbing or electric is a lot easier when you don’t have to run new pipes or wires up through walls. In the basement, you’re much closer to the source. Plus, many basements already have some sort of entertainment space already built in. What could be a better complement to that entertainment area than being able to belly up to the bar during a ballgame, movie, or your favorite TV show?
Basement bars come in all shapes and sizes
Build it big, build it small, build it classy, or just make it plain funky. There’s usually plenty of room in the basement to get creative. Spread out along a long wall or just tuck a bar in next to the boiler for that “industrial” feel. There are no rules and usually little existing décor to worry about matching with. There are endless basement bar ideas that will get your creative juices flowing. We feature a few here, all of which were constructed by Granite Transformations.
Granite Transformations has the stuff your dream bar is made of
Want a bar countertop that looks great, can be easily and quickly installed, and is practically indestructible? No one can accomplish this better than Granite Transformations. Go with a quartz, granite or recycled glass countertop, and make your bar really shine.
This bar has underlighting for a karaoke/dance feel. You can turn the lights on, dim them or keep them off ¬– depending on the type of party or gathering you’re having.The Liberty Red mosaic tile backsplash and accent tile under the bar makes the whole area really pop.The light and dark brown tones of this bar bring a homey feel. Granite Transformations also handles cabinets (new construction or refacing) to add storage to your bar.Black and white will never go out of style. This black and white mosaic tile design gives this basement bar a retro feel.This basement features a full kitchen and bar with seating for numerous people. The chandelier provides an elegant and warm feel. The black countertops and brown cabinets work nicely together, as the countertops pick up shades of black in the cabinets. The countertop on the right is Black Star recycled glass.This bar works for breakfast or cocktails. It has ample storage and a gorgeous flower mosaic tile accent wall that all your friends will envy.The green and aqua tones of this stunning mosaic tile from the Traditional line (the color is called “Fantastic”) by Granite Transformations looks coincidentally fantastic with this lighter-colored wood floor.
The design options for your basement bar are endless. Have fun mixing and matching colors, décor and furniture to make the space your own. Granite Transformations can help you design a bar that looks out of this world without blowing your budget.
