A laundry room might be the smallest room in your house, but it carries one of the heaviest workloads. Poor storage, awkward layouts, or cheap finishes quickly turn this space into a daily frustration instead of a smooth-running utility zone. When planning laundry renovations, overlooking certain essentials like ventilation, storage design, or durable surfaces can result in costly mistakes.
The good news? By recognising these common pitfalls and applying smart renovation strategies, you can create a laundry that is not only efficient but also adds real value to your home. Below, we highlight the key things you should never ignore when tackling a laundry room renovation.
1. Ventilation Is Non-Negotiable
Moisture is a constant in any laundry. Without proper ventilation, damp air builds up, encouraging mould and leaving clothes smelling musty. This is one of the most common oversights when looking for laundry renovations near me and one of the most damaging in the long term.
Tip: Plan for a high-capacity exhaust fan or ensure windows allow cross-ventilation. Pair this with a vented or condensing dryer solution to protect cabinetry, walls, and flooring.
2. Storage That Works Beyond Today
Too many homeowners settle for standard cupboards, only to find they don’t suit baskets, detergents, or linens. Poor storage creates clutter, which undermines the efficiency of your laundry room renovation.
Tip: Invest in tall cupboards for brooms and mops, pull-out hampers for dirty clothes, and overhead cabinets for detergents. Adjustable shelving lets you adapt the space as your household needs change.
3. Durable, Water-Resistant Surfaces
Splashes, spills, and detergents all take a toll. Using low-grade cabinetry or porous surfaces often leads to swelling, stains, or repairs soon after the project.
Tip: Choose moisture-resistant boards, sealed stone, or engineered quartz for benchtops. Hard-wearing flooring such as porcelain tiles or vinyl planks ensures your laundry renovations cost is a long-term investment, not a short-term fix.
4. A Practical Layout
An awkward layout where appliances block cabinets or the sink sits far from the washer creates unnecessary hassle. Functionality should drive every decision in laundry renovations.
Tip: Place your washer and dryer side by side under a benchtop for folding space. Position sinks close to machines for handwashing, and allow for at least one metre of free bench space for sorting and ironing.
5. Lighting That Works With You
Dim or uneven lighting makes stain-spotting and folding harder than it should be. Overlooking this detail is common but avoidable.
Tip: Include a combination of overhead lighting and task lighting under wall cabinets. LED strips work beautifully in compact laundries, ensuring every corner is bright and usable.
6. Plumbing and Electrical Planning
One of the costliest mistakes in a laundry renovation is failing to plan the plumbing and power outlets properly. Shifting pipes or rewiring after cabinetry is installed inflates costs and delays completion.
Tip: Map out plumbing runs and power points before construction starts. Add extra outlets for future appliances, such as steam irons or heated drying racks.
7. Space for Drying and Ironing
It’s not just about washing laundry that should support the entire clothes-care cycle. Skipping drying or ironing space often leads to clutter spilling into other rooms.
Tip: Add a retractable clothesline, ceiling-mounted drying rack, or wall-mounted ironing board. These small inclusions make your laundry multi-functional without consuming extra square metres.
8. Long-Term Energy Efficiency
Older appliances and poorly considered fittings drive up household bills. Many homeowners regret not factoring efficiency into their laundry renovations.
Tip: Opt for water-efficient washers, heat-pump dryers, and mixer taps with aerators. The initial outlay pays for itself in reduced water and power bills while lowering your environmental impact.
9. Consider Future-Proofing
Renovations are not something you want to repeat every five years. Failing to design with the future in mind makes the space outdated too quickly.
Tip: Allow flexibility for larger appliances, add extra storage capacity, and choose finishes in timeless tones. For inspiration, explore current bathroom colour schemes in Australia, i.e,neutral bases with accents that can easily be updated and work equally well in laundries.
10. Hidden Details Matter
Behind the scenes, small details make a big difference. Skipping waterproofing, low-quality fittings, or proper insulation results in hidden problems later.
Tip: Ensure all cabinetry is sealed at the edges, splashbacks are tiled or glassed, and wet zones are waterproofed. Ask your renovation company for guarantees on workmanship, so you know your laundry renovations cost is backed by quality.
Bringing It Together
A laundry may never be the “showroom” of a home, but it’s the heartbeat of daily life. Overlooking ventilation, storage, durability, or efficiency risks frustration and wasted money. The smartest laundry renovations in Sydney are the ones that focus on usability as much as style, ensuring the space stays practical for years to come. Before you search for “laundry renovations near me” have a checklist ready to discuss with your renovation team so every important detail is addressed.
A laundry should save you time, not add to your workload. That’s why TCQE focuses on smart layouts, storage that suits your lifestyle, and finishes that handle daily use. Our team listens first, then builds solutions around how you actually live. When you’re ready for a laundry renovation that works as hard as you do, TCQE is ready to help.
FAQs
1. What is the average cost to renovate a laundry?
The laundry renovations cost in Sydney typically ranges from $8,000 to $20,000 depending on size, finishes, and complexity. Smaller upgrades like refacing cabinetry or replacing benchtops fall at the lower end, while full structural reworks cost more. Always get a detailed quote that covers cabinetry, tiling, plumbing, and electrics to avoid hidden surprises.
2. Where to start with a laundry renovation?
Begin with function. Map out how you use the laundry daily washing, drying, ironing, storing and let that guide layout decisions. From there, finalise plumbing and electrical plans, then select durable surfaces and storage solutions before considering finishes.
3. How long do laundry renovations take?
A straightforward laundry room renovation can take 2–3 weeks, while larger or more customised projects may extend to 4–6 weeks. Factors like plumbing changes, structural work, or material lead times can affect the timeline. Always confirm a project schedule with your contractor before starting.