52 Laundry Room Ideas That Make the Most of a Small Space
Think modern cabinet colors, creative decorating ideas, trendy wall looks and genius storage solutions.
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When it comes to doing laundry, there are a lot of steps involved: separating whites and darks, loading and unloading machines, folding everything and putting it away. Unfortunately, it's a responsibility some of us dread — mostly because it's time consuming and the repetitive task quickly becomes tedious. But, what if we told you that a well-designed and properly organized laundry room could actually make the chore more enjoyable?
This collection of stylish laundry room ideas includes helpful storage solutions and a ton of decorating inspirations, like trendy paint colors, whimsical wallpaper designs and beautiful flooring ideas. Since the laundry room tends to be a smaller space, it presents the perfect opportunity to show off your personal aesthetic, whether it's upgrading cabinet hardware, installing wall tiles or tackling a completely new design style. As you scroll, you'll also find a ton of organizing ideas, like hiding laundry hampers and baskets, mounting clothes racks and making a room multi-purpose.
If you don't have a large laundry room, don't worry. We've included clever hacks that maximize narrow spaces and tiny closets. While the most important element of any laundry room is a good washing machine and dryer, don't forget to include plenty of baskets and storage containers to hold essentials like dryer sheets, laundry detergents and stain removers. Keep in mind: When your supplies are within reach, the process of doing laundry might become pain-free.
Choose a Geometric Wall Tile
To streamline supplies, professional organizers at Organized by Design bring in wicker bins, woven hampers and gold curtain rods. For a pop of color, blue, gray and white patterned tiles are added behind the dryer to contrast the otherwise white walls.
Build a Countertop
If you plan to do most of your folding in the laundry room, install a countertop at a comfortable height over your front-loading washer and dryer. Here, Sarah & Sons Interiors puts the machines in front of the windows, so the homeowners can peer outside as they sort and fold.
Hide Machinery Behind Barn Doors
Turn a hallway closet into a small laundry room, swapping regular doors for sliding barn doors to make the space feel less cramped. For this compact space, designer Nellie Howard Ossi uses a vibrant wallpaper to make it standout and adds a floating shelf for storage.
Use a Rolling Ladder to Access Supplies
To maximize storage in the laundry room, build floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Then take note from designer Emily Henderson and install a rolling ladder to ensure everything stays within reach.
Create Contrast
Especially if your kitchen is all neutral, consider deep, moody cabinetry in the laundry room. These nearly black cabinets beautifully contrast the white walls and bright white machines tucked under the light countertop. Design by Becky Alexander of Haven + Home, LLC.
Hang a Clothes Rack Within Reach
As you pull damp clothes from the washer, quickly air-dry clothes on a convenient clothes rack. Blythe Interiors settles on a style that resembles an industrial pipe to pair with the dark gray machinery and matte black cabinet hardware.
Install Patterned Wallpaper
You might be reluctant to try graphic wallpaper in a living room or dining room, so experimenting with it in a smaller space, like a laundry room, is a good solution. Designer Gray Walker pairs this Pierre Frey print on the walls and ceiling with all-white cabinetry.
Ensure a Seamless Transition
For this laundry room located off the kitchen, it was important to craft a cohesive style. Alexander Scott, lead project designer for Nugent Design Build, used different flooring to create separation, but painted cabinetry and walls in the same shade for better flow.
Disguise Your Machines
If you don't have a designated room for laundry, hide your machines in plain sight. Take note from Sarah & Sons Interiors and install them inside a tall cabinet, which could be anything: a pantry, coat closet or extra storage.
Adopt a Farmhouse Aesthetic
If you have a favorite decorating style or an affinity for a certain animal, the laundry room is the perfect space to experiment. Here, designer Elizabeth Drake goes for a chicken patterned wallpaper and bright red cabinetry, then layers in farm-inspired decor.
Keep it Light and Bright
When you've got a space this beautiful, laundry will quickly become your favorite chore. From the wallpapered ceiling and flower-inspired pendant to the light blue cabinetry and farmhouse sink, Ashley Davenport of Sweet Southern Home and Design doesn't skimp on style.
Hide Laundry Hampers
Make room for a designated laundry bin area and opt for rolling baskets, so you can easily move them around the laundry room or entire house. These laundry bins effortlessly tuck under the counter to save on floor space and you can even label them — one for lights, darks, towels, etc.
Install a Second Washer and Dryer
If you have a large family and feel like you're constantly swapping loads, consider splurging for a second washer and dryer. Here, designer Maggie Griffin stacks the machinery and builds earthy green cabinetry around, which collectively takes up less space than expected.
Hang Shelves Up High
For cleaning supplies, linens or miscellaneous storage you don't use on the daily, mount shelves just below the ceiling. To ensure these spacious floating shelves double as decor, LH Interiors adds a number of decorative bins.
Make it Multi-Purpose
One side for sorting, washing and folding laundry, and the other for art projects, painting and crafting. With large windows and a surge of a natural light, it'd be criminal not to maximize this spacious room designed by Elizabeth Drake.
Create a Small Seating Area
Folding laundry can be tiring and time-consuming, so why not take a seat on a nearby stool as you work? In addition to plenty of cabinet space for laundry room essentials, designer Maggie Griffin reserves two built-in areas to tuck away small stools.
Mount Hooks to the Walls
In this mudroom meets laundry room, Juniper Interiors installs two rows of black hooks — perfect for bags, jackets and air-drying damp clothes.
Have Fun With Flooring
There's no reason not to go bold with flooring in a utilitarian space. Try patterned floor tiles to amp up your layout, just as designer Amy Peltier does here.
Carve Out a Space for Bins
Rather than stacking laundry bins on the counter, reserve an open space inside your built-in to store them, like this layout from designer Erin Myers. Especially when paired with a cheerful wallpaper and bright orange flush mount, this neatly stored laundry basket is nearly out of sight, but still within reach.
Add a Pet-Washing Tub
Don't forget about your furry friends! Carve out space to clean your pet, making sure to tailor the width and height of the tub to their overall size. Install a hanging rod on the wall and use it as drip-dry area between washes.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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