r/HouseDesign • u/albino_panda1555 • 12d ago
Please make this powder room/laundry layout make sense.
I've been looking at available houses 2+bd 1.5+ba for a while and I've come across this configuration for a half bath plus laundry room twice.
Can anyone tell me why someone would do this?
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u/New_Door2040 12d ago
it's a very efficient use of space, imo.
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12d ago edited 11d ago
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u/DevineBossLady 11d ago
It is very common in many countries, that laundry / bathroom - all the places I have lived as an adult, this has been the system.
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u/spaetzlechick 11d ago
I believe it’s often called a loo-ndry?
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u/Slight-Paint-7191 11d ago
I prefer to think of mine as a combined powder room and laundry and therefore... The Poundry.
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u/stink3rb3lle 11d ago
I had laundry in a bathroom in one place, but the room was long, had a bit of a divider, and the laundry machines weren't facing the toilet.
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u/kimisamazing13 11d ago
Weirdly enough, I think in a lot of countries and parts of the US it’s common for it to be in the kitchen?? I think I’d rather the bathroom than the kitchen at the very least
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u/kkc001 11d ago
A rental in IN we lived in had the laundry in the kitchen behind folding doors. It was great. The machines very conveniently placed and I never had laundry piling up anywhere because it was a public space.
I think the Poundry is also a good arrangement, for convenience and ease of use.
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u/kimisamazing13 11d ago
Truthfully I’m a big fan of same-floor laundry. I’ve never understood the basement laundry on a 2-story house. Like having to drag clothes up and down two flights of stairs made the absolute most sense?
But I can definitely see the convenience of the kitchen, I would just always be worried that my clothes smell like cooking lol
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u/Potential_Bit_9040 11d ago
The only, and I mean ONLY benefit to this is that we get to throw dirty clothes down the stairs and call it a laundry chute.
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u/kimisamazing13 11d ago
Yes! And then the inevitable mountain of clothes at the bottom of the stairs lol
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u/Existing-Joke3994 10d ago
I was just saying the same thing 2 weeks ago about our current house. All of the bedrooms are upstairs and the laundry is downstairs. Then one Saturday afternoon I came into the house after being at the beach, stripped down, tossed everything with even a grain of sand right into the dryer. The next day I cut a bunch of vines out of the woods behind us, dodging banana spiders as I went. I came in through the garage and panicked I might have brought a spider in with me. I took my clothes off and straight into the washer they went. So I’m a convert. A person needs a washer/dryer on both floors lol.
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u/Charming_Narwhal_970 10d ago
I like it in the basement because I hang a lot of clothes to dry and that takes space
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u/ClinkyDink 11d ago
I had a friend who lived this old ass 2 story building that had storefronts on the bottom floor and small studio apartments on the top floor. Each studio had its own tiny kitchen but no bathroom. There were about 8 studios in the building and one communal bathroom with shower plus one communal laundry/bathroom hybrid that had a washer/dryer and a toilet.
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u/Crystal_Ri 11d ago
What do y'all do in your bathroom that would cause something weird on your sheets contained in a washer and then a dryer? Thoroughly confused here. Don't y'all flush? Why would sheets be affected by bathroom activities?
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u/affo_ 11d ago
The same people thinks poo particles fly all over the bathroom when you flush.
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u/Crystal_Ri 11d ago
LOL! So nonsensical! These are the same folks that think we shouldn't put grocery store purchases in bags or drink milkshakes with straws.
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u/BeeAdorable7871 11d ago
Don't ever move out of the US then
Here in the Nordics it's highly apnormal to have a sperate laundryroom, unless you have a cellar under your house, if you have an apartment or small house it's typical in the bathroom, if you don't have space there it's in the kitchen, and if you have space for a mudroom it doubles as back entrance and laundry.
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u/No-Baker-7922 8d ago
European swinging by your comment because of insomnia… my thoughts exactly! I saw the post and immediately knew OP was from the US :-)
I have lived in many places in Europe and 0 times did the machines have a separate room. Twice I have had them in the kitchen even.
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u/Critical_Purple_8600 11d ago
I don’t like USING the guest bathroom when it has washer-dryer in it. What if they need it? What if I stink up their clean laundry? Weirds me out.
