The national average laundry room remodel cost is $6000 or $171.40 per square foot. This goes for a 35 square foot laundry room, which is the typical size allocated for the space. The low end price for a laundry room remodel costs $2000 while a high-end remodel job costs $15,000.
Ofcourse, different factors like fixtures, finishes, space expansion and building materials will raise or lower the renovation price. Minimal DIY jobs can cost as low as $1300 while a full-blown remode with expansion can set you back upwards of $17,000. It may seem like a hefty cost to remodel a laundry room, but consider it an investment for such a utilitarian space.
So much time is spent doing laundry, storing odd items and keeping cleaning supplies accessible yet away from view. Remodeling a laundry room into a perfectly organized washing and storage space can make everyday tasks more enjoyable. If you’re going to remodel your laundry room, you may as well combine style and function to create a space you enjoy working in.
[ez-toc]Design Your Laundry Room
To make a laundry room remodel process as efficient and worthwhile as possible, determine what purpose your laundry room will serve. This will help you and/or contractors know how to best design the space for maximum utility.
You need to consider what you’ll be doing in the laundry room so you can match the space with the function. Tasks like the following will require space and fixtures you’ll need to consider when designing the laundry room.
- Ironing will need space for an ironing board.
- Steam-cleaning will need space for steam cleaning.
- A drying rack for air-drying.
- A folding station for clothes and linens.
- Space for hampers, baskets and laundry products.
Apart from the purpose of doing laundry, laundry rooms are excellent spaces for storage. Consider what other functions you want your laundry room to have. Instead of treating it like a hodge-podge storage space amidst your laundry, allocate space for specific items to keep things organized. For instance, a laundry room is a great space for:
- Storing cleaning items such mops, brooms, bleach, vinegar, baking soda, multipurpose cleaners etc. This is on top of laundry items such as laundry detergent, dryer sheets, hampers etc.
- Keeping poisons like roach gel accessible yet safely tucked away from pets and children.
- Storing baby clothes that no longer fit.
- Storing seasonal items like holiday decorations and chunky winter apparel.
- Keeping clean linens
- Storing Sewing supplies
Small Renovations That Make A Big Difference
When working on a tight budget for a laundry room remodel, aim to complete the following work. It will make a big difference in the design and function of your laundry room without breaking the bank.
Add A Fresh Coat Of Paint
A quality paint job for a laundry room will instantly elevate the entire look. It will also protect your walls from the inevitable moisture a laundry room is exposed to.
Opt for light and subtle colors to promote a sense of calm in a busy space. Neutrals like cream, sandy beiges, vanilla with yellow undertones and light grays are fantastic choices. You can opt for colorful pastel colors as well like yellow, green or blue.
Depending if you’re just painting the walls, ceiling, floors, or all, painting a laundry room usually costs $70 to $1440 on average.
Fix The Floor
A laundry room flooring should be water resistant. Spills, floods and leaks are all expected so you want your floors to be able to hold up. We suggest vinyl flooring or epoxy flooring. These materials are easy to clean and maintain, are highly durable, water-resistant and it looks great. Concrete and tile, finished with a waterproof sealant, are great options too.
Depending on what floor material you go with, you can expect the following costs to purchase and install the following flooring material:
- Vinyl: $70 to $490
- Concrete with sealant: $35 to $140
- Tile: $315 to $1400
- Epoxy: $350 to $525
The great thing about remodeling laundry room floors is you only need to cover a small area of space. This gives you an affordable renovation option that will make a big difference in the look and function of your laundry room.
Install Shelves
The best way to make the most of a laundry room’s storage capital is to work your way up and install shelves. Basic open shelving costs $18 to $26 per linear foot. If you want more intricate storage and organization spaces like a closet or custom cabinet, prepare to spend $135 to $300 or $500 to $1500 per linear foot respectively.
The great thing about built-in shelving is you make use of wall space without sacrificing the openness of your floor space. When done right, shelves are beautiful fixtures and are essential pieces to a put-together laundry room.
Plumbing And Appliances
A large chunk of a laundry room remodel cost will go to plumbing and appliances. For obvious reasons, you don’t want to skimp on this if you want to save yourself from future headaches.
Firstly, plumbing for your washing machine and a laundry room go hand in hand. Installing drain lines to your washing machine costs $400 to $800. If you plan to install a sink, running a line and connecting it to a faucet will cost $170 to $500.
For sinks and their countertops, expect to pay anywhere between $450 to $3000 on average. This ranges from a simple undermount sink to a farmhouse style sink.
For your actual laundry appliances, your washer and dryer, prepare to spend upwards of $3000. Depending on how you want to set up your appliances, the price will vary. Take the following prices as a guide to how much you can expect to spend for a washer and dryer set up:
- Stackable washer dryer set up:L $300 to $1500
- Side-by-side set up:L $600 to $3500
- Fixed stacked set up costs $550 to $3000
- Washer & Dryer combo: $1000 to $2500
There are a variety of factors to consider in a laundry room remodel cost. To be able to get a good ballpark figure to set a budget, know how much square feet your laundry room is and decide with a contractor what fixtures and renovations you want incorporated.
At the end of the day, a laundry room remodel should be designed to make your life easier and make the regular chore of doing laundry more pleasant and efficient.
