For Sydney homeowners, a laundry room is no longer just a place to wash and dry clothes—it’s a functional workspace, storage hub, and sometimes even a mini-mudroom. Whether you live in a compact apartment in Surry Hills, a terrace home in Newtown, or a family home in Turramurra, integrating storage into your laundry workflow is key to making the space efficient, practical, and visually appealing.
If your laundry feels chaotic or cluttered, the problem usually isn’t lack of space—it’s a lack of smartly designed storage that supports the way you use the room every day. Let’s explore how to plan your laundry storage around your workflow for maximum convenience and style.
1. Map Out Your Laundry Workflow First
Before adding cabinets, shelves, or baskets, consider how you actually use the space. Sydney homeowners often make the mistake of designing storage first and workflow second—leading to awkward layouts that create more work, not less.
Ask yourself:
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Where do you sort dirty clothes?
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Where do you pre-treat stains?
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Do you fold clothes immediately, or do you have a designated folding area?
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How do you handle drying, ironing, and storing clothes?
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Who else uses the laundry—kids, partners, cleaners?
Answering these questions will dictate the type, placement, and size of storage you need, ensuring everything has a logical spot.
2. Plan Zones for Different Tasks
A professional renovation approach divides the laundry into functional zones, each with purpose-built storage. Typical zones include:
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Sorting Zone: Near the entrance to the laundry. Use pull-out hampers or bins for whites, colours, and delicates. In inner-west homes like Leichhardt or Marrickville, slimline pull-out hampers save space in narrow laundries.
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Washing Zone: Adjacent to the washer. Keep detergents, stain removers, and softeners within easy reach using wall-mounted shelves or small upper cabinets.
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Folding Zone: Ideally above or beside a bench. Open shelves or shallow cabinets can store baskets or folding supplies. Terrace homes in Newtown often have compact benches with storage below to maximize space.
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Drying Zone: Hooks, rails, or a foldable drying rack. Baskets or shelves nearby make it easy to move clothes from washer to drying.
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Ironing/Storage Zone: Store ironing boards, spray bottles, and garment care products in tall cabinets or wall-hung storage. Larger homes in Turramurra or Mosman often incorporate dedicated cabinetry for these items.
Organizing your storage around workflow ensures items are where you need them, when you need them, reducing repeated trips and frustration.
3. Select the Right Storage Solutions
The Sydney laundry renovation market offers a wide range of storage solutions, and the key is choosing the right combination for your home size and lifestyle.
A. Cabinets
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Lower Cabinets: Ideal for heavy laundry items like baskets, bulk detergents, and vacuum cleaners. Deep drawers provide better access than cupboards.
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Upper Cabinets: Perfect for chemicals, bleach, and less frequently used items. Keep them at a reachable height, about 450–500mm above the bench.
Tip: In older homes, especially in the Inner West or Eastern Suburbs, check wall strength before mounting heavy cabinets.
B. Open Shelves
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Use open shelves for frequently used items like folded towels, laundry baskets, and containers.
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Floating shelves above the bench maintain a sense of space and allow easy access.
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Keep depth consistent with adjacent cabinetry (200–300mm) to avoid a jarring visual effect.
C. Pull-Out Hampers and Drawers
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Ideal for sorting dirty laundry efficiently.
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Slim pull-out hampers work well in compact apartments in Zetland, Mascot, or Waterloo.
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Deep drawers in family homes provide extra flexibility for folding and storage.
D. Specialty Storage
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Hooks and rails for drying racks, ironing boards, and reusable laundry bags.
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Baskets and containers for small items like clothespins, stain pens, and delicates.
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Modular storage units for seasonal items or seldom-used cleaning tools.
4. Optimize the Laundry Bench
The bench is the heart of the workflow, linking washing, folding, and ironing tasks. Storage should integrate seamlessly with the bench:
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Lower cabinets for heavy items and hampers.
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Open shelves or small drawers above the bench for frequently used products.
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Leave at least 450mm clearance between the bench and upper cabinets for workspace.
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Consider bench material: laminated timber or polyurethane-coated surfaces for moisture resistance; stone or engineered stone for high-end, North Shore-style homes.
In Mosman, Vaucluse, and Double Bay, homeowners often use large benches with integrated storage to create a boutique, spa-like laundry space.
5. Storage for Appliances and Fixtures
Storage planning must account for appliances and plumbing:
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Leave space for washer and dryer doors to open fully.
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Consider stacking units in small apartments to free up floor space.
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Plan cabinetry around taps, power points, and venting.
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In older homes in Ashfield or Marrickville, professional input ensures appliances fit without compromising storage or workflow.
6. Maximize Vertical Space
Sydney homes often vary in ceiling height and room size:
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High ceilings in Turramurra or Ryde homes allow additional upper cabinets or open shelves for items used occasionally.
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In smaller apartments, use vertical pull-out storage units or narrow shelves to maximize space.
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Leave some breathing room between storage units for ease of access and a less cluttered appearance.
7. Durable Materials for Sydney Homes
Sydney’s laundry rooms deal with humidity, splashes, and daily wear:
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Moisture-resistant MDF or laminated timber for cabinets.
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Solid timber or powder-coated metal for open shelves.
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Benchtops in laminate, engineered stone, or composite surfaces for durability and easy cleaning.
Investing in quality materials ensures long-term performance and keeps your laundry looking pristine.
8. Styling Your Functional Laundry
Storage doesn’t have to be boring. Good design merges function and aesthetics:
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Coordinated jars and containers for detergents.
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Uniform baskets for pegs, cloths, and small items.
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LED strip lighting under shelves for visibility and a modern look.
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Leave space between items for a clean, uncluttered feel.
Even small inner-city laundries in Redfern or Surry Hills can feel stylish and organized when storage and workflow are aligned.
9. When to Call a Professional Renovator
Integrating storage with workflow might seem simple, but improper design can result in:
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Inefficient workflow and wasted space
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Unsafe shelving and cabinets
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Poor appliance fit
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Moisture damage or structural issues
A professional renovation company in Sydney can assess your space, design storage around your workflow, and ensure safety, durability, and style. MB9 Australia Pty Ltd specializes in laundry, kitchen, bathroom, and full-home renovations, combining practical solutions with aesthetic design.
10. Local Examples and Inspiration
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Chatswood & Lane Cove: Families often prefer full cabinetry with pull-out hampers and deep drawers for bulky laundry items.
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Newtown & Redfern: Compact layouts use floating shelves and open storage for frequently used items.
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Mosman & Vaucluse: Luxury-style laundries with large benches, integrated cabinetry, and boutique-style open shelving.
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Turramurra & Ryde: Spacious family homes can incorporate L-shaped benches with a combination of drawers, cabinets, and shelves for flexible workflow.
Tailoring storage to the home’s size, layout, and the family’s routine creates a laundry that’s both functional and visually appealing.
Conclusion
A well-planned laundry room integrates storage with workflow to save time, reduce stress, and elevate the space from a purely functional area to an organized, stylish hub. From small city apartments to luxury family homes, thoughtful storage planning — including cabinets, shelves, drawers, and pull-out hampers — ensures every task is easier and more efficient.
For more information about laundry, kitchen, bathroom, and full-home renovation services in Sydney, visit www.mb9.com.au to explore how MB9 Australia Pty Ltd can transform your home.
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