Laundry Rooms in Western Houses are too Small / Inconvenient

r/

Why does it feel that many homes in the West have such small and/or inconvenient laundry rooms? They always feel like such an afterthought. In many homes I’ve seen, the laundry room is essentially the hallway to the garage. Who would ever want to clean their clothes right in the entryway to the garage, one of the dirtiest places in the house? It’s inconvenient, but it’s also terribly small. All laundry folding and drying always ends up taking place in the dining room because there is no space in the laundry room to fold clothes. I believe there should be more space dedicated for various laundry tasks i.e folding, drying, ironing. Many homes have space that goes greatly unutilized that could go toward the laundry room.

Are laundry rooms prioritized differently in house designs in other parts of the world or is this a universal thing? Do older house designs allot more space for laundry or has it always been this way?

Comments

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  2. Oh_My_Monster Avatar

    There are in nicer houses. It’s one of those premium features you’ll find in nicer neighborhoods.

  3. goldbricker83 Avatar

    I wouldn’t say small laundry rooms are more wanted and popular. We’d all love bigger everything. But we ain’t got that kinda money, homie.

  4. notmenotwhenitsyou Avatar

    the lack of mud rooms is the issue

  5. New_General3939 Avatar

    Because it can be a kind of “mud room” when it’s attached to the garage, if you come home super dirty, you can take your clothes off and throw them in the wash and not walk through your house in your dirty clothes

  6. Melonpan78 Avatar

    Pfft what’s a laundry room? Our washing machine is in the kitchen and I hang my laundry in the conservatory. Many people in the UK still use launderettes.

    First World complaint.

  7. TallyNovak Avatar

    Ours was always too small in our other homes until we bought an old farmhouse. We restored it back to as original as possible, really only updating the plumbing and electrical.
    It has a room next to the mudroom that was used as a storage room. We turned it into a laundry room, and it’s huge, and I love it.

  8. dlc741 Avatar

    We put the laundry room next to the bedroom. Very convenient. What you’re complaining about is poor planning.

  9. Kimchi_Kruncher Avatar

    Lol first world problem, but I guess I’m used to our laundry room/closet only fitting a washer and dryer and no space to walk in

  10. dazeduno Avatar

    First world problem. Ehhhhhh… my apartment has a “European” laundry which is technically a cupboard in the bathoom that houses a sink and place for washer and dryer. It does the job perfectly fine. I hang my clothes either on my balcony or living room (will dry during the day when I’m at work). I’ve never had any issues whatsoever. I’ll fold my clothes and/or iron infront of the TV.

  11. zeus_amador Avatar

    In Latin America it can be quite big. Though lots of people have maids.

  12. quiteflorid Avatar

    people with money have nice laundry rooms. It is like having a pantry. luxurious.