Putting your laundry room upstairs where most of the dirty washing is generated makes total sense when you first think about it. Reducing the distance between the laundry basket and washing machine is something to be applauded in busy households where there's daily washing to be done.
But in reality, it's not quite a simple as lugging your laundry appliances upstairs and creating a new utility room in the corner of your bathroom. From water supply and soundproofing to floor strength and ventilation, getting the details right is essential if you want your laundry room to work well in the long term.
For a laundry room upstairs that's safe, practical and fit for purpose, experts explain what you need to think about so you can decide if it's a great idea for your home, or a total washout.
The benefits of an upstairs laundry room
The main appeal of an upstairs laundry room is, obviously, the convenience. As Gareth Davies, design director at Classic Interiors, explains, “in homes where space is at a premium, having a laundry room upstairs makes all the difference. It saves countless trips up and down the stairs, which is especially beneficial if you’ve got kids.”
Another advantage of moving your laundry area upstairs is that it can free up valuable space on the ground floor. That utility cupboard or kitchen corner once used for appliances could become a boot room, a walk-in pantry or even an extension of your kitchen, once the space has been reclaimed.
It’s also a layout that suits modern family life. In many new builds, upstairs laundry rooms are part of the design from the outset, often tucked away in cupboards, within wardrobes or as part of an en suite. Keeping laundry close to the bedrooms in this way makes daily routines a little easier and can help keep the rest of your home feeling more organised.
Gareth Davies is Design Director at Classic Interiors, known for crafting beautifully detailed, handcrafted kitchens and interiors rooted in family-run expertise.
What to consider before you put your laundry room upstairs
However, having a laundry room on an upper floor of your home is about more than moving appliances. There are a few essential considerations to think through first.
In Matthew Powell, founder of Warmzilla's view, there are three main downsides to an upstairs utility room – moisture, noise and electrics.
However, if you can find solutions for these factors, and make sure you get other considerations right from the outset, you should be able to avoid many of the common pitfalls that can catch home renovators out.
1. Structural support
Washing machines and tumble dryers are heavy appliances, and when they reach high spin speeds, they can produce significant vibration. If your upper floor isn’t properly supported, that movement can lead to noise issues, cracked finishes or even long-term damage to the joists.
This is particularly important in older homes, where timber floors may not have been designed to support this kind of load. If you're unsure, speak to a builder or structural engineer who can assess whether reinforcement is needed before installing a utility room or laundry room upstairs.
2. Plumbing and drainage
"If laundry appliances are being installed in a separate upstairs room without existing plumbing facilities, there are a few more considerations," explains HomeServe operational improvement manager, Chris Houghton.
"Waste pipe runs, drainage routes and a mains cold water feed would all need to be planned carefully, and homeowners should also be aware of the increased risk of leaks occurring above ground-floor level."
While you may assume including your utility room in your bathroom design may make it easier, "incorporating a utility appliance into a bathroom isn't impossible but comes with a lot to consider, caution and the need for expert guidance before proceeding is essential," adds Chris.
A gravity drainage system should be the first choice wherever possible, according to Matthew Powell. "A washing machine waste is typically 40mm minimum, but if the run is long or needs several bends, upsizing to 50mm can reduce blockage risk and improve flow. Aim for a consistent fall of roughly 1 in 40 on horizontal runs and avoid tight bends that become lint traps," he explains.
"A proper standpipe, usually around 600 to 1000mm with a trap, helps prevent back flow and smells," he adds. "If the waste run is extended or the layout increases the risk of siphonage, an air admittance valve may be needed, but it must be positioned correctly and remain accessible for inspection."
A licensed plumber will be able to assess what is and isn’t feasible for your setup and advise on whether extra pipework or pumps are required.
On the supply side, Matthew suggests fitting isolation valves you can actually reach without having to pull the appliances out. "Consider a hammer arrestor if quick-closing appliance valves cause banging pipes, which is common upstairs," he says.
"Leak protection is worth building in because an upstairs flood can be expensive. A drip tray plumbed to a safe discharge point, or a leak sensor paired with an automatic shut off, can reduce the worst-case outcome," suggests Matthew.
Minimise the risk of water damage on your floors and furnishings with this large drip tray.
Starting as a plumbing apprentice, Matthew spent more than 20 years building and scaling heating and plumbing businesses across the UK, covering everything from boiler installation and heating systems to high-end bathroom projects. Combining hands-on trade experience with technology, he launched WarmZilla to transform how homeowners buy and manage boiler, plumbing, and wider home services.
Chris became a fully qualified Gas Engineer in 2009 and joined HomeServe in 2016. Since 2018, he has been concentrating on ways to use technology to help Customers and currently heads up the Self Fix team who are able to get customers back up and running over the phone.
3. Noise and vibration control
One of the most common complaints with upstairs laundry rooms is the noise they can generate. Even energy-efficient appliances can make a surprising racket when they are midway through a spin cycle.
"Ideally, upstairs washing machines should be installed on a solid, level floor with proper vibration control, because spin cycles can travel through the structure if the floor has not been prepared correctly," says Charlotte Butler, design manager at BK Eleven.
"In a renovation, it is therefore worth looking carefully at the floor finish, thresholds and waterproofing beneath the appliances," she says, "so the space is not only convenient but properly protected."
Choosing a low-decibel washing machine is another good place to start when choosing your appliances. Look for models with anti-vibration technology and well-balanced drums that reduce movement during cycles. Some premium appliances even come with ultra-quiet settings. As Sophie Lane, product training manager at Miele GB, points out, “Miele washing machines have an extra quiet setting which means it will activate a rinse hold programme without the spin at 46dB – which is quieter than normal conversation.”
