3 Tips for Sprucing Up Your Laundry Room

A laundry room can be just as inviting as any other room in your home. Image: Jodi Fleming Design

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The laundry room: At best, it’s an efficient space to complete your weekly chores. At worst, it’s cramped, ugly and disorganized. You may dread going to your laundry room, but with the right colors, materials and tools, you can make it organized and stylish. After you brighten it up, you might actually enjoy doing laundry. Take a look at these tips for sprucing up your laundry room with minimal effort.

1. Add shelving and storage

“For a laundry room to function well, users need easy access to everyday items such as detergents,” says Carla Phillips, a Melbourne-based interior designer. “I recommend open shelving next to the washing machine to keep your detergents handy for everyday use.” She also recommends using large storage drawers to keep laundry off of the floor and out of sight.

For Nicola Croughan, an interior stylist at Blinds Direct, organization doesn’t have to be boring. She says that you can “use storage to separate items into color groups, since organizing by color is a big trend this season.”

While having a lot of storage space is ideal, it’s also important to keep in mind the limitations of your space. If possible, plan out in advance which items you need to store, so you don’t end up with storage space you don’t use. “Laundry rooms are notorious for being cramped,” says Jonathan Self, a real estate broker for Center Coast Realty in Chicago. “You want to keep it as airy and spacious as possible, while also providing plenty of designated shelving spaces to put detergent, linen and towels.”

Croughan advises caution and forethought with the items you store, as well. “Don’t forget to keep laundry detergent up high, so small children can’t reach it.”

Don’t let a small space stop you from creating a fabulous laundry room. This laundry space is hidden behind custom-built shaker-style cupboards. Image: Burlanes Interiors

Shelves dedicated to specific items decreases clutter. Image: Midori Yoshikawa Design Group

Slotted shelves make it possible to store and hang clothes at the same time. Image: Maple Leaf Custom Homes

2. Install spaces to hang items

The laundry room isn’t just a place to store items; it should also be conducive to post-laundry chores. Croughan recommends adding a hanging rail for drying laundry or hanging up items straight from the dryer for minimum ironing.

Katy Brut, Interior Design Consultant at NY Furniture Outlets, agrees. She adds: “Think about creating a place for folding or hanging things, especially underwear or clothes.” By giving yourself dedicated space in the laundry room for these tasks, you avoid the mountains of clean clothes that can pile up in the bedroom.

Consider adding a long rod for hang-drying clothes. Image: Abruzzo Kitchen and Bath

Even a small bar allows you to hang up freshly ironed shirts. Image: Designstorms, LLC

3. Choose simple, stylish designs

As for the overall design of the laundry room, usability and style should work hand-in-hand. “The first step is the choice of finish materials,” Brut tells Freshome. “Choose a moisture-resistant finish like ceramic tiles or plastic panels.” Lamps Plus Lighting Expert Jeff Emmerson adds that laundry spaces need a simple, efficient overhead light like a flush mount or semi-flush mount. “Don’t forget under-cabinet lighting when you have workspaces in a laundry room.”

Brut recommends painting the walls and ceiling white (or another light color), especially if the laundry room is a small space. This will make the room feel larger and brighter and less like the closet you may consider it.

Finally, don’t neglect fun design choices. Just because it’s a laundry room doesn’t mean it can’t have personality. One way to do this, says Self, is to display your detergent and powders in large apothecary jars. This fun way to store everyday items gives your laundry room character. A little creativity goes a long way in livening up the space.

Patterned backsplashes add character to a dull laundry room. Image: Brooks & Falotico

Light colors, like this blue, open up an otherwise-dark space. Image: Rabaut Design Associates

It doesn’t take a full renovation to spruce up your laundry room. Implementing any of these tips should give you a great place to start. For more inspiration, check out our 10 laundry room ideas for adding value to your space.

Does your laundry room need a little TLC? Will you be using any of these suggestions? Let us know in the comments!

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