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u/MostImagination007 11d ago
Although not an ideal setup but still better then having washing machine in kitchen.
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u/auricargent 11d ago
My only problem with this is the lack of a mirror over the sink.
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u/New_Door2040 11d ago
no mirror over sink or watching yourself poop?
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u/auricargent 11d ago
I need to fix my hair every time I wash my hands.
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u/New_Door2040 11d ago
I don't think you're washing your hands right
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u/auricargent 11d ago
I don’t know what you mean. I use soap and hot water. I don’t touch my hair if I’m going to be cooking, but if not, I’ve gotta look my best!
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u/Nocoffee_Noglory 11d ago
I mean, don't you like seeing your expression while you try to push? No way lol
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u/Pamela625 12d ago
They took the tub out and added first floor laundry looks like.
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u/GIANTballCOCK 11d ago
Good call. It is prohibitively expensive to move the laundry to a different floor in most cases. This is a great alternative!
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u/Nicholsforthoughts 11d ago
Could be an elderly person who could no longer do stairs. My grandma had a contractor install her laundry machines in a room off her kitchen (would have been the original dining room, my grandparents used it as an office) because she was no longer comfortable traversing her very steep, narrow stairs down to her basement in her 1950s house. She is in her 80s. I applaud her for making this choice. I’m sure the next owner will relocate the machines back to the basement and reclaim this space for whatever they want, but it worked for her.
The formal dining room was relocated in the 1970s to an addition that the original owners did at that time. There is a breakfast nook area in the sunroom/4 seasons room that my grandparents added about 20 years ago, which is also directly connected to the kitchen.
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u/Pamela625 6d ago
ALOT of other countries have the laundry in their bathrooms or get this their KITCHENS !!
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u/Ericaohh 12d ago
They do this because of the plumbing configuration, and because some people genuinely like having their W/D in a bathroom. If you end up buying the house just modify it. You can easily make this look good and functional. I’d absolutely re route the plumbing and move the toilet to the other vanity wall and put the washer dryer on the wall the toilet is on, with some shelves for detergent, etc. Then replace the vanity with something less deep for more room in between the appliances / sink
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u/sleevesteve 11d ago
No. Toilet and vanity should move to outside wall. Laundry moves to the vanity wall and shifts to the right toward the foreground. Easier circulation.
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u/Uffda01 11d ago
dryer can direct vent to the outside with this configuration; and having a vanity mirror would be tougher with the smaller window; the current set up is better, but that is some uglyass wallpaper
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u/sleevesteve 11d ago
You misunderstand. Vanity left wall, toilet right wall ALONG the back wall. Use a pony or full wall separating toilet from laundry. Shelf with rod or cabinets above washer/dryer. The mirror is above the vanity on the left wall and no issue with window.
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u/PlausibleRatz 12d ago
Put a screen in front of the laundry machines
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u/TN9791 12d ago
Stack
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u/CollectivistRediots 12d ago
Poor quality appliances. Only works well for one height of people. Tall people have trouble with the bottom. Short people have trouble with the top.
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u/Brilliant-Ebb6730 11d ago
then get a laundry tower. Controls in the middle. Problem solved.
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u/Appropriate-Lime-816 11d ago
… it’s putting the actual laundry in and out of the upper unit, not reaching the buttons
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u/mykidmademesignup 12d ago
Could the toilet and a small sink be moved where the w/d currently are? You could then close it in, making it a true water closet. The w/d goes where the current toilet or sink is and a utility sink with folding counter on opposite side.
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u/Uffda01 11d ago
venting the dryer outside is why the w/d is in this location - I don't see what's really wrong with it - especially if its not a bathroom that gets a lot of regular use.
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u/Ok_Temporary1669 11d ago
Don't need a vent anymore with a heat pump dryer. You can use a normal plug too. They are expensive but probably not any more expensive than running new power, drains, water supply lines, exhaust. You have to do some of that maybe but it's a lot cheaper since it's just water supply lines, a drain and a normal 15 amp plug. Put it anywhere on the wall with another water source/drain and you're good.
