Not really (but kinda) MMR: Moving Laundry Room Upstairs

AprilZ81

brij2006 said:

hoffse makes a good point.  We installed a drain in our laundry room for "just in case."  It took some extra planning, but (knock on wood) we've never had the washer overflow to need it.

We already have the existing shower drain right there in that space so it can probably be used in addition to an overflow pan.

The second floor structure is a bit of an unknown, but it is strong enough to support a huge jetted tub that we are ripping out (and not replacing).  I'm going to assume it is strong enough until our contractor tells me otherwise.

AprilZ81

hoffse said:

Also, thinking about Option 2, I just got the image of falling down the stairs backwards when trying to hoist some laundry out of the washing machine.  That's probably ridiculous, but it just came to me.  If you go with Option 2, I would absolutely double and triple check the foot space there to make sure you have plenty of room to move around and manipulate laundry baskets, etc. without coming anywhere close to the top step. 

That was my thought too until I realized that I barely shift my weight taking clothes out of the washer and into the dryer.  I lift the wet clothes out, do a half turn and throw them into the dryer.  My feet never change positions.  Am I weird like that?  LOL

Anyway...  The landing is big enough to accommodate a large laundry basket with a foot to spare.  We will have baby gates until they are old enough to do stairs safely and since I do 99% of the laundry I will make sure not to leave the basket right there.  No biggie!  

simplyelise

I'm realizing as I read this how different family cultures can really affect laundry placement opinions!

I didn't grow up with a mudroom and our garage was attached but did not have a door pass-through, so we only came in through the front unless we were in the backyard playing. So the idea of needing a mudroom is absolutely foreign to me. You leave your shoes on the doormat if they are wet and you put them away in the room when they are dry. Your bookbag goes in your room of course! 

My preference would be #1 with eliminating the sink and reworking some of the storage. I'd also take a look at the things you're currently storing in the laundry room and see if you can move some of those things to the basement. If they're not directly related to laundry or cleaning, it makes sense to me that they wouldn't have to be stored there.

But I do think #2 would work fine if you get an "OK" from the contractor. I probably wouldn't do it if it were more than a couple thousand. I hate when people leave their bifold doors to their laundry open and you can see all the mess, but as long as you can close the doors and only need the space at the top of the stairs during transfers, I think it would be fine!

JoanE2012

simplyelise said:

I'm realizing as I read this how different family cultures can really affect laundry placement opinions!

I didn't grow up with a mudroom and our garage was attached but did not have a door pass-through, so we only came in through the front unless we were in the backyard playing. So the idea of needing a mudroom is absolutely foreign to me. You leave your shoes on the doormat if they are wet and you put them away in the room when they are dry. Your bookbag goes in your room of course! 

My preference would be #1 with eliminating the sink and reworking some of the storage. I'd also take a look at the things you're currently storing in the laundry room and see if you can move some of those things to the basement. If they're not directly related to laundry or cleaning, it makes sense to me that they wouldn't have to be stored there.

But I do think #2 would work fine if you get an "OK" from the contractor. I probably wouldn't do it if it were more than a couple thousand. I hate when people leave their bifold doors to their laundry open and you can see all the mess, but as long as you can close the doors and only need the space at the top of the stairs during transfers, I think it would be fine!

Same here!  We didn't have a mudroom growing up, so it's not something I ever really gave thought to.  Everything still has its place without the separate room.  Now if I did have a mudroom, I'm sure I'd find it pretty awesome!

AprilZ81

simplyelise said:

I'm realizing as I read this how different family cultures can really affect laundry placement opinions!

I didn't grow up with a mudroom and our garage was attached but did not have a door pass-through, so we only came in through the front unless we were in the backyard playing. So the idea of needing a mudroom is absolutely foreign to me. You leave your shoes on the doormat if they are wet and you put them away in the room when they are dry. Your bookbag goes in your room of course! 

My preference would be #1 with eliminating the sink and reworking some of the storage. I'd also take a look at the things you're currently storing in the laundry room and see if you can move some of those things to the basement. If they're not directly related to laundry or cleaning, it makes sense to me that they wouldn't have to be stored there.

But I do think #2 would work fine if you get an "OK" from the contractor. I probably wouldn't do it if it were more than a couple thousand. I hate when people leave their bifold doors to their laundry open and you can see all the mess, but as long as you can close the doors and only need the space at the top of the stairs during transfers, I think it would be fine!

We are only storing cleaning/laundry supplies in those cabinets.  Paper towels, trash bags, light bulbs, cleaning supplies, rags, laundry detergent, etc.  We do keep some bug spray that can go to the garage, but I like having it within easy reach.

