The laundry is often the smallest room in the home and, even if you’re lucky enough to have a big one, it’s not an area that’s top of the reno list.
Here are seven easy tips and tricks to give your laundry a bit of extra love and sparkle:
1. Tile the splashback and cut the benchtop DIY to save on costs – how handy are you!
2. Power through laundry with a Bosch i-DOS Auto-dosing Washing Machine and
HeatPump Dryer.
3. A timber shelf adds warmth to a white space and shows off your accessories.
4. For a bespoke hand towel holder, turn timber offcuts into a ladder (instructions below).
5. Flat-pack kitchen cabinets work well in the laundry too – and are easy to install.
6. Save space and boost your storage with a built-in sink – instead of a freestanding laundry tub – and a front loader and tumble dryer you can tuck under the bench, leaving the wall free for cabinetry (instructions below).
7. A timber sink cover is a clever way to get more bench space.
If your laundry is old and inefficient – or non-existent – here’s how to install one from scratch without breaking the bank. The trick is flat-pack cabinetry and a bit of easy woodwork.
How to make a mini timber ladder:
What you’ll need:
- Offcut of hardwood panel
- 3 x 350 x 19mm pine dowel
- Circular saw
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Combination square
- 19mm spade bit
- Drill
- Masking tape
- Clamp
- Belt sander
- Sikabond PVA glue
- Sandpaper
- Varnish
- Paintbrush
Here’s how:
1. Use circular saw to cut 33mm wide and 500mm long strips from the offcuts of the hardwood panels from your laundry makeover (see over page). Lay strips side by side on your bench so the ends are flush.
2. To mark position of holes for the ladder rungs, measure and mark every 150mm down the centre of one of the timber strips.
3. Use a combination square to transfer the line of marks made on 1 strip to the other. This will ensure they are exactly the same place along on both strips. Also ensure that you have marked in the centre of both strips.
4. Use 19mm spade bit to drill holes 10mm deep at each marked point on both strips. Use masking tape on the spade bit to ensure you have marked the centre of the strip and drilled the correct depth.
5. At the top end of the strips, use clamp and belt sander to taper the face of the strip that will sit against the wall when the ladder is assembled.
6. Squirt PVA glue into holes in strips and insert dowels into holes. Repeat to attach second strip to open ends of dowels. Remove excess glue using a damp rag.
7. Sand ladder, then remove dust and apply 2 coats of clear varnish with paintbrush, allowing to dry after each coat.
How to add timber accents to your laundry:
What you’ll need:
- Flat-pack kitchen base, pantry and wall cabinets
- Hardwood panel 2400x 900 x 33mm
- White tiles 600x 300mm
- Hardwood plywood 4mm
- Cabinet doors, handles and hinges
- Sink and tap
- Circular saw
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Jigsaw
- Belt sander
- 25mm spade bit
- Tile adhesive
- Notched trowel
- Spacers
- Tile cutter
- Grout sponge
- Grout
- White silicone
- Masking tape
- Cabinet stands
- 28 and 65mm screws
- Clear varnish
- Painting gear
Here’s how:
1. Measure your space and determine the combination of flat-pack cabinets that will best suit your needs. Most flat-pack suppliers have online design tools to assist you. Purchase, assemble and install flat-pack base and tall cabinets.
2. Use circular saw to cut timber panel to length to suit base cabinets. Mark out benchtop for the hole for your sink. Drill a small hole along the waste line that is just big enough so your jigsaw blade can fit in. Insert jigsaw and cut out hole for sink.
3. Use belt sander to smooth the edges of the sink cut-out and put a slight angle on it so it will sit inside the sink and be flush with the top of it. Use a 25mm spade bit to drill a hole through the centre.
4. Install benchtop on base cabinets, screwing up through the cabinets to secure. Use jigsaw to cut out top of cabinet for the sink where required.
5. Tile splashback above the benchtop so the top of the tiles will meet the underside of the wall cabinets. Spread tile adhesive using a notched trowel and use tile spacers to keep the gaps between the tiles even. Cut tiles using a tile cutter as required. Leave adhesive to set.
6. When dry, use a grout sponge to grout tiles. Use a fine sponge to remove excess grout, rinsing it frequently. When dry, polish tiles using a cloth. Fill gap between tiles and benchtop with white silicone. Use masking tape on either side of gap for a neat finish on your silicone.
7. Assemble wall cabinets and install. A pair of cabinet stands to hold them up are handy helpers. When joining cabinets, clamp them to hold then predrill and screw together using 28mm screws. Screw cabinets to wall using 65mm screws, making sure they go into the wall studs. Pack behind cabinets, if required, to make them plumb.
8. Use circular saw to cut timber panel into pieces for open shelf. When measuring for the depth, make the box sit past the cabinets so it will be flush with the doors and allow for the 4mm plywood on the back. Glue and screw pieces together to form cabinet. Cut, glue and nail plywood on back. Insert open shelf under slim line cabinet and screw through side of wall cabinets into it.
9. Install shelves into cabinets, and attach doors and handles. Have your plumber install sink and tap. Apply 3 coats of varnish to benchtop, allowing to dry
All electrical and plumbing work must be done by a licensed tradesmen. If required, move these services and rectify walls prior to installing cabinets.
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