How to Create a Modern and Aesthetic Laundromat Layout

25 Mar How to Create a Modern and Aesthetic Laundromat Layout

The laundromat is a classic institution offering affordable access to cleaning services for the local community. However, much has changed since the birth of the laundromat, and the design for these spaces has followed suit. Creating a pleasant and practical laundromat takes more than just figuring out where to put the washing machines and dryers. 

Your space should be welcoming and user-friendly, guiding customers through the washing and drying experience via the natural flow of the laundromat itself. All machines, folding areas and waiting areas also need to be accessible and comfortable to accommodate all users. When working together, these elements will make the customer experience intuitive and easy, increasing efficiency and decreasing confusion.

With that goal in mind, let’s look at some of the most important factors to consider when designing the interior of your laundromat.

What Should I Do Before Opening a Laundromat?

In the context of designing a laundromat, you should know:

• Laundromat purpose: Purpose has everything to do with the setting and audience. If you’re installing dryers and washing machines for tenants at an apartment complex, your needs are going to be different than if you were opening a coin-operated laundromat for the broader community. Instead, you’d be creating laundry services for multi-unit housing, which have different space and usage considerations. These laundromats are also distinct from on-premise laundry services, which are only used by employees and don’t require payment to operate. 
• Space specifications: The square footage and shape of the laundromat will significantly impact the number of machines you can have. They’re also going to affect your approach to organizing the machines and setting up electricity and drainage and pretty much everything else. Before making any promises or purchasing decisions, it’s vital to measure the space and plan out what it might look like. A small laundromat layout is a very different challenge than a large space.
• Budget: Money is something you must consider when laying out your laundromat. Evaluating the price of machines and installation in advance will help you make informed decisions about which machines to buy and what remodeling to pursue. You can even hire experienced facility designers to help you with planning and installation.

Once you assess these factors, it’s time to begin laying out your laundromat floor plan.

How Should A Modern Laundromat Be Designed?

Modern laundromat design should consider forward-thinking layouts, user experience and accessibility. By prioritizing the traits below, you can infuse your laundromat with life, efficiency and comfort:

• Intuitiveness: While many laundromat users are repeat visitors, there are always going to be new folks using your services for the first time. The flow of the laundromat should welcome them and encourage them to follow the basic laundry procedure — sorting, washing, drying and folding. One area should lead right to the next. Entrances and waiting areas should also be arranged so as not to impede the flow of traffic. 
• Walkability: The walkways through and around machines should be wide enough to accommodate at least two people and their laundry carrier of choice. By keeping open spaces wide, you give customers the ability to get where they need to go without worrying about bumping into other people or spilling their laundry baskets. This walkability further enhances the overall flow of the space and is especially important when planning coin laundry layouts.
• Accessibility: In addition to being walkable, your laundromat should be accessible to those with mobility challenges and disabilities. Your machines and the space around them should be easy to interact with. Wheelchair ramps, large buttons and handles that are easy to manipulate can help make the laundromat less stressful and more welcoming. The United States Access Board has guidelines you can use to ensure your facilities are accessible to all and align with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 
• Local culture and personal history: Laundromats have often served as a hub for community members and as repositories of history for those who run them. When designing your laundromat, consider filling the space with local memorabilia like newspaper clippings, theater company posters and calendars for local sports teams. These items can add a comforting, intimate texture to your laundromat and further strengthen community connections. 
• Minimalism: Minimalism has been all the rage in recent years due in part to economic and environmental concerns. However, embracing this modern aesthetic doesn’t have to mean removing all decoration and painting your walls an off-white color. Instead, your laundromat’s layout should focus on appearing clean and simple. Make sure that cords and drainage systems are tucked away out of sight. Carpets and seating areas should be well-kept and arranged in ways that are balanced without being mechanical. 

Prioritizing these design elements will make your laundromat both more usable and more modern. Now, let’s take a look at how to make your laundromat’s layout intuitive for your customers specifically, as that’s one of the most important elements of a shared communal space.

How Should A Laundromat Be Laid Out?

When a space is intuitive, it is friendly to people who have never been there before, guiding them through what is expected of them implicitly via the way the space is organized.

Structuring a business with intuitive principles in mind can result in increased efficiency, decreased confusion and even feelings of peace. Ease and simplicity have the power to create those kinds of feelings, especially when they’re buoyed by the local color and personality of your laundromat.

In the case of a laundromat, the layout should lead people through the traditional steps of the laundry procedure while accommodating the lulls of that process and the needs that arise when you’re in an area for that long. While your particular building design will determine the specifics, there are some general principles you can apply no matter the space.

Entrances

If possible, designate a sliding double door as the entrance to your laundromat. Many laundromats use these doors due to their wide width and because customers don’t have to use their hands to open them. These features allow patrons to come and go without having to set down their laundry baskets.

Designating an automatic door as your entrance also allows you to funnel customers into the start of the laundry process and toward a welcome desk or supply station. Your entrances are important to the space’s overall flow, especially for accommodating first-time customers.

