For decades the laundry room in a GTA home was wherever the plumbing happened to be. A concrete floor, a bare bulb, a machine pushed against a foundation wall, and a folding table if you were fortunate. That's changed considerably. Laundry has moved up the priority list, partly because more people are home during the day, partly because upper-floor plumbing is now a standard expectation in new builds, and partly because homeowners have realized that a task performed several times a week deserves better than a basement corner. Here are the ten configurations we're building most often, and what each involves.
The most requested laundry change in the GTA right now, and for a straightforward reason: clothes are stored on the bedroom level, so laundry should happen there too. Relocating typically means new supply and drain lines, a dedicated dryer vent, electrical, and critically, a waterproof pan with a floor drain or leak detection. Skipping the pan on an upper floor is a decision homeowners regret exactly once. Space requirement is modest, roughly 36 by 36 inches for a stacked pair plus door clearance.
Extremely popular in homes with a side or rear entry, because the two functions genuinely belong together. Wet coats, muddy boots, and sports gear arrive and are dealt with in one place instead of travelling through the house. The configuration usually includes a bench with boot storage, hooks, closed uppers, a durable tile or LVP floor, and the machines behind doors or under counter. Where space allows, a drying rod for wet outerwear earns its keep every winter.
The classic upgrade, and still the most satisfying for households doing significant volume. A continuous counter over front-loading machines gives you a folding surface at working height, and a hanging rod above catches anything that shouldn't go in the dryer. Add a tall pull-out for detergent and supplies, and a lower cabinet for baskets. This configuration turns laundry from a scattered activity into a contained one.
For condos, townhomes, and any house without a spare room. A well-designed closet does most of what a full room does in about six square feet. Stacked machines, a shelf above, a pull-out for supplies, a small drying rod, and bifold or pocket doors so nothing swings into the hallway. Ventilation matters here more than anywhere. A closed closet with a dryer needs make-up air and a properly routed vent.
💡 KEY POINT Whatever the configuration, three things determine whether a laundry room actually works: a folding surface at counter height, a place to hang things immediately, and a home for supplies that isn't the top of the dryer. A laundry room missing any of these will still generate piles.
Not every household can relocate laundry upstairs, and the basement remains the practical answer in many older GTA homes. The change is that homeowners are now finishing it properly rather than leaving it raw. Sealed and finished floor, drywalled and painted walls, recessed lighting instead of a bulb, a counter, and enclosed storage. The cost is modest and the difference in how the task feels is substantial.
Coming back strongly after years of being designed out. A deep utility sink handles hand washing, soaking, cleaning paint brushes, filling buckets, and rinsing anything you'd rather not put in a kitchen sink. Where plumbing is already present, adding one is inexpensive. A single deep basin with a high-arc pull-down faucet is more useful than a shallow double.
One of the fastest-growing requests, particularly in households with medium and large dogs. A tiled, curbed wash bay roughly 30 by 48 inches with a handheld sprayer, a floor drain, and a step or ramp. Positioned in a laundry or mudroom near the entry, it intercepts a wet dog before the dog reaches the living room. It also doubles as a boot and gear rinse.
Common in main floor renovations where the laundry sits adjacent to the kitchen. Rather than treating them as two rooms competing for space, homeowners are combining them into one utility zone. Machines on one wall, pantry shelving on the other, a shared counter between. It works well provided the ventilation is adequate, since dryer heat and food storage are not natural companions without airflow.
For open-concept main floors and smaller homes where the laundry is visible from living space. The machines disappear behind cabinetry that matches the surrounding millwork. Pocket doors or bifolds that fully retract are worth the upcharge over standard hinged doors, since a swing door in a narrow hall blocks the machines you're trying to use.
Increasingly common in homes with legal basement suites or multigenerational living arrangements. A second set of machines, usually in a closet configuration, so the suite or in-law area is self-contained. For a legal basement apartment, a dedicated laundry within the unit is a meaningful factor in rentability and is worth designing in from the start rather than adding later.
💰 TYPICAL GTA PRICING
| Configuration | Range |
|---|---|
| Basement laundry, finished properly | $6,000 to $16,000 |
| Laundry closet build-out | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| Full laundry room with counter and cabinetry | $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Laundry and mudroom combination | $12,000 to $30,000 |
| Upper floor laundry relocation | $9,000 to $22,000 |
| Utility sink addition, plumbing present | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Pet wash station | $3,500 to $9,000 |
| Hidden laundry cabinetry with pocket doors | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Second laundry point for a basement suite | $5,000 to $12,000 |
Ranges reflect GTA labour and material costs and vary with plumbing distance, electrical scope, structural conditions, and finish level. Every Maple Leaf estimate is itemized.
Laundry is one of the few renovations where the payoff is measured in how much less you dread a weekly task. Get the folding surface, the hanging rod, and the storage right, and the rest is finish selection.
Maple Leaf Quality Renos designs and builds laundry rooms, mudrooms, and full home renovations across the GTA, including upper floor relocations and basement suite laundry. Licensed trades, full permit management, and an itemized estimate before any work begins. GCL insured, WSIB compliant, with a 1 to 2 year workmanship warranty. Financing available through Financeit from $500 to $100,000.
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