A laundry room can be more than a spot for washing and drying clothes. With a pleasant, efficient setup, this household chore can feel far less like a chore, and thoughtful design can help inspire a transformation.
Refreshing your laundry room can make a real difference, especially since laundry rarely feels like the highlight of the week. A little creativity can shift the mood, whether you choose a perfect paint color or add quirky decor to brighten the room.
Every space and budget is different, but a few thoughtful tweaks can go a long way. Use baskets for sorting, consider placing a sink nearby for hand washing delicates, and choose a color scheme that sets the right mood. Even a small area can become a cozy nook that makes the task easier, bringing functionality and fun into your laundry room.
Laundry Room Storage Ideas
Personal Touches and Artwork
Framed wall art or a small mural can give the room a unique identity and add a personal touch.
Clothes Drying Options
Keep a drying rack available, and install a hanging rod for air-drying clothes that need gentle care. A retractable rod can save space, while a permanent fixture may suit a room with more available space.
Natural Elements and Plants in the Laundry Room
Plants bring natural elements into the laundry room, adding life and fresh air. A small shelf of varied potted greens adds tranquility and color.
Unique Laundry Room Features
A laundry room should include a unique feature, such as a sliding barn door, a center island for folding clothes, or wainscoting on the walls. The barn door can save space, while the wainscoting can provide traditional character.
Comfortable Textiles
A plush rug underfoot provides comfort while adding physical and visual warmth to the room. Curtains can offer discreet privacy when needed, though that feature is optional; choosing complementary colors adds softness. High-quality fabrics can further enhance the room’s overall luxurious feel.
Decorative Hardware and Fixtures
Hexagonal brass knobs add a distinct geometric detail to the room’s hardware, while functional and decorative hooks provide a place for laundry bags or hats that need gentle washing.
Corner and Vertical Storage
In a small laundry room, corners provide valuable storage space. Corner shelves make use of that available space, while a tension rod can hang clothes. Above the washer and dryer, a floating shelf maximizes vertical space and keeps essentials within reach.
Built-In Hooks
Wall hooks and built-ins can work together to organize laundry supplies and equipment. Wall hooks can hold a broom or tote, while built-ins can house baskets for separating laundry and provide open and closed storage.
Laundry Room Design
A laundry room can be both functional and inviting, making it easier and more pleasant to use. Plan the space around its storage, surfaces, layout, and decorative details, and add personality through small touches that give it a more individual feel.
Ample storage can include upper and lower cabinets for laundry supplies, reducing visible clutter. Dramatic paint or patterned wallpaper can bring energy to the room’s surfaces, adding warmth and making chores less tedious. Arrange the layout to leave space for appliances and a folding area, maximizing efficiency.
Cabinet and Shelf Options
Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry uses the full height of the room. Combined with open shelving, it maximizes storage while keeping some items visible, so choose durable materials for both cabinetry and shelving to withstand daily wear.
Keep frequently used items within reach on open shelves, while storing less-used products in cabinets.
Decor and Function
Open shelving can display attractive containers for detergent and dryer sheets, combining storage with decor. Multi-purpose accessories can reduce wasted space while helping maintain the room’s appearance.
Compact Appliances
A stackable washer and dryer can save space in a small laundry room. Neatly routed hookups and pipes help prevent wasted space and keep the room organized, while a space-saving layout increases usable square footage, leaving more room for movement and laundry tasks and reducing the cramped feeling.
Laundry Room Lighting
Adequate, energy-efficient lighting improves visibility in the laundry room. LED lights have a long lifespan and use less electricity. Plan electrical outlets around the machine locations so they remain within easy reach and help avoid trailing extension cords.
