4 Stylish and Functional New Laundry Rooms
See the details designers use to balance storage and washing features with materials that create a welcoming look
Balancing form and function is the design goal in most rooms. But it’s particularly important to get right in a laundry room, where you want to combine storage and cleaning features with a style that makes the room pleasant to be in.
2. Daring Double Duty
Designer: Kailee Klevan of Beyond Kitchens
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Size: 134 square feet (12 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted new, brighter tile, a locker system with a bench and hooks and easy-to-access storage with an overall French feel with industrial touches,” designer Kailee Klevan says.
Main feature. “The most significant design detail, hands down, is the tile floor,” Klevan says. “We selected a porcelain tile with subtle marble veining and laid it at a diagonal to maximize the impact.”
Other special features. “With the tile floor being the focal point, we kept the other details in the design simple, with blue-gray painted cabinetry and crisp white walls,” Klevan says. “The vintage pendants our client already had on hand are also a significant detail in making this laundry room stand out. The unique sink faucet from Delta brings an industrial touch in a champagne bronze finish. We incorporated additional character with the mixture of metals between the lights, hardware and plumbing fixtures, and vertical wall paneling in the locker area.”
Designer tip. “Always incorporate elements of warmth, whether it be in soft goods like pillows or towels or items like baskets, vases and picture frames,” Klevan says. “Everyday items can be visually appealing and contribute to the design and overall feel of the space, making it even more enjoyable to be in and utilize on a daily basis.”
Cabinets: Plato Woodwork
Shop for tile on Houzz
Designer: Kailee Klevan of Beyond Kitchens
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Size: 134 square feet (12 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted new, brighter tile, a locker system with a bench and hooks and easy-to-access storage with an overall French feel with industrial touches,” designer Kailee Klevan says.
Main feature. “The most significant design detail, hands down, is the tile floor,” Klevan says. “We selected a porcelain tile with subtle marble veining and laid it at a diagonal to maximize the impact.”
Other special features. “With the tile floor being the focal point, we kept the other details in the design simple, with blue-gray painted cabinetry and crisp white walls,” Klevan says. “The vintage pendants our client already had on hand are also a significant detail in making this laundry room stand out. The unique sink faucet from Delta brings an industrial touch in a champagne bronze finish. We incorporated additional character with the mixture of metals between the lights, hardware and plumbing fixtures, and vertical wall paneling in the locker area.”
Designer tip. “Always incorporate elements of warmth, whether it be in soft goods like pillows or towels or items like baskets, vases and picture frames,” Klevan says. “Everyday items can be visually appealing and contribute to the design and overall feel of the space, making it even more enjoyable to be in and utilize on a daily basis.”
Cabinets: Plato Woodwork
Shop for tile on Houzz
3. Serene Sanctuary
Designer: Danielle Gutelli of Clark + Aldine
Location: Plymouth, Michigan
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “I wanted to make sure we created a laundry room I actually wanted to do laundry in,” says designer Danielle Gutelli, who shares this home and her design-build firm with husband Michael. “So first up was to create a space that felt light and airy. Unlike the dungeon feel we had before.”
Main feature. Custom cabinets with a custom red oak countertop and space for laundry baskets.
Other special features. White backsplash tile in a herringbone pattern. Apron-front sink. Red oak floating shelf. Marble tile flooring with a concrete look. Extra-long drying rod. Vintage rug. “Because you can see the back wall from a meditation and yoga area, I wanted to add something that drew your eye back and provided more texture to the overall space,” Gutelli says. “We used Pamplemousse lime wash plaster by Color Atelier. I love how the texture and color helps unite the two spaces yet defines the separation at the same time.”
Designer tip. “We wanted this space to feel truly functional and purposeful yet beautifully designed,” Gutelli says. “To achieve this, we started with function. We created built-in shelves for laundry basket storage and an extra-long drying rack for clothes. From there we layered in the texture through the herringbone tile design for the backsplash and the lime wash paint on the wall.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This is a basement laundry room, so we ran into lots of ‘How are we going to solve this?’ problems,” Gutelli says. “The No. 1 thing here was all the HVAC in the ceiling. The goal was to make the basement feel like an extension of the home, so drywalled ceilings were a must. To do this, we had to create all kinds of soffits to hide the HVAC.”
Pros Share 8 Laundry Room Must-Haves
Designer: Danielle Gutelli of Clark + Aldine
Location: Plymouth, Michigan
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “I wanted to make sure we created a laundry room I actually wanted to do laundry in,” says designer Danielle Gutelli, who shares this home and her design-build firm with husband Michael. “So first up was to create a space that felt light and airy. Unlike the dungeon feel we had before.”
Main feature. Custom cabinets with a custom red oak countertop and space for laundry baskets.
