Laundry Renovations in the Sutherland Shire: Costs, Cabinetry & Design
If you are planning a laundry renovation in the Sutherland Shire, the best place to start is with the cabinetry, not the tiles. The laundry is one of the smallest rooms in the house, but it works the hardest, and the thing that decides whether it feels calm or chaotic is how well the storage is planned. At Eco2, we design and install custom European laundry cabinetry for homes across Caringbah, Miranda, Kirrawee, Cronulla, Gymea, Sylvania, Menai and the wider Shire, with the same smart storage and premium finishes we bring to our kitchens and wardrobes. You can begin with a Smart Quote: film a quick 360 degree video of your laundry, send it through, and receive an itemised, no-obligation estimate without a home visit.
A well-designed laundry punches well above its size. It hides the mess, gives every task a place, and connects neatly to the rest of the home. This guide focuses on what a Shire laundry renovation actually costs in 2026 and how to get the cabinetry and layout right, so you can budget and plan with confidence.
Short answer: how much does a laundry renovation cost?
As an indicative 2026 guide, a laundry renovation in the Sutherland Shire typically costs between $5,000 and $20,000, with most quality projects landing in the $10,000 to $18,000 mid-range once you include custom cabinetry, a benchtop, a new sink and tapware, tiling and updated services. A budget or cosmetic update sits around $5,000 to $10,000, while a high-end laundry with premium finishes and a fully bespoke fit-out can run $18,000 to $30,000 or more. Two figures are worth remembering when you budget: labour commonly accounts for 40 to 50 percent of the total, and waterproofing a wet area typically costs $400 to $900. As always, the most accurate number is the one matched to your room, which is what a Smart Quote gives you.
Where the money goes in a laundry renovation
Understanding the cost breakdown helps you decide where to invest and where to save. A typical Shire laundry renovation splits roughly like this.
Cabinetry and benchtop. Usually the largest single component, and where custom joinery earns its place by using every centimetre of a small room.
Labour. Often 40 to 50 percent of the budget once you account for demolition, installation, plumbing and electrical.
Wet-area works. Waterproofing at $400 to $900 plus tiling, which is non-negotiable in a room with plumbing.
Fixtures and fittings. Sink, tapware, and any new appliances or provisions for them.
Finishes. Splashback, flooring and paint.
If the layout already works, the budget stretches much further, because you are not paying to move plumbing or walls. If the room is poorly planned, it is usually worth investing in a proper redesign so the space finally functions.
Custom laundry cabinetry: the difference in a small room
Laundries are where clever cabinetry matters most, precisely because there is so little space to work with. Off-the-shelf units leave awkward gaps and force compromises. Custom Eco2 joinery is built to your exact room and your exact routine.
Full-height cabinetry that uses the ceiling height for brooms, baskets and bulk storage.
A benchtop over the machines for folding, with storage above and below.
A concealed laundry hamper or pull-out basket system to keep washing off the floor.
A dedicated drying rail or pull-out airer built into the joinery.
An integrated sink and space for cleaning products behind closed doors.
Provision for a front-loader, dryer or stacked configuration, planned to fit precisely.
The goal is simple: everything has a home, and the door closes on the mess. That is what makes a compact laundry feel calm. Our approach carries across the home, so a laundry can share the same finishes as your kitchen and other joinery. Explore our whole-home cabinetry and dedicated laundries pages to see the range.
Laundry layouts that work in Shire homes
The right layout depends on the room you have, whether it is a dedicated laundry, a European-style cupboard, or a laundry that doubles as a mudroom or pantry overflow.
The single-wall laundry
Common in Shire homes with a compact laundry, this runs cabinetry, machines and a sink along one wall. Full-height joinery at each end adds storage without eating floor space.
The galley laundry
Where the room is narrow but longer, cabinetry on two facing walls doubles your storage and bench space, with a clear walkway between.
The laundry and mudroom combination
Many family homes benefit from combining the laundry with a drop zone for bags, shoes and coats near the back or garage entry. Built-in seating, hooks and cubbies keep the clutter contained.
The concealed European laundry
In apartments and smaller homes, a full-height cupboard can hide a stacked washer and dryer, storage and a benchtop behind bi-fold or cavity doors, so the laundry disappears when not in use.
Small laundry renovations: making the most of a tight space
A large share of Shire laundry searches are for small laundries, and the good news is that a small room renovated well can be a joy to use. The principles are straightforward.
Go vertical. Full-height cabinetry stores far more than a couple of low cupboards.
Stack the machines. A stacked washer and dryer frees up a whole run for storage and bench.
Choose a benchtop for folding, even a narrow one, so laundry does not migrate to the kitchen.
Keep finishes light and handleless to make the room feel open.
Use the back of the door and the toe-kick for extra, easy storage.
For homes where the laundry sits near or shares a wall with the bathroom, our bathroom vanity and storage ideas guide pairs well, since the two wet areas are often renovated together.
