Stylishly adding a functional space, laundry room ideas have never been more desired. Offering a designated place for all your laundry-oriented needs, from washing to ironing, there are plenty of great ways to introduce one to your home.
Laundry is one of those chores that doesn’t quite fit into any other room. Sometimes the washer and dryer might live in the kitchen, other times in the bathroom, but designing a room that caters to the various tasks involved will make it easier and more enjoyable.
But how can you create the perfect space? We’ve asked designers for their favorite laundry room ideas, seamlessly blending design style and functional elements.
19 laundry room ideas for a stylish and functional design
Whether you’re overhauling an existing laundry room and looking at laundry room makeovers for inspiration, are gaining a laundry area by planning a home addition, or want to move the laundry upstairs where it's more convenient, our laundry room decor ideas and designs are sure to provide plenty of inspiration.
1. Introduce a laundry room island
If you have the space for it, consider adding a small kitchen island or butcher block to your laundry room like designer Whittney Parkinson did in this design. It creates a smart spot for folding towels or rolling towels, making sorting and organizing much easier.
Having an island, or at least ample counter space, also gives you a place to pre-treat clothes or to lay delicates flat to dry, as well as proving convenient for tasks such as washing stuffed animals or cleaning bath toys. For a bonus, choose an island with storage underneath to house laundry baskets or cleaning supplies.
A portable kitchen island can seamlessly fit into your laundry room. This design has plenty of storage, including a trash can cabinet that can be transformed into a laundry basket.
For something more luxurious, this portable laundry room island is covered in a marble-look finish. It's an aesthetically pleasing choice, but it still has plenty of storage space.
Featuring hooks, a hanging rail, shelving, and closed storage, this island is the perfect addition to your laundry room. Available in black and white with a wood countertop.
2. Turn an unused hallway or corner into a laundry nook
Not everyone has a whole room spare to dedicate to a laundry room. However, there are plenty of ways to introduce one to your home – look to underutilized hallways or a corner of your kitchen that could be working harder.
'Laundry rooms are becoming much more normal in people's homes these days. It may not be a separate room but it may be a small corridor or a designated area of a large kitchen that has been allocated for this new little work area (maybe near the back door or in a slight alcove),’ says Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL Kitchens.
It’s more so about creating a designated space to locate your appliances, sort through your laundry, and keep essentials.
3. Make it multi-functional
Why not create a multipurpose room that not only houses your laundry essentials, but other practical elements like a utility or boot room, too?
‘The laundry room nowadays generally has more than one purpose – it has hooks for coats and cubbyholes for boots – the boot room bit! Then it may have deep cupboards for ironing boards and appliances – the utility bit,’ says Helen.
‘These hybrid rooms that serve many functions are a useful way of getting bulky things out of the kitchen. With clever design, the rooms can still be made to look lovely and functional with the use of tongue and groove boarding, shaker peg rails, and lift-up seats to store shoes and dog paraphernalia.'
4. Go bold with laundry room tiles and colors
It might be a functional room, but that doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style. Introducing elevated design elements like tiles, paneling, or playful colors, can create a scheme that is much easier on the eye.
'People often use this space to be experimental with colors and tiles as it is a smaller space and often a little out of the way,’ explains Helen.
‘Full walls of tiles or boarding can be painted in bold colors to create a new room in a home that will probably become the most used room because it has so many uses,’ she adds.
5. Invest in custom cabinetry
Storage is essential in a laundry room. Whether it’s to integrate appliances like the washer and dryer, or simply to add space to keep unsightly essentials like ironing boards and pegs.
‘Stunning floor-to-ceiling cabinetry cleverly conceals your heavy appliances. Cupboards hide away your detergents and open shelving is a wonderful place to stack freshly laundered or ironed bedding,’ says Tom Howley.
‘Stone floors make the area easy to keep clean and with plenty of storage for mops, air driers, and ironing boards, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one,’ he adds.
6. Add warmth and texture with wallpaper
Utilitarian rooms can easily feel cold and uninviting. With lots of hard edges and cold surfaces, you can’t go wrong with introducing decor elements that add warmth and texture.
‘We have seen lots of fabrics and wallpapers being used which makes for a colorful, fun, and much more ‘part of the home’ type of room as opposed to an ‘outhouse’ look (which incidentally is also a great look),’ says Helen.
