New This Week: 7 Stylish and Hardworking Laundry Rooms
Designers share the key functional and style features that make these rooms a pleasure to use
Mitchell Parker
January 17, 2020
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
There are as many ways to create a stylish and functioning laundry room as there are socks forever separated from their counterparts after washday. Here, designers share their renovation decisions and break down the main features that make these seven laundry rooms special.
1. Fantastic Floor Plan
Designer: Kristin Hoaglund Design
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This was a whole-house remodel project,” says designer Kristin Hoaglund, who’s also the homeowner. “The existing laundry was in a small entry closet location that was dark and cramped. I wanted the laundry room to be a bright, open space. The perfect solution was to move the laundry to a den located at the front of the house. The room already had two large windows that brought in plenty of natural light, and had plenty of space.”
Main feature. “I think the most significant design detail is the floor plan itself,” Hoaglund says. “By moving and widening the opening into the room, I was able to connect this closed-off space to the new mudroom, making both spaces extremely spacious, functional and full of natural light — none of these details previously existed.”
Find an interior designer in your area
Designer: Kristin Hoaglund Design
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Size: 144 square feet (13 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This was a whole-house remodel project,” says designer Kristin Hoaglund, who’s also the homeowner. “The existing laundry was in a small entry closet location that was dark and cramped. I wanted the laundry room to be a bright, open space. The perfect solution was to move the laundry to a den located at the front of the house. The room already had two large windows that brought in plenty of natural light, and had plenty of space.”
Main feature. “I think the most significant design detail is the floor plan itself,” Hoaglund says. “By moving and widening the opening into the room, I was able to connect this closed-off space to the new mudroom, making both spaces extremely spacious, functional and full of natural light — none of these details previously existed.”
Find an interior designer in your area
Other special features. Folding table on casters. Pulley-system overhead drying rack. Granite-composite sink. Marble-look quartz countertops. Concrete-look porcelain floor tile. Custom cabinets with inset doors. Custom light fixtures. Geometric wallpaper.
Designer tip. “A laundry room must first be functional, but if you can add some beauty to the space, it makes it so much more enjoyable to use,” Hoaglund says. “Even one or two special details can make a difference — for example, a really great faucet or a shelf that can hold detergent as well as a decor item.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I knew converting the den to the laundry room was the perfect plan,” Hoaglund says. “I also knew I did not want to move or lose the two existing windows. So, the biggest challenge was to figure out how to get a countertop surface to use for folding and a place to hang clothes without interfering with the windows. Solution: a table on casters and a drying rack with a pulley system mounted to the ceiling. The windows remain, and every problem is solved.”
Wallpaper: Mont Cream Geometric by Eijffinger, Brewster Home Fashions; wall paint: Oxford White, Benjamin Moore
Shop for laundry hampers
Designer tip. “A laundry room must first be functional, but if you can add some beauty to the space, it makes it so much more enjoyable to use,” Hoaglund says. “Even one or two special details can make a difference — for example, a really great faucet or a shelf that can hold detergent as well as a decor item.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “I knew converting the den to the laundry room was the perfect plan,” Hoaglund says. “I also knew I did not want to move or lose the two existing windows. So, the biggest challenge was to figure out how to get a countertop surface to use for folding and a place to hang clothes without interfering with the windows. Solution: a table on casters and a drying rack with a pulley system mounted to the ceiling. The windows remain, and every problem is solved.”
Wallpaper: Mont Cream Geometric by Eijffinger, Brewster Home Fashions; wall paint: Oxford White, Benjamin Moore
Shop for laundry hampers
2. Fabulous Functionality
Designers: Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning of GordonDunning
Builder: Ken Carter of Alair Homes Decatur
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. For this hardworking laundry room and mudroom, designers Cate Dunning and Lathem Gordon needed “to design a space that harnesses coats, dog supplies, laundry — drying, in-progress and folding — all efficiently,” Dunning says. “The client is a tidy housekeeper and wanted the functionality to be as intuitive as possible. We incorporated two workspaces, [including] one that was taller to be sure the current and future appliances fit. The second was lowered to counter height for better soaking and folding. We used valet hanging bars to house leashes and jackets.”