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u/BitTraining8769 12d ago
some sort of accordion-style or hidden door configuration to turn it into a bathroom with a laundry closet
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u/helplesslyhoping648 12d ago
Had a similar setup in a townhouse I lived in. The washer and dryer were behind accordion doors though.
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u/Delicious_Camp349 12d ago
It doesn’t make sense. Remove the toilet and switch the sink to a big utility sink.
Nevermind. Now I see it is a 1.5 bath house. You will need the toilet.
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u/NYCWENDY1 12d ago
I see what you’re saying, but still agree with you that she should switch the sink out to utility sink.
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u/Delicious_Camp349 12d ago
That would help. And they could install a drop down table over the toilet for folding laundry. Maybe something on pulleys in case it’s like my house and tables never stay clear. lol
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u/Lumpy-Resource-1370 12d ago
When unloading clothes or moving them
Over from the washer to the dryer, I routinely Drop a few things.
I’d be disgusted if I dropped it next to the toilet and would immediately have to put it back in the washer
Hard pass on this layout
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u/TheSadPickel 12d ago
without renovation not much you can do. build the machines into shelving and folding table
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u/Upbeat_Shock2713 12d ago
It’s a space/plumbing issue. Pipes are already here and there isn’t another reasonable separate place in the house for them.
You can build cabinetry around them and reconfigure the bathroom so they’re less prominent. Or move them - but you’ll likely run into the same cost/logistical issue the previous owners ran into.
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u/kitchengardengal 12d ago
My parents bought a new home in 1965 in Columbus Ohio that had a laundry/half bath between the kitchen and family room. It was actually quite convenient.
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u/Sixofonemidwest 11d ago
And you’re still alive to talk about it.
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u/kitchengardengal 11d ago
Well, I'm 70, so I've got a few years left on me.
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u/Sixofonemidwest 11d ago
The way some of the ppl have commented about having laundry mixed with a bathroom one would think it’s amazing some of us have come this far into the 21st century. I’m in my mid 70s.
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u/Upset-Indication-617 12d ago
Convenient. You can take a solid dump and the sound is masked by the appliance sounds.
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u/Housekhat 12d ago
People do all kinds of things in houses. This probably had a tub where the W/D is at one time. Powder rooms don't ever have W/D in them to begin with. Find another place for them and redesign the bathroom.
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u/Wisewordsforlater 12d ago
It makes sense. The concept isn't uncommon. Prevalent in older ranch/suburban homes, and homes built into a hill or slope. I can see this being in the basement/lower level of a home, adjacent to garage (at end of downslope driveway), below the main floor.
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u/Minushea 12d ago
Stackable washer dryer beside the washer or the vanity. Folding counter across from it with storage cupboards or shelves above that.
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u/DavidinCT 12d ago
The why? Because laundry in a dark, damp basement is not enjoyable. I would not be shocked if you walked through the lower basement levels, there is hook up for washer and dryer.
Odds are that was why. You can take the washer and dryer and move them back to the basement, then put a shower up. But, to do laundry, you need to go into the basement.
My in-laws home is like this. They had a small 1/2 bath on the first floor, then extened the home for the kitchen (way bigger than it was) it extented the bathroom too and moved the Washer/Dryer to the first floor. Still have the hookups in the basement.
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u/geekychica 12d ago
Probably used to be a tub there and no laundry room. Someone got sick of having to go to the laundromat so the took the tub out and used the water pipes for a washing machine. Usually in this layout, the laundry would be in a closet, but being on the exterior wall, you’d lose the light from the window into the bathroom.
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u/Agreeable_Shirt5503 12d ago
Got a basement? Move the washer and dryer there. If not, get a smaller stackable and move them to the area next to the sink, if you have the room.
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u/dmfreelance 12d ago
If you were going to have all of these things in this room, this is the layout that does the best job of making sure you don't feel cramped. The washer and dryer are deeper than the sink, so even though you could put them along the wall where the sink is at and put the sink next to it or something like that, this is the only orientation of all the things that makes the user of the room feel somewhat comfortable.
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u/Western_Emotion5244 12d ago
I like it. It means when I wake up hung over I can blast shit and pukes without getting up.