"On timber floors, vibration control matters as much as pipe sizing," adds Matthew Powell. "Anti-vibration mats under appliances, sensible pipe clipping, and checking joist capacity for spin loads all help prevent movement, noise, and future leaks."
Anti-vibration pads – such as these Washing Machine Feet Pads from Amazon – are a budget-friendly way to reduce excess noise from your machines. They tuck neatly alongside your washing machine or dryer and help absorb movement before it travels through the floor.
For even more peace and quiet, it’s a good idea to soundproof the room itself. Soundproofing the walls or adding acoustic insulation between floors can make a big difference, especially in older homes where noise tends to travel more easily.
Sophie Lane is Product Training Manager at Miele GB, specialising in premium appliance performance, with a focus on energy efficiency, innovation, and quiet operation.
Charlotte has a background in hotel interiors and holds a degree in interior design. Since moving into bespoke handmade kitchens in 2014, she has spent more than 14 years designing kitchens that balance day-to-day functionality with strong visual character.
How to design an upstairs laundry room
Once the groundwork has been laid, it’s time to think about how your upstairs laundry room will work day to day. From appliance placement to storage, you’ll want to iron out these details from the outset.
Start by deciding how your washing machine and dryer will sit within the space. Side-by-side appliances are ideal if you have enough room for a worktop above, which can double as a handy surface for sorting and folding. But in tighter rooms, stacking your machines is a smart way to free up floor space for cabinetry, a sink, or extra storage.
"Stacking your appliances is a great way to make more space in a laundry room," explains Sophie Lane. "This leaves room for shelves, drawers and cupboards which can be used for organising washing powders and detergents.”
Where possible, try to avoid placing machines too close to walls or skirting boards, as they need space around them for proper ventilation. If your laundry area is tucked into a cupboard or alcove, make sure there’s enough clearance for heat to escape and for the doors to open fully.
It’s also worth including small but useful additions that improve how your space works, such as a compact sink for handwashing or emergencies, and a discreet utility room extractor fan to keep moisture levels under control.
Shop for your upstairs laundry room
If you have sufficient ventilation, use this wall-mounted dryer when it's raining outside
If you have a larger upstairs laundry room, a retractable washing line may offer more space for drying clothes
This stacking kit comes with a shelf and anti-vibration feet
What’s the best flooring for an upstairs laundry room?
Your choice of flooring in an upstairs laundry room plays a bigger role than you might expect. Unlike ground floor laundry rooms, which usually only have to cope with the occasional spill, upstairs spaces also need to manage and mitigate the sound and movement of heavy appliances.
While tiling your laundry room floor may seem to offer the most protection against water, you are likely to need a concrete subfloor if you select them. Also, there's a risk of your grout, or even the tiles themselves cracking if the floor joists flex under heavy appliances.
Water-resistant laminates can look super smart and there shouldn't be any weight or sub-floor issues. But while technology is improving all the time, you may still see issues with warping if you don't have adequate leak protection.
Claire Ryan, PR and digital manager at Karndean Design Flooring, explains why it's worth giving your upstairs laundry room flooring proper thought early on in the planning stages: “You might be tempted to throw down something simple and call it a day, but laundry rooms, especially upstairs ones, have some specific needs. It’s all about choosing something that’s practical, durable and ideally, good-looking too."
One option designed with these demands in mind is rigid core Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). “Washing machines aren’t always the quietest things,” Claire agrees, “and if you’ve got one spinning away directly above a bedroom or living space, you’ll feel every thump and whirr. Thankfully, rigid core flooring, like Karndean’s LVT rigid core range, is designed with sound in mind, as it has an acoustic backing that helps reduce noise transfer between floors.”
Claire Ryan is PR and Digital Manager at Karndean Designflooring, specialising in luxury vinyl flooring and leading strategic communications across the interiors and design sector.
FAQs
Can I put an upstairs laundry room in a cupboard or alcove?
Yes you can, and it’s a great way to save space, especially in smaller homes. However, you’ll need to make sure you have enough room for the machine doors to open fully and still have safe access to plumbing and electrics. If you choose to stack your appliances, always use a proper stacking kit – like this Universal Freestanding Appliance Stacking Kit for £199 at DIY.com.
Ventilation will also need to be a top priority in a smaller space, or one that is windowless. If you have a tumble dryer, and/or plan to air dry any washing in the space, in the first instance, it's wise to have an extractor fan fitted.
"Putting your utility room 'within' your bathroom can make ventilation easier because you may be able to use the same extraction strategy," says Matthew Powell. "Although the bathroom extractor fan must still be sized and routed properly for the combined moisture load."
"Homeowners would certainly need to consider extraction of hot air from a tumble dryer as not to add to damp or mould risks in the room or location where it is sited," adds Chris Houghton.
But, to avoid issues with overflowing laundry and more serious problems, don't just shut the door and hope for the best, says Charlotte Butler. "The best upstairs utility rooms are not simply cupboards with machines behind doors; they are small, well-planned service spaces with room for laundry baskets, detergents, linen, cleaning products and, where possible, a surface for sorting or folding,” she recommends.
When done well, an upstairs laundry room is both a thoughtful and functional upgrade to your home; and is one that this experienced home renovator is considering in her latest project.
Ultimately, done well, a well-designed, well-placed utility room will add value both in everyday life and when it comes time to sell.
