“I used to have a blankie, and when my mom had to wash it, I would sit outside the dryer and watch it go round and round, and cry” — (Drew Barrymore, Actor)
Such is the power of emotional connection to our wardrobe and those special items, we often have a deeper relationship to our laundry than we would expect, and its common to flip through home magazines or browse online through those beautiful laundry room images.
The blissful washing and drying sessions, soothing cabinets, dog-washing station, and top-notch clothing care products. Sounds like your laundry room? Don’t sweat it. Not mine, either! But we can dream!
In this blog, we will share some easy and affordable tips for building a fully functional laundry room that not only cleans your clothing but also fits your Instagram aesthetic. Let’s get started!
What are the requirements of a good laundry room?
For starters, a dream laundry room should be right next to the bedroom or someplace where you can easily take short trips back and forth with clothing, bedding, and other garments. Having one washer and one dryer work just fine, but if you need maximum time efficiency, then get at least two washers and one dryer. That way you won’t have to wait for one laundry cycle to end to wash another load of clothing.
Then comes a steam cabinet. A store or backroom where you can easily steam your garments, and of course, a hanging rod that can easily accommodate lots of drying shirts. A medium sized laundry sink to seamlessly handwash an item or two. Plus, you can perform your stain removal spot treatments or soaking here with ease without using the kitchen or bathroom sinks. If you are feeling a little fancy, just place a disco ball in the room and you’re all set.
Now the most important of all – a shelf for clothing care products. One where you can easily store all laundry room essentials. To easily tackle all the challenges that come along with a dirty pile of clothing, here’s a list of supplies that you must have at your disposal.
1. Laundry detergents:
- Regular detergent
- Ecofriendly laundry powder
- Stain removers
2. Clothing care products:
- Wool balls
- Essential oils
- BIORESTORE Fabric pill remover
- A high-quality debobbler or fabric shaver
3. Stain removal tools:
- Stain sticks
- Stain brushes
- Stain removers for specific stains (e.g., ink, grass)
4. Laundry accessories:
- Laundry baskets
- Laundry sorters
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Steamer
5. Drying supplies:
- Clothespins
- Clotheslines (if you plan to air-dry)
6. Miscellaneous:
- Laundry room trash can
- Laundry room cleaning supplies (e.g., detergent dispenser cleaner)
- Laundry sorter labels
How can I make my laundry room look nice?
Most of us inherit our laundry rooms when we move into our homes, whether apartments or family homes. While the interior of your laundry room depends significantly on the space, here are some ideas to spruce it up while staying under budget.
Get an energy-efficient washing machine
If you are finally upgrading your laundry room, why not do it in a sustainable why?
If your washing machine dates back to 2003 or earlier, it’s likely washing both energy and water. Upgrading to a high-efficiency model especially the ones with “ENERGY STAR” certification can get you ideal tub capacity, facilitating lesser washes and larger loads.
It not only saves you time in the laundry room but also reduces your energy consumption. According to recent estimates, the ENERGY STAR models use 25% to 40% less energy as compared to the machines without this certification.
Next, make sure that the machine you are purchasing has at least three features that can be controlled i.e., temperature, spin speed, and time of wash cycle. If the machine can do all this, you are all set.
Adjust the lighting
There is absolutely no need for you to do your laundry like a prisoner trapped inside a dark dungeon. If there is no window or natural light in your laundry room, use daylight bulbs via track lightening, and flush-mount fixtures (mounted right below your ceiling). Can lights that disappear into the ceiling are also a great option.
When the room is well-lit, you can easily sort your clothing, treat stains, or do other laundry-related tasks. Also, don’t forget to add a table lamp or under-cabinet light for intricate tasks such as sewing on buttons or spot treatments. Generally, LED lights with a rating near 100 can provide comfortable lighting.
Add some whimsy
Who says you can’t get creative with your laundry room?
If your laundry room has a window that lets in natural light, consider yourself extremely lucky! Simply keep a money plant on the inner side of the window and let it go upwards on either side of the window. Or keep a rotating ball that refracts light in front of the window. So, whenever the sun shines it, the light will be distorted in hundreds of beautiful rays and spread across your complete room.
For fans of beige and neutrals, add a vibrant mural or a printed window curtain to give your room a pop of colour. Some clothing care products like BIORESTORE bio laundry powder also look really aesthetic and when adorned on your laundry room shelves, can elevate its overall feel and appearance.
Another great option are those peel-and-stick wallpapers of classic white subway tile can make the space look so much brighter and better than ever before. The best part is you can use these wallpapers even if you a renter. Moving out? Just remove the wallpaper and take it along with you to your next home.
You get it. The idea is about transforming the space stereotypically known to be overwhelming (and sometimes even depressing) to feel more enjoyable and lively. After all, this is a room where you spend a good deal of time expressing your love by caring for their clothing, bedding, and more. Making it nice makes it much easier for you to keep doing something nice for your loved ones.
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