ELEVATE YOUR LAUNDRY ROOM
Homeowners often overlook the laundry room as a zone that only needs to be functional. However, the experts agree that your laundry room should not be an afterthought or quickly dismissed space. It’s worthy of a design upgrade and some home improvement TLC that can transform it from a dull and drab pocket of your home to a more invigorating and efficient space that demonstrates your knack for organization.
Devoting effort and expense to this area is worth it, says Sean Hughes, senior interior designer with Mandil Inc. in Denver.
“Creating a space you will enjoy more is worthwhile, especially if you spend a lot of time doing laundry. Also, efficiency and organization are important so you don’t have to spend more time than necessary in that room,” says Hughes, who recommends updating your laundry room every few years, or at least when you next plan to modernize your kitchen.
Jennifer Verruto, founder and CEO of Blythe Interiors, recommends these laundry room updates:
• Add upper cabinets and/or open shelving if you have the space to maximize your storage opportunities. “Think vertical. Use the space above your washer and dryer for shelving and the open walls across from the machines for hooks,” says Verruto.
• Use attractive baskets, bins, and containers to give your open shelving or cabinets a cleaner and polished look. “Get rid of the original packaging and add items like detergent and dryer balls into cute containers to give your space a more curated look,” she adds.
• Employ a lazy Susan in a laundry room cabinet for easier access to products like detergent and bleach.
• Use dead space in the laundry room to store other cleaning items, including vacuums and brooms that can be tucked into corners or hung on the wall.
“The laundry room is one of the only places where I will always recommend quartz or porcelain over natural stone for the countertop and backsplash. These surfaces need to stand up to cleaning agents and pooled water over the long haul,” suggests Los Angeles-based interior designer Kara Piepmeyer.
Ensure that your washer and dryer are at a comfortable height to avoid overstretching, bending, and straining your back.
Space permitting, try to implement a work sink in your laundry room, too, and place a hanging rod over the sink to maximize room efficiency. Additionally, pick a paint color that’s soothing or cheerful to make the space more inviting and motivating, like a pastel hue.
“Think carefully about how you will use this space and address the pain points to maximize its functionality,” says Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla. “Focus on quality, sustainability, and functionality; this way, you’ll be able to create a laundry room that looks good but also feels good to use.”