The Block 2017: The (boring) parts of your home you need to get right

Building or renovating involves spending large amounts of time and money planning the perfect home.

Spaces like the kitchen, living room and bathroom are usually allocated the lion’s share of both, but what about the boring areas of the home that are just as necessary but not as exciting?

Areas like the laundry and garage are often overlooked but need to be carefully considered in order to create a well functioning and tidy dream home.

Here are a few key things worth considering to make sure you get these areas right.

Laundry

In today’s family home the laundry has been upgraded to become the utility room. It’s not just about washing anymore, the laundry is now the engine room of the home where everything has a place.

Laundries need to be functional and easily accessible but they can also be stylish. Cabinetry is the first place to start in achieving a beautiful and organised laundry.

Sleek benchtops for folding, plenty of cupboards for storage, a linen cupboard if space allows, a tall cupboard for brooms, mops and the vacuum, and dedicated drawers for school bags and sports kit are all must haves in today’s laundry.

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A hanging bar for clothes drying is a great addition or, if you have the room, a drying cupboard complete with heating is a dream come true.

Built-in iron and ironing boards are seamless and in terms of style, stick to clean lines and a simple colour palette that ties in with your kitchen cabinetry. This will tell a great story of continuity throughout the home.

Butler’s pantry

A butler’s pantry can help keep your home looking clean, tidy and highly functional. Plenty of storage is a must, including open shelving for easy access and a small sink and extra dishwasher to help keep the mess from food prep and cooking out of sight.

When planning the layout, include a long, open bench and plenty of power points to hide away everyday electrical items such as toasters, kettles, juicers and coffee machines. This will keep your kitchen benches free of clutter.

Consider including a hidden cavity sliding door so that any mess can be quickly hidden away when guests arrive. A wine and/or beer fridge is a luxury inclusion that will free up space in your fridge.

Garage

The luxury of pulling your car straight into a garage on a cold windy day never disappoints, and the opportunity for extra storage makes it real estate gold.

Installing dedicated shelving for suitcases, storage boxes and any bits and pieces that are better off out of sight, is worth the investment. How far you go is limited only by budget as you can even create a mini “mud room” inside the garage for people to offload umbrellas, coats, bags and shoes before they even enter the house.

Storage units for sports equipment helps keep the backyard tidy and the good old extra fridge for entertaining is always useful.

Study nook

If the layout of your kitchen allows, including a study nook is a clever option for growing families. It can be a dedicated spot for monitoring children’s internet usage and homework or as a place to check emails and pay bills that is still connected to the hub of the home.

It makes sense to continue the same cabinetry in the kitchen into the study nook and be sure to install plenty of power points and drawers or cupboards to keep everything tidy and tucked away.