If doing the laundry always feels more difficult than it should, the space itself could be part of the problem. Limited bench space, awkward storage and a poor layout can quickly turn a simple household chore into a frustrating task. The right layout, storage and cabinetry can improve how efficiently you wash, dry, fold and store clothes while keeping cleaning products and household equipment organised.
At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, we design laundries around how each household actually uses the space. Whether this means extending benchtop space, concealing appliances for a compact home or integrating practical details such as a customised robot vacuum dock, a place for your broom and ironing board or a pull-out shelf beneath the washing machine for ease of unloading, our custom joinery solutions are designed to improve your home’s functionality while complementing your home’s aesthetics. In this guide, we will cover how you can improve your home’s laundry and recommended solutions for designing a laundry that makes this household chore easier.
Key Takeaways:
- Design around your routine: Consider how you wash, dry, fold and store before planning the cabinetry.
- Choose the right layout: Match the layout to your room dimensions, appliances and household needs.
- Plan smarter storage: Make space for hampers, cleaning products, vacuums and other everyday essentials.
- Add practical details: Small features like hanging rails, a lint bin or robot vacuum storage can make daily tasks easier.
- Consider custom joinery: Tailored cabinetry can make better use of awkward spaces and create a laundry that fits your lifestyle.
Why Good Laundry Design Matters
A laundry often stores much more than clothes. Brooms, mops, cleaning products, ironing boards, vacuum cleaners, linen and household supplies all need somewhere to go.
Good laundry design considers these items before cabinetry is built. At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, we look at how often you wash, whether you use a dryer, where you fold clothes, and what needs to be stored so the room works around your day-to-day routine.
Key takeaway: The best laundry design is not about adding the most features. It is about creating a space that suits your routine, appliances and available dimensions.
Choosing the Right Laundry Layout
The best laundry layout depends on the size and shape of the room, appliance choice, plumbing locations and how much storage or bench space you need.
| Layout | Best suited to | Main benefit |
| Single-wall | Narrow or compact laundries | Keeps appliances, sink and storage on one wall |
| Galley | Medium-sized rooms | Creates storage and workspace on both sides |
| U-shaped | Larger laundries | Maximises cabinetry and bench space |
| European laundry | Apartments and smaller homes | Conceals appliances when not in use |
| Laundry + mudroom | Family homes | Combines washing with practical entry storage |
A single-wall layout can work very well in a narrow laundry, while a galley or U-shaped design may suit a larger family home where storage is a priority. European-designed laundries are useful when appliances need to be integrated into another part of the home, particularly in apartments and homes with compact floorplans.
For some households, combining the laundry with a mudroom also makes sense. This can create dedicated storage for shoes, school bags, coats, sporting equipment and other items that tend to accumulate near an entrance.
Tip: Keep the washer, dryer and folding area close together where possible. A shorter workflow means less carrying wet clothes across the room.
Smart Storage Solutions That Keep Your Laundry Organised
When designing a laundry, having integrated storage solutions that work with both the space and the appliance is the best solution for a well-organised laundry.
Some integrations we suggest:
- Tall cupboards for brooms, mops and vacuums
- Overhead cabinetry
- Pull-out laundry hampers
- Hidden detergent and cleaning storage
- Integrated linen cupboards
- Cabinetry built around appliances
- Internal charging points for cordless equipment
Before designing cabinetry, measure bulky items such as your vacuum, ironing board and laundry baskets. Custom laundry cabinetry can then be built around what you actually own instead of relying on standard cupboard dimensions.
Tip: Use full-height cabinetry for awkward or bulky items, and keep frequently used products between waist and eye level so they are easier to reach.
Choosing Durable Materials and Finishes
A laundry needs to handle moisture, heat, spills and frequent cleaning, so choosing durable materials should be a top consideration when designing your laundry room.
What the best material is depends on where and how they are used:
- Cabinetry: Choose materials suitable for moisture-prone spaces, such as moisture-resistant board.
- Benchtops: Select a durable, easy-to-clean surface such as engineered or natural stone.
- Splashbacks: Use finishes that can cope with water and cleaning products, such as porcelain or ceramic tiles.
- Flooring: Ceramic and porcelain tiles are perfect for laundries as they are durable, easy to maintain and water-resistant.
- Hardware: Choose quality stainless steel or corrosion-resistant hinges, drawer runners and handles to improve the functionality and longevity of your laundry.
