Today’s washers and dryers are really a step up from the ones that used to be relegated to the basement years ago. They are much more efficient. 

Older, top-loading laundry machines often consumed as many as 40 gallons of water to wash a full load of clothes. Today's Energy Star washers can manage with only 14 gallons per wash. And on top of that, Energy Star appliances typically use about half the electricity compared to the standard models.

In addition to being more energy-efficient (and easier on your clothes), they also look a whole lot better. And they’re much quieter.

What that all means is that these hardworking machines no longer have to be banished to the basement—unless that’s where you want them to be. So what are your options for placing your washer and dryer? That depends on your lifestyle and on what’s convenient for you.

Some floor plans (such as our Arden plan) locate the laundry room on the main level of the home, just inside the entrance from the garage door. That makes a lot of sense for families that want to use that utility room as a kind of mudroom. That location is also close to the kitchen (a place that tends to generate a fair amount of laundry). At the same time, the utility/laundry room is out of sight when guests come through the home.

The Summit plan takes a similar approach, placing the laundry on the main level with easy access to the kitchen and the Master bedroom. Because the upper bedrooms will probably be occupied by younger residents (or guests who won’t have as much laundry), it’s not a problem to bring things down to the lower level for washing.

Our Cartwright plan puts the utility/laundry room between the kitchen and the Master Bedroom. That’s convenient because it’s a short few steps from the bedroom to the washing machine to put dirty clothes in the wash. And because the Cartwright is a single level design, it’s a great feature to consider for someone who doesn’t want to be hauling laundry up and down steps later in life.

The point is you can locate your washer and dryer wherever it makes sense for you. And of course, because you’re building a custom home, you can modify the room—or even the location.  Today’s washers and dryers are about efficiency and convenience. The design of your home should be, too!