Main feature. “Functionality was definitely the jumping-off point for this room,” Dunning says. “It was a part of a huge renovation, involving several walls being removed. The design was extremely technical. We worked tightly with builder Alair Homes in the design phase to be sure our designs took into account the limitations of existing A/C ducts, electrical, plumbing. Oh, and of course, gravity. It was important to be sure the house remained standing even though we removed so many supporting walls. Once we were able to nail down a design within those constraints, we could focus on the ‘pretty.’ We love the custom-colored cabinets — Needlepoint Navy by Sherwin-Williams. They make the room so fun and special visually. You nearly forget it’s a laundry room.”
Other special features. White subway tile with a beveled edge for the backsplash. Matte hex floor tile. “Even though the large floor tiles are easier to clean, we selected a dark gray grout to hide any dirt buildup over time,” Dunning says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “There is a chase running through the laundry room,” Dunning says. “Prior to the renovation, it was hidden inside a closet. We, with Alair, developed many options for how to hide the chase. The winning design was to reduce the size as much as possible and wrap it in tile as part of the backsplash. The other options involved losing valuable counter space, which did not suit the client’s needs as well. When moments like this happen, we like to think of them as adding to the story of the house.”
Designers: Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning of GordonDunning
Builder: Ken Carter of Alair Homes Decatur
Location: Decatur, Georgia
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. For this hardworking laundry room and mudroom, designers Cate Dunning and Lathem Gordon needed “to design a space that harnesses coats, dog supplies, laundry — drying, in-progress and folding — all efficiently,” Dunning says. “The client is a tidy housekeeper and wanted the functionality to be as intuitive as possible. We incorporated two workspaces, [including] one that was taller to be sure the current and future appliances fit. The second was lowered to counter height for better soaking and folding. We used valet hanging bars to house leashes and jackets.”
Main feature. “Functionality was definitely the jumping-off point for this room,” Dunning says. “It was a part of a huge renovation, involving several walls being removed. The design was extremely technical. We worked tightly with builder Alair Homes in the design phase to be sure our designs took into account the limitations of existing A/C ducts, electrical, plumbing. Oh, and of course, gravity. It was important to be sure the house remained standing even though we removed so many supporting walls. Once we were able to nail down a design within those constraints, we could focus on the ‘pretty.’ We love the custom-colored cabinets — Needlepoint Navy by Sherwin-Williams. They make the room so fun and special visually. You nearly forget it’s a laundry room.”
Other special features. White subway tile with a beveled edge for the backsplash. Matte hex floor tile. “Even though the large floor tiles are easier to clean, we selected a dark gray grout to hide any dirt buildup over time,” Dunning says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “There is a chase running through the laundry room,” Dunning says. “Prior to the renovation, it was hidden inside a closet. We, with Alair, developed many options for how to hide the chase. The winning design was to reduce the size as much as possible and wrap it in tile as part of the backsplash. The other options involved losing valuable counter space, which did not suit the client’s needs as well. When moments like this happen, we like to think of them as adding to the story of the house.”
3. Outstanding Organization
Designer: Kelly Shepard Designs
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters); 6 by 12 feet
Homeowner’s request. “The owner is Dutch, and much of her home was laminate flat-panel lacquer cabinetry with clean lines,” designer Kelly Shepard says. “The space originally had a side-by-side washer with a curtain, a closet with a water heater with no built-ins, and terrible storage. The idea was to blow out the space and make it more functional for this hardworking single mom of two boys.”
Main feature. “I wanted to incorporate some more natural tones, hence the wood-like laminate,” Shepard says. “I also wanted everything to have a home and be put away, so I added the three laundry openings with pullouts, either one for each family member or for whites, colors and darks. I also incorporated built-in dog bowls [seen at bottom left]. So I guess you could say the jumping-off point was organization.”
Other special features. Pullout stool tucked under the stacked washer and dryer. Gray porcelain 12-by-24-inch floor tiles.
Designer tips. “I find envisioning a clean palette helps,” Shepard says. “Open the space up as much as you can. Relocate plumbing when necessary. Add storage behind cabinetry — there is never enough storage.”
