Of all the rooms in a Sydney home, the laundry is the one homeowners think about last – and the one they most wish they had upgraded sooner. It’s easy to see why. Kitchens and bathrooms dominate renovation conversations, and the laundry often gets treated as an afterthought: a cramped, awkward space fitted around whatever appliances happened to arrive with the house. But a well-designed laundry renovation changes one of the most frequently used rooms in the home from a source of daily friction into a space that genuinely
works for you.
At Novalé, we see the same pattern again and again: clients come to us for a bathroom or kitchen renovation, and once they see how much more functional a well-planned space can be, the laundry is the next room on the list. This guide covers what actually makes a laundry renovation succeed.
Start With the Storage Hierarchy
A laundry has less floor area to work with than almost any other room in the house, which makes storage planning more important, not less. The most functional laundries are built around a clear storage hierarchy rather than whatever cabinetry happened to fit.
Overhead cabinetry is for items you reach for occasionally – spare linen, cleaning products used less often, seasonal items. Below-bench storage should hold what you use constantly: detergents, stain removers, pegs, and bins for sorting. And the space around the tub, if you have one, needs to accommodate soaking, hand-washing, and the everyday mess of muddy shoes or sports gear without becoming the room’s dumping ground. Getting this hierarchy right at the design stage, rather than retrofitting it later, is what separates a laundry that works from one that quietly frustrates you every wash day.
Tub, Trough, or No Tub at All?
This is one of the first decisions in any laundry renovation, and the right answer depends entirely on how your household actually uses the space. A full-sized tub is valuable for households with young children, pets, gardens, or anyone who hand-washes delicates or soaks stained sportswear regularly. A slimline trough suits smaller households who need somewhere for the occasional spill or soak but don’t want to sacrifice bench space. And for some households – particularly smaller apartments or homes with a strong outdoor laundry alternative – skipping the tub altogether frees up valuable bench length for folding and sorting. There’s no universally correct answer here, which is exactly why this decision benefits from a proper design conversation rather than a default assumption.
Bench Height and Cabinetry That Actually Suits You
Standard bench heights are a compromise designed to suit an average user, but laundries are one of the few rooms where it’s worth reconsidering the standard. If folding is the task you do most, a slightly higher bench reduces the back strain of hunching over washing for extended periods. Cabinetry choices matter just as much: soft-close drawers rather than doors make retrieving detergent easier one-handed while you’re holding a basket, and a mix of open shelving and closed cabinetry keeps frequently used items accessible without the room feeling cluttered.
Waterproofing Requirements
Because a laundry is a wet area, it is subject to the same waterproofing standards as a bathroom – a detail that’s easy to overlook when comparing quotes. Floor waste points, tub surrounds, and any wall adjacent to the tub or washing machine outlet need to be correctly waterproofed and tested before flooring and cabinetry go in. Skipping or rushing this step is one of the most common causes of water damage in older laundries, quietly affecting subfloors and adjoining rooms long before it becomes visible.
Dryer Ventilation: Don’t Treat It as an Afterthought
Dryer ventilation is frequently the most under-planned element of a laundry renovation. A dryer needs either external venting or a condenser/heat-pump configuration that manages moisture without pumping it straight into a small, enclosed room. Poor ventilation planning leads to persistent dampness, mould risk, and a laundry that never quite feels fresh – problems that are far cheaper to design out from the start than to retrofit once cabinetry and tiling are in place.
When Laundry and Bathroom Renovations Overlap
If your laundry shares a wall or plumbing stack with a bathroom renovation you’re already planning, there’s a strong efficiency case for scoping both at once. Combined plumbing and waterproofing mobilisation, shared trade scheduling, and consistent material selection across both wet areas can meaningfully reduce both cost and disruption compared with treating them as two separate projects down the track.
Crows Nest Bathroom and Laundry Renovation
Let Novalé Design a Laundry That Works as Hard as You Do
At Novalé, our interior designers bring the same rigour to laundry renovations as we do to bathrooms and kitchens – because a laundry that’s properly planned, not just resurfaced, is one you’ll actually enjoy using. If you’re ready to talk through what’s possible for your space, book a free consultation with our design team or visit novale.com.au to get started. Call us on 1800 NOVALÉ – we’d love to help you finally upgrade the room you use every single day.
A well-designed laundry can transform how smoothly your home functions day to day. Far from being a purely utilitarian room, a thoughtfully renovated laundry can improve storage, streamline washing routines, and create a cleaner, more organised environment.
Yet planning a laundry renovation requires more than choosing cabinetry and appliances. It involves understanding how the space is used, how it connects to other rooms, and how to future-proof it for your household’s needs.
Whether you’re upgrading a compact European laundry or redesigning a full-service utility room, clear planning is the first step toward a space that is efficient, durable, and enjoyable to use.
1. Analyse Your Everyday Laundry Workflow
Before committing to design decisions, start by examining how your current laundry fits into your daily routine. Understanding your workflow reveals the pain points and highlights the features that will make the biggest difference.
Consider questions such as:
- Do you have enough bench space for sorting and folding?
