Must-haves vs lust-haves: Laundry
LUST-HAVES
If you’ve got a large family, you’re likely to be spending a lot of time in the laundry, and some luxurious finishes would definitely make the chores seem less tedious. If the budget allows, you could mirror the kitchen materials, which might include glossy 2-pac cabinetry, beautiful tiles and engineered stone benchtops. On the practical side, a laundry chute from the upstairs bathroom is a luxe inclusion.
MUST-HAVES
Good quality appliances, a laundry sink and a surface for folding clothes are all you need for this practical space. Extra touches, such as a rail for hanging shirts or a wall-hung ironing board, are useful additions that won’t break the bank. Also, a heat pump dryer is another possibility. “They’re very efficient,” says senior marketing manager for home appliances Brad Reed of LG Electronics.
COMPROMISE
Match kitchen surfaces with cheaper alternatives, like marble-look Laminex, or splash out on one standout feature, such as a tiled splashback or a wall of beautiful wallpaper. If your laundry levels warrant a second washing machine, a good compromise could be a dual unit, such as LG’s TWINWash, which combines a large machine with a smaller ‘sidekick’ unit underneath for tackling smaller loads.
