10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Laundry
How to design a high-functioning laundry that's space smart, stylish and easy on your back
Julia Fairley
30 July 2017
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, many Aussies spend an average of three hours and 23 minutes a week doing the laundry. This equates to more than seven days a year, or more than one year of an average lifespan which, if you ask me, is one year too many – especially if the ergonomics in a laundry make an already painful chore a strain as well. So here are 10 design tricks to transform laundry day from distress to success.
1. Raise your bench height…
People are taller on average than when 900-millimetre bench heights came into vogue, so if you’re designing or renovating your laundry, consider raising the bench to improve the ergonomics.
A slightly taller 920-millimetre-high bench suits most people and does wonders for improving posture and back pain after all those hours spend folding clothes. The very long legged can even nudge bench heights up to 1000 millimetres.
People are taller on average than when 900-millimetre bench heights came into vogue, so if you’re designing or renovating your laundry, consider raising the bench to improve the ergonomics.
A slightly taller 920-millimetre-high bench suits most people and does wonders for improving posture and back pain after all those hours spend folding clothes. The very long legged can even nudge bench heights up to 1000 millimetres.
2. … And your appliances
Benches aren’t the only things that could do with a raise – front- loading appliances benefit from a lift to save you from crouching uncomfortably at floor level when loading and unloading them. Some newer front loaders have drums that are positioned higher in the machine’s frame. Generally, 750 to 1000 millimetres is a comfortable height.
In this galley-style laundry in Double Bay, Sydney, Dan Kitchens Australia has cleverly raised the Miele washing machine and dryer off the floor by integrating them into the joinery.
Tip: To let the sun and wind do the drying for you, include a door leading directly outside from your laundry, as has been done here.
Benches aren’t the only things that could do with a raise – front- loading appliances benefit from a lift to save you from crouching uncomfortably at floor level when loading and unloading them. Some newer front loaders have drums that are positioned higher in the machine’s frame. Generally, 750 to 1000 millimetres is a comfortable height.
In this galley-style laundry in Double Bay, Sydney, Dan Kitchens Australia has cleverly raised the Miele washing machine and dryer off the floor by integrating them into the joinery.
Tip: To let the sun and wind do the drying for you, include a door leading directly outside from your laundry, as has been done here.
3. Choose drawers over cupboards
A humble ergonomic revolution swept through houses across the world when drawers started to replace cupboards in the kitchen, and there’s no reason why our laundries can’t be transformed in the same way. It is much easier to open a drawer and quickly locate what you’re looking for than it is to rummage around the back of a dusty cupboard for the fabric softener.
This Toorak home in Melbourne by Northbourne Architecture + Design has cottoned on to this trend in its ‘hidden laundry’, which is concealed from the bathroom by bi-fold doors.
Tip: Short on space? Consider using a combined washer-dryer unit.
Find a designer on Houzz to help create the perfect laundry
A humble ergonomic revolution swept through houses across the world when drawers started to replace cupboards in the kitchen, and there’s no reason why our laundries can’t be transformed in the same way. It is much easier to open a drawer and quickly locate what you’re looking for than it is to rummage around the back of a dusty cupboard for the fabric softener.
This Toorak home in Melbourne by Northbourne Architecture + Design has cottoned on to this trend in its ‘hidden laundry’, which is concealed from the bathroom by bi-fold doors.
Tip: Short on space? Consider using a combined washer-dryer unit.
Find a designer on Houzz to help create the perfect laundry
4. Select a deep, wide sink… and the right tap
Regardless of whether you choose a single- or double-bowl laundry sink, the most important thing is that it’s deep and wide.
This stainless-steel butler’s or farmhouse sink has only one bowl but it’s large enough to fit bulky buckets for soaking clothes. Farmhouse sinks have the ergonomic bonus of letting you get closer to the bowl because there is no bench separating you from the rim of the sink.
Consider a laundry tap with a flexible hose and pull-out spray nozzle such as the one pictured here. If you only have room for a small sink, try mounting your tap at a far corner of the sink instead of in the centre at the back, and opt for swivel models that you can rotate out of the way.
Tip: If space allows, incorporate pull-out flat drying racks like the ones pictured above to dry woollens and knits.
Regardless of whether you choose a single- or double-bowl laundry sink, the most important thing is that it’s deep and wide.
This stainless-steel butler’s or farmhouse sink has only one bowl but it’s large enough to fit bulky buckets for soaking clothes. Farmhouse sinks have the ergonomic bonus of letting you get closer to the bowl because there is no bench separating you from the rim of the sink.
Consider a laundry tap with a flexible hose and pull-out spray nozzle such as the one pictured here. If you only have room for a small sink, try mounting your tap at a far corner of the sink instead of in the centre at the back, and opt for swivel models that you can rotate out of the way.
Tip: If space allows, incorporate pull-out flat drying racks like the ones pictured above to dry woollens and knits.
