Photography: Mindi Cooke / Styling: Carlene Duffy
If there’s one room that’s earning its keep in today’s Australian homes, it’s the combined bathroom and laundry. Once considered a compromise reserved for tiny apartments, these hardworking spaces have evolved into beautifully designed rooms where practicality and style go hand in hand.
Whether you’re renovating an older home, planning a compact extension or simply making better use of your existing floorplan, combining your bathroom and laundry can free up valuable space elsewhere in the house.
The secret lies in thoughtful planning. With concealed appliances, clever storage and carefully chosen finishes, it’s entirely possible to create a room that feels like a luxurious bathroom first, and a functional laundry second.
“Sharpen your pencil and draw up a wish list of things you need and want. Allow your mind to wander beyond the practical and consider styling touches that can bring a room to life.”
INTERIOR STYLIST AND HOMEWARES OWNER, TARA DENNIS
(Credit: Photographer: Simon Whitbread)
Is a combined bathroom and laundry right for you?
A bathroom-laundry combo isn’t the perfect solution for every household, but it can be a game changer for smaller homes, apartments and growing families looking to maximise every square metre.
It works well if you:
- have limited floor space
- want to create a larger kitchen or living area by relocating the laundry
- are renovating an older home with an awkward layout
- want to simplify plumbing by keeping wet areas together
The main consideration is how your household uses the space. If several family members need the bathroom while laundry is running, careful planning around storage, ventilation and appliance placement becomes even more important.
Conceal appliances for a calm, bathroom-first feel
The easiest way to elevate a combined bathroom and laundry is to hide the hardworking elements behind custom cabinetry. Integrated joinery allows washing machines, dryers, detergents and cleaning supplies to disappear completely when not in use, creating a much more relaxing environment.
Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry also provides an opportunity to include pull-out hampers, broom storage and shelving for towels and linen, reducing visual clutter throughout the room.
Customise your laundry space by including a cabinet where you can hang an ironing board and iron from a rack on the inside of the door, or incorporate a shelf for iron storage. Fold-out ironing stations work well in a combined laundry/bathroom, as do table ironing boards you can use on the vanity top. “If opting for a pull-out ironing board in a cupboard, remember to install a powerpoint inside the unit,” advises interior designer Victoria Waters of Victoria Waters Design.
Note: Check your local electrical safety codes (like AS/NZS 3000 in Australia) regarding the minimum clearance distances required between power outlets and water sources like the vanity basin.”
If custom joinery isn’t within budget, bifold or pocket doors can achieve a similar effect while allowing easy access to appliances when needed.
Home Beautiful Idea
In the most successful bathroom renovations, appliances disappear behind timber or painted cabinetry, allowing beautiful stone, feature tiles and statement tapware to become the focal point rather than the washing machine.
Choose a layout that suits your space
Every room is different, but there are several layouts that consistently work well:
Stack appliances vertically
Stacking a dryer above a front-loading washing machine instantly frees valuable floor space for additional storage or a larger vanity.
Position appliances under the benchtop
Where width allows, placing appliances beneath a continuous benchtop creates a practical folding station while maintaining clean horizontal lines throughout the room.
Keep plumbing together
Positioning the vanity, washing machine and shower on the same plumbing wall can reduce renovation costs and simplify installation.
Prioritise ventilation from the beginning
Bathrooms and laundries are both high-moisture environments, so combining the two makes good ventilation essential.
A quality exhaust fan should be sized appropriately for the room, while operable windows can help reduce humidity after showers and laundry cycles. If you’re installing a dryer, consider whether a heat pump model may better suit the space, as it generates less excess moisture than traditional vented dryers. Good ventilation doesn’t just improve comfort, it also helps protect cabinetry, paint finishes and grout from mould and mildew over time.
Make storage work harder
Storage is what separates a practical combined space from one that constantly feels cluttered. The right laundry storage solutions can make even the tiniest laundry stay tidy and help you tackle mountains of washing more efficiently.
Clothes
“Often bathrooms don’t have enough hanging space but there are simple tricks to fix this – try over-door towel racks or even extra rails to hook over the shower screen,” recommends Cathy Player of Howards Storage World. A heated towel rail with multiple rungs can double as a drying rack for small items of clothing. You could also try integrating a drying cupboard into your cabinetry so clothes can dry out of view. “Drying racks in full-height cabinetry above a ducted heating vent create a drying cupboard in winter, and beach towel storage in summer,” says designer Serena Elise of White Chalk Interiors.
(Credit: Photographer: Dave Wheeler | Styling: Lisa Burden)
The last thing you want is for guests to spy piles of dirty clothes or yet-to-be-ironed laundry. Stack neatly folded items in labelled baskets to make it easy to clear the benchtops when you expect visitors, and use the space to display guest towels.
“Built-in cabinets create a streamlined look and offer plenty of storage,” says Tara.
Cleaning products
Pour laundry powders and cleaning products into canisters, and store bits and bobs in wicker baskets to keep clutter under control.
If you have open shelving, keep the look fresh and uncluttered by coordinating accessories. “Invest in a collection of matching caddies or colourful trugs to give the space a visual sense of order,” advises Cathy Player from Howards Storage World.
(Credit: Photographer: Armelle Habib | Styling: Julia Green)
Select finishes that unify the room
One of the easiest ways to make a combined bathroom and laundry feel intentional is by using consistent finishes throughout.
Extending the same floor tiles across the entire room helps blur the boundaries between each zone, while matching cabinetry and benchtops create a seamless look. Wall-hung vanities also expose more floor area, making compact rooms feel noticeably larger. Natural stone, engineered stone, porcelain and timber-look cabinetry all work beautifully together, while warm metallic tapware adds a refined finish without overpowering the space.
Don’t forget lighting
Layered lighting makes a noticeable difference in a multifunctional room. Combine general ceiling lighting with task lighting around the vanity and softer accent lighting inside shelving or niches where possible. Good lighting not only improves functionality but also makes the room feel more like a spa retreat than a utility space.
Design trends we’re loving
Today’s combined bathroom laundries feel nothing like the purely functional spaces of the past. Instead, homeowners are embracing bespoke joinery and elevated materials that allow the room to blend seamlessly with the rest of the home. Some of our favourite ideas include fluted timber cabinetry, integrated laundry hampers, concealed power points inside cupboards, stone splashbacks that continue behind appliances, oversized mirrors and stacked heat pump dryers hidden behind full-height doors.
The result is a room that’s practical enough for everyday family life while still delivering the calm, considered aesthetic of a beautiful bathroom.
Decorate and distract
Distract from the utilitarian aspects of the room by making the bathing area beautiful. You can do this by decorating the room with bathroom-loving indoor plants, an elegant flower arrangement or even a vignette of beautiful bathroom products including soaps, lotions, scented candles and perfumes. The idea is to draw the eye away from the laundry. Plush towels and candles will help to create a soothing environment, while an illuminated mirror is a thoughtful touch for guests.
To up the luxe factor, consider a show-stopping shower for your pamper zone. “We always recommend to have one feature piece – a luxurious shower is a welcoming experience for any guest!” says Karine. Ceiling-hung rain showers have the added advantage of keeping the wall clear. Opt for an enclosed shower so water doesn’t splash on drying clothes that might be nearby.