Laundry Room Accessories
Practicality remains essential in laundry room design, even when personal style is part of the plan, so balance a cozy feel with function. Key design elements include storage, color, wallpaper, layout, and lighting. Unusual artwork or a playful laundry sign can add character while complementing the room’s practical design.
| Design element | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Storage | For storage, consider upper cabinets, lower cabinets, open shelving, or hanging rods. |
| Color | Bold or dramatic colors can bring vibrancy, while pastels can add softness. |
| Wallpaper | Patterned or whimsical wallpaper can add vibrancy and playfulness. |
| Layout | For the layout, consider an efficient appliance arrangement along with space for folding. |
| Lighting | Around folding areas, use bright overhead lights or task lighting. |
Backsplash and Flooring
A backsplash can be both functional and a way to add personality to the room. Patterned tile adds fun without changing the backsplash’s practical role.
Easy-clean flooring that can handle moisture is a practical choice for the room. Bold geometric tile is one example of flooring with those qualities.
Laundry Room Appliance Placement
Stackable washer-and-dryer sets suit small spaces because they save floor area. Front-load machines can make loading and unloading easier on the back, so place the machines where these tasks do not require awkward bending.
| Laundry machine | Functional advantage |
|---|---|
| Washer | Front loading reduces strain. |
| Dryer | A stackable dryer saves space, and its accessible height makes it easier to reach. |
Ironing Board Essentials
For a compact setup, the ironing board folds out when needed and stores away afterward, making it a space-saving choice.
A built-in ironing board can stay tucked away. A wall-mounted ironing board gives easy access for quick pressing when a shirt needs pressing.
Laundry Storage Solutions
A tiered sliding cabinet fits between appliances or walls and stores laundry supplies. It rolls out easily for better access, while wall hooks can hold brooms and mesh laundry bags, freeing floor space.
Sliding Door Character
In a small, cozy laundry room, a sliding barn door can save space by avoiding the swing a regular door needs to open. It moves aside to keep the area clear while adding character and enhancing the room’s look. Opening and closing the door can be fun.
Multipurpose Laundry Rooms
Plan the laundry room for several functions rather than a single task to make better use of its square footage. A built-in bench can turn part of the room into a mini mudroom, and the combined space may also include bathroom essentials.
Room Color Palette
A thoughtful color scheme helps establish a room’s mood and atmosphere. A dramatic paint color can create a vibrant feeling, while light colors support an airy feeling. Soft beige and creamy white can add warmth and coziness to the room.
Themes and Patterns
A boho style combines patterns and colors to bring personality to the room, while patterned or whimsical wallpaper can create a focal point and give it a dynamic yet refined look.
Character Accessories
Vibrant fabrics, stylish containers, and framed wall art are accessories that can add color bursts. They can also add elegance.
Smart Eco-Friendly Laundry Rooms
When choosing energy-efficient appliances, look for ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR washers use about 33% less water and about 25% less energy than regular washers. Pairing one with a highly efficient dryer can save money and energy.
Choose highly durable materials for the laundry room so they can withstand many laundry cycles and resist rapid wear. Stainless steel is a tough appliance material with a long lifespan. Durable, energy-efficient appliances and materials can benefit household finances and the planet over the long term.
Paint and Wallpaper
Whimsical wallpaper paired with bold navy or emerald green paint creates cozy energy, while soft hues or pastel wallpaper create a light atmosphere. Complement pastel wallpaper with colorful decor.
Vintage Modern Mix
This mix allows vintage elements and modern elements to share the same room. Bringing the two together can give the space timeless appeal.
A midcentury clock can sit alongside a repurposed vintage cabinet and a sleek modern washer. This vintage-modern combination can create a curated look while avoiding thematic excess.
Wall Accents and Flooring
Black-and-white tiles enhance a room’s overall aesthetics, giving it a classic look while supporting a more playful style. Checkerboard tiling can add a sense of nostalgia, especially when used across a prominent surface.
Wood accents bring warmth and a more refined feel, while wainscoting adds traditional charm through its wall paneling. Together, wood accents and wainscoting help bring the room together.
Sink and Countertop
Quartz and granite are countertop surfaces that can resist stains and moisture. Beneath the countertop, a deep utility- or farmhouse-style sink supports soaking clothes and rinsing detergent cups.