Remember that your entrance is the first physical interaction with your business — automatic sliding doors are a fantastic way to demonstrate your laundromat’s convenience, quality and value to prospective customers who could become loyal returning patrons. Wide entrances can also help meet relevant compliance and accessibility standards.

Laundry Equipment and Folding Stations

The machines in your laundromat should generally be organized by type and size, with washing machines together and dryers grouped separately. Depending on the space, you may be able to have multiple groups of each type spread throughout the space or against opposing walls. 

Folding stations should be located near dryers but not so close that the space isn’t walkable. This way, customers can easily maneuver through the space without having to go very far to set their clothes up for folding. Some laundromats even offer carts customers can use to transport their clothes to these stations.

Waiting Areas

The laundry process can be lengthy for customers, so having designated waiting areas at key points in the process can ease boredom and improve the customer experience. You can use carpeting, coffee tables, magazines and televisions to signal that a given space is meant for relaxation. You could even offer complimentary coffee or snacks.

Amenities

Most businesses have restrooms on offer, but this inclusion is especially important in places where customers often have to wait for extended periods. Making these bathrooms accessible and easy to locate also reduces customer stress and increases efficiency. You can place water fountains and vending machines by the restrooms so that customers can meet their basic needs all in one place.

Applying these ideas will go a long way in making your laundromat more contemporary and usable overall. Times change, however, so it’s important to stay informed on the latest trends so you can adapt when necessary. In many cases, these changes take the form of new technology.

Integrating Technology

The technology used in your laundromat may seem simple, but it’s quite important to the health of your community. Washing clothes at the proper temperature and with the proper chemicals can protect your community from pathogens. Signage can help inform customers about the best laundry practices, improving their technological literacy and the usability of the laundromat.

Doing laundry can have some negative consequences, however. The wastewater produced by the laundering of clothes can negatively impact aquatic organisms via microfibers contained within it. 

Investing in lint interceptors can help combat this problem, but it’s not the only way to handle contaminants in the water. Connecting your washing machines to a drain trough fights back against contaminants while also combating smell and allowing you to connect more washing machines to your drainage system.

Some laundromats also invest in vending machines that provide dryer sheets and other laundry supplies to customers. While many people bring their own detergent, some forget or just plan to purchase supplies at the laundromat directly. These vending machines can fill the gap. Change machines are another important addition, giving customers a way to use both the vending machines and the washers and dryers themselves if they didn’t bring change.

Many folks come to the laundromat and wait there until their clothes are done, so it’s also important to offer amenities. Televisions and vending machines for food and drinks can go a long way in making the wait more enjoyable, providing both entertainment and sustenance. Your laundromat should also offer easily accessible outlets and charging stations so that customers can plug their phones in while they wait or use laptops.

Budget Considerations

Budgeting lies at the heart of planning any business venture. In the case of a laundromat, there are many financial factors to consider, from the price of machines and installation to the cost of potential renovations and upgrades. Collaborating with a commercial laundry company can help with making these essential decisions. For example, you might have to:

• Invest in multiple sizes of industrial washers and dryers.
• Rewire electrical systems to support a variety of machines.
• Alter plumbing systems to accommodate washing machine drainage.
• Coordinate with vending machine suppliers.
• Remodel existing architecture.

Before making any decisions, evaluating your resources and weighing your options is important. While choosing between one washing machine and another may not seem like a big deal, it can have real repercussions for your business and the health and satisfaction of your customers.

Frequently Asked Laundromat Layout Questions

Explore these commonly asked questions about laundromat layout and design. 

Is It Better to Stack Washers and Dryers?

The answer depends on what your space looks like and what you prefer. Stacking a dryer on top of a washer or vice versa can give you more room for extra machines, but it can also lead to congestion and impede the overall flow of the space. Ultimately, however, the decision is up to you. 

Stacking washers and dryers may even allow more customers to use your laundromat, which could be a vital service to your community.

What’s the Difference Between Commercial Washers and Dryers and Domestic Ones?

Commercial machines are built to last longer and work faster. Their parts are more durable, and they can handle larger loads than domestic dryers can. Essentially, every part of these machines is built to maximize efficiency and longevity so that your laundromat can serve as many people as quickly as possible. 

Always choose high-quality machines to deliver the best customer experience possible. 

Do Laundromats Sell Detergent and Other Laundry Supplies?

Many do, yes. Some even sell laundry supplies through vending machines they have on-site. Investing in this technology or even just providing access to detergent packets can go a long way in making your customers feel welcome. In many cases, it saves them a trip home as well.

Lay Out Your Laundromat With H-M Company

Learning how to lay out a laundromat can be intimidating, but you don’t have to do it alone. At H-M Company, we specialize in planning, layout and installation. In fact, we’ve been doing it since 1957. We’ve spent all those years helping people just like you, and we even invented our durable, custom-built drain troughs in 1991 to protect your plumbing and fight against odors.

Contact us and make planning your laundromat a breeze.