Rethinking A Sink In Our Laundry Room
Last week, I shared with my plan for our laundry room/closet combo. If you missed that, here’s another look at what I shared in that post. I had to use IKEA’s PAX planner for the closet side of the room.
And then I had to use the IKEA kitchen planner for the laundry room side of the room.
As usual, I got a lot of great feedback about that plan, some of which I’ve already incorporated into a revised plan. But I don’t remember anyone saying anything about the sink. But over the weekend, I started questioning why in the world I was putting a sink in this room.
I guess when I think “laundry room”, I automatically thin of a sink in that room. I think that Pinterest and Instagram have programmed that way since all of these new laundry rooms seem to have sinks in them. So when I started designing the laundry room side of this room, I just went into autopilot mode and put a sink in there.
But why? This past weekend, as I was reviewing the plans and making tweaks here and there based on your input, I starting wondering why in the world I thought I needed a sink in this room. If it’s not really needed, then that sink is taking up valuable storage space or valuable countertop space.
So I polled my Facebook page and asked if a sink in the laundry room is necessary. A lot of people said no, especially in a laundry room/closet space like I’m planning. But so many people said YES! When I asked what they use it for, here were the responses:
- to presoak an item of clothing,
- to wash hand washables,
- to wash out paint brushes,
- to bathe the dog,
- to clean up after gardening,
- to empty mop buckets,
- to clean the pet dishes,
- to clean yard tools,
- to clean large items like coolers,
- to clean shoes,
- to fill watering cans for watering house plants,
- to clean brass or silver,
- to wash vegetables from the garden,
- to clean/thaw seafood,
- to dye fabric,
- to apply hair color,
- to cut and arrange flowers,
- to soak oversized pans after entertaining,
- to thaw a turkey,
- to fill with ice and beverages when entertaining,
- to clean up after doing car repair,
I’m sure there were a few that I missed, but you get the point. And other than the first item on that list, the rest are things that I’d never, ever do in a laundry room that shares space with my clothes and shoes. And even the first item, presoaking an item of clothing, isn’t something I do. I can’t even remember the last time I presoaked an item of clothing before washing it. Maybe I’m doing laundry wrong. 😀
The most I ever do is spray an item of clothing with a stain removal spray, throw it in the washing machine, let it sit there for a bit while I go do something else, and then come back later to start the wash cycle. That’s as extensive as my prewash/presoak routine gets. And I’m way too short on time to buy clothes that have to be hand washed. If something can’t make it through a wash cycle, it doesn’t make it into my closet. Even the rare item that I buy without noticing that the label says “hand wash only” gets tossed into a delicate cycle, and I just hope for the best.
So all of that to say that I don’t need, and won’t be putting a sink on the laundry room side of our laundry room/closet combo. If I were creating a dedicated laundry room that would also be a utility room, and especially one that had direct access from the back yard, I’d absolutely add a sink. But in our case, it just seems odd.
I have been thinking about where I can add a utility sink to my studio, though. That was a suggestion that many of you made. I kind of wrote it off initially because my studio is going to be so close to the new kitchen. I considered adding a sink (or rather keeping a sink) in the area that will be the walk-through pantry that will connect the back doors of the studio to the kitchen (on the right side of the floor plan below).
That area is currently a bathroom, so it already has the necessary plumbing for a sink. But I kind of hate to take up so much of that space for a sink when it can be used for storage for things that I want easily accessible to the kitchen.
So now what I’m thinking is that when the door from the current breakfast room into the studio is closed up, I’m move my paint swatch cabinet to that wall. (It fits perfectly, as if it were made to go there.) I couldn’t find a recent picture of the whole area (and I won’t take any new full-view pictures until the room is completely finished, which will probably be this weekend), but you can see on this old picture what I’m talking about. So instead of it sitting where it is below, I’ll just move it to the wall to the left, covering the area where the door is right now. It’ll sit just to the right of my big framed landscape design.
