6 Fantastic Laundry Rooms
See the colors, materials and storage solutions these designers used to make laundry day more enjoyable
What makes a great laundry room? One might say that as long as you can get your laundry clean, what else do you need? But there are several factors that can make the chore more manageable and — dare we say it? — enjoyable. Adequate storage, plenty of folding and hanging space, and cheerful colors go a long way. Here, six laundry rooms show how to spin a fresh design.
Designer tip. “Plan with purpose,” Grinwald says. “Always talk through what will be stored where.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The cabinetry color took some convincing and trust,” Grinwald says. “The client asked multiple times if this was going to look right. Overall, this was the first time the client had done a remodeling project, and this project involved nine rooms being renovated at the same time. They needed assurance that the process was going correctly and [in a timely fashion]. After living in the chaos of the job site for so long, every client gets tired.”
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“Uh-oh” moment. “The cabinetry color took some convincing and trust,” Grinwald says. “The client asked multiple times if this was going to look right. Overall, this was the first time the client had done a remodeling project, and this project involved nine rooms being renovated at the same time. They needed assurance that the process was going correctly and [in a timely fashion]. After living in the chaos of the job site for so long, every client gets tired.”
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2. Dog-Friendly Destination
Designer: Debra Wiseberg of Designlink Architecture and Interiors
Location: Fountain Hills, Arizona
Size: 88 square feet (8.1 square meters); 8 by 11 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction home, the owners wanted a laundry room with lots of storage and function, including for the family dog.
Special features. Dog-bathing area with artificial grass. Pullout pet-food bowls. Pull-down drying rack. Custom Shaker-style cabinets in a finish made to match Extra White by Sherwin-Williams. Rough-sawn rift-cut white oak shelf with three different stains applied using a dry-brush technique.
Designer tip. Cabinetmaker Robert Grantham says the key to this design is the simple lines contrasted with the rough-sawn white oak shelf as a focal point.
Designer: Debra Wiseberg of Designlink Architecture and Interiors
Location: Fountain Hills, Arizona
Size: 88 square feet (8.1 square meters); 8 by 11 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction home, the owners wanted a laundry room with lots of storage and function, including for the family dog.
Special features. Dog-bathing area with artificial grass. Pullout pet-food bowls. Pull-down drying rack. Custom Shaker-style cabinets in a finish made to match Extra White by Sherwin-Williams. Rough-sawn rift-cut white oak shelf with three different stains applied using a dry-brush technique.
Designer tip. Cabinetmaker Robert Grantham says the key to this design is the simple lines contrasted with the rough-sawn white oak shelf as a focal point.
3. Light Blue and Beautiful
Designer: Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design
Location: Zephyr, Ontario, Canada
Size: 64 square feet (5.9 square meters); 6 feet, 7 inches by 9 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this new-build home, the owners wanted a combination mudroom and laundry room. “The whole theme was a modern farmhouse, so we made the laundry area fun with a pretty blue tone on the cabinets and high-contrast dark floors that would hide any mud that could be tracked in from work boots,” designer Cynthia Soda says.
Special features. Light blue cabinets (Harbor Haze by Benjamin Moore) with matte black hardware. Dark matte black floor tile in five patterns. White diamond-pattern backsplash tile.
Designer tip. “The dark grounding feature was the flooring, with some visual texture in the pattern helping to hide any tracked-in dirt,” Soda says. “Also, stacking the washer and dryer gave us the opportunity for hanging and cabinetry space, and we were able to incorporate open and closed storage throughout to make it feel light and easy to access.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our client didn’t realize that there were so many varying patterns on the floor from the few samples we had originally showed them, so when the floors were going down, they thought they ordered the wrong floors,” Soda says. “We reassured them that it would all be great, and they were happy in the end.”
Designer: Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design
Location: Zephyr, Ontario, Canada
Size: 64 square feet (5.9 square meters); 6 feet, 7 inches by 9 feet, 8 inches
Homeowners’ request. For this new-build home, the owners wanted a combination mudroom and laundry room. “The whole theme was a modern farmhouse, so we made the laundry area fun with a pretty blue tone on the cabinets and high-contrast dark floors that would hide any mud that could be tracked in from work boots,” designer Cynthia Soda says.
Special features. Light blue cabinets (Harbor Haze by Benjamin Moore) with matte black hardware. Dark matte black floor tile in five patterns. White diamond-pattern backsplash tile.
Designer tip. “The dark grounding feature was the flooring, with some visual texture in the pattern helping to hide any tracked-in dirt,” Soda says. “Also, stacking the washer and dryer gave us the opportunity for hanging and cabinetry space, and we were able to incorporate open and closed storage throughout to make it feel light and easy to access.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our client didn’t realize that there were so many varying patterns on the floor from the few samples we had originally showed them, so when the floors were going down, they thought they ordered the wrong floors,” Soda says. “We reassured them that it would all be great, and they were happy in the end.”
