Laundry in the Kitchen

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Q.
I am renovating my kitchen and want to put the W/D in there. Not in the next room or in the hallway but in. the. kitchen. I want to get them out of our unfinished and downright scary basement. Don't have a mudroom and don't want to put them upstairs. Most of my time is spent in the kitchen anyway so is there any reason not to?
- Julie

A.
Having a washer and dryer in the kitchen makes so much sense. I wish mine were in that convenient of a location! You don't need a large kitchen either. It can be done in any size space. In fact, many condominiums do this out of necessity. You can either keep those appliances exposed, hide them in cabinetry, or tuck them away in a closet (or perhaps in the space that was meant to be a pantry).

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The size of a washer and dryer is important when fitting them into cabinetry or under a countertop so be sure to check the dimensions. In a closet or tall cabinet, they must be stacked. If they will be exposed, consider how the finish will coordinate with the other appliances in the space. If you are using an existing washer and dryer that are not front loaders or stackable, you will be more limited in placement. There must be a water hookup and electrical outlet so you will need to factor in the cost of having those added if they aren't already existing or in the correct place.

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There are other issues to consider. Think about the amount of laundry that will need to be done. Is it just yourself or the entire family? Where will you be sorting the laundry before it goes into the wash? Will you have enough counterspace for folding? Do you want to be folding on your prep area? Is there a place to store baskets, detergents, and hangers if needed?  If these aren't issues for you, I say why not?

Best of luck! - Danielle

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