When decorating your home, you have to work with a few givens, unless you’re willing to do major renovations. The location of your walls and ceilings are fixed — which can be a limiting factor in room layouts — and your appliances are, for the most part, immovable. Designing around washers and dryers, refrigerators, ovens, hot water heaters, and dishwashers can seem like a pain, but the job can be made easier with a little creativity. Discover three ways to feng shui around your eye-sore appliances.
Make Your Laundry Room Multipurpose
Washers and dryers take up space. Regardless of whether you’re dealing with front loaders or top loaders, you can find ways to make your laundry room a multi-use space. Begin by evaluating how much space you have around the sides and tops of your washer and dryer. Do you have room to construct some built-in cabinets? Built-in cabinets are a great way to create stylish storage space for common items such as detergent, cleaning supplies, and nonfood items such as board games and extra linens.
If you don’t have room for built-in cabinets, consider installing a folding table on top of your washer and dryer to make laundry folding a breeze. Use airy colors in small rooms, such as laundry rooms, to give the room size and downplay the appliances.
Take Advantage of the Work Triangle
Undoubtedly, the most appliance-heavy room in the house is the kitchen. With the stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher, many big pieces fit into a small space. To make the most of your kitchen, focus on understanding your own “work triangle.” A kitchen work triangle is the design of placing the stove, refrigerator, and sink in a triangle shape to make cooking easy and convenient. This arrangement is a great idea, but it can constrain the design of a kitchen. Sometimes rules are made to be broken, right?
If your kitchen doesn’t have a traditional work triangle, don’t fret. Work with what you have. Switch the way your refrigerator door opens, or rework your countertop configuration to increase flow. If your appliances are an eyesore, look for ways to minimize their visual impact in the room by painting the cabinets or redoing the countertops. If you hate white appliances — but white appliances are what you have — brighten your kitchen’s overall design to hide them in plain sight.
Get the Right Appliances for the House
Sometimes you have appliances that simply aren’t right for the house. Replacing them will not only increase the design possibilities but also save you money in efficiency. Perhaps it is time to get rid of your old refrigerator and replace it with an energy-efficient unit. Or is it time to re-evaluate your heating needs and consider a heat pump for maximum efficiency and comfort? While appliances are an investment, they often can pay for themselves in the long run if you choose wisely.
Designing around appliances can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Evaluate what you have, make sure they are the right appliances for your home, and get to work creating the home design of your dreams. Thanks to Merritt Island for collaborating!