4. Wonderful Wallpaper
Designers: Kristina Eustace and Diana Tidswell of Kresswell Interiors
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Being that this is a basement, which is typically dark and cold, the homeowner wanted a space that felt more inviting while doing laundry,” designer Kristina Eustace says. “Also, the space was undeveloped, so she was doing laundry on an unfinished floor with no cabinetry or sink. It became necessary to finish the space functionally but also make it cheerful and welcoming.”
Special features. Peacock-theme wallpaper. “It’s full of color and pattern, which created a great jumping-off point for the rest of the design,” Eustace says. “It was absolutely the focal point, and so we kept the rest of the space simple and subdued with white cabinets and a gray vinyl floor.” Other key features include the wood countertop, farmhouse-style sink and leather cabinet pulls.
Designer tip. “When designing a small space, some people may pull away from a busier wallpaper,” Eustace says. “But in actuality, a bold choice can really make a room feel expansive and energized. Don’t be afraid to take some risks. In this particular laundry room, we kept the wallpaper to two walls and then supported it with some white walls on the opposite side. A good balance was achieved.”
Designers: Kristina Eustace and Diana Tidswell of Kresswell Interiors
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Being that this is a basement, which is typically dark and cold, the homeowner wanted a space that felt more inviting while doing laundry,” designer Kristina Eustace says. “Also, the space was undeveloped, so she was doing laundry on an unfinished floor with no cabinetry or sink. It became necessary to finish the space functionally but also make it cheerful and welcoming.”
Special features. Peacock-theme wallpaper. “It’s full of color and pattern, which created a great jumping-off point for the rest of the design,” Eustace says. “It was absolutely the focal point, and so we kept the rest of the space simple and subdued with white cabinets and a gray vinyl floor.” Other key features include the wood countertop, farmhouse-style sink and leather cabinet pulls.
Designer tip. “When designing a small space, some people may pull away from a busier wallpaper,” Eustace says. “But in actuality, a bold choice can really make a room feel expansive and energized. Don’t be afraid to take some risks. In this particular laundry room, we kept the wallpaper to two walls and then supported it with some white walls on the opposite side. A good balance was achieved.”
5. Playful With Plaid
Designers: April Collins of The Cabinet Gallery; Salt Box Collective
Location: Sandy, Utah
Size: 43 square feet (4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A modern take on classic farmhouse style.
Special features. Stacked appliances with a natural white oak frame and crown molding. Plaid floor tile. Beveled subway tile backsplash. Gold caged pendant light.
Designer tip. “Sometimes less is more,” designer April Collins says. “Eliminating the cabinetry over the sink gave us more space to add some personality with the pendant light and artwork.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This room started out a lot bigger, with a side-by-side washer and dryer,” Collins says. “But for some reason it got really small, so we needed to figure out a way to make it work. A stackable washer and dryer gave us the room we needed to have a countertop and cabinet storage.”
Designers: April Collins of The Cabinet Gallery; Salt Box Collective
Location: Sandy, Utah
Size: 43 square feet (4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A modern take on classic farmhouse style.
Special features. Stacked appliances with a natural white oak frame and crown molding. Plaid floor tile. Beveled subway tile backsplash. Gold caged pendant light.
Designer tip. “Sometimes less is more,” designer April Collins says. “Eliminating the cabinetry over the sink gave us more space to add some personality with the pendant light and artwork.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This room started out a lot bigger, with a side-by-side washer and dryer,” Collins says. “But for some reason it got really small, so we needed to figure out a way to make it work. A stackable washer and dryer gave us the room we needed to have a countertop and cabinet storage.”
Photo by Paul Barnaby of Total Agent
6. Gorgeous and Glamorous
Designer: April Rossdeutscher of VBM Home
Location: Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters); 7 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. A modern, warm laundry room with maximized storage.
Special features. Custom brass-colored library ladder. High-gloss white cabinets. Quartz that mimics Nero Marquina marble for the countertops and backsplash. Black-and-brass cabinet handles. Whitewashed engineered-wood flooring.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Where to Put the Laundry Room
How to Clean Your Washing Machine
Browse newly featured laundry rooms
Shop for laundry room products on Houzz
6. Gorgeous and Glamorous
Designer: April Rossdeutscher of VBM Home
Location: Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters); 7 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. A modern, warm laundry room with maximized storage.
Special features. Custom brass-colored library ladder. High-gloss white cabinets. Quartz that mimics Nero Marquina marble for the countertops and backsplash. Black-and-brass cabinet handles. Whitewashed engineered-wood flooring.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Where to Put the Laundry Room
How to Clean Your Washing Machine
Browse newly featured laundry rooms
Shop for laundry room products on Houzz
Designers: Becky Rose Grinwald (interior design) and Meg Baniukiewicz of HB Designs (architect)
Location: Milwaukee
Size: 120 square feet (11 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. More space and more storage in a “happy, bright place,” says interior designer Becky Rose Grinwald, who collaborated with her client using this Houzz ideabook.
Special features. Light green cabinets (Waterscape by Sherwin-Williams). Large quartz surface for folding. Drying rod. White handmade ceramic subway tiles. White ceramic cabinet knobs. In addition to cabinet storage, there’s a closet and drawers below a built-in window seat.
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