Recently, we have been reviewing plans for a custom new build and are revising the interior to better support a family of four. As we work through each space of the home, the laundry room offers a particularly clear opportunity for improvement and highlights how thoughtful layout planning can make a meaningful impact.

Designing For Daily Life

We are designing this home for two adults, two young children (ages three and five), and a playful chocolate lab. As we discussed the vision for their home, one theme kept surfacing: laundry is something they deal with almost daily, and they need a space that can accommodate their lifestyle. We all know how fast laundry piles up with kids this age, so designing an efficient, accessible laundry area was a top priority.

When evaluating utility spaces, we pay close attention to any layout elements that could create unnecessary friction in everyday routines. From there, we work with our clients to identify their must-haves for the space and revise it based on their feedback.

For this custom new build, the family wanted:

• Space to sort and organize laundry without piles forming on the floor
• A generously sized folding counter
• Room for children to participate in their own laundry routines
• Storage for bulk household supplies
• A large drying rod and a small soaking sink
• A door that could close the space off when needed

Reviewing the Existing Laundry Room Floor Plan

When we reviewed the laundry room layout more closely, it was clear that the floor plan did not fully support the way this family would like to use it day to day. The room’s depth left very little space in front of the appliances and counters for comfortable movement, and the clearances would make it difficult for more than one person to use the room at a time.

Additionally, the layout did not offer a generous folding surface or an intentional place to organize dirty laundry, which would likely result in baskets or piles accumulating on the floor.

After careful review, we identified several key constraints:

• Tight circulation with minimum clearances
• Limited counter space for folding laundry
• Limited storage
• Smaller door, window, and sink than preferred
• No designated organization for dirty laundry

Our Proposed Laundry Room Floor Plan & Design Solutions

With a clear understanding of the family’s priorities and the constraints of the existing layout, we translated those insights into a series of targeted design moves:

First, we are shifting the east exterior wall out by one foot and moving the southern demising wall by one foot. This allows us to rework the laundry room’s footprint without significantly affecting the home’s overall structural integrity. These modest adjustments gave us the breathing room we needed to improve clearances and better support the family’s needs.

Then, we refined the following details:

1. Increased overhead storage for infrequently used and bulk household items
2. Stacked washer and dryer with deep storage above to maximize vertical space
3. Integrated a long drying rod above the folding area for hang-to-dry items
4. Incorporated a 30-inch-deep, standard-height folding counter with laundry cart storage below
5. Increased the window size to bring in more natural light and improve visibility while sorting and treating laundry
6. Widened the door opening to comfortably accommodate someone carrying a laundry basket
7. Increased clearances in front of cabinetry and appliances to support movement and shared use
8. Planned for a larger sink for soaking and everyday clean-up

When interior planning happens early, even modest changes have an impactful ripple effect. In this custom new build, thoughtful adjustments to the footprint and layout create a laundry room that actually supports how our clients want to use the space day to day.

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This laundry room is just one piece of the Orchard Drive Project series. You can read more about the early planning stages and behind-the-scenes details for this custom new build home in the posts linked below.