Under the sink we keep some shoes and a basic toolkit so I don't have to go rummage through the garage or basement to find a hammer or screwdriver.

There really isn't much that we keep in there that doesn't serve a purpose.  Good idea though!

smerka

I would never move my laundry room upstairs. We too have a really tight mushroom/laundry area. I have two kids and I could easily do a load a day. The laundry room is where I go to get away. Keep in mind that when you empty a dryer, you open a door and then put a basket down - at least that is how it is with ours - the door folds down. I am constantly knocking into the stupid door because there isn't much room behind me. For that reason, I would avoid option 2.

smerka

And with kids you want the laundry room where you spend the majority of time. Wet bibs,poopy clothes, I would want it to go somewhere close. I think with a better use of space, you could make that mud room work. We just put in a wire shelf above the door (9 foot ceilings) for paper products. It is amazing how much I can fit up there.

dragonstarjk

Out of the three options, I'd probably do #1.  Actually, we are doing something similar eventually, although we have much less room than you--so your mudroom area looks larger than ours, if that makes you feel any better, haha.  Could you remodel the room to remove enough upper cabinets to fit a stackable washer/dryer, and then also a smaller sink?  I'm thinking you'll be glad to have the sink a few years down the road when you have kids.

Option #3 would be my second choice.  Not ideal, but doable if it HAS to move. 

Option #2 sounds like a bad idea (no offense).  Looking at it, you would only have about a foot to walk around the washer/dryer to get into the rooms on either side?  And, like @hoffse said, I'd be worried about falling down the stairs.  Would you have to stand on the stairs to open the door to the washer/dryer whichever is in front of the stairs?  I honestly would be surprised if your contractor would even do this for you, as I believe it would not be up to code.  I think you need a 36" landing.

AprilZ81

dragonstarjk said:

Out of the three options, I'd probably do #1.  Actually, we are doing something similar eventually, although we have much less room than you--so your mudroom area looks larger than ours, if that makes you feel any better, haha.  Could you remodel the room to remove enough upper cabinets to fit a stackable washer/dryer, and then also a smaller sink?  I'm thinking you'll be glad to have the sink a few years down the road when you have kids.

Option #3 would be my second choice.  Not ideal, but doable if it HAS to move. 

Option #2 sounds like a bad idea (no offense).  Looking at it, you would only have about a foot to walk around the washer/dryer to get into the rooms on either side?  And, like @hoffse said, I'd be worried about falling down the stairs.  Would you have to stand on the stairs to open the door to the washer/dryer whichever is in front of the stairs?  I honestly would be surprised if your contractor would even do this for you, as I believe it would not be up to code.  I think you need a 36" landing.

No, we aren't losing any floor space in the hallway/landing area. Where the wall is now would be where the doors would be. The laundry basket picture is just to give you and idea of how much space there is. With the doors open it is possible to have one person walk behind the person doing laundry and still get to the stairs.  

With the basket perpendicular to the washer/dryer you still have about a foot.  With the basket parallel to the dryer you would still have about 2 feet clearance.  

When the doors are closed (99% of the time) the floor plan doesn't change it would just be doors there instead of the wall.

dragonstarjk

AprilZ81 said:

dragonstarjk said:

Out of the three options, I'd probably do #1.  Actually, we are doing something similar eventually, although we have much less room than you--so your mudroom area looks larger than ours, if that makes you feel any better, haha.  Could you remodel the room to remove enough upper cabinets to fit a stackable washer/dryer, and then also a smaller sink?  I'm thinking you'll be glad to have the sink a few years down the road when you have kids.

Option #3 would be my second choice.  Not ideal, but doable if it HAS to move. 

Option #2 sounds like a bad idea (no offense).  Looking at it, you would only have about a foot to walk around the washer/dryer to get into the rooms on either side?  And, like @hoffse said, I'd be worried about falling down the stairs.  Would you have to stand on the stairs to open the door to the washer/dryer whichever is in front of the stairs?  I honestly would be surprised if your contractor would even do this for you, as I believe it would not be up to code.  I think you need a 36" landing.

No, we aren't losing any floor space in the hallway/landing area. Where the wall is now would be where the doors would be. The laundry basket picture is just to give you and idea of how much space there is. With the doors open it is possible to have one person walk behind the person doing laundry and still get to the stairs.  

With the basket perpendicular to the washer/dryer you still have about a foot.  With the basket parallel to the dryer you would still have about 2 feet clearance.  

When the doors are closed (99% of the time) the floor plan doesn't change it would just be doors there instead of the wall.

OOOOH I get it now

abrewer5

If you don't think you can minimize what you have stored in the current mudroom then I would go with option 2.

