No one dreams about their laundry. But everyone uses it — usually every day, often in a rush, and almost always wishing it worked better. The laundry is the room where bad design is felt most acutely in daily life, and where a thoughtful renovation delivers an outsized improvement for a relatively modest investment.
On the Gold Coast, where large families spend a lot of time outdoors bringing in wet towels, sandy clothes, and sports gear, a well-designed laundry isn't a luxury. It's a practical necessity.
What Does a Laundry Renovation Cost?
Laundry renovations are typically the most affordable room renovation in the home — which makes them an excellent entry point if you're renovating in stages.
| Finish Level | Typical Cost Range | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | $6,000 – $12,000 | New joinery, benchtop, splashback, tapware — cosmetic update of existing layout |
| Mid-range renovation | $12,000 – $22,000 | New layout if needed, custom joinery, quality benchtop, tiling, new tub |
| Premium renovation | $22,000 – $40,000 | Full custom joinery, stone benchtop, premium tapware, full tiling, drying cupboard, integrated appliances |
These figures are for a standard Gold Coast laundry of 4–8m². Larger laundries, layout changes, or moving plumbing will affect the cost.
What Makes a Laundry Renovation Worth It?
Storage that actually works
The most common complaint we hear about existing laundries is that there's nowhere to put anything. A floor-to-ceiling joinery run — upper cabinets for storage, a bench at the right height for folding, space for the washing machine and dryer either side-by-side or stacked, and a hanging rail — transforms the room from a dumping ground into a space that genuinely functions.
A bench at the right height
This sounds simple, but it's transformational. A custom bench at 900mm — the same as a kitchen benchtop — at a depth that works for folding and sorting makes laundry significantly less unpleasant. Most older Gold Coast laundries have either no bench at all or one at the wrong height.
Tiling done properly
Many Gold Coast laundries — especially in homes built before 2010 — have either no tiles, cheap tiles that have seen better days, or vinyl that's yellowing. Full-height tiling or a quality large-format floor tile makes the room feel cleaner, is easier to maintain, and holds up far better to the demands of the space.
What Gold Coast Homeowners Are Including Right Now
Based on our recent laundry renovations, these are the features coming up most on briefs:
Does It Require Council Approval?
In most cases, no. A laundry renovation that stays within the existing footprint and doesn't move any structural walls is typically classified as cosmetic work and doesn't require council approval.
If you're relocating the tub, washer connection, or drains — a licensed plumber is required (always) but a building approval usually isn't, provided the work stays within the existing room. Your builder will confirm this for your specific situation before any work starts.
How Long Does It Take?
"A room you've been avoiding suddenly becomes one that works beautifully — and that's a feeling that pays off every single day."
A Note on the Whole-Home Approach
Many of our clients renovate the laundry as part of a broader project — kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry done together under one project manager and one contract. This is typically more cost-effective and less disruptive than doing each room separately, and it allows the design to feel cohesive across the whole home.
The joinery lead time — typically 3–5 weeks from order — is usually the longest item to plan around in a laundry renovation. Your builder should factor this into the project schedule before demolition begins. If it's not discussed upfront, ask about it directly.
Thinking about renovating your laundry?
Whether it's a standalone project or part of a larger renovation, we'd love to help. Free consultations for Gold Coast homeowners — no obligation, no pressure.
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