New Laundry Room Standards: Stations for the ultimate utility room

Laundry rooms have evolved considerably over the last decade. They have earned much more attention than they have been given. Self-sufficiency and sustainability are quickly becoming a lifestyle standard. The needs of the laundry room have evolved to the point of pushing to expand in size. The butler's pantry concept has returned causing cabinet companies to add passthrough doors to their product lines. The doors create a seamless look of built in cabinetry from the main kitchen but open into an oasis of stations for cooking, juicing, gardening, storage, dog grooming, crafting, home maintenance, mud room clean up....and laundry. You can do everything but park the car in these handy rooms that serve as a passing room from the garage to the kitchen. In the end, maybe we are coming full circle and witnessing the revival of the utility room. With some imagination and skill form is added to function resulting in beautiful design that is enjoyable to spend time in.

In this post we will look at the most popular stations to add to a laundry room. For those that get overwhelmed by maximizing this often overlooked space it is recommended to use a kitchen and bath specialist to develop the project. Their skills will help you to include the following:

• Plumbing for all of the desired appliance
• Proper placement of outlets and switches
• Lighting Design
• Storage options
• Necessary tools, appliances and fixtures to include
• Proper materials and finishes for the higher humidity levels

JUICING & CULTIVATING: One of the most prominent additions to the laundry room is the juicing station. Many homeowners are choosing to add herbs and vegetables to their landscaping. This is so they can control how the ingredients for their juices and meals are grown. There is peace of mind that they are truly organic not just meeting the minimum requirement to be labeled "organic". Having a place in the laundry room to prepare them to be dried, refrigerated or used immediately is more favorable than brining dirt into the main kitchen. 

Equally attractive is the under counter cultivator. They are simple to use and maintain. Homeowners simply add their favorite seeds to start seedlings and transplant them to the garden when they are ready. Another option is to grow bushy micro greens to be harvested as needed so there is no waste. Any leftovers can simply be composted adding rich soil to the landscape or house plants. The demand to compost has lead to the invention of tabletop composter that create fertilizer. They are compact enough to set on the countertop or on a pullout shelf. Some are so efficient that they can produce fertilizer from organic waste in as little as 3hrs.

CRAFTING: Synonymous with self-sufficiency is the term DIY. When it comes to gift giving, there is such a feeling of peace when all of the wrapping and trimming is one place. It is also convenient to have packaging materials organized on hand for home based businesses. Dedicate some space to storage for small home projects too.

Having these items within reach make repair and crafting something that is more likely to get done in a timely fashion. The worst is trying to rummage through a "junk drawer" to find what you need. Inevitably the drawer gets jammed because its overfilled. The other common annoyance is getting your hands torn up on sharp and jagged objects hiding out of sight. Think about everything you use on a regular basis. Better still, make a list of what you have and what you want so that you will have storage for future items. 

 Items like:

• a small toolbox 
• screws, nails and finishing nails 
• picture hangers 
• a variety of tape
• scissors
• small clamps 
• a variety of glue
• glue gun
• paintable caulking
• plumber's caulking
• and wood fill
• etc...

OFFICE SPACE:  There is nothing more frustrating than distractions if you have a home based business. One fix is keeping an office space where all of the action is instead of it being spread out. If you have to travel from one end of the house to other to do this or that, there are a variety of diversions that can catch your attention. 

This is especially helpful if your home office doubles as a guest room. No need to curtail your routine if the home office is otherwise occupied, you have an office annex. It also might be helpful if your annex is set up for vlogging or photographing your product. This allows all of the administrative work to stay in the main office. If you have to stop mid activity, you can rest assured that it will be left untouched. If you share this space with your crafting station you should have plenty of storage room available for your equipment and supplies too.

PET PARLOR: There is a level of comfort that comes from having your pet present while working. Regardless if it is housework or administrative simply knowing your furbaby is near is relaxing. Cat or dog there are simple and innovative ways to include them in your laundry room. Both have their requirements. Dogs need bathing and grooming but cats need a home for their litterbox. Both like a safe and secure place to rest. Both need to eat as well as storage for their food and belongings. How handy to have a station dedicated to those needs. 

If you will have an "office" station a place for them to rest and be near you should also be added. Studies have shown that the presence of a pet reduces stress levels, depression and loneliness as well as encouraging exercise. There are many options for hanging and wall mount cat play stations. Cabinets are perfect for a built-in kennels that have an option for a dog door to the exterior of the home. 

LAUNDRY STATION: The ultimate station for pre-treating, washing, drying and folding clothing and textiles. Add to the list storage for dirty clothes, cleaners and household tools. Take notes on how The Brain & The Brawn have designed their laundry station. It is self contained and one wall of the room. Kitchens & Baths By Lynn is expert at packing in amenities and storage. 

Whether you call it a utility room or a laundry room this hardworking space deserves as much attention as the kitchen and bathroom. Built in cabinetry adds warmth, flexibility and organization to the space. It can be overwhelming as a DIY project but not impossible with time and patience. If you are short on time a kitchen and bath specialist is highly recommended. They are experts on space planning and storage options with close relationships with their vendors. Good luck with your newest remodel project!