9 Sweet Ideas for an English Cottage Laundry Room
The soft, pretty colors and vintage touches of English cottage style make for a laundry room that's pleasant to spend time in
Doing the laundry isn't always the most exciting chore. But since we all need to spend time doing it, it's worth it to make your laundry area a pretty place to be in. English cottage–style laundry rooms are full of the vintage touches, casual organizational systems and beautiful, light colors that so many of us crave in a laundry space.
Turn your laundry room into a neat and adorable space with a few simple tricks. Even if you don't have the luxury of a whole room — maybe just a cupboard or an area near your washing machine that you can dedicate — don't worry, typical cottages don't have big, spacious rooms, anyway.
Try some of these sweet ideas taken from lovely English cottage-style laundry rooms.
Turn your laundry room into a neat and adorable space with a few simple tricks. Even if you don't have the luxury of a whole room — maybe just a cupboard or an area near your washing machine that you can dedicate — don't worry, typical cottages don't have big, spacious rooms, anyway.
Try some of these sweet ideas taken from lovely English cottage-style laundry rooms.
2. Use glass jars for storage. Glass jars are a great way to store things like pegs, fabric softener sheets or powdered detergent. The clear glass makes it easy to identify what you're looking for and creates a nice, uniform look. Mix up the shapes and sizes to add a little character.
You can try sealed glass jars like these, mason jars, canning jars or old-fashioned sweet jars with screw-on lids.
You can try sealed glass jars like these, mason jars, canning jars or old-fashioned sweet jars with screw-on lids.
3. Collect wicker baskets. Wicker baskets are a great staple for a rustic look and provide endless storage opportunities.
If you're going for cohesive rather than collected, arrange baskets of the same size on shelving. If your space (or style) is little more higgledy-piggledy, buy varying sizes and slot them in where there's a gap.
You can buy oversize baskets and display them by hanging them from the wall or the ceiling with metal hooks. Take them down to use for freshly folded sheets or as an extra laundry basket.
If you're going for cohesive rather than collected, arrange baskets of the same size on shelving. If your space (or style) is little more higgledy-piggledy, buy varying sizes and slot them in where there's a gap.
You can buy oversize baskets and display them by hanging them from the wall or the ceiling with metal hooks. Take them down to use for freshly folded sheets or as an extra laundry basket.
4. Label, label, label. The key to good organization is labeling things so they're easy to spot, which is easy, considering that there are so many different creative ways to label your items. Try some of these:
- Blackboard paint and chalk on glass jars.
- Homemade tags from card, tied on with twine. Back the card in pretty wrapping paper or scraps of mismatched old wallpaper.
- Special jar labels written on with colorful Sharpies. Categorize different items with different colors.
- Transfer letters from your favorite craft store.
- Labels made with a good ol' P-touch label maker (you can usually find one at your local office supply store).
5. Make fabric skirts. For a true English cottage look, try a sweet fabric skirt instead of traditional cupboard doors. You can easily make one yourself using old fabric remnants. Look for a small floral print or plain fabric in soft, washed-out colors. Hem the edges by sewing them or using iron-on hemming tape. You will need to do a little sewing to create a loop at the top of the fabric to thread through a piece of washing line or metal curtain line. Then fasten your curtain to the panels on either side of the opening.
6. Hunt down old industrial items. Reuse old farm or industrial items to add an old rustic finish to your laundry room.
Use as shelving for sheets, to store jars of laundry detergent and clothespins, or to display a collection — such as old milk jugs, mason jars or vintage linens.
You can leave your find in the original metal finish (rust adds character) or buy one of the many available colors of metal spray paint. Make sure you buy a metal primer too.
More industrial-style accessories
Use as shelving for sheets, to store jars of laundry detergent and clothespins, or to display a collection — such as old milk jugs, mason jars or vintage linens.
You can leave your find in the original metal finish (rust adds character) or buy one of the many available colors of metal spray paint. Make sure you buy a metal primer too.
More industrial-style accessories
7. Add a Dutch door. If you have the option, a Dutch door (in which the top and the bottom part of the door operate separately) can add a distinctly English cottage feