A New Spin on Your Laundry Room
Fully Loaded Laundry Room
Laundry rooms are often crammed, busy spaces. Many times they are more practical than inspiring, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Surrounding yourself with beautiful colours, finishes and a calming but practical lighting scheme is one way to make the chore of doing laundry a little more enjoyable. And adding the latest laundry appliances and innovations helps too.
When it comes to designing a laundry room, rely on kitchen cabinetry to add storage space for cleaning products and other essentials. Classic elements like Shaker-style profiles and neutral quartz countertops will make the room timeless, yet functional. If a modern look is what you are trying to achieve, opt for brightly hued laminates for a pop of colour. The addition of picture rails or shelves offer additional storage for laundry supplies or a handy ledge to display artwork to dress up the space. Tile floors provide an easy-to-clean surface, especially when grout is kept to a minimum, and can add dimension and interest by using graphic-patterned tiles.
Amp it Up
Adding a dash of colour to the laundry room can be achieved with decorative items or laundry appliances. Washers and dryers are now available in varied hues such as bright red and charcoal. But before you make a final choice on appliances consult with your Licensed Electrical Contractor because you may need an electrical upgrade. That beautiful washing machine needs to be on a 120-volt 15 or 20-amp receptacle, on its own circuit. The outlet should be placed out of reach and directly behind the machine. Any outlets within a child’s reach need to be Tamper-Resistant. And that’s not all. At least one other receptacle must be installed in the laundry room to support any other 120-volt 15 or 20-amp receptacles. These outlets will power your iron, steamer, heated drying rack or any other high-tech solutions you’re adding and can be on the same circuit as that for the washing machine.
Wash and Go
When grass stains need a scrub or a tablecloth needs to soak after a lively dinner party, you’ll be glad you added a laundry tub to this hardworking space. But forget about bulky plastic and opt for a deep sink with sleek black or gold fixtures to make cleaning a stylish task. While it’s safe to say most of us know that water and electricity don’t mix, not everyone knows there’s a specific kind of outlet that can help prevent shock. Any receptacle located within 1.5 metres of a laundry sink — or any sink for that matter — must be protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). Working with a Licensed Electrical Contractor will help make sure all your receptacles meet the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, so can just focus on the design aspects.
Lighter Lights, Brighter Whites
While bright task lighting might be needed to spot stains, consider adding some ambient lighting for longer tasks such as folding laundry or ironing. LED strip lighting can be added to open shelving, but don’t forget to also include functional lighting for closets and storage areas. To prevent fire, remember that pot lights need to be at least 15 centimetres (150 millimetres) from anything considered flammable — from those extra boxes of dryer sheets to the actual shelving itself — while surface mounted lights need to be 30 centimetres away.
Getting the right electrical plan in place may sound like a lot of work but don’t fret; Licensed Electrical Contractors are experts who’ve been trained to make your home electrically safe and powered to meet your needs. They’ll also file the required notifications of work to the Electrical Safety Authority. Remember to ask your Licensed Electrical Contractor for the Certificate of Acceptance from ESA — confirmation that your electrical work has been done according to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.