If your laundry sits near the kitchen or living area, carrying similar cabinetry profiles, handles, colours or benchtop finishes through both rooms can make the home feel more cohesive. With over two decades of experience in designing custom kitchen renovations, we can work with you to ensure your home’s renovation complements the same aesthetic and quality found in the rest of the home.
Practical Features That Can Make Life Easier
Some of the most useful laundry features are not the most obvious ones. Small details can make the room noticeably easier to use every day.
Hanging Rails
A hanging rail provides a dedicated space to air-dry shirts, delicates or freshly ironed clothing without taking up floor space. It can be particularly useful for households that prefer air drying or need somewhere to hang items straight from the washing machine.
Pull-Out Ironing Boards
An integrated ironing board can be stored inside cabinetry and pulled out when needed. This removes the need to find room for a bulky freestanding board elsewhere in the laundry.
Built-In Hampers
Pull-out hampers make it easier to sort laundry and keep baskets off the floor. Larger households may benefit from separate hampers for whites, colours or different family members.
Tip: At Vitality Kitchens & Joinery, we use pull-out hampers that can be easily removed from the cabinetry and used as laundry baskets. This makes it simple to carry washing to the line or around the house and saves space.
Robot Vacuum Storage
If you use a robot vacuum, consider giving it a dedicated floor-level space with access to power. This allows the vacuum to return to its charging dock and can be concealed when not in use.
Pull-Out Shelf Under the Washing Machine
For a front-loading washing machine, a pull-out shelf positioned underneath can provide somewhere to rest a basket while loading or unloading clothes. Raising the appliance to above hip height can also make access more comfortable.
Dryer Lint Bin
If you use the dryer regularly, a small pull-out or built-in bin positioned nearby gives you somewhere convenient to empty the lint filter after each load.
Charging Cupboards
A cupboard with an internal power point can keep cordless vacuums and other cleaning appliances charging while remaining neatly out of sight.
Pet Washing Areas
Pet owners may benefit from a deep utility sink or dedicated washing space, depending on the room dimensions and how the household uses the space.
Key Takeaway
Not every laundry needs all of these features. The better question to ask yourself is: which details would make your own routine easier? That is where custom design becomes particularly valuable. Rather than working from a fixed list of features, Vitality Kitchens & Joinery can help you identify the additions that genuinely suit your lifestyle.
Tip: Think about the small frustrations you notice every week. If you are always looking for somewhere to place a basket, charge a vacuum or hang a shirt, build that solution into the design.
Common Laundry Design Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Not allowing enough bench space
- Poor appliance placement
- Too few power points
- Insufficient ventilation
- Storage that does not fit larger items
- No hanging or drying space
- Choosing appearance over functionality
A simple approach is to consider the appliances first, workflow second and storage third. From there, you can select the aesthetics such as the cabinetry and finishes. Working with an experienced designer such as Vitality Kitchens & Joinery can help identify these issues before cabinetry is manufactured and installed. We also specialise in custom joinery, so you can rest assured that every part of your laundry is designed to maximise the available space, with cabinetry, appliances and storage fitting exactly as they should.
Why Choose a Custom Laundry Instead of a Standard Solution?
| Standard cabinetry | Custom joinery |
| Fixed cabinet sizes | Designed to exact dimensions |
| Limited options with layout & finishes | Storage tailored to your needs |
| May leave unused gaps | Makes better use of awkward spaces |
| Basic appliance integration | Designed around specific appliances |
Custom joinery can be particularly valuable when the floorplan is small, unusually shaped or needs to serve several purposes. For homeowners already planning a reliable kitchen renovation, designing the kitchen and laundry together can also help create consistency across cabinetry, finishes and hardware.
Create a Laundry That Works for Your Lifestyle
Before deciding how your laundry should look, start by thinking about how your home uses it day to day. For a busy family, this might mean prioritising hampers and folding space, while an apartment owner may need concealed appliances and vertical storage. Someone with pets may find more use from an integrated utility sink, while frequent dryer users may appreciate a nearby lint bin. There is no single formula for the perfect laundry. The best design responds to your household, your routines and the exact dimensions of the room.
With more than 20 years of experience in custom cabinetry and home renovations, Vitality Kitchens & Joinery designs custom laundries for Sydney homes that are shaped around how people actually use the space, focusing on practical layouts, storage and everyday functionality. If you’re planning a renovation, you can get in touch to discuss ideas for your own laundry.