Millworker: Santiago Lopez; wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
Designer: Kelly Shepard Designs
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 72 square feet (6.7 square meters); 6 by 12 feet
Homeowner’s request. “The owner is Dutch, and much of her home was laminate flat-panel lacquer cabinetry with clean lines,” designer Kelly Shepard says. “The space originally had a side-by-side washer with a curtain, a closet with a water heater with no built-ins, and terrible storage. The idea was to blow out the space and make it more functional for this hardworking single mom of two boys.”
Main feature. “I wanted to incorporate some more natural tones, hence the wood-like laminate,” Shepard says. “I also wanted everything to have a home and be put away, so I added the three laundry openings with pullouts, either one for each family member or for whites, colors and darks. I also incorporated built-in dog bowls [seen at bottom left]. So I guess you could say the jumping-off point was organization.”
Other special features. Pullout stool tucked under the stacked washer and dryer. Gray porcelain 12-by-24-inch floor tiles.
Designer tips. “I find envisioning a clean palette helps,” Shepard says. “Open the space up as much as you can. Relocate plumbing when necessary. Add storage behind cabinetry — there is never enough storage.”
Millworker: Santiago Lopez; wall paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore
4. Wonderful Wallpaper
Designer: Megan Blu and Alison White of Blu and White
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 41¼ square feet (3.9 square meters); 5½ by 7½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “We built this home from scratch for a family of five,” says designer Alison White, who collaborated with her clients using Houzz ideabooks. “We gave some extra love to the laundry room because the mom lamented about how much time she spent doing laundry for her three little boys. We surprised her with the wallpaper. She was jumping for joy when she saw it for the first time.”
Main feature. “The wallpaper is the most significant design detail,” White says. “It is an unexpected way to glam up a laundry room. We actually started with the wallpaper and worked from there, coordinating the floor tile and the cabinet color.”
Other special features. Gray wood-look plank porcelain floor tile. Folding counter. Soaking sink.
Designer tip. “We love adding a countertop above the machines for extra workspace,” White says. “But always make the laundry room deeper than you think it needs to be. Especially with front loaders, once the machines are in and you have to open the doors, they take up quite a bit of depth — 7 feet, 6 inches is the minimum dimension we recommend for the walls not facing the machines.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “After most of the wallpaper was installed, we realized we were one roll of wallpaper short,” White says. “We called the distributor to rush-ship us one more roll, and he told us he wasn’t sure he would be able to get another roll! Thankfully he was able to find one, and rush-shipped it to us (and at a cost that far exceeded the cost of the paper itself), but we learned the importance of ordering enough — and extra — the first time. It would have been a disaster if the paper was on back order or we couldn’t get an extra roll. Better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it.”
Wallpaper: Bohemian Rhapsody, Winfield Thybony
Designer: Megan Blu and Alison White of Blu and White
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 41¼ square feet (3.9 square meters); 5½ by 7½ feet
Homeowners’ request. “We built this home from scratch for a family of five,” says designer Alison White, who collaborated with her clients using Houzz ideabooks. “We gave some extra love to the laundry room because the mom lamented about how much time she spent doing laundry for her three little boys. We surprised her with the wallpaper. She was jumping for joy when she saw it for the first time.”
Main feature. “The wallpaper is the most significant design detail,” White says. “It is an unexpected way to glam up a laundry room. We actually started with the wallpaper and worked from there, coordinating the floor tile and the cabinet color.”
Other special features. Gray wood-look plank porcelain floor tile. Folding counter. Soaking sink.
Designer tip. “We love adding a countertop above the machines for extra workspace,” White says. “But always make the laundry room deeper than you think it needs to be. Especially with front loaders, once the machines are in and you have to open the doors, they take up quite a bit of depth — 7 feet, 6 inches is the minimum dimension we recommend for the walls not facing the machines.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “After most of the wallpaper was installed, we realized we were one roll of wallpaper short,” White says. “We called the distributor to rush-ship us one more roll, and he told us he wasn’t sure he would be able to get another roll! Thankfully he was able to find one, and rush-shipped it to us (and at a cost that far exceeded the cost of the paper itself), but we learned the importance of ordering enough — and extra — the first time. It would have been a disaster if the paper was on back order or we couldn’t get an extra roll. Better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it.”
