The design of an efficient multipurpose laundry room starts with good planning and by clarifying some key elements:

• location of the room in your home
• needs of the family
• budget and work involved

For real efficiency, the laundry room should be located close to the hub of activity in the home. You’ll cut down on the number of steps needed to carry out daily activities and help de-clutter your other rooms. Proximity to plumbing and the hot water tank is, of course, imperative.
If you locate your multipurpose room just steps from the back door, or the entrance used most often, you can make a mudroom or entryway to the rest of the house. By filtering the morning and evening traffic, you can say good bye to coats and school bags strewn over the floor or sports bags no one knows where to put!
Furthermore, a laundry room

• situated close to the kitchen or bathroom will reduce the back and forth movement between these rooms.
• created in the basement implies more walking back and forth, but keeps the noise of appliances at a distance.

If you don’t have an extra room you can use for a laundry room, a well-designed closet is still a viable solution. Well-planned storage, adequate lighting, and without too much effort, you can create a practical laundry space.

It is essential to define the needs and expectations of the members of your household. You then must assess your options in relation to your available space.

Consider the following: Number and age of family members: a family with young children does a lot of laundry. You need to facilitate sorting and increase the number of laundry baskets. Activities and hobbies: sports or work clothing mounts up, requiring space for drying and airing. You may want to include a hobby corner for crafts and scrapbooking. Work: a work station, including a designated area for recharging telephones and sorting paperwork and bills can simplify your life. By consolidating this activity in one spot, papers won’t be lost or mislaid, and you’ll reduce clutter in the rest of the house. Storage: space to store maintenance products, out of season clothing and Christmas decorations is very useful. Tip: think long-range, and anticipate future storage needs. Don’t worry, it won’t stay empty for long!

Creating a laundry room involves plumbing and electrical work, as well as finishing a room or area of the house. Here are certain elements you need to consider when working out your budget:

• Plumbing
• Electricity
• Cabinets and Counters
• Sink and Faucets
• Flooring
• Paint and Room finishing
• Appliances and Tub
• Lighting
• Storage Articles and Accessories (baskets, shelves, etc.)

You will probably need professionals to perform certain tasks. This will add to your costs; quite a lot sometimes. So, be sure to allow for this possibility in your budget.