Finishes and materials for a hard-working room
The laundry takes a beating from water, detergent and daily use, so materials matter.
Cabinetry. Premium, moisture-tolerant European board with quality soft-close hardware, available in formaldehyde-free and low-emission options for a healthier home. See our formaldehyde-free cabinets guide.
Benchtops. A durable, wipe-clean stone or laminate surface that copes with damp and detergent.
Splashback. Tile or a solid surface behind the sink to protect the wall.
Flooring. Water-resistant flooring with proper waterproofing beneath, which is essential in any wet area.
Matching the laundry cabinetry to your kitchen creates a seamless, considered feel through the home, which is one of the advantages of having one cabinetmaker handle both.
Planning your laundry renovation before you start
A little planning up front keeps a laundry renovation on budget and stress-free. These are the questions we work through with every client.
What has to fit? Confirm your washer and dryer type, whether they sit side by side or stacked, and any provision for a second appliance later.
Where does the plumbing sit? Keeping the sink and machines near existing services saves money, so we design around them wherever we can.
How do you use the room? A dedicated folding bench, a hanging rail and a hamper make daily washing far easier, so we plan them in from the start.
Does it need to do double duty? Many Shire laundries also serve as a mudroom, a pantry overflow or a spot for the pet's things, which changes the storage mix.
What finish ties it to the home? Choosing cabinetry that matches your kitchen or nearby joinery makes the whole home feel considered.
Working through these early means the design solves the right problems, and the quote reflects exactly what you need.
Contracts and wet-area rules in NSW
A laundry involves plumbing and waterproofing, so it pays to know the basics. In NSW, residential building work over $5,000 must be covered by a written contract, and work over $20,000 additionally requires home building compensation cover, according to NSW Fair Trading. Waterproofing of wet areas must be done to the relevant Australian Standard, which is why it is not a place to cut corners. An itemised quote and contract that spells out the wet-area works protects you and your home. We keep this transparent from your first Smart Quote.
Why Smart Quote is the best first step
You do not need finished plans or a home visit to get a realistic laundry budget.
Film a quick 360 degree video of your laundry on your phone.
Send it via Smart Quote, Text or WhatsApp to 0466 119 712.
Receive your itemised quote, design direction and inclusions.
No home visit is required for the initial estimate, and it is free and no obligation.
It is the fastest way to get clear direction and a realistic figure, without the run-around, so you can plan the renovation with confidence.
Explore more on our laundries and whole-home cabinetry pages.
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FAQs
How much does a laundry renovation cost in the Sutherland Shire?
As an indicative 2026 guide, most quality laundry renovations run $10,000 to $18,000, with budget updates from around $5,000 to $10,000 and high-end fit-outs $18,000 to $30,000 or more. Labour is often 40 to 50 percent of the total. A Smart Quote gives you an itemised figure for your room.
How much does a small laundry renovation cost?
A small laundry with a straightforward layout often sits at the lower end, around $5,000 to $12,000, especially if the plumbing stays where it is. Full-height custom cabinetry is the single best investment, because it turns a tight room into genuinely usable storage.
What adds the most cost to a laundry renovation?
Moving plumbing, structural changes and premium finishes add the most. Waterproofing (around $400 to $900), tiling and labour are significant fixed costs in any wet area. Keeping the existing layout is the biggest single way to control the budget.
Do I need waterproofing in my laundry?
Yes. Any wet area with plumbing must be waterproofed to the relevant Australian Standard beneath the flooring and behind wet zones. It is not a place to cut corners, and it should be itemised clearly in your quote.
Can you match my laundry to my kitchen?
Yes. We design laundry cabinetry in the same premium European finishes as our kitchens and wardrobes, so the whole home feels considered and seamless. Having one cabinetmaker handle both rooms keeps the finish consistent.
How long does a laundry renovation take?
Once the design is finalised and cabinetry is manufactured, most laundry installations take around one to two weeks on site, depending on the scope and any plumbing or tiling works.
Do you service my suburb in the Shire?
Yes. We design and install across the Sutherland Shire and Sydney South, including Caringbah, Miranda, Kirrawee, Cronulla, Gymea, Sylvania, Woolooware and Menai.
How do I get a quote for a laundry renovation?
Send a quick 360 degree video of your laundry by Smart Quote, Text or WhatsApp to 0466 119 712. We prepare an itemised, no-obligation quote before any home visit, so you can plan with a clear budget from the start.
Does a laundry renovation need council approval?
A like-for-like laundry renovation that does not change the building's structure or move it generally does not need council approval, though it must still meet waterproofing and plumbing standards. In NSW, building work over $5,000 also requires a written contract.
Can you fit a full laundry into a cupboard?
Yes. A concealed European-style laundry can fit a stacked washer and dryer, a benchtop and storage behind bi-fold or cavity doors, which is ideal for apartments and smaller homes where floor space is tight.