- Are detergents and essentials stored conveniently?
- Is there a place to hang delicates or drip dry garments?
- Does the space become cluttered quickly?
- How many loads do you wash each week, and how many people use the laundry?
Analysing your workflow also helps you identify must-have features such as a deeper sink, drying rail, or more accessible appliance placement. By designing your new laundry around how you actually use the space, rather than how you think you use it, the final room becomes far more intuitive, efficient, and easy to maintain.
Neutral Bay Laundry Renovation
2. Establish a Clear and Realistic Budget Early
Setting a well-defined budget at the beginning of your renovation is essential for avoiding delays and unexpected costs. The total costs of a laundry renovation can vary dramatically depending on whether you’re making cosmetic upgrades, installing new appliances, or reconfiguring plumbing and electrical points.
A helpful starting point is Novalé’s Free Online Estimate Tool, which provides you with an early indication of what your ideal laundry renovation may cost. It allows you to explore different options before finalising design details.
Some budget considerations may include:
- Cabinetry quality
- Benchtop materials
- Appliance upgrades
- Plumbing relocations
- Laundry sinks and tapware
- Tiling and waterproofing
Including a contingency of 10–15% is wise as it ensures your budget remains flexible if structural issues or design changes arise. A clear budget brings confidence to every stage of your renovation.
3. Decide What Type of Laundry You Want to Create
Defining the purpose of your laundry early ensures your renovation remains focused and cohesive.
You might prefer:
- A multi functional laundry that doubles as a mudroom or storage area
- A European style laundry concealed within cabinetry
- A full service utility room designed for washing, drying, folding, and ironing
- A compact but efficient laundry nook for apartment living
Clarifying the room’s role helps you make informed decisions about cabinetry depth, bench space, plumbing locations, ventilation needs, and accessibility.
A clear vision also ensures the laundry aligns with adjacent rooms, maintaining a consistent design flow throughout your home. When you know exactly what type of laundry you want to achieve, the renovation becomes more efficient, purposeful, and better suited to your lifestyle.
4. Plan Your Storage and Organisation Strategy
Storage is at the heart of every well-designed laundry, and planning it early ensures the room remains tidy and functional long after the renovation is complete.
Begin by taking stock of everything you need to store, such as:
- Cleaning supplies
- Detergents and stain removers
- Towels and spare linen
- Ironing equipment
- Baskets and bulk household items
Then consider how often you use each item. This helps determine whether they belong in overhead cabinets, deep drawers, open shelving, or pull out compartments.
Some smart storage ideas include:
- Overhead cabinetry for seldom used items
- Pull out hampers for sorting clothes
- Deep base drawers for everyday essentials
- Built in ironing boards
- Hanging rails for shirts and delicates
- Adjustable shelving for future flexibility
Clear organisation reduces visual clutter, improves workflow, and helps maintain a calm, orderly space. The goal is to design storage that supports your routine, keeps benchtops free, and uses every corner effectively. When storage is thoughtfully planned, the laundry becomes a pleasure to use rather than a source of frustration.
5. Choose Appliances That Suit Your Space and Lifestyle
Selecting the right appliances is a crucial step that influences the entire layout of your laundry.
Start by determining whether a stacked washer–dryer configuration or a side-by-side arrangement works best for your space and routine:
- Stacked units: save valuable floor area
- Side-by-side setups: offer easier access and allow for generous folding zones.
Also consider energy ratings, noise levels, and drum capacity to ensure your appliances align with your household’s size and sustainability goals. If indoor drying is important, you may also opt for a heat-pump dryer or integrated drying cabinet.
Planning appliance dimensions and ventilation needs early ensures cabinetry, plumbing, and electrical placements are accurate. The right appliances not only enhance functionality but also reduce operating costs and noise, making your laundry more comfortable to use. With careful selection, your appliances will complement both the design and long-term performance of the space.
6. Partner With An Experienced Renovation Team
A well-executed laundry renovation relies on the expertise of a qualified and coordinated renovation team. Laundries involve plumbing, electrical work, cabinetry, tiling, waterproofing, and ventilation, all of which must meet strict compliance standards.
Engaging professionals early helps identify potential challenges, refine the layout, and align the design with both your budget and functional needs. An experienced team will manage timelines, coordinate trades, handle approvals, and ensure the project progresses smoothly without unnecessary delays.
When reviewing quotes, consider the level of communication, workmanship, warranties, and project management included, not just the price. The right renovation team will guide you through every decision, protect your home from future issues, and deliver a finished laundry that looks beautiful, functions seamlessly, and stands the test of time.
Begin Your Laundry Renovation With Novalé
At Novalé, we understand that a well-designed laundry should make everyday life easier, more organised, and more enjoyable. Our team works with you from the earliest stages, refining your ideas, shaping your layout, selecting materials, and coordinating every detail, to ensure a smooth and stress-free renovation. From compact laundry nooks to full-scale utility rooms, we deliver craftsmanship, clarity, and a polished finish that enhances your home. Get in touch with our team on 1800 NOVALÉ to start planning your laundry renovation with confidence.