In this laundry room, patterned wallpaper in a black and white colorway adds interest while contrasting beautifully with the bold green paint used on the cabinetry.
A playful take on a traditional toile design, this busy wallpaper features botanical scenes interwoven with charming dog illustrations.
Stripes are a timeless choice for wallpaper. This design offers something a bit more unique, with a botanical pattern.
Bold, classic, and bringing a dose of color to a laundry room, this William Morris wallpaper design is one that never goes out of style.
7. Create cohesion between your laundry room and kitchen
In most households, the laundry room is probably connected to the kitchen in some way. So, creating a sense of cohesion between the two rooms is a great way to create a consistent flow.
'Embrace matching finishes in your laundry room and kitchen. Though you might not be able to see one from the other, matching cabinetry and a cohesive color scheme ensures a harmonious look in the home,’ explains Tom.
This could be done through the style of cabinetry, the color on the walls, or even the color used on the walls. Take it one step further by taking the kitchen flooring into the laundry room, too.
8. Make the most of vertical space
Laundry rooms are often on the smaller side, so maximizing vertical space will add plenty of storage and create a more functional layout.
‘Free up floor space by storing large appliances vertically. Employ full-height cabinets to create a place for your washing machine and tumble dryer to sit on top of one another,’ suggests Tom.
‘Let your walls share the workload. Try a mixture of concealed cabinets, to hide large appliances and laundry hampers, and floating shelves, to store washing detergent, cleaning supplies, and even a dog lead and treats.’
9. Color drench a laundry room for a cozy space
This pretty in pink, Martin Moore laundry room design has been color drenched in a beautiful Pale Ochre shade, establishing an inviting, colorful design that truly transforms the feel of this functional space in the home.
Pink room ideas are not for everyone, but a smaller space such as a laundry room is a great place to be more adventurous and impactful with color and pattern – ideal for small laundry room ideas, too.
Featuring a combination of open and closed storage, and a union of different textures and materials, such as the fabric curtain, wooden paneling and tiles, the design feels playful yet incredibly practical, and shows how embracing just the one color for your room color ideas, in this case, decorating with pink, can create a wonderfully stylish effect.
10. Use light colors to make a small laundry room feel bigger
A white laundry room scheme is a lovely option for a space that feels fresh, clean, and organized. Plus, if you are looking for small laundry room ideas, a bright white will make your space feel larger and lighter with minimal effort.
Complementing a white scheme with good lighting will also make checking laundry symbols on your items so much easier. ‘For our Cotswold country home clients, we opted for a balanced mix of old and new to redesign their laundry room,' says Mandy Oestreich, of Marloe Interiors.
'Black bronze knobs contrast beautifully against the white painted shaker style cabinets, whilst the light-colored quartz worktop completes the look – creating a classic and timeless space.’
11. Maximize natural light
If you’re incorporating a laundry room into your home as part of an addition or extension, consider designing a space that backs straight onto your outside space.
Not only is this beautiful space flooded with natural light, making it a spot where even those who loathe laundry might enjoy spending time, but it is also extremely practical.
Rather than relying on a tumble dryer, it provides easy access to the garden where you can allow laundry to air dry.
12. Invest in a traditional drying rack
Drying racks, also called airers, are super-practical when the tumble dryer temperature guide forbids even use of the delicate setting on a dryer. But they are wonderful for adding a touch of rustic charm to your laundry room ideas, too.
Use them for towels and bedlinens as well as to dry a comforter – and hang decorative items too, for laundry room decor ideas that will make the scheme feel more lived in.
This super stylish laundry room scheme was designed by Martin Moore.
13. Consider a dark shade for a stylish laundry room
This stunning laundry room proves that the moody color trend that's proved ever so popular this year works just as well in small spaces as it does in large, lust-worthy black and white kitchens.
Opting for a dark feature wall that comprises paintwork, cabinetry, and paneling adds plenty of character while ensuring the small space does not feel overwhelmed.
If you go for a darker hue on the walls and cabinets, opt for a contrasting hue on the countertops. This laundry room is a perfect example – navy paint is beautifully complemented by the more rustic wood countertops.
14. Put your laundry on a pedestal
A pedestal washer and dryer is a convenience you won't want to live without once you try it. It essentially eliminates the need to bend over when you're changing the laundry or cleaning a washing machine, making the whole process easier.