Other special features. White backsplash tile in a herringbone pattern. Apron-front sink. Red oak floating shelf. Marble tile flooring with a concrete look. Extra-long drying rod. Vintage rug. “Because you can see the back wall from a meditation and yoga area, I wanted to add something that drew your eye back and provided more texture to the overall space,” Gutelli says. “We used Pamplemousse lime wash plaster by Color Atelier. I love how the texture and color helps unite the two spaces yet defines the separation at the same time.”
Designer tip. “We wanted this space to feel truly functional and purposeful yet beautifully designed,” Gutelli says. “To achieve this, we started with function. We created built-in shelves for laundry basket storage and an extra-long drying rack for clothes. From there we layered in the texture through the herringbone tile design for the backsplash and the lime wash paint on the wall.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This is a basement laundry room, so we ran into lots of ‘How are we going to solve this?’ problems,” Gutelli says. “The No. 1 thing here was all the HVAC in the ceiling. The goal was to make the basement feel like an extension of the home, so drywalled ceilings were a must. To do this, we had to create all kinds of soffits to hide the HVAC.”
Pros Share 8 Laundry Room Must-Haves
4. Pattern Play
Designer: Meghan Shadrick Interiors
Location: Concord, Massachusetts
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters); 7 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This laundry is upstairs and easily accessible off a central hallway from the bedrooms,” says designer Meghan Shadrick, whose client found her on Houzz. “She wanted a light, bright space that would allow her to fold, hang and organize all the clothes. Because the laundry room is tucked under a roofline, the space felt confined. To boost light, we added a skylight, and since we couldn’t have shelves above the counter, we added a long hanging rack and shelf to a perpendicular wall.”
Main features. Pink, green and white hexagonal ceramic floor tile. Patterned wallpaper depicting birds on branches. “The homeowner wanted a little whimsical touch, as laundry rooms can so often feel cold and utilitarian,” Shadrick says.
Other special features. The cabinet paint is a pale gray with blue-green undertones. “It reads as neutral to the pinks and greens shown in the wallpaper and floor tile,” Shadrick says.
Designer tip. “The room is in an eave, which is always a little awkward to deal with,” Shadrick says. “I think the wallpaper draws your eye away from the roofline and makes the room feel larger.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Until the wallpaper got installed, the floor tile really jumped out since all the other components were soft and neutral,” Shadrick says.
More on Houzz
Read more laundry room stories
Browse newly featured laundry room photos
Hire a local general contractor
Shop for laundry room products
Designer: Meghan Shadrick Interiors
Location: Concord, Massachusetts
Size: 84 square feet (7.8 square meters); 7 by 12 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This laundry is upstairs and easily accessible off a central hallway from the bedrooms,” says designer Meghan Shadrick, whose client found her on Houzz. “She wanted a light, bright space that would allow her to fold, hang and organize all the clothes. Because the laundry room is tucked under a roofline, the space felt confined. To boost light, we added a skylight, and since we couldn’t have shelves above the counter, we added a long hanging rack and shelf to a perpendicular wall.”
Main features. Pink, green and white hexagonal ceramic floor tile. Patterned wallpaper depicting birds on branches. “The homeowner wanted a little whimsical touch, as laundry rooms can so often feel cold and utilitarian,” Shadrick says.
Other special features. The cabinet paint is a pale gray with blue-green undertones. “It reads as neutral to the pinks and greens shown in the wallpaper and floor tile,” Shadrick says.
Designer tip. “The room is in an eave, which is always a little awkward to deal with,” Shadrick says. “I think the wallpaper draws your eye away from the roofline and makes the room feel larger.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Until the wallpaper got installed, the floor tile really jumped out since all the other components were soft and neutral,” Shadrick says.
More on Houzz
Read more laundry room stories
Browse newly featured laundry room photos
Hire a local general contractor
Shop for laundry room products
Designers: Kirsten Holmstedt and Shelbie Plautz of Treasure in the Detail
General contractor: Alex Weber of Weber Construction
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The original laundry room was very small and nonfunctional for a large and busy family of five,” designer Kirsten Holmstedt says. “They needed more storage solutions and a drop zone for backpacks and sports equipment. And they wanted to create overflow from the kitchen for additional pantry and refrigerator storage. By opening up the walls and utilizing the old dining area to expand the room, we were able to transform the overall space into a much more functional utility room that accommodates both laundry and storage solutions.”
Main feature. Marble-look porcelain flooring in a checkerboard pattern. “The client always desired black-and-white checkered flooring in her dream home, so this tile combination set the stage for the design direction,” Holmstedt says. “We then paired it with the soft green cabinetry (October Mist by Benjamin Moore) to give it the perfect earthy contrast. It provides the perfect punch of color and statement while still feeling calm and inviting for a laundry space.”
Other special features. White tongue-and-groove wall paneling (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore). Custom butcher block countertops.
Floor tile: Magnifica the Thirties in Pietra Grey and Calacatta, 30 by 30 inches, Bedrosians Tile & Stone; project photos: Stephanie Studer of LifeCreated
Find a bathroom designer near you