The Block 2024: Laundry floor plan reveal

It’s a busy week ahead on The Block as the contestants turn their attention to laundries and additional bedrooms.

Last week was a tough one for some teams who led the pack earlier in the season.

Kristian and Mimi scored just 12.5 points after switching rooms and failing to finish their upstairs bedroom, while Kylie and Brad didn’t do much better at just 16 points. The judges didn’t hold back, with Marty describing Kylie and Brad’s rumpus space as the most uncomfortable room on The Block.

In the end, Ricky and Haydn and Maddy and Charlotte tied for first place, with Courtney and Grant coming second.

For a close look at all the spaces the contestants are about to tackle, check out the Domain In the Know Hub.

How to plan a functional laundry

The laundry is probably the only room in your house you don’t want to spend a lot of time in. For most people, it’s an in-and-out proposition where the less time spent there, the better.

To achieve that, you need a laundry that allows you to access the appliances, sink and storage easily and efficiently.

“It’s really such an important space in the home because it’s something that should be functional and practical, so you need to make sure that you have an efficient workflow through the space,” says AJC Architects senior designer Tamara Watson.

Plan your laundry around the placement of the washing machine and dryer, if you have one. If you’re working in an established space, this may be restricted by where the taps are located, but taps can be relocated by a plumber if required.

Decide whether you want these appliances side-by-side or stacked. Watson says it’s much more ergonomic to opt for stacked.

“People these days usually don’t like bending down and grabbing their stuff. So I’ve recently designed a laundry for an older couple where we’ve put it at hip height,” she says.

Also avoid placing the appliances so the doors hit each other when they open, and ensure they are well out of the way of high-traffic walkways.

Laundries are typically the rooms where renovators will spend the least money.

However, it may be worth considering some quality joinery that will save you a lot of time and effort.

Contemporary laundry design can include streamlined cabinetry such as pull-out underbench hampers to do away with the eyesore of an overflowing laundry basket.

A tall cupboard is essential to hide brooms, vacuum cleaners, mops and ironing boards. This can be integrated into the joinery so it’s not only efficient, but stylish.

Some laundries may be large enough to consider a drying room, which can be arranged with the placement of a heating vent. If this isn’t possible, there’s always the option of a hanging rack.

Best materials to use in a laundry

Laundries need not be all about efficiency. Bringing some colour and style into the room will make mundane tasks a little brighter.

“You can bring some colour in through the tiles, the splashback, or even joinery with warm timbers,” Watson says.

“People usually go with a white finish, but just introducing warmth through the joinery is a really good idea.

“You can also use a textured pattern on the splashback – which is a really good way of doing it – and even have fun with the colour on the floor.”

Durability is absolutely essential in a laundry.

“Definitely go for tiling on the floor so that it’s a really durable surface,” Watson says.

“When you think of materials used in a laundry, like high bleach, you need durable materials. We usually introduce a Dekton porcelain tile as an option for the bench top. It’s really cost-effective.”

Watch The Block to see who edges out the competition to win this week’s room reveal.

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