How to set up a laundry in seven steps

A modern laundry room is practical, spacious and offers plenty of storage space. Read here what you should pay attention to in terms of layout.

When organizing your laundry room, it's worth paying special attention to task flow and ergonomics.

Step 1: Get an overview of the laundry room

When planning the laundry room in your future home, but also if you are renovating an existing laundry room, you should first get an overview of the desired layout in order to carry out the following work steps in chronological order:

-Storage of dirty laundry

-Storage for laundry products, iron, etc.

-Washing (machine/hand)

-Drying

-Ironing, folding and possibly storing the laundry

-Cleaning the laundry room

One thing is certain: Many functions require space. Just like you, because you probably don't want to work in your laundry room suffering from claustrophobia. When planning a laundry room, you should set aside at least five to six square meters for it. In addition, divide the room into work areas. Where will the laundry be washed, dried, ironed and where will you store the necessary equipment?

A little extra: the laundry chute

To store dirty laundry, it is recommended to use open baskets made of plastic or fabric. Ideally, they should be mounted on castors. If you are planning a new home, it might be a good idea to install a laundry chute, for example from the bathroom to the laundry room. This makes it quick and easy to collect dirty laundry from around the house. This can be a very valuable aid, especially in large families.

A little extra: suitable floor coverings

In a laundry room, water is everywhere: when you clean your washing machine, water can splash onto the floor and drops of water can fall from hanging clothes. That's why only waterproof and moisture-proof floor coverings are suitable for laundry rooms. This includes tiles, PVC or natural stone floor coverings. Choose a non-slip model.

Step 2: Organize the laundry room ergonomically

-If, instead of placing the washing machine and possibly the dryer directly on the floor, you make a base to accommodate them, in a year you will have made significantly less effort. Many manufacturers offer washing towers where the washing machine and dryer are arranged ergonomically and optimally, one above the other or next to each other.

-A drawer is often installed under the appliances – it can hold, for example, laundry products.

-A sliding shelf on which you can place the laundry basket provides even more ergonomics.

-Place storage boxes for washing powder, iron, cleaning utensils and other household items so that you can reach them without having to stretch or bend over.

Step 3: Organize the washing

-When buying a new washing machine, it is worth thinking big. Many modern appliances weigh the laundry before washing and measure water consumption accordingly. Therefore, a small amount of laundry in a large machine does not consume (much) more water and electricity than if you use a smaller machine. On the other hand, it allows you to wash a larger amount of laundry in a single cycle.

-People who, despite all the features of the most modern appliances, still wash their clothes by hand will also need a sink with hot and cold water connection. Therefore, plan the necessary space when equipping the laundry room.

Step 4: Arrange the drying process

-The drying process is organized according to the available space: the dryer allows you to dry your laundry quickly, but not necessarily in the most gentle way.

-If you have a drying room, you can significantly speed up the drying process by using a clothes dryer (e.g. Secomat). These dehumidifying dryers, considered to be very energy efficient, extract moisture from the laundry.

-You can also install a drying cabinet in your laundry room. It will allow you to dry your laundry quickly and gently. The laundry is hung there and dried in warm or cold air. However, drying cabinets are not considered to be very energy efficient when operating with warm air.

-In combination with any auxiliary drying means: a clothesline or a clothes dryer, for example a Stewi Outdoor, is the most energy-efficient way to dry clothes during the hot season.

Step 5: Create Work Surfaces and Storage Space

If you want to do all your laundry tasks in one place, you’ll need to create areas in your new laundry room for ironing, folding, and stacking clothes. Foldable ironing tables or work tables save space. Cabinets, storage surfaces like shelves, and storage boxes keep everything organized.

Step 6: Ensure Good Ventilation

The humidity level in a laundry room depends on ventilation. In laundry rooms where ventilation through windows is not possible, it is essential to ensure good ventilation or adequate drying. A ventilation device or dehumidifier may be helpful.

Step 7: Don't neglect the decoration

The layout of the laundry room depends on your personal taste. Some people like to make it comfortable, others focus exclusively on its functionality. In short: especially when the laundry room is in the basement where daylight only penetrates weakly, light-colored tiles are best suited. When equipping your laundry room, also ensure good lighting. And if, within the framework of home automation, you are planning to create a multi-room system with music everywhere, don't forget the laundry room! Alternatively, you can also buy a small radio to listen to your favorite playlists while listening to the radio.