Does a designated laundry room count as square footage in your house? You might want to know for resale and value purposes. Or perhaps you're building and want a great big laundry room but want to make sure you can get your value back out of it. We've done our research to find the answer to this question.
In most areas, any room with finished walls, a ceiling, and heating and/or air-conditioning is considered usable square footage. There is some debate that rooms called utility rooms are not included, but those are typically located off the garage. Even the closets are counted as part of the square footage inside the home, so the laundry room should be too.
We'll look at this in a bit more detail below. We'll also discuss the best location for the laundry room in the home, good sizes for laundry rooms, how much space you need around your washer and dryer, and if adding or refinishing a laundry room adds value to the home. So please, keep reading.
Does A Laundry Room Count In Your Home's Square Footage?
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Whether you are building a new home or renovating an old home, one thing you may have on your mind is square footage. As homes are generally priced in accordance with this figure, it makes sense to think about it. So, where does your laundry room come into this calculation? Well, we have some good news.
If your laundry room is a finished room under the main roof of your home, which means it has floors, ceilings, finished walls, and heating and air-conditioning, then it can be counted. In addition, if you have a laundry closet, it will also be counted if it meets the above requirements.
There are some scenarios where your laundry room is not counted in your home's square footage. For example, if your washer and dryer are set up in the unfinished basement of your home, this area is not counted. A utility room with a washer and dryer in your garage or carport, not in the house's main area, does not count in the total square footage for your home.
Where Should A Laundry Room Be Located In A House?
The laundry room is a room with the primary purpose of washing and drying your family's clothes. We also use the laundry room like a mudroom, and sometimes we use it for bathing our pets. Often, it contains additional storage. But where is the best location for a laundry room? Below are some options.
Off The Primary Bedroom
Some homes are designed so that you access the laundry room from the primary bedroom closet. The advantage to this is that it's easy to deliver dirty and clean clothes to and from the closet. One disadvantage might be the noise of the washer and dryer so near the primary bedroom.
Between The Garage And The Kitchen
Many home designers will tuck the less attractive, more functional spaces, like the mudroom, laundry, and pantry, out of the way. A commonplace to do this is between the garage entryway and the kitchen. Though this is very convenient for getting outdoor clothes and jackets straight into the washer when they're muddy, it might be less convenient for toting clothes from dirty clothes hampers from the bedroom.
In A Closet Near The Kitchen
If space is at a premium, you may only have a small closet for your laundry appliances. Choosing to put them near the kitchen is one way to have cost savings. Since plumbing and ventilation are already a part of the kitchen plan, they can easily be run to where you want to place your laundry appliances. One concern might be that you don't want cooking food odors near the fresh, clean laundry. So keep that in mind when planning.
Near The Children's Bedrooms
Whether you have a laundry closet in the hallway or a designated room, having your laundry room near the home's bedroom wing is nice. You don't have to schlep clothes as far as you might if it's located in a basement or near the garage. But it also means it might not be in a great spot to serve double duty as a mudroom or pantry storage.
In The Basement
Though many people don't want to walk up and downstairs to do their laundry, sometimes the basement is a good spot, particularly if you have a daylight basement that can vent the dryer outside easily. This way, your laundry room doesn't take up valuable square footage on your main living area.
What Is A Good Size For A Laundry Room?
You want to make sure you have plenty of space for your washer and dryer to fit comfortably. If all you have room for is a laundry closet, these will typically be about 3-foot deep and 5-foot wide. This will fit either a side-by-side washer and dryer or a stackable unit with room for a bit of shelving or counter space.
If you want a full room, then think about not having anything less than 8-foot by 7-foot. This gives room for your units, a closet, and some counter and shelf space. Along with room to move around.
For a real luxury-sized laundry room, you might build something as large as 10-foot by 7-foot. This gives room for your door to swing inward, your washing units, a utility sink, and a counter, along with cabinets and drying space. Of course, you can always go bigger, but this size is a great working size laundry room.
How Much Space Do You Need Around A Washer And Dryer?
With your washer and dryer, you want to make sure you have room for the appliances and their cords and vents that connect from the back to the wall. Typically the units are around 33-inches deep, 39-inches wide, and 30-inches tall. They can sit with only an inch or so between them, but you might want a couple of inches between the units and the walls.
You also want to make sure they will easily clear any door molding in case you have to pull them out to replace them.
Does A Laundry Room Add Value To A House?
Anytime you have a room that counts as finished square footage, it will add value to your home. But a good laundry room adds value in other ways too. It's a functional room that is an important one on the list of many home buyers. They won't even consider a home that doesn't have space to do their own laundry easily.
Refinishing a laundry room won't add a whole lot of tangible value to your home unless you add new appliances. A new washer and dryer in a beautifully finished room add interior curb appeal. That's a great thing when you're looking to sell your home. When people walk through, they notice when things look bad. If your laundry room is neat and tidy and clean with new appliances, it will definitely add intrinsic value.
Build It Because You Love It
Whether or not your laundry room counts when it comes to your square footage, its necessity counts for more than that. Good function in a home makes your life bearable and easy, and that is priceless!
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