I live in a town house and I cannot wait to move because I HATE having my laundry in the basement. Lugging all those clothes up and down the stairs is no fun. Luckily it's just H and I so I only have to worry about it on Sundays. The one benefit is that our washer has 'leaked' quite a few times. It's not the washer so much as it's the poor infrastructure in our neighborhood that prevents us from using the washer when there is any sort of precipitation outside without the drain backing up with water. So I would definitely agree with others that if you do option 2 or 3 to definitely make sure you have a plan for water issues.

I won't lie I'm jealous of your bathroom remodel! I am dying to remodel ours, it's one of the last rooms we have left in our house. Good luck!

jtmh2012

I'd nix idea #3.  It probably sounds neat now, but like others have said, once you have kids and they're old enough, you don't want the entire house going in/out of your room just to get/do laundry.

And I absolutely love the idea of a second floor laundry, although, I also agree that the placement right at the top of the stairs like that makes me nervous.  One backwards mindless misstep, a child running around the basket, etc.

Not sure what your garage looks like, but have you considered adding some storage right on the other side of the door and putting some of your "nice to have close" items in the garage?  That would free up space in the mudroom.

brij2006

smerka said:

And with kids you want the laundry room where you spend the majority of time. Wet bibs,poopy clothes, I would want it to go somewhere close. I think with a better use of space, you could make that mud room work. We just put in a wire shelf above the door (9 foot ceilings) for paper products. It is amazing how much I can fit up there.

To give a perspective on this point.  

We cloth diaper, so I'm constantly doing loads of laundry.  It is actually nice having it upstairs because I will put them away when H is home.  He watches DD downstairs and I crank up some tunes upstairs and spend 30 minutes putting away laundry.  We joke that laundry is my "me time."

However, whenever I need to put the laundry away and I'm home with DD, I just shut the gates to the top of the staircases and let her roam around while I put everything away.  She was sick last Monday and I spent the entire day doing laundry and organizing the 2nd floor.  We didn't go downstairs once, and it was nice to still get all the bedding washed and all of the clothes put away as they were done in the dryer.

Our clothes never go downstairs.  I fold in our bedroom, then put them away. I also hang things right away that need hung in the closet.  Rather than folding them and them sitting in a basket till I can get into the bedrooms to hang them.

AprilZ81

brij2006 said:

smerka said:

And with kids you want the laundry room where you spend the majority of time. Wet bibs,poopy clothes, I would want it to go somewhere close. I think with a better use of space, you could make that mud room work. We just put in a wire shelf above the door (9 foot ceilings) for paper products. It is amazing how much I can fit up there.

To give a perspective on this point.  

We cloth diaper, so I'm constantly doing loads of laundry.  It is actually nice having it upstairs because I will put them away when H is home.  He watches DD downstairs and I crank up some tunes upstairs and spend 30 minutes putting away laundry.  We joke that laundry is my "me time."

However, whenever I need to put the laundry away and I'm home with DD, I just shut the gates to the top of the staircases and let her roam around while I put everything away.  She was sick last Monday and I spent the entire day doing laundry and organizing the 2nd floor.  We didn't go downstairs once, and it was nice to still get all the bedding washed and all of the clothes put away as they were done in the dryer.

Our clothes never go downstairs.  I fold in our bedroom, then put them away. I also hang things right away that need hung in the closet.  Rather than folding them and them sitting in a basket till I can get into the bedrooms to hang them.

Yeah, our clothes never go downstairs unless I'm doing laundry or we are wearing them.  DH is pretty good about bringing clothes back upstairs if he takes something off.  I don't mind going up and down stairs to switch laundry, it is the carrying of laundry baskets on stairs that I don't like.  I'm always afraid I'm going to miss a step and go crashing down a flight of stairs.

CuriousKiddosMama

I didn't read the other posts, so I will do that later, but my 2 cents is move it upstairs.
I would probably go with option 3, having it in the master bathroom in a closet, just because I'm not sure about crowding the landing at the top of the stairs. Our laundry room is like your current set up and I hate it too. We have a front load washer and so that makes it even worse- it always stinks because the door keeps getting shut on it as people go in and out.
One thing that would help me make my decision: how many people do you think will be doing laundry besides you and dh? Do you get long term house guests that you wouldn't want in your room? Future kids doing their own laundry wouldn't bother me one bit.

The other thing I just thought of that may be a point for option 2 is the buzzer. From in your bathroom, I bet you won't hear it downstairs. From the top of the landing, you probably will.

