Do you remember the day when your laundry room was a washing machine in the basement and a clothesline with clothes pins in the backyard? How times have changed. Convenience and style are now part of the equation. If you’re looking for ways to take your laundry room to the next level, read on. I’ve got some terrific ideas for you.
Cabinets, Cabinets and More Cabinets
The word for today’s laundry rooms is cabinets – and plenty of them. Put cabinets above and to either side of the washer and dryer, as space permits. If you have a sink in your laundry room, flank it with cabinets as well – the more, the better.
If you’re lucky enough to have a laundry room, turn it into a pantry of sorts. Even if you don’t keep canned goods or other food items in the room, move all your cleaning supplies and paper goods to the laundry room and free up space for other items in the kitchen.
And, if the budget allows, use cabinets that complement your kitchen decor. Luxury laundry rooms run the gamut from stained and antiqued wood cabinets to granite countertops. If you can afford it, go for it.
Make It Functional
Above all, however, make the laundry room functional. Create an area for hanging items, folding clothes, ironing and pre-soaking. If you’re short on space, look into a built-in ironing board that installs in the wall between studs. Or purchase a retractable clothes line you can string from one wall to the other to hang your clothes.
Steal storage space from anywhere you can – under the washer and dryer, above the washer and dryer, on the back of doors. Even if you go high-end, don’t forget this room has a purpose.
Decorate
Yes, decorate your laundry room. Select a decorative paint treatment or wallpaper, hang pictures and light fixtures. Forget those cheesy little mats for the floor; bring in a full size area rug. You spend a lot of time on your feet in this room; it’s alright to indulge yourself on the furnishings if you’ve got the means to do so.
Depending on the amount of space you have, you can also bring in a work table or center island. If the room is big enough, set it up to double as a craft room – now wouldn’t that be grand?
If you want to see some killer laundry rooms, visit the Laundry ideabook on Houzz for design and decorating ideas. It’s always good to get a little inspiration from those who go before you and it’s always nice to dream.
Enjoy more home decor ideas from Terry Mulligan:
How to use carts for kitchen islands
Displaying spices in the kitchen
Setting a stylish and colorful dinner table