Laundry rooms and mudrooms are combined into modern homes to enhance wellness design.
In the 1930s house I grew up in, the washing machine was in a dark, uncomfortable basement, two floors away from the bedroom closet. Today’s laundry rooms tend to be brighter, more comfortable, more functional, and usually in better locations. This is a huge advantage for both young families and older homeowners who struggle to carry loaded laundry baskets up and down stairs. It also greatly increases the functionality of your home, one of his five aspects of wellness design.
home center platform Hawes predicts that enhanced laundry spaces with mudroom functionality will be a strong trend in 2024. I agree. So do many of the home improvement experts I surveyed via email and social media groups.
smart installation
“Pairing a laundry room with a mudroom is a natural move for homes with cluttered hallways,” says Houzz Senior Editor Mitchell Parker. “This increasingly popular setup allows homeowners to avoid putting dirty sports uniforms, muddy winter jackets, and sandy beach towels directly into the washer, only to have the dirt build up inside their homes. ” he added.
“The popularity of the laundry/mudroom combo trend is no coincidence,” comments San Antonio-area custom home builder Tommy Ripe. “Seamlessly integrating two rooms with similar material needs not only streamlines construction, but also reduces square footage and simplifies our often hectic lives.”
The importance of resilience
Resilience is key scott jadensays the designer of his St. Louis-area laundry/mudroom project. “Since it’s a frequently used area, you need to spend money on quality machinery, flooring for your workspace, and all kinds of paint and wall coverings. The paint has to be wipeable and of high quality, and so does the wallpaper. It has to be similar.”
For New York-based architects, resilience is the norm harvard cooper Too. “I use stainless steel, tile, or concrete for sinks and countertops because of their durability and ease of cleaning. The appliances chosen are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also robust and energy efficient. , can also accommodate heavy laundry tasks. To deal with moisture, materials such as waterproof paints and backsplashes are used to protect walls from water damage,” he added.
Additionally, Tjaden suggests a large curved spout to hold water. “Some people prefer a hose attachment. If the laundry is near the back door, they may use the hose for cleaning or replanting,” he says.
Resilience is a must for Central California-based interior designers Wendy Glaisteragricultural customers. Their home is “surrounded by orchards, farms, and lots of dirt,” she thinks. We also prefer durable materials for sinks, such as antibacterial stainless steel, especially if we have to use harsh stain removers that can damage other materials. Glaister specifies vinyl plank and porcelain flooring for their resilience and ease of cleaning, she says.
Pet-friendly multitasking
Flex spaces, such as a combined laundry and mudroom area, are perfect for busy households. “Having everything in one place makes it easier for him to multitask,” Parker commented. Multitasking also includes things like housework, hobbies, and pets. “A mudroom is a convenient place for your dog to pause, whether it’s a space for your pet to eat or a place to store walk-related items you grab when you head out the door.”Many on Houzz Homeowners are installing pet showers in muddy laundry rooms to keep muddy footprints out of the main house.”
Ottawa-based cabinetmaker Deborah Gervais In her area, there has been a steady increase in pet-related amenities, such as “washing machines specifically for animal blankets and clothing (for people who keep cows and horses) so they don’t get mixed up with other things.”
A New York-based renovation company owner suggests that a “slop sink” can also be used as a pet washing area for small dogs. jean brownhill.Atlanta-based designer Stephanie Ives I like that it has a pet door, a toilet area with an exhaust fan, and a built-in kennel and feeding station. She also likes to have space for recycling management and robot vacuum charging stations.
Mudrooms are also great places to store outdoor sports gear, such as wall-mounted ski racks, cubbyholes for hats and helmets, and areas under benches for boots and shoes, Parker says. talk.
Necessities
If this is a trend you’re considering for your home, there are a few elements you’ll definitely want to include. Parker points to a utility sink with a pull-down faucet that makes washing hands and rinsing muddy gear easier. Hooks, sorting areas, and cabinets for supplies and storage also benefit from these utility spaces.
Las Vegas based interior designer Patricia Gaylor A bench is incorporated into the drop zone area near the entrance of the home. The “build with low seating with an open cubby for removing shoes before entering the main part of the house” helps keep these spaces clean inside the house. A small shower area will also help in this regard.
Convenient things to have
“Underfloor radiant heating is especially beneficial in cold climates,” Houzz editors comment, noting that it not only keeps your feet warm but also helps dry your boots.
Parker also suggests incorporating a workstation if you have the space. It can be used for folding laundry, wrapping gifts, shipping packages, hobbies, etc. “Having everything in one place makes it easier for him to multitask,” Parker says. Glaister likes to have an area to hang and dry hand-washable clothes, and Gervais suggests a built-in ironing board and additional pantry storage.
Cooper suggests integrating a home automation panel. “This feature allows homeowners to control laundry appliances, lighting, and security systems from the laundry room.” Laundry sorting bins can also be helpful, he notes. “Technology enthusiasts will appreciate the integrated phone charging center and robot vacuum base,” he added. Some designers incorporate device charging stations and family calendars into their projects.
new york designer Isfira Jensen Among her favorite things to have is “beautiful, multi-layered lighting.” “This means having a good central light fixture that provides ambient lighting and layering it with task lighting in the form of sconces or LED strip lights.” recommends drawers with good ventilation.
Boulder-based interior designer Megan B. Daughtry suggests having “designated baskets and large wardrobe cabinets for the whole family to store their gear.”
personalization
One trend we’ve been seeing throughout the home for quite some time is personalization. The fact that it appears in these practical areas speaks to its growing importance to homeowners and their families. “Photo of Popular mudroom At Houzz, we offer appealing style, smart built-in cabinetry, appealing furniture and décor, and bold colors,” says Parker.
Brownhill sees “fun tiles and printed wallpaper.” She points out that these high-traffic areas benefit from congested patterns that hide scuffs and wear. Daughtry creates custom her calendars and boards to track her family’s activities and children’s growth. Ives says she’s starting to receive requests for digital family calendars.
Enhanced style definitely makes laundry a more enjoyable chore. I’m sure my late mother enjoyed many of these features, but back then a luxury laundry was unthinkable. Currently, my townhouse has a compact laundry closet, but a laundry mudroom. flex space Definitely on my wish list for my next home.
