In another revelation about how home owners want to better manage the space in their home, 95 percent of those surveyed in a National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) consumer preference survey said they desired a separate laundry room in their home.

That's a laundry "room" -- not just some cramped corner in the basement or nook off the kitchen.

Homeowners want an expanded, multi-functional work area for more than just washing clothes. Built-in ironing boards and solid-surface counter spaces for folding and sewing are popular, as are built-in storage cabinets or closets. These are used to both store detergent and other cleaning supplies as well as to conceal appliances and even temporarily store washed and dried items.

Among the trend is the yen for a more convenient upstairs laundry room. Home Magazine says 61 percent of laundry rooms are being built on upper levels rather than first floors or basements.

"The older the person the more likely they are looking for something like the old service porch (on the same level where they spend most of their time), but more and more laundries are upstairs so you don't have to lug the laundry downstairs," said Dena Mentis, new home expert from Novato, CA and co-author of the "Homebuyer's Kit" (Dearborn Trade, $15.95).

"The laundry area is similar to kitchens in the use of solid surface counter tops, high-end fixtures, strong lighting and lots of cabinets, some of which hide washers and dryers, and other built-ins," said Harold Carter of J.H. Carter Builder Inc. in Raleigh, NC.

The laundry room's rejuvenation is all part of a growing trend among households to have more control over their lives by tailoring spaces to fit human forms and habits. That's especially necessary in the smaller urban, higher-density homes that don't sprawl as much as suburban abodes.

"It's a level of thought process that most people aren't aware. It's a real revelation in the sense of order and flow," says Minneapolis architect Sarah Susanka, author of the "Not So Big" best selling series of books first published back in 2000 to help hone thinking inside the box called home.

Susanka launched a movement that revolutionized the way people think about where they live while prompting others to trade in the bigger-is-better approach for a livability-is-larger mantra.

Adequate lighting the laundry room with both natural and artificial light not only helps eliminate fumbling in the dark and missed clothing stains, but also creates a pleasant and more productive work area.

Venting skylights, for instance, can assist in the air exchange, an important consideration in laundry areas plagued by heat and humidity which can contribute to mold thriving.

The heat and humidity, provided there's adequate sunlight can offer some dual uses for the room in households that cultivate flowers and plants or need a place to bring potted plants in from the cold during frosts.

Finally, laundry rooms remain relatively smaller than other rooms where you spend more time. That means you can release your inner interior designer and go all out with colors, textures and decor elements typically held back in larger rooms.

Published: August 12, 2005

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