And then that will leave me some room for a utility sink. And again, since the area just on the other side of that wall is currently a bathroom, that means that the plumbing is very easily accessible, so it shouldn’t be a big deal to put a sink right there.
But I think y’all are right. I definitely need a sink either in the studio or very near the studio. But I definitely don’t think I need a sink in the laundry room/closet combo. Just as long as I have a utility sink somewhere, I think that’s all I need, and the studio makes a whole lot more sense for that.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
This one is so pretty!
https://www.rejuvenation.com/products/alape-bucket-sink-black-trim/
I agree. This one is gorgeous.
I think the sink in the studio is an excellent idea. But definitely not in the closet!
I’ve had a sink in my laundry room in previous houses, but I never used it for laundry. Paint brushes, pet washing, yard tool cleaning, etc., but not laundry.
I 100% agree with you!
Totally agree with your decision! It’s going to be perfect.
My laundry machines are in my side entryway (the one I use all the time). I have a powder room directly off that and I can honestly say I’ve never used the sink in it for laundry type activities or felt the need to. On rare occasions I have soaked a bunch of my tea towels in the kitchen sink with some bleach. I’ve never missed having a sink in my laundry area. Ever.
I do think a sink in your studio would be a plus.
100% agree to no sink in closet/laundry room. You don’t need one if you don’t handwash or soak and who’d use it for the things you list!! 100% agree that you need a dedicated sink in the studio for your dirty work.
Definitely a utility sink somewhere. I use mine all the time.
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I installed a utility sink in my current apartment and am installing one in my new place. Now that I am used to having a deep utility sink, I will never be without one again. Not only do I use it to bathe my small dog, it is perfect for all sorts of tasks like cleaning various filters or rinsing my beloved automatic floor mop. I’ve also used it when I need to soak my stock pot, since is it so much deeper than my kitchen sink. Of course, it’s also good for soaking rags, washing paint brushes, rinsing refrigerator shelves and bins, etc. I have a freestanding fiberglass sink. It’s not pretty, but it’s super quiet, it’s not cold on my dog’s paws, and it’s not heavy. I realize in your studio, you may want something nicer looking, but you could attach some gathered fabric around the sink and it would look cute.
That sounds perfect–and I have a feeling Kristi could make even a utility sink look pretty!
Yeap. I believe a utility sink in your studio makes much sense.
We are so much going through the same situation! I decided if something big needs to be soaked – sheets, whatever – I have a big tub in the bathroom! Bigger than any laundry sink.
But a place to wash off paintbrushes – that is when a laundry sink would be ideal.
Ten years ago I had our laundry room sink removed and floor to ceiling cabinets installed. It’s not far from my kitchen sink, which I use for everything. I just clean it up if I’m doing something messy like paint brushes or lawn stuff.
Would it be possible to put the laundry abutting the guest bath in the little nook on the diagram? Less plumbing to run. More space for clothes and lift storage.
You are correct. I thought I needed to have the ubiquitous utility sink in the laundry room because that is what we are all programmed to think. Then the darn thing started leaking about 7 years ago and I turned off the water to it and now it holds “Schtuff”…and that is all it does. We are redoing the laundry room into a laundry room/butler’s pantry and the sink is moving on. It is going into my husband’s workshop, and I gain valuable counter space and storage underneath. I have not missed that sink in seven years, and probably won’t in whatever time I’ve got left here on earth. Good call. I have a utility sink in our basement, I will have one in the workshop, and I’ve got one out in my office where we make wine and beer. I think you can find a sink in your house that can do whatever you need to do at the time you need it.
Cheers to more storage!
Hi Kristi! I am on Team No Sink! We had a sink in our laundry/mud room. I never used it, and stored cleaning supplies in and under it. We removed it and added a large storage cabinet (so much more storage and looks so great). I am so pleased with that decision! It works perfectly for us and looks so much better. Design your home as YOU will use it. My storage cabinet makes me happy every time I look at it. You go girl!
