Gone are the days of trekking down to the dark, dank basement with your overloaded laundry basket. Today, luxe laundry rooms liven up the drudgery of washing clothes. What better way to improve this monotonous chore than to add some luxury to your home’s laundry room?
What exactly is a luxe laundry room?
A luxe laundry room brings a little lavishness to the arduous job of doing the laundry. Imagine energy-efficient as well as attractive appliances. Cabinetry to hide the detergent. Islands on which to fold laundry. Even ergonomically correct ironing boards. With features like these it’s easy to see why more and more homeowner’s are demanding upscale laundry rooms for their homes.
Take the humble washing machine, for example. Today’s washing machines are not only front-loading, but are much gentler on clothes because they do not have an agitator. Many new machines are energy-efficient, thus saving you money on your utility bill. Clothes come out of the washer practically dry. And oh, the color choices … stainless steel, blue, even red. Forget about the old white clunker that shook your house like an earthquake when you washed a load of jeans. Today’s high-end washing machines take laundry to a whole new level.
How to create one of your own.
Creating your own luxe laundry room can be as expensive as you want it to be. You can make this a do-it-yourself project, or hire an interior designer to make some dramatic changes.
Whether a DIY project or a professional job, there are still some basics to creating a luxe laundry room. First, start with the appliances and build around them. Go to the local home improvement store and peruse the washer/dryer section. Find the washer and dryer with the features you need to clean your clothes, but also the look you want. Choose great cabinetry that can do everything from hiding the detergent and fabric softener to even concealing clothes that need to air dry.
Next, have some fun. Paint the walls an eye-catching color. Choose flooring that is unique – an unusual tile selection, for example. And, don’t forget the lighting. Instead of the standard fluorescent lighting, find some fun fixtures to add pizzazz to your laundry room.
Something else to consider with a luxe laundry room is location. Most laundry rooms today are near the master bedroom, close to the kitchen, or double as a mudroom. An attractive laundry room blends in with the house, especially in those high-traffic areas. If money is no object, consider changing the location of your laundry room or even adding an additional laundry station. (One on the first floor and one on the second, perhaps?) A change like this may be expensive but it can certainly make doing the laundry luxurious.