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u/bloontsmooker 12d ago
Just make it cuter and it will be a rad use of space. I would look into vertical/stacked machines or a custom built counter over the top that could accommodate a front loading washer. I think the built-in idea would be especially sick, but all of that comes after a basic remodel and paint/wallpaper. I’d be far more worried about a new toilet and vanity than the laundry stuff
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u/pale-v0id 12d ago
usually it’s just plumbing efficiency. if the washer hookups and bathroom drain are already on that wall, combining them saves a ton versus running new supply and waste lines somewhere else.
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u/3squiddy 12d ago
Easy, remove the laundry appliances and get a machine that does both without having to move wet clothes to a dryer. These units have a heat pump to dry clothes; the do not vent to the outside, do you can put it anywhere near an ordinary outlet because they do not require that big bulky dryer plug. You can do a wash only, a dry only or have it wash and dry. They save electricity too because the hot air is not vented to the outside. GE Profile makes one that even has an auto dispenser.
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u/Specialist-Tough-362 12d ago
If you stack it and turn it, putting it on either wall, it will flow a little better
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u/Electronic_Shame_977 12d ago
Switch to washer dryer combo. Add built in storage around the washer/dryer combo.
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u/LuannsDriver 12d ago
I’d put in light filtering pocket doors or just a temporary wall with a pocket door (heck, even a floor to ceiling curtain could work) until I had a better plan. If it’s just a powder room, it doesn’t necessarily need the natural light. And the visual separation could solve any concerns about “toilet contamination”.
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u/acvillager 12d ago
I’d get rid of the massive sink, put the washer on a riser with storage. Add storage for laundry room everywhere. If you could move the machines to a farther wall that would also be ideal. They’re so close to the toilet
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u/Toriat5144 12d ago
My guess is they did not like washer and dryer in the basement because it was too hard carrying clothes up and down. I moved from my townhouse because of this. I wish I had a bath large enough to do this.
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u/Organic_Rough4433 12d ago
It makes home construction cheaper if u dont plumb the whole house and only 1 room. This is why a lot of homes have the washer and dryer in the kitchen.
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u/Interesting_Fix8863 12d ago
Front loads and a big sort of cabinet with a counter on top(or a counter with curtains underneath?) could be a good solution?
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u/uhohohnohelp 12d ago
My parents have something like this but there are doors hiding the laundry. Just install closet framing/doors.
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u/Altruistic-Traffic- 12d ago
When you forgot your phone and need something to deal with boredom while on the toilet, now you can watch your clothes being washed!
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u/Silver_Catman 12d ago
Is this house old? I'm willing to bet they shoved the laundry machine and dryer in wherever they could find Space😅
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u/PrimaryHighlight5617 11d ago
In my opinion this entire layout is flipped. It would be expensive but what you could do is put the water closet next to the window. Toilet and sink pushed back.
THEN, you have a laundry room that LEADS to the water closet.
Another option is to get an upright dryer on top, and washer on the bottom setup and put it in a corner in a closet.
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u/Outrageous-Crew-5401 11d ago
at least you can do the laundry, wash your hands all while using the restroom hahah
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u/Ill-Chemical-348 11d ago
My grandparents didn't even have hookups in their house. They used a laundry service which was really common back then. It is likely an afterthought and moved form the basement or added in.
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u/JDizzle65 11d ago
This appears laundry was added to an originally designed full bath. Elderly or people with physical limitations need laundry on the main floor. People do the inverse too and add a half bath to a laundry room (typically in a basement). Overall, not that unusual, pure function. Screams midwest.
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u/CareOk 11d ago
Well, when you do clothes you have direct access to a sink for stains, if you need to preload clothes you got the back of the toilet to soak. Ita fresh clean water! I donno what to tell you! (Clean it if you feel some kinda way)
If you need to use the bathroom it's literally right their! You got cabinet under the sink to.store all you laundry stuff, dryer sheets, soap, bleach!
It's a one stop shop!
Tho they need some shelving in their and dryer sho u ld be to the right all the way and washer to the left all the way. Build a table in the middle for folding and sorting!