And will you really need a counter? I’ve never folded clothes on a counter. To be fair, I don’t have one, but I’m not sure I’d use one if it were in the laundry room. I hang almost everything and the rest goes in a basket and I fold it on the bed. But you will be right there in your closet and you can go directly to the rack or drawer and fold or hang on the way. A few extra steps, but it would be pretty efficient.
With eliminating your studio bathroom and making it into a pantry, I agree with you that you will need a sink out in that area somewhere. With the ceiling being lower where your door is now, will your paint swatch cabinet fit there, if you move it more to the left will that block your landscape poster and your TV, calendar, etc?
For me, I would want a sink in the pantry.
I missed all of this, but will make one more vote for the sink in the laundry room. We put one in our laundry room when we designed and built our home 35 years ago. I could not live without it! Soaking, washing big item, washing smallish pets at a convenient height. Our sink is pretty deep in there as well. This makes it very useful.
Bottom line, the dirty stuff ends up in the laundry room. The only things I would change in my home regarding sinks are – 1) I would put a large, two bowl sink in the garage and 1) I would put a prep sink with a disposal in my kitchen. This would be away from the main sink. We get on top of each other when two or more of us are cooking together.
I agree with you. When I saw the sink in your drawing, I thought about why, but you are the designer so you should know what you want, where.
I know you will be excited to get the Studio finished, finished.
Have a good rest of the week. Is Matt feeling better? Hope so.
He’s feeling SO much better!! I’m so relieved that he avoided a trip to the hospital.
Not to beat a dead horse, but to put a thought out there while it is still in the drawing stage… now that you are skipping the sink in the laundry room (which I totally support) would it make sense to keep your rooms as they are now and put your master bedroom and closet in the new space?
You definitely need a utility sink, for cleaning up paint brushes if nothing else. Otherwise, you’ll either mess up your kitchen sink or have to go outside. The workroom is an excellent place for a workhorse of a utility sink. Great idea!
Absolutely Kristi! I agree, no sink in clothes closet area. Best in the studio where you’d get much more use out of it. Imho.
I agree – we did a full wall of built-ins in our laundry room (which was previously just a built-in table that turned into a catchall, and useless cubbies). With a slab foundation, I didn’t even consider a sink. I wanted all the storage. NEVER missed having a sink. I do laundry like you – spray pretreatment, if needed, and hope for the best! 😂 A sink in the studio makes total sense – it’s all coming together! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
I think your kitchen will have ample storage for most things (it will be bigger than what you currently have, with better designed storage boxes!) so I think you would have room for a sink in the walk through pantry. But I also like the sink being where the cabinet is now, and like the cabinet moved to where the door will be closed up. However, did you not remove the baseboard for the cabinet? Will you be putting a sink base that will fill that wall? Either option is better than having a sink in the closet space! And I’m not a fan of washer/dryer in a closet – the moisture created between the two would bother me.
I didn’t remove the baseboard, but I did install the baseboard around it. Baseboards are easy to install, though.
Yes, to a good-size utility sink in your studio. Absolute necessity.
As for a folding spot in the laundry area: yes’ yes! yes!, rather than having folding sessions on the bed or couch. The angle is hard on the back and it always is/feels messy to me.
Definitely a sink next to your studio makes more sense where you can keep your cleaning materials for your brushes and other paint/ craft related needs you don`t really need anything like that near your clothes plus when you come in from the garden you will have somewhere to clean up and clean small tools without tramping dirt into the house, ..
Well, this is an interesting thought! We planned for a sink in the laundry room, but then never installed it and instead used it as a counter top, of which we have none in there. I also don’t soak clothes, just spray and hope for the best. Has worked out just fine – now that I think about it.
Totally agree.
I’m glad you made plans about the sink in the studio; and also you are removing the sink from the wardrobe. You don’t want humidity in the wardrobe. But your post also made me think more about the whole wardrobe/laundry combo, and it has made me shift from “not my cup of tea, but it’s not my home” to “I think there will be a serious issue long-term”. The sink is not the only source of humidity, but I was thinking that ok, a dryer has ventilation or whatever. But! Even without any occasional spills, what do you do about the washing machine? Don’t you need to leave it open to dry, to avoid mold forming in the doors? Do you let that humidity in the same space as your clothes? Do you open the window? Can you be opening the window in a room where all your bags/clothes are, lots (or all) of them exposed? Does this mean you are cancelling that window then, it’s there but can’t be used?
