It is very important to decide when to remodel or renovate the laundry room. It would be prudent to get it done when you are already into a major repair spree in other areas of the house i.e. kitchen, bathrooms, etc. as you already have a home renovation contractor working in your home. No matter when you decide to renovate the laundry rooms, here are a few cost-effective tips to help you get started.
It is a bit strange, but a fact! Even though we spend long hours in the laundry room, we hardly give it a thought to redo the place. In other words, we don’t pay extra attention to it. Do we? Whenever we plan to renovate our sweet little home, we prioritize kitchen, bedrooms and other favorite areas, while the utility place is more or less ignored.
In fact, laundry rooms are not just about washing & drying the clothes. Just think about how they are being utilized in today’s homes viz. storage for vacuum cleaners, brooms; a work-from-home corner, a breakfast area, a pantry room, etc.
A Laundry Room Renovation in an Organized Fashion
Now, how often do you do laundry? It may be daily or once a week, depending on the number of family members. You can have a separate basket for each with a monthly calendar showing the turns of different family members, averting a daily confusion. But, if the laundry room is small, it will still create chaos and leave you with an untidy mess of clothes. To avoid you the trouble, let’s focus on key factors that require your attention while renovating a laundry room on a budget.
1. Do not overlook the Lighting
When do you do the laundry? Well, if it is during day-time, the room should have sufficient natural light & hence a small window would become essential. If it is in the night, then appropriate, adequate lighting system is a must. You can hire a reputed electrician to help you install task lighting for the utility sink and suggest affordable ideas to illuminate the place. A pendant lighting can also be an easy way of adding character to the room.
2. Painting the Area
Next to ponder would be the location of the laundry room. The more visible it is, the more attractive you would want it to be. You can think of installing colorful wallpaper for the room. You do not need to cover all the walls with wallpaper. Instead, you can choose an accent wall and highlight it with the design of your choice. If you want to paint the room, consider a semi-gloss paint that repels moisture.
3. Few Add-ons
As a value addition, you can also have a compact music system fitted in a corner for some soothing, light music while doing all the boring laundry work. If the laundry room is bigger, homeowners can consider creating a workspace in the area. You can add a bit of greenery to the room by installing a few potted plants. How about adding more storage to the laundry room? It will help in using the room as a storage area along with fulfilling the purpose of doing laundry.
4. Ironing the clothes
Once the laundry is done, do you use the room for ironing the clothes? If you are going to iron your outfits before putting them away, you need to have a counter station or a counter top with a durable material. Instead of choosing to install the counter top on your own, hire a home renovation contractor who has the right tools for installation. Make sure you browse through the large variety of countertop materials available in the market before you make the purchase.
5. The Necessary Appliances
When it comes to washing appliances, you have the choice of front-loading washing machines or top-loading ones in a wide price range. Choose an all-in-one washer/dryer to save place. If you require help in making the decision, ask the home renovation contractor to suggest you best brands at economical rates. If there is going to be an addition to your family, make sure you consider the additional laundry burden on the appliances and make the purchase accordingly.
How much does it cost to Renovate a Laundry Room?
When creating a budget for the laundry room, start with the basics first. Decide what you want to retain & what you need to replace. E.g. you can simply paint the counter top and replace it later to save cost. You can stain the cabinets now to avoid additional cost. You can buy appliances during Christmas or Black Friday sales to lower the expenditure. Opting for $10-$15 shelves is also a good way of avoiding additional expense on building custom new cabinets.
Once you are sure of what things you need to change, you can provide your requirements to the home renovation contractor who will help you to arrive at an accurate budget. Usually, a low-end laundry renovations project can cost you $2000. It will include repairing the drywall & flooring, painting the walls & cabinets and installing a new utility sink. If you are looking for a complete overhaul including new appliances, custom cabinets and luxurious settings, you may have to spend $6000-$7000.
Laundry Renovation: Be a Prudent Homeowner
When you are ready with the budget, get started on the laundry room renovations. Make sure you save all the documents including building permit, construction papers, warranty cards, manuals and product information for future care and maintenance. Once the renovation project is complete, walk through the entire space and ensure it is according to your requirements. Remember being prudent and cautious means getting more bang for your bucks.
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