AprilZ81

CuriousKiddosMama said:

I didn't read the other posts, so I will do that later, but my 2 cents is move it upstairs. I would probably go with option 3, having it in the master bathroom in a closet, just because I'm not sure about crowding the landing at the top of the stairs. Our laundry room is like your current set up and I hate it too. We have a front load washer and so that makes it even worse- it always stinks because the door keeps getting shut on it as people go in and out. One thing that would help me make my decision: how many people do you think will be doing laundry besides you and dh? Do you get long term house guests that you wouldn't want in your room? Future kids doing their own laundry wouldn't bother me one bit. The other thing I just thought of that may be a point for option 2 is the buzzer. From in your bathroom, I bet you won't hear it downstairs. From the top of the landing, you probably will.

My Mom is the only adult that I could see doing laundry in our house, possibly my sister.  Assuming we are able to have kids they would both be frequent visitors to hang out and help with the baby(ies).  I wouldn't mind them going into our room/bathroom.

I'm not an exhibitionist, but I'm not overly modest either.  If our future kids need to come in to get laundry out of the dryer and I'm wrapped in a towel I'm not going to care.

We also have the buzzer on our dryer turned off.    The noise annoys me.  lol

Our contractor is coming over tomorrow to take a look to see if we can do it.  He may not be able to give us a 100% firm answer until he gets the floor ripped up and see what the structure and plumbing look like.  Fingers crossed!

I'm leaning towards putting it in the hallway as long as there isn't a building code  violation.  As long as the doors stay closed and laundry isn't piled on the landing we should be fine.

Disneygeek77

Our laundry is in the basement.  It's ok in some ways.  We don't have to worry about it accidently leaking and it's not noisy, but it is a pain to go up and down the stairs all the time.  If I had my way, we would move the laundry room to the main floor and put it in the half bath since it is a large size.  I used to think a second floor laundry would be nice because the bedrooms being up there, but I would still have to go up and down the stairs to load, reload, switch to dryer etc.  Nah... I'd rather have it on the floor where we spend the majority of our time, the main floor.

If I were you, I would spend some time in the mudroom and think or research ideas on how to get the most efficient use out of that space. That might involve getting rid of the sink or getting stackables or perhaps changing out your current cabinets for larger, more orangized ones.  Maybe google or go on pinterest to see how best to organize a mudroom / laundry room or visit a store like Ikea or the Container Store and see if you can get some ideas there.  

AprilZ81

Disneygeek77 said:

Our laundry is in the basement.  It's ok in some ways.  We don't have to worry about it accidently leaking and it's not noisy, but it is a pain to go up and down the stairs all the time.  If I had my way, we would move the laundry room to the main floor and put it in the half bath since it is a large size.  I used to think a second floor laundry would be nice because the bedrooms being up there, but I would still have to go up and down the stairs to load, reload, switch to dryer etc.  Nah... I'd rather have it on the floor where we spend the majority of our time, the main floor.

If I were you, I would spend some time in the mudroom and think or research ideas on how to get the most efficient use out of that space. That might involve getting rid of the sink or getting stackables or perhaps changing out your current cabinets for larger, more orangized ones.  Maybe google or go on pinterest to see how best to organize a mudroom / laundry room or visit a store like Ikea or the Container Store and see if you can get some ideas there.  

Thanks!  Normally I would agree with you about laundry on the main floor, but I work from home and my office is upstairs.  I spend 75% of my time upstairs so having it up here would be convenient to my day-to-day life.  I could easily walk down the hallway and switch a load of laundry if I wanted/needed to.

I have tons of stuff pinned on Pinterest, but there just isn't enough room to have functional laundry AND mud room in that space.

brij2006

We spend 99% of our time on the main floor.  Our laundry room is right at the top of the steps, like you want yours.  It's quick and easy to run up, throw the stuff in the dryer, then come back down.
Another huge plus, we don't hear it when we're downstairs.  So I can have a load going while we have guests over for dinner, and nobody knows I'm also doing laundry. 

Another point I wanted to give you, as I was chatting with H about this last night.  He reminded me that we insulated the 4 walls in the laundry room.  It's on all inside walls, but it connects to DD's room and closet.  So they insulated it to keep the noise down.  You may want to ask about that as well, since it's such a small space, it shouldn't cost too much more to put some in.

blondie42107

I'm late to the game but I work with the older population and those that are disabled (all ages). H and I have decided our next house (aka forever house) will either have a bedroom on the main level or an area that can be converted into a bedroom. You just never know what the future holds and if something were to happen to us or our parents. I've worked with many families where one of the parents moved in temporarily or long term because of health.

So I'd rather have laundry on the main floor as well. In your case, I think any option is fine as long as you have your current spot available as a backup.