Upstairs or Downstairs: Where Should You Put Your Laundry Room?
Upstairs or Downstairs: Where Should You Put Your Laundry Room?
Our Austin Architects Weigh in on the Upstairs vs. Downstairs Laundry Room Battle
Where to put the laundry room becomes a big topic of debate among spouses when designing a home, and we’re here to settle this once and for all. In one corner, we have the upstairs laundry room, which boasts the convenience of being close to all the bedroom closets. In the other, we have the downstairs laundry room, which packs an extra punch as a utility or mudroom. Who will win in the upstairs vs. downstairs laundry room battle? Let’s find out!
The Great Laundry Room Debate
Our team of Austin architects has found that homeowners have very strong opinions on where to put the laundry room! Typically, one spouse wants an upstairs laundry while the other prefers downstairs. So, we’re weighing in on the laundry room battle. (And the answer isn’t opting for a single-story house over a two-story house.) Follow along for our #1 place to put the laundry room.
Is an Upstairs or Downstairs Laundry Room Better?
So, is an upstairs or downstairs laundry room better? The answer depends on your lifestyle, needs, and approach to chores. Here are some laundry room location pros and cons to keep in mind.
Upstairs Laundry Room Pros and Cons
Pro: Closer to the Bedrooms
Bedrooms tend to be located upstairs, which means upstairs laundry rooms are closer to the closets and dirty clothes. Many people like this option because it means you don’t have to haul loads of laundry up and down the stairs.
Con: Not a Good Utility Room Location
Opponents of the upstairs laundry point out that many laundry spaces double as a mudroom or utility closet, and the upstairs isn’t a good location for either. After all, you don’t want family members tracking dirt through the house or your kitchen cleaning supplies to be a whole flight of stairs away.
Downstairs Laundry Room Pros and Cons
Pro: Closer to Other Household Workrooms
One of the main benefits of a main-level laundry room is that it is closer to other household work rooms like the garage, mudroom, kitchen, and utility closet. These are where the really messy clothes and rags pile up! Downstairs laundry fans also point out that downstairs laundry rooms make multitasking easier because you can put on a load of laundry while cooking dinner or doing other chores.
Con: Taking Clothes Up and Down
If you have a downstairs laundry room, you will have to haul clothes up and down the stairs to and from the bedrooms. For a larger family, this could become a chore in itself. However, don’t forget about laundry that collects on the main level. If you have an upstairs laundry, you will still have to bring dirty kitchen towels up the stairs (which people tend to forget about). ]]\
So, Where Should You Put Your Laundry Room?
So, the pros and cons of upstairs and downstairs laundry rooms seem to even out. Instead of thinking about different floors, we should consider other location factors when deciding where to put the laundry room.
Assess Your Approach to Chores
First, take time to assess how you approach your household chores. You can even do a practice run with a pretend load of laundry. Does it make more sense for you to incorporate the laundry room in the kitchen design so you can do all your chores in one place? Or is it better to have an upstairs laundry central to all the bedrooms so each family member can handle their own washing? Examining how you work through chores will bring some much-needed clarity.
Consider Placement Near Other Key Rooms
Instead of thinking up or down, consider the laundry room’s proximity to other key areas of the home. Would you like a laundry room right off the primary bedroom so you can easily steam your shirts in the morning while you get ready? If you spend a lot of time gardening, it might make sense to have the laundry in a mudroom so you don’t track dirt through the house. Work-from-home employees might want the laundry room close to their home office to get chores done in between meetings, while avid athletes could benefit from having the laundry close to their home gym.
Should You Add a Laundry Chute to Your Home?
Would adding a laundry chute to your home solve the upstairs vs. downstairs laundry room conundrum? For some families, a centrally located upstairs laundry chute could be the answer for collecting clothes in a convenient downstairs laundry room. You’d still have to bring laundry upstairs, but it would save a trip!
Settling the Upstairs vs. Downstairs Laundry Room Battle Once and For All
So, should you do an upstairs or downstairs laundry room? Our team of Austin architects has the answer to solve this debate once and for all. Do both!
Two laundry rooms could be the best way to settle this debate and meet all of your laundry needs. Many of our clients choose to include a laundry room in the main downstairs utility or mudroom as well as an upstairs laundry close to the primary suite. After all, laundry does collect on both floors! With two laundry rooms, you can also finish the chore in half the time.
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