Laundry
11. In-built domesticsWill a fold-out ironing board change your life? Probably. It means items can be quickly ironed on the go without going to the trouble of wrangling a freestanding ironing board into position and away again. Pull it out, fix that crinkled collar pronto, then slide the whole shebang back into the drawer – quick, easy, no fuss. And you can store the iron and spray bottles in the cupboard below.Tip: When unfolded, a pull-out ironing board can be anywhere from 800-950 millimetres long, and it should be installed perpendicular to the bench. Ensure there’s enough clearance for it to be used comfortably without blocking the kitchen thoroughfare. And don’t forget to include a power point nearby.
7. Integrate your ironing boardIf you’re like me, you’ll regard ironing as a necessary evil: not only is it the most joyless of jobs, but portable ironing boards can wobble precariously, there’s no stable room for a hot iron and the placement of power points can force you to iron in odd spaces.Integrated designs that swivel smoothly back into your joinery and fold-out ironing boards like this one can change all that. They are usually more stable, offer a streamlined look when they’re hidden away and free up tall storage space – no more wrestling with freestanding cumbersome ironing boards. These canny creations won’t do the ironing for you but they’ll make the job a little bit easier.
6. Let it all hang outIn an ideal world, our laundries would have medium and tall hanging space for garments of different lengths, flat drying racks for woollens and knits and a dedicated clothesline outside. But as our homes have become smaller, the likelihood of being able to squeeze all that drying space into one little laundry – which is often now hidden behind a cupboard – is rare.Enter the in-built drying rack, available in countless designs including pull-down wall-mounted versions like this one. These space-saving solutions are fairly straightforward to install and ensure your clothes will dry, whatever the weather.Read more laundry stories
4. Select a deep, wide sink… and the right tapRegardless of whether you choose a single- or double-bowl laundry sink, the most important thing is that it’s deep and wide.This stainless-steel butler’s or farmhouse sink has only one bowl but it’s large enough to fit bulky buckets for soaking clothes. Farmhouse sinks have the ergonomic bonus of letting you get closer to the bowl because there is no bench separating you from the rim of the sink.Consider a laundry tap with a flexible hose and pull-out spray nozzle such as the one pictured here. If you only have room for a small sink, try mounting your tap at a far corner of the sink instead of in the centre at the back, and opt for swivel models that you can rotate out of the way.Tip: If space allows, incorporate pull-out flat drying racks like the ones pictured above to dry woollens and knits.
How far do you have to travel to fetch a mop when there’s a spill? Or do you keep it shoved in the space beside the fridge? Here’s a fantastic solution: this pull-out keeps the cleaning essentials hidden away and beautifully organised – ready to clean up spills immediately. Amazingly, this broom cupboard will only steal 200 millimetres of floor space from your kitchen, but having the broom, dustpan and mop on hand right when you need them will prove to be one of life’s essential luxuries. Tell usWhat innovative inclusions have improved the functionality of your kitchen? Share pictures and ideas in the Comments.MoreBrowse more kitchen photos
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