The laundry room is often the most neglected room when it comes to style and efficiency. You spend a lot a time there — why not make it as attractive and organized as any room in your home? A makeover won’t turn laundry into your favorite activity, but it will make the job easier, and perhaps even save you some time. Here are some ideas to help you create a laundry room that’s appealing and well organized.
Change Laundry Baskets and Hampers
Switch out plastic laundry baskets with something more stylish, yet sturdy enough for heavy use. Natural baskets with white cotton liners are very fashionable, and you can display them on open shelves in the laundry room. You’ll have easy access for dropping in dirty clothes, and the baskets are right there to pull out when it’s time to do some washing. And when the laundry’s finished, use them to store folded clothes until it’s time to put them away.
There are other laundry basket styles in different materials, colors, and sizes that will also enhance the decor, including canvas, wood-trimmed white steel, copper wire, and geometric-patterned handwoven baskets, just to name a few.
Hampers on wheels may be better suited to your laundry room needs and design. They can hold a huge load of laundry, and the wheels make it easy to roll the hamper to the washer. The styles range from tall, vintage wire hampers with liners to square or round canvas ones in dark or light colors, mounted on a steel frame.
There’s also a selection of sorter hampers on wheels. They come in 2, 3 and 4 bag models, allowing you to keep your clothing sorted by color, type, or family member. Stored in any corner of your laundry room, the light and dark colors of these sorters and other hampers will give your laundry room that modern look.
Paint Your Laundry Room with Vibrant Colors
Painting is an easy way to upgrade your laundry room. Choosing a color depends on the design impact you want to achieve.
There are also practical considerations. For example, if there aren’t any windows in your laundry room, the color white will brighten up the space and reflect any light from artificial sources, allowing you to read labels and notice clothing stains. White also goes well with stainless steel and colored appliances, and gives you free rein to accessorize with bold accent colors that can be changed occasionally to give an entirely different look.
Pastels (blues, pinks, greens, and yellows) are still light-colored enough to reflect any laundry room light, but also give that shabby chic or classic cottage style look. You could also combine them with bolder colors and patterns, such as the retro look of pink with black accents (think pink walls with black washer and dryer).
To make laundry room cabinetry stand out, use striking, vibrant colors for the ceiling and walls. However, if the laundry room is small, or has no natural light, use bright colors inside the cabinets or shelves, or as accent accessories. Try some of the citrus colors, such as lime green, yellow, and orange — or perhaps a fire-engine red, or a deep purple, green, or blue.
Add Counter or Work Space
A counter or work space is necessary for folding and placing other items while doing laundry. If you have a side-by-side front-loading washer and dryer, add a custom-made counter on top of them. Another option is to place a butcher block on top. If you have the square footage, you can set up an island to create work space. Some islands are portable and don’t take up much room. A bar cart also works — anything on wheels will provide the added surface and can be moved around as needed. Even some of the sorter hampers on wheels have a folding table on top. For small laundry rooms, if you have available wall space, you can attach a compact, wall-mounted folding table.
Add Storage Space
Add inexpensive kitchen cabinets around your washer and dryer. If you’ve used bright wall colors, the contrast will make them appear more high-end. Swap out the hardware and replace it with custom drawer pulls, such as leather, or bars that can also serve as towel or hanger racks.
If cabinets aren’t an option, install open shelves on the walls. Use pretty baskets to keep everything organized. You can also repurpose furniture, such as setting up several vintage lockers, or a utility cabinet or armoire as a storage center for laundry supplies. For small laundry rooms with little space, wire baskets on the back of the door, or over-the-door shoe organizers will hold smaller items and provide easy access.
Add Accessories for Ironing and Hanging
Install a wall or cabinet drop-down ironing board and add an outlet and storage for the iron. You can also install a wall-mounted drying rack that folds down or can be hidden in a cabinet and unfolds when needed. Another solution for air drying clothes is a retractable clothes line that isn’t visible when not in use. If you have the space, set up a metal rod under cabinets for hanging clothes when ironing or taking a load from the dryer.
Add Elegance to Everyday Items
Add a touch of elegance to your laundry room by storing items such as dryer sheets, clothes pins, and powdered detergent in glass canisters or interesting jars. Use glass beverage dispensers to store liquid detergent and fabric softener.
Add a Rug
Adding an area rug to your laundry room can create some designer flair and provide some cushioning for your legs and feet. Choose an indoor-outdoor rug rather than one with natural fibers. When natural fibers get wet, they also get moldy. Indoor-outdoor rugs are mold and mildew resistant, which is perfect for laundry rooms. These rugs are soft, and come in a variety of designs, sizes, and shapes.
Upgrade Lighting
Switch out the lighting with new fixtures to change the mood and look of your laundry room. Combine canned ceiling lights, pendants, and under cabinet lighting for a more stylish appearance. If you don’t have cabinets, add a chic lamp or two. For something glamorous and unexpected, install a lovely chandelier.
Add Plants and Art
Decorating your laundry room with plants will bring it to life and add some warmth. The amount of sunlight in the room will determine what plants to add. Use the shelves or free counter space for potted plants or hang plants from the ceiling or in basket containers on the walls. Even a vase with fresh flowers will do wonders for the room. Choose pots and hanging containers in accent colors to complement the room’s main color.
Displaying artwork in a laundry room makes it feel more like a living space than a utility room. The art can range from hand-woven wall hangings to abstract paintings. Depending on your wall space, you can group black and white photographs together, or hang one large framed poster. Choose wall art signs, wood pieces, or wall decal quotes — you’re really only limited by your imagination when it comes to finding the right artwork for your laundry room. Pick up on color schemes already in the room or do something bold and unexpected in your art color choices.
Regardless of how you decorate your laundry room, your washer and dryer will always be the most important items in it. When you need fast, courteous service for your appliance, be sure to call C&W Appliance Service
at (855) 358-1496 or (214) 358-1496