Wallpaper: Bohemian Rhapsody, Winfield Thybony
5. Marvelous Mudroom
Designer: Amanda Tepper Design
Location: Dallas
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 11 feet, 2 inches by 4 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. Take underused space from a formal dining room and living room to create a laundry room and mudroom.
Main feature. “The most significant design detail of this room is the cubbies-and-drop-zone area for all the kids’ stuff — this growing family has a lot of stuff,” designer Amanda Tepper says. “We mixed open and closed storage, which allows for ease of access for those grab-and-go everyday items while keeping the rest of the mess hidden.”
Designer: Amanda Tepper Design
Location: Dallas
Size: 54 square feet (5 square meters); 11 feet, 2 inches by 4 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. Take underused space from a formal dining room and living room to create a laundry room and mudroom.
Main feature. “The most significant design detail of this room is the cubbies-and-drop-zone area for all the kids’ stuff — this growing family has a lot of stuff,” designer Amanda Tepper says. “We mixed open and closed storage, which allows for ease of access for those grab-and-go everyday items while keeping the rest of the mess hidden.”
Other special features. Accordion-style drying rack. Quartz countertop. Dark porcelain floor tile, which is “great [for when people come] in from the backyard, because it won’t easily show dirt,” Tepper says. The walls are painted in Snowbound White by Sherwin-Williams in an eggshell sheen that makes them easy to clean, Tepper says.
Designer tip. “The room is fairly narrow, so we used a pull-down laundry rack that can be tucked away when not in use,” Tepper says. “Using glass-panel doors on both the exterior door to the backyard and the pocket door into the kitchen allows lots of natural light to come though this small space, making it feel much more open. We used a frosted glass on the pocket door so the light still comes through from the back, without a clear view into a potentially messy drop-zone area from the main kitchen space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We really needed to pack a lot of function and storage into a pretty small space,” Tepper says. “We were limited by an existing window on the kitchen side that dictated the placement of this new wall and left us a pretty narrow room to work with. In the end, the washer and dryer would not fit installed side by side, so we made the decision to stack the appliances, which allowed space for an extra set of cabinets on that side — a bonus.”
Designer tip. “The room is fairly narrow, so we used a pull-down laundry rack that can be tucked away when not in use,” Tepper says. “Using glass-panel doors on both the exterior door to the backyard and the pocket door into the kitchen allows lots of natural light to come though this small space, making it feel much more open. We used a frosted glass on the pocket door so the light still comes through from the back, without a clear view into a potentially messy drop-zone area from the main kitchen space.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We really needed to pack a lot of function and storage into a pretty small space,” Tepper says. “We were limited by an existing window on the kitchen side that dictated the placement of this new wall and left us a pretty narrow room to work with. In the end, the washer and dryer would not fit installed side by side, so we made the decision to stack the appliances, which allowed space for an extra set of cabinets on that side — a bonus.”
6. Cool Custom Cabinetry
Designer: Angie Janak Interiors
General contractor: JC Remodeling & Restoration
Location: Lake Jackson, Texas
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters); 6 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Because this is a frequently used entry into the home, the homeowner wanted to bring style to the room,” designer Angie Janak says. “She wanted the room to be functional but also inviting.”
Main feature. “The focal point of the room is the custom cabinetry, which includes a large folding table,” Janak says. “The table was built with a lower storage cabinet and room for a rolling laundry cart to keep tucked away. We also incorporated a hanging bar above the table and plenty of upper storage cabinets.”
Other special features. Wood-look tile floors. Quartz countertop. Marble tile backsplash. “The marble backsplash is one of my favorite elements, because it ties in nicely with the decorative tile used in an adjacent powder bathroom,” Janak says.
Designer tip. “Having the backsplash tile extend all the way to the ceiling really draws the eye up and makes the room feel finished,” Janak says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room has a drain in the floor that needed to remain in place,” Janak says. “We chose tile for the flooring so that the tile could be cut to account for the slope around the drain. The contractor did an excellent job of cutting the tile to fit the slope and still look nice.”
Paint: Cityscape (cabinets) and Creamy (walls), Sherwin-Williams
Designer: Angie Janak Interiors
General contractor: JC Remodeling & Restoration
Location: Lake Jackson, Texas
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters); 6 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Because this is a frequently used entry into the home, the homeowner wanted to bring style to the room,” designer Angie Janak says. “She wanted the room to be functional but also inviting.”