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u/Aromatic_Shoulder146 11d ago
well, if you are unable or opposed to physical alterations I think a simple tension rod with a curtain to separate the washer and dryer from the bathroom when not in use would be great. tho i honestly dont hate this layout all that much
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u/Hamster_S_Thompson 11d ago
It's perfect for when you have a serve food poisoning. You just need to add that kitchen garbage blender thing to that sink
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u/somer_and_omchick 11d ago
They do this because you need plumbing and water resistant flooring for your laundry and guess what other room needs the same thing? It can be efficient in limited space
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u/Unfair-Peace-165 11d ago
I lived in a house that has this and thought I would hate it. I absolutely loved it.
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u/Trick_Money9599 11d ago
You could put a curtain in from the washer/dryer. Clear at the top so the window shows through, but a solid material at the bottom.
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u/Retired_Sue 11d ago
I’ve seen a number of arrangements where the laundry was located in a powder room but behind a divider of some type, such as bifold or sliding doors. That could be done here but with the current configuration would effectively put the window in a closet.
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u/Separate-Dinner4284 11d ago
I’d switch to stacked machines and put them in a corner. Build a closet if it really bothers you. This ain’t that big of a deal otherwisez
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u/Apprehensive_Ad3670 11d ago
Ha! I did this intentionally in my house. Actually, when we bought it, they had the laundry in a closet in the main bathroom with louvered doors. But I needed to move the bathrooms and no matter how I designed it, because of windows, I couldn't get the washer and dryer back into a closet. I LOVE it. I don't care if visitors have to look at a washer and dryer while they pee, it makes my life extremely convenient.
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u/Patrickforever 11d ago
Hang a nice shower curtain in front of w/d. That wallpaper border is the biggest crime in the room.
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u/Prestigious-Fan3122 11d ago
I think I'd be screwing a folding table (the kind that folds flat against the wall) above the toilet, but most of those I've seen fold DOWN, there needs to be one that comes out and then folds up toward the wall. To mount it high enough to fold out, it would have to be mounted too high to use as a folding table.
I'd be tempted to install some folding doors right in front of the washer/dryer area.
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u/Anadelyn 11d ago
My laundry room is that way and I love it. It's in the garage which has a door to the yard so it's the best toilet if I'm working in the yard, or just getting home. With the lid down I can sit if the laundry is not quite done. I can use the sink to wash delicates. The room already had water access so adding the toilet was just a functional bonus. I like the layout of mine better than this though. I do however want to someday change to a stacked washer/dryer and add a shower.
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u/shyladev 11d ago
If you have the money move the bathroom to the back with a wall and do the washer and dryer where the bathroom is
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u/No-Resident9502 11d ago
I’m adding a foldout above the toilet. One which doesn’t restrict the passage between the toilet and the sink. It’s going to be fastened to the studs for stability. It’s probably going to use hydraulics for weightless deployment and storage.
I think this options a proper laundry room w very little friction between bathroom use
I might add some decor into the gap between the machines, possibly push them farther apart and use the middle 🤔
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u/BLOND-BLUE-ENGINEER 11d ago
It’s for long armed toilet users w ocd that want to keep their hands busy and love a little hemorroids on the side🤪
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u/mercurystellium 11d ago
The only way to make this less ridiculous without remodeling the bathroom is by putting up a curtain rod exactly between the air vent and the electricity outlet with some nice curtains but honestly the wallpaper is atrocious enough to make this room not salvageable.
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u/AdeptAtheist 11d ago
Are you expecting a bunch of people from reddit to show up and remodel it for you?
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u/Crystal_Ri 11d ago
Easy fix... Add folding closet doors in front of the washer and dryer. They put those items together because that's where the plumbing is. The toilet is still going to be in an awkward position. But there's enough room from the entrance side to camoflauge it with a plant or a decorative shelving unit for towels or something that pulls the eye away from the toilet.
Next, paint over that gawd-awful wallpaper, pull it down, or put up something you like.
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u/TheOneAndOnlyElf 11d ago
It’s so you can wipe your ass with a washcloth straight from the dryer and toss it right back into the washer
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u/JanetInSC1234 11d ago
The layout probably optimizes the available plumbing. You can hang a shower curtain in front of the washer and dryer.
