Design Battle: Two Ways to Place a Laundry Area in a Standard Bathroom

Designers Nadежda Morgacheva and Margarita Fomin faced a challenging task: making a standard bathroom in a two-bedroom apartment comfortable and functional. They also had to fit in a washing machine and, if possible, a dryer. See the solutions they proposed and vote for the one you like best.

Design Brief: Bathroom in a panel house series КОПЭAreaBathroom and toilet2.9 sq m and 1.1 sq mFor a familyof three peoplefamily with a teenagerMeasurement plan of a two-bedroom apartment in the КОПЭ series

Margarita Fomin’s Design

Margarita Fomin
Interior Designer
She prefers to work on a full-cycle basis: from interior design to implementation. Only this way can one achieve a result that will please the client for years.

On Layout

The apartment is home to only three people, so I combined the toilet and bathroom. This solution allowed me to expand the space and make it more functional.

Opposite the entrance is a wall-mounted vanity unit with a sink and a toilet next to it. Using a low installation for the toilet, I aligned the countertop of the sink and the shelf of the installation at the same height. This created a unified, convenient surface.

Instead of a bathtub, there is a spacious shower cabin in the construction style. The washing machine is placed in a niche at 70 cm from the floor, with a laundry basket underneath and shelves above for storage.

On Stylistic Choices

For the color palette, I chose a combination of several shades of gray with natural wood. The pattern on the wall tiles sets the style of the interior — American classic. On the floor, there is tile resembling wood. You can find a similar shade and texture of flooring in other rooms to visually unite the space.

For additional lighting near the mirror, I selected a bathroom light with water protection — IP44. The light creates proper symmetry and is an excellent stylistic element.

Overall, the interior feels calm but not boring. I think it will appeal to all family members and won’t get old quickly.

You Will Need:

Integrated Light Fixture Novotech «Damla» 370386
Ceramic Tile Wood Natura, 15x60 cm
Water Towel Rack with Shelf M5, 80x50 cm
Suspended Toilet AM PM Jump
Basin Mixer Nove with a high spout
Interior Door in White, «Australia», 200x70 cm
Wall-mounted Light Escada
Shower Kit Grohe Vitalio Comfort, 3 Modes, 10 cm Showerhead, 175 cm Hose

Nadежda Morgacheva’s Design

Nadежda Morgacheva
Interior Designer
She approaches every project primarily from the perspective of analysis and logic, unlocking its maximum potential.

On Layout

Families with teenagers often prefer showers over baths and a single bathroom over separate toilets. This makes the bathroom more functional and comfortable.

Panel houses of the КОПЭ series allow not only removing the wall between the toilet and bathroom but also expanding the bathroom area using a spacious corridor. To do this, move the kitchen door opening — this is easy since the wall between the toilet and kitchen is non-load-bearing.

As a result of this expansion, two modestly sized rooms became one large one — 5.75 sq m. Everything a family needs for daily grooming is included, plus a laundry area with a washing and drying machine and a large cabinet for storing household items. The plumbing access panel is also hidden in the cabinet but easily accessible.

In interior design, there’s a rule: one should always prioritize beauty. That’s why I placed an attractive wash area opposite the entrance, with the toilet to its right so it doesn’t catch the eye when entering. Behind the toilet is an installation cabinet forming a small shelf where you can place a scent diffuser or keep your phone away from water. The spacious 120x80 cm shower cabin allows comfortable showers.

On the Laundry Area

The biggest advantage of combining these spaces was having a proper laundry zone and storage for household items. This area is hidden behind high white facades to the left of the entrance. Everything that usually lives in apartments behind doors, on balconies, or in corners is stored in one cabinet. It’s very convenient!

The water heater is placed at the top of the cabinet for easy access, the lower central part is for dirty laundry, shelves above hold cleaning supplies, towels, and an iron. The ironing board is in a neighboring cabinet section. A small ladder can be placed next to the vacuum cleaner for easy access.

On Stylistic Choices

More and more clients come asking for modern interiors with slightly softened elements from other styles — classic or country. This principle formed the basis of my design.

The lower part of the bathroom is tiled with contrasting black-brown ceramic tile, as this area sees most activity that might soil the walls. The upper part is painted in a pleasant peach tone, matching the mosaic in the shower area.

A bathroom is exactly the place where one can use bright colors if they like them. Unlike living areas, you spend limited time there and won’t get tired of bright colors.

You Will Need:

Suspended Toilet AM PM Jump
Drain Button «Omega 30»
Shower Tray Orange Solo Slide acrylic, 120x80 cm
Single-handle Basin Mixer «StartEdge MS»
Shower Curtain Orange Solo Slide, 120x80 cm
Basket for Storage «Knitting», Volume 7 L
Water Heater Electrolux Maximus Stainless Steel, 80 L
Shower Kit Grohe Vitalio Comfort, 3 Modes, 10 cm Showerhead, 175 cm Hose

Cover: Design Project of Katya and Egor Vokhin