6 Ways to Squeeze a Sink Into a Laundry Space
Even those of us with compact laundry rooms may be able to get an oh-so-useful sink in there
Every day on Houzz I see a new laundry room that’s bigger than my living room. Craft stations, drying racks, room for ironing, extra refrigerators … I’ve even seen one laundry room with a warming coat closet in it. All of those things are great, but one of the most useful extras is a sink, for pre-treating stains, soaking and hand-washing our delicates. Unfortunately for many of us, our laundry rooms don’t even merit the term room — closet is more appropriate. But don’t despair, there’s still hope for fitting a sink in a small laundry space.
1. The stackable solution. The good thing about a laundry room designed for side-by-side appliances is that it immediately gains space if you switch over to stackables. Suddenly, half of that appliance-designated floorspace is available for a sink.
2. The closet solution. Many of us have only a double closet for our laundry “room.” These charming doors conceal quite a smart solution.
Behind doors No. 1 and 2, there’s a sink and storage; behind doors No. 3 and 4, a stackable washer-dryer. There’s even enough room for a water softener below the sink, plus storage overhead. Perfect for cleaning supplies, a laundry basket or extra linens.
3. The bathroom-laundry combo. I know, it doesn’t sound all that sexy, but with a good design like this one, it can be a great solution.
4. The laundry-bar combo. The idea behind a college laundromat-bar-music venue in Cincinnati called Sudsy Malone’s always struck me as genius. (Alas, the place is now gone.) What’s better than listening to some great music with a domestic draft while performing the drudgery of laundry? This finished basement is the residential version of that philosophy.
The large sink does double duty. With the appliances cleverly tucked behind attractive built-ins, the sink serves as a wet bar for the basement as well as a place to work on stains and hand-wash delicates.
The large sink does double duty. With the appliances cleverly tucked behind attractive built-ins, the sink serves as a wet bar for the basement as well as a place to work on stains and hand-wash delicates.
5. The under-stair solution. This design takes a similar approach, but in the often-wasted space beneath a staircase. The counter and sink can be used for laundry and then, when it’s time to relax with friends, as a wet bar or buffet.
6. The mudroom-laundry room-back entry solution. A back-entry hall can be wasted space. If you have kids, you know how great this is. They can strip out of muddy uniforms here and throw them straight into the washer without mucking up the rest of the house. Then they can knock off the excess mud in their cleats right in the sink.
On the other side of the narrow space there’s room to dry clothes and hang coats — or even robes for the kiddos for when they’re down to their skivvies in here.
Your turn: Have you squeezed a sink into a tight laundry room space? If so, please share a photo in the Comments.
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Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
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Your turn: Have you squeezed a sink into a tight laundry room space? If so, please share a photo in the Comments.
More
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
Browse more laundry room photos