And also, with the two walls/sides in separate designers, how much space is there between them? I know the room is small, but it’s not THAT small, won’t it feel like an empty room with cabinets all around? Or will you be placing some sort of island in the middle?
Or could you perhaps build a wall (parallel to the external wall) and make two rooms? Outer room has the window and serves as a laundry room, inner room is the wardrobe?
I don’t leave my washing machine open. It has a vent feature that allows me to close the door and not have to worry about it. I’ve never had any kind of problem with moisture.
There’s no room for an island. The room is only 11’4″ wide, which means after cabinets are installed on both sides, that leaves 7’4″. If I allow 3 feet on either side of an island, that leaves me with an island with a countertop that is 16 inches wide. That doesn’t seem worth the trouble.
Matt doesn’t want two rooms, and neither do I. That would require a door from the master bedroom into the back portion of that room (presumably the closet), which would eliminate the possibility of a sitting area in the bedroom.
No, no, that was not what I was thinking – I was thinking of the current door leading into the closet, then right across (and across the window, probably) a door leading into the laundry room; the laundry room being the room with the window to outside. But I don’t know about dimensions; I’ll check what you just mentioned, and if what I’m thinking is even feasible I’ll send you a simple drawing.
Good feature in the washing machine; but where does it drive that moisture? If it’s in the surrounding room, isn’t the situation still the same?
I 100% agree on no sink in the closet and yes a sink in the studio!
No, no, that was not what I was thinking – I was thinking of the current door leading into the closet, then right across (and across the window, probably) a door leading into the laundry room; the laundry room being the room with the window to outside. But I don’t know about dimensions; I’ll check what you just mentioned, and if what I’m thinking is even feasible I’ll send you a simple drawing.
Good feature in the washing machine; but where does it drive that moisture? If it’s in the surrounding room, isn’t the situation still the same?
Sorry Judy, clicked the wrong “Reply” box! lol Can’t delete my answer here, but I copy-pasted it where it was intended to go…
Works been silly… But on the laundry wants. I highly recommend to set up or find pedestals that have a drain and design a place for that to drain to. I suggest this because reaching above such a deep appliance is not easy. Raising it gives more useful storage below. I reccomend some sort of drain to protect whatever is below and easier maintaining the washer. Most front loaders have that bottom panel you got to drain occasionally. A drain pan and an extra drain makes that process super easy. The link is an example of an open pedestal with a drain. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8H3FDRG/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0B8H3FDRG&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_ssd_tt&qid=1728666641&pd_rd_w=fMboJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.d6728584-3786-4aac-b308-79703af782ec%3Aamzn1.sym.d6728584-3786-4aac-b308-79703af782ec&pf_rd_p=d6728584-3786-4aac-b308-79703af782ec&pf_rd_r=YRNRNMRZTYGMYQ30VRQ6&pd_rd_wg=r6184&pd_rd_r=49b6956b-6c77-422d-9777-e4b93b17a9d6&pd_rd_plhdr=t
A sink in the laundry room is invaluable. Agree with all of the reasons you posted in your blog.
On the contrary to one comment, it does not add significantly to the humidity.
My laundry room is on the lower level and sits just inside from the garage. The design included a sink and toilet, along with storage, so helpful when coming in from doing any yard work or anything outside.
The additional reason to have a sink: to empty the water from the dehumidifiers, as there are three on the lower level.
Brilliant and perfect solution to your utility sink problem. I had initially thought that you would want to put a sink in your Butler’s Pantry, but putting one into your studio is much better.
Be sure to put in an adequately large sink (perhaps that can accomodate a paint tray?), rather than a tiny, bar sink-sized one.