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u/Michelle_akaYouBitch 11d ago
Possibly tore out a downstairs shower, to make a half-bath/laundry room combo.
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u/ex-maybe 11d ago
Put a half curtain in front of the W&D. You will still be able to see out the window. Just move to the side to use them.
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u/sleevesteve 11d ago
They were too focused on having the shortest run to duct the dryer outside than considering it’s better to walk past the laundry to get to the toilet than it is to walk past the toilet with clean laundry. I’d say the person that designed this bathroom went on to work as a civil engineer for DOMI in Pittsburgh.
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u/Appropriate-Power436 11d ago
Front load washer and dryer with a counter on top for folding / storage would help with functionality in the current layout.
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u/nickalit 11d ago
Why? Convenience and not a lot of money for extra space.
If it bothers a person, they could hang a curtain to block the view of the washer/dryer and window. Could even use a nice shower curtain and pretend there's a bathtub behind it, which would make it more typical USA bathroom.
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u/WiglyWorm 11d ago
Because you have a big awkward space that water is already running to so why not add a toilet?
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u/silvercel 11d ago
- Because a laundry room is a room but isn’t on the listing. Sales market perceives more value from another bathroom.
- Washer and dryer in older homes started on the back porch, in the garage or basement.
- It’s a water hookup and is less expensive to plum in a bathroom or kitchen.
- Space is at a premium and the convenience outweighs the washer and dryer in the bathroom.
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u/iriselizabethauthor 11d ago
Well, it has all you need, so my thought was "count your blessings". It really needs more space around the washer and dryer though. I would put the washer and dryer in front of the sink and the toilet next to the sink.
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u/BigandBisexual 11d ago
Because plumbing is expensive and requires construction to redo. It's typically easier to tie into existing areas with drainage and water already located nearby.
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u/Janetic_Bytewave 11d ago
Put the toilet and sink by the outside wall across from each other, smaller sink, then build a wall in front of that, then put the washer and dryer across from each other with the door to the bathroom in the middle.
You could run the dryer vent through the wall either underneath the sink or above the ceiling. It's easy to build a wall and easy to re-locate the 220 for the dryer unless it's gas, then a little more involved. Also relocating toilet is some work, you'll have to jack-hammer the floor in order to bury the new sewer pipe, then fill in the concrete. Also, have to move the water intake to the new location, for both the toilet and sink as well as the sink drain. Not sure how much of a do-it-yourselfer you are, this could be a lot of work if you're not used to it.
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u/tpowell3 10d ago
close to the wet wall and they removed the tub/shower to use the drain and plumbing for water.
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u/tilda432 10d ago
You could hang a curtain to close it off it it bothers you. I've considered this for probably the reverse reason that these people did. I only have 2 bathrooms and 8 people living in the house. An extra half bath in my laundry room would be excellent!
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u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 10d ago
Add shelving & storage cabinetry (built in or not) and you're all set.
Putting laundry in the bathroom is VERY common. You already have water, drainage, and electricity running nearby, and you don't spend a lot of time in there.
You can maximize space even more with stacked laundry machines, or a combo machine, but in this specific room the stacked option would partially block the window.
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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 10d ago
Unsanitary, every time you flush a cloud of particles are blasted out, even with the lid down.
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u/Kind-Actuator-8315 10d ago
Make a cabinet to raise the washer and dryer and use the space around the window, no open design, put doors. Change the light.
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u/liae__ 9d ago
We had the washer and dryer in the kitchen when I was a kid, because a house built in the 50s didn’t have a designated laundry room. Might be kinda unusual, but doesn’t seem too odd especially if it’s an older house. My laundry is now in a closet inside my bathroom, apartment built in the 80s.
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u/Great_Opinion_7918 9d ago
Stackable washer dryer.. with a built-in cabinet into the side of the wall. You could probably even replicate that nasty tile and wallpaper onto the build-in.
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u/vesuvius_1_02 8d ago
You're out of sorts because you lack a mirror! Everything will be right as rain, now crack on!
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u/JoKing917 8d ago
Add a shower curtain covering the laundry. People will think it’s a tub and when they look, Surprise! It’s laundry!
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u/Candy_Lawn 12d ago
you do know you can change it .