Homeowners are free to customize their homes in any style they want. From small renovations to room additions, you can update your home to match your preferences and needs.
If your home wasn’t built with a laundry room, you might consider whether to add one. Laundry rooms provide a designated area to clean and sort clothes, which can reduce disorganization or clutter in other areas of your home. Planning for this addition makes the installation process more seamless.
Here are some factors homeowners should consider when planning for a laundry room addition.
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and San Diego Counties with reliable pre vetted contractors, we frequently assist homeowners with their home addition projects. Here are some tips for adding an extra laundry room.
How Much Does a Laundry Room Addition Cost?
Laundry room additions vary widely in cost, depending on the room’s layout, size, features, and other factors. An addition could range between $2,000 and $15,000.
Your budget is one of the most important considerations for any major home project. Researching a typical laundry room cost helps you evaluate your finances and determine whether the project is manageable. High-end features can quickly increase your expenses, while basic renovations keep costs lower. Identify how much you can spend on the laundry room, then use that number to sort through expected costs.
What Are the Benefits of a Laundry Room Addition?
A laundry room addition is a significant investment, but it provides many benefits for your home. For instance, it adds advantages like:
- Increased home value: A new laundry room with equipment and storage can increase your home’s overall or resale value. Many property buyers cherish a separate space for laundry due to its convenience. New features and ample room increase value even further. If you want to sell your home in the future, the addition could assist with attracting buyers.
- Improved organization: Laundry rooms benefit your home’s organization and appearance. Without a laundry room, you might fit your washer and dryer into other crowded areas, like your kitchen. This arrangement makes it harder to complete laundry loads and forces you to fold clothes in other house areas. Your designated laundry space provides room for all laundry steps, from organizing to washing to folding. You can keep all of your clothes in one place instead of stowing them around the house.
How Can You Plan for a Laundry Room Addition?
From flooring to laundry equipment, laundry rooms have many features. By considering these factors, you can make a thorough plan for your addition. These are a few considerations for your new laundry room:
1. Location
Think about where you want to place your laundry room. Accessibility is important for laundry rooms — the easier it is to access, the easier it becomes to wash clothes.
Your location choice depends on your preferences. Some homeowners prefer their laundry rooms to be close to their bedrooms, so it doesn’t take as much time to transport clothes from one room to another. Others place their laundry rooms at the opposite end of their homes to avoid hearing laundry machine noises or vibrations.
In addition, it’s essential for laundry rooms to be near plumbing lines and ventilation. You might have to prioritize these accessibilities over your location preferences. Alternatively, you could also add a plumbing extension to implement new pipes.
2. Features
After you select a location, you should also consider your desired features for the laundry room. Some homeowners only keep the basics, like a washer, dryer and storage shelves. Others prefer an extensive layout with extra features.
By considering these beforehand, you can make the most effective building plan.
These are laundry room features to consider:
- Washer and dryer: You might want to use your current equipment or purchase new options for your addition. Many washer and dryer styles are available, letting homeowners select options that match their budgets and preferences. For example, you might prefer a front-load or top-load design. As you browse options, consider machine size and how different models would fit into your designated room. You need enough space for the machines to fit and open and close comfortably.
- Sink: You could also add a sink to your laundry room addition. Sinks allow you to pre-soak clothes, rinse delicate garments and wash your hands after handling sensitive cleaners. You can choose from many sink styles and find options that match your room’s design.
- Counters: You can place clothes or laundry product containers on extra counter space. You can choose counter styles and sizes that suit your budget and the laundry room’s appearance.
- Storage components: You might also want additional storage components to store laundry. Cabinets or shelves help you organize your laundry room and reduce clutter. You could attach cabinets to the walls or purchase free-standing shelves to meet these needs. Other options, like hanging racks or poles, let you hang wet clothes to dry.
- Flooring: Flooring is also a crucial consideration for your laundry room. The floors in this room must withstand humidity and moisture from laundry equipment, sinks and wet clothing. Many homeowners choose laminate or vinyl flooring because these options don’t absorb water and can be cleaned easily. Avoid materials like carpet that soak up moisture and could grow mold or mildew as a result.
- Paint or wallpaper: The laundry room walls tie the entire room together. You could choose a paint shade or wallpaper style that complements the floor, counters and equipment. Try a neutral shade or a colorful one to brighten the laundry room.
Create a Beautiful and Functional Laundry Room With These Tips
As you consider these features, organize them by importance and your available budget. For example, a new washer and dryer might be most important for those without the machines. Remember, an addition takes time — you don’t have to include all features at once. You can develop the basic setup of your laundry room and add features as time and expenses allow.
It can be daunting when attempting to find a reliable and quality contractor for your home addition project. That is why we started GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, or San Diego with reliable, thoroughly screened general contractors and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your laundry room addition project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
Author:
Rose Morrison is a home & construction writer from Pittsburgh, PA. She’s the managing editor of Renovated, a web magazine for the real estate industry. She’s most interested in sharing home projects and inspiration for the most novice of DIY-ers, values she developed growing up in a family of contractors.