Main feature. “The focal point of the room is the custom cabinetry, which includes a large folding table,” Janak says. “The table was built with a lower storage cabinet and room for a rolling laundry cart to keep tucked away. We also incorporated a hanging bar above the table and plenty of upper storage cabinets.”
Other special features. Wood-look tile floors. Quartz countertop. Marble tile backsplash. “The marble backsplash is one of my favorite elements, because it ties in nicely with the decorative tile used in an adjacent powder bathroom,” Janak says.
Designer tip. “Having the backsplash tile extend all the way to the ceiling really draws the eye up and makes the room feel finished,” Janak says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The room has a drain in the floor that needed to remain in place,” Janak says. “We chose tile for the flooring so that the tile could be cut to account for the slope around the drain. The contractor did an excellent job of cutting the tile to fit the slope and still look nice.”
Paint: Cityscape (cabinets) and Creamy (walls), Sherwin-Williams
7. Terrific Tile
Designer: Ashley Clark of sKout
Builder: Mr. Build Construction
Location: Costa Mesa, California
Homeowners’ request. Maximize the function of the laundry room with extra storage, an extra washer and dryer, and space for the family dog’s food and other items.
Main feature. Patterned cement floor tile that’s kid- and pet-friendly.
Other special features. Large countertop. Rolling laundry carts behind wire-mesh-front cabinets. Soaking sink and hanging rack (just out of view).
More on Houzz
The Top 10 Laundry Rooms of 2019
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
Look for an interior designer near you
Browse woven storage baskets
Designer: Ashley Clark of sKout
Builder: Mr. Build Construction
Location: Costa Mesa, California
Homeowners’ request. Maximize the function of the laundry room with extra storage, an extra washer and dryer, and space for the family dog’s food and other items.
Main feature. Patterned cement floor tile that’s kid- and pet-friendly.
Other special features. Large countertop. Rolling laundry carts behind wire-mesh-front cabinets. Soaking sink and hanging rack (just out of view).
More on Houzz
The Top 10 Laundry Rooms of 2019
How to Remodel the Laundry Room
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
Look for an interior designer near you
Browse woven storage baskets
Related Stories
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Laundry Rooms So Far in 2024
By Becky Harris
Get clever design ideas like a tuckaway ironing board, a pull-down sprayer faucet, expandable drying racks and more
Full Story
Events
5 Fresh Laundry Appliance Trends for 2024
Check out the lean, green, powerful and smart washers and dryers showcased at the KBIS 2024 trade event
Full Story
New This Week
New This Week: 10 Laundry Rooms Full of Fresh Ideas
See how design and remodeling pros create well-equipped laundry spaces that can brighten your day (not just your whites)
Full Story
Organizing
How to Design a Laundry Area That’s Easy to Keep Organized
A professional home organizer shares her tips for creating a functional and orderly laundry area
Full Story
Trending Now
The Top 10 Laundry Rooms of 2023
By Becky Harris
Get ideas for stylish color palettes, smart drying strategies and more from these most-saved photos of the year
Full Story
Trending Now
Top 10 New Laundry Rooms Right Now
By Becky Harris
Find inspiration for storage and style, as well as clever ways to air-dry clothes, in these most-saved photos on Houzz
Full Story
New This Week
8 Impressive New Laundry Rooms
Design and remodeling pros, including one found on Houzz, share ideas for colors, materials, storage and more
Full Story
New This Week
4 Stylish New Laundry Rooms
Pros share ideas for color, pattern and features that raise the drying bar on how a laundry space can look and feel
Full Story
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Laundry Rooms of Spring 2023
By Becky Harris
Get ideas for storage, style and air-drying clothes in these most-saved new photos on Houzz
Full Story
Trending Now
10 Most Popular Laundry Rooms So Far in 2023
By Becky Harris
See the smart layouts, soothing color palettes and elevated finishes from the most-saved laundry room photos of the year
Full Story
Wallpaper
Love the Kelly Shepard design! Such a unique twist on trendy laundry rooms!
Love the Kelly Shephard design! Uniquely minimalistic.