While most top washer-dryer brands sell pedestals for their machines, the look isn't necessarily elevated. Instead, try a custom-built pedestal that matches your laundry room cabinets, like designer Whittney Parkinson created for a lucky client.
15. Zone your space to maximize efficiency
Zoning has been a big talking point this year, giving rooms a more functional flow with intentional spaces dedicated to various uses or storage. If you are lucky enough to be blessed with a laundry room that can be zoned, consider it an option that maximizes efficiency.
Zoning is the perfect way to layout a laundry room. We are picturing one area equipped with appliances which is designed for washing and drying laundry, and another set up for folding and ironing clothes to perfection.
16. Make a feature of your laundry room cabinetry
Laundry room shelving and cabinetry doesn’t have to be all about practicality. In fact, it’s an ideal way to bring in decorative touches that help make the space charming as well as useful. Stick to displaying a selection of smaller objects and pictures to give the room a more airy feel.
The space behind the sink is ideal – particularly if vases are part of the mix so they’re near the faucet. In this location, bespoke build-in shelving is a sensible option to keep the contents securely in place above the sink. The lovely marble laundry room countertop idea adds a sense of sophistication to the playful cabinetry.
17. Consider the layout of your laundry room
When trying to make the most of limited space in which you’re undertaking tasks such as washing bed sheets and washing woollen blankets take time to consider the natural flow through rooms, recommends Victoria Wormsley of French-Brooks Interiors.
‘Think about how people are going to pass through the space and ask if you really need each and every door (but be aware that some will need to be retained for fire regulations, particularly when it comes to kitchens and utility areas). Where possible, remove doors and architraves to improve the flow.’
18. Opt for a deep sink
A deep butler sink is practical for tasks such as washing whites that can’t go into the machine and other handwashing tasks; if possible, place it beneath a window so you can enjoy your garden while standing at it.
Keep the sink close to the washing machine, too, as it will make plumbing – and transferring laundry – easier. And install a run of countertops on either side if you have the space. A pretty blind will add a touch of color and softness as a finishing touch.
19. Pay attention to flooring
A low-maintenance, durable floor is a key feature in a laundry room. Natural stone retains heat in the winter and is cool in summer. Wood-effect ceramic floors give the beauty of timber but are more practical and hard-wearing.
As to whether you continue the floor from connecting rooms, such as a bathroom or kitchen, into the laundry room, this is dependent on whether you are looking to unify the space or create a statement room in its own right.
Patterned floors can delineate the space and provide a wow factor when glimpsed through a glass or open door, while a consistent flow of flooring connects the different rooms.
Laundry room FAQs
What are the best laundry room cabinet ideas?
Cabinets are a natural part of a thoughtful laundry room design. They allow for all-important laundry room storage, while also closing the door on visible clutter.
Laundry room cabinet ideas range from simple to complex, and affordable to high-end. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, here are a few ideas we love, from easy to more involved.
Consider laundry room shelving
Laundry room shelving provides an easy alternative to cabinetry since it's quick to install and readily available. While shelves don't hide away clutter the same way cabinets do, you can still create an orderly space with items like matching storage baskets, pretty glass jars, and a label maker.
Add a kitchen cabinet above a washer/dryer
If you need laundry room cabinetry but aren't planning a full renovation any time soon, a simple off-the-shelf kitchen wall cabinet is a more than adequate stand-in.
Most big box home improvement stores offer unfinished wood cabinets, so you can give yours a custom look with a few coats of paint and fun hardware. Have the cabinet mounted above the washer/dryer.
Go custom
If you're investing in a complete laundry room overhaul, custom cabinetry is the way to go. With custom, you'll get cabinets that are built to your needs and the size and function of your room.
Plus, you'll be able to order them in virtually any color you choose, so you can tie into a fun wallpaper, your kitchen cabinets, or another room in your home.
Find a cabinet maker that specializes in laundry room design, or work with an interior designer to ensure you maximize the function of the cabinets.
Extras like drying racks, laundry basket storage, and pedestal stands can make a world of difference in how well your laundry room serves you and your family.
Whether you make the most of an unused hallway, introduce bold colors, or make the most of useful storage hacks, there are plenty of laundry ideas here to inspire every space.