5. Design landing spaces near appliances
A basket of washing can weigh several kilos so it’s vital to have ample landing space near your washing machine and dryer to rest those heavy loads of wet clothes.
This laundry in Macquarie Drive, near Newcastle, boasts spades of bench space above the front-loading appliances – enough for multiple loads of washing with bench space left over to do the folding. The burst of bling from the metallic mosaic splashback doesn’t go astray in brightening up an often overlooked space.
A basket of washing can weigh several kilos so it’s vital to have ample landing space near your washing machine and dryer to rest those heavy loads of wet clothes.
This laundry in Macquarie Drive, near Newcastle, boasts spades of bench space above the front-loading appliances – enough for multiple loads of washing with bench space left over to do the folding. The burst of bling from the metallic mosaic splashback doesn’t go astray in brightening up an often overlooked space.
If you have a top-loading washing machine, factor in plenty of landing room to one side (or preferably both). Front-loading washers and dryers at floor level will benefit from landing space above them. And, if your appliances are wall-mounted at chest height, allow plenty of bench room below – your back will thank you for it.
Sink inserts such as this one are smart ways to snatch some extra bench space in small laundries.
Tip: Ask your stonemason or bench manufacturer to cut a sink insert from your benchtop for a perfect match and fit.
Sink inserts such as this one are smart ways to snatch some extra bench space in small laundries.
Tip: Ask your stonemason or bench manufacturer to cut a sink insert from your benchtop for a perfect match and fit.
6. Let it all hang out
In an ideal world, our laundries would have medium and tall hanging space for garments of different lengths, flat drying racks for woollens and knits and a dedicated clothesline outside. But as our homes have become smaller, the likelihood of being able to squeeze all that drying space into one little laundry – which is often now hidden behind a cupboard – is rare.
Enter the in-built drying rack, available in countless designs including pull-down wall-mounted versions like this one. These space-saving solutions are fairly straightforward to install and ensure your clothes will dry, whatever the weather.
Read more laundry stories
In an ideal world, our laundries would have medium and tall hanging space for garments of different lengths, flat drying racks for woollens and knits and a dedicated clothesline outside. But as our homes have become smaller, the likelihood of being able to squeeze all that drying space into one little laundry – which is often now hidden behind a cupboard – is rare.
Enter the in-built drying rack, available in countless designs including pull-down wall-mounted versions like this one. These space-saving solutions are fairly straightforward to install and ensure your clothes will dry, whatever the weather.
Read more laundry stories
Ceiling-mounted designs such as the one in this sleek Sydney laundry suit even the smallest of spaces. They usually operate on a pulley system and can be lowered to a manageable height while you load up the racks with wet washing, then hoisted back up out of the way to dry.
If you’re not a fan of airing your washing within plain sight, drying racks can also be hidden inside cupboards – install a heating vent in the floor to blow warm air into the enclosed space and voila! Your clothes will dry out of sight within a few hours. Pulley systems similar to the drying rack shown here are especially suited for tall or double-height cupboards.
If you’re not a fan of airing your washing within plain sight, drying racks can also be hidden inside cupboards – install a heating vent in the floor to blow warm air into the enclosed space and voila! Your clothes will dry out of sight within a few hours. Pulley systems similar to the drying rack shown here are especially suited for tall or double-height cupboards.
Wall-mounted accordion-style drying racks that fold out when in use are also great space savers. Like most in-built drying systems, they put their flimsy fold-up wire cousins to shame and are available in countless designs to suit different decors. Just be sure not to mount them much higher than 1500 millimetres or you’ll be straining to reach the back rungs.
Tip: Wet washing weighs several kilos so use a stud-finder and heavy-duty anchor points to support the weight of your drying rack when it’s loaded up with clothes.
10 drying rack solutions for your laundry
Tip: Wet washing weighs several kilos so use a stud-finder and heavy-duty anchor points to support the weight of your drying rack when it’s loaded up with clothes.
10 drying rack solutions for your laundry
7. Integrate your ironing board
If you’re like me, you’ll regard ironing as a necessary evil: not only is it the most joyless of jobs, but portable ironing boards can wobble precariously, there’s no stable room for a hot iron and the placement of power points can force you to iron in odd spaces.
Integrated designs that swivel smoothly back into your joinery and fold-out ironing boards like this one can change all that. They are usually more stable, offer a streamlined look when they’re hidden away and free up tall storage space – no more wrestling with freestanding cumbersome ironing boards. These canny creations won’t do the ironing for you but they’ll make the job a little bit easier.
If you’re like me, you’ll regard ironing as a necessary evil: not only is it the most joyless of jobs, but portable ironing boards can wobble precariously, there’s no stable room for a hot iron and the placement of power points can force you to iron in odd spaces.
Integrated designs that swivel smoothly back into your joinery and fold-out ironing boards like this one can change all that. They are usually more stable, offer a streamlined look when they’re hidden away and free up tall storage space – no more wrestling with freestanding cumbersome ironing boards. These canny creations won’t do the ironing for you but they’ll make the job a little bit easier.
8. Separate your whites
We all know how much sanity it can take to separate our whites, brights and darks before putting on a wash, so it makes sense to include dedicated laundry hampers for each. Not only will you save time sorting through messy piles of dirty washing, you will also save yourself a backache from bending over.
Inbetween Architecture came up with a smart solution in this Kew home in Melbourne. See the three white cabinets under the laundry bench? Look closely and you will spy the words ‘whites’, ‘darks’ and ‘colours’ embossed into the cabinet facings – no more excuses for a misplaced red sock dyeing a white shirt pink. Add to this the oversized round timber handles and the solution is stylish too.
We all know how much sanity it can take to separate our whites, brights and darks before putting on a wash, so it makes sense to include dedicated laundry hampers for each. Not only will you save time sorting through messy piles of dirty washing, you will also save yourself a backache from bending over.
Inbetween Architecture came up with a smart solution in this Kew home in Melbourne. See the three white cabinets under the laundry bench? Look closely and you will spy the words ‘whites’, ‘darks’ and ‘colours’ embossed into the cabinet facings – no more excuses for a misplaced red sock dyeing a white shirt pink. Add to this the oversized round timber handles and the solution is stylish too.
9. Include a laundry chute
If your bedrooms and laundry are spread over different levels, a linen chute can be life changing. These convenient additions will save you time and effort lugging heavy laundry baskets down the stairs.
If your chute deposits clothes into a basket placed on the floor, choose a linen hamper on wheels so you can roll rather than lift it to the washing machine. Even better, try ducting your chute into a hamper at bench height to save yourself from crouching down to collect dirty clothes.
Contemporary chutes can usually be ducted on a 45-degree angle to lead from an upstairs bedroom or bathroom to a downstairs laundry. You can also install multiple chutes to make laundry a breeze.
If your bedrooms and laundry are spread over different levels, a linen chute can be life changing. These convenient additions will save you time and effort lugging heavy laundry baskets down the stairs.
If your chute deposits clothes into a basket placed on the floor, choose a linen hamper on wheels so you can roll rather than lift it to the washing machine. Even better, try ducting your chute into a hamper at bench height to save yourself from crouching down to collect dirty clothes.
Contemporary chutes can usually be ducted on a 45-degree angle to lead from an upstairs bedroom or bathroom to a downstairs laundry. You can also install multiple chutes to make laundry a breeze.
10. Add functional storage
Irons, mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners… they all need to be stored somewhere and if your laundry is like mine, it is probably used as a domestic dumping ground. Rather than tripping over stray objects or straining your back to lift heavy sporting gear off a high shelf, think about the equipment you keep in your laundry then design your storage needs around that.
Ideally, you’ll have a combination of deep and shallow drawers, tall and short cupboards and plenty of hanging space. But you may also want to include wall-mounted bike hooks, open shelving for small gardening implements, a tall cupboard for spades and tools, space to store large suitcases, or room for the kids’ scooters and kites.
Tip: Take inspiration from this Perth laundry and add a speaker or TV to liven up your time spent washing and folding.
Your turn
Which of these ideas didn’t you know? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more building or renovating ideas? Don’t miss 11 Brilliant Built-In Joinery Ideas for Small Homes & Apartments
Irons, mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners… they all need to be stored somewhere and if your laundry is like mine, it is probably used as a domestic dumping ground. Rather than tripping over stray objects or straining your back to lift heavy sporting gear off a high shelf, think about the equipment you keep in your laundry then design your storage needs around that.
Ideally, you’ll have a combination of deep and shallow drawers, tall and short cupboards and plenty of hanging space. But you may also want to include wall-mounted bike hooks, open shelving for small gardening implements, a tall cupboard for spades and tools, space to store large suitcases, or room for the kids’ scooters and kites.
Tip: Take inspiration from this Perth laundry and add a speaker or TV to liven up your time spent washing and folding.
Your turn
Which of these ideas didn’t you know? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more building or renovating ideas? Don’t miss 11 Brilliant Built-In Joinery Ideas for Small Homes & Apartments
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Our laundry is small & I still have not designed a layout I like. But we've installed a small wall clothesline in the garage. It is bigger than anything that would fit in our laundry & allows rainy weather drying. Plus, out of the way when we have pwdr room is off the laundry. Small win!
I love our drying cabinet (with ducted heating vent at the bottom) and our sorting table with sorting tubs. Everyone gets a big tub for the big clothes, then socks, undies, face washers, tea towels, etc get their own tubs. Sort items into their tub, then take tub to put away - super easy for the kids to manage too!
I raised the height of the benches in the kitchen in our new build, but didn't consider it for the laundry. I did install a double bowl sink and a tap with a pull out nozzle. Have yet to move in but I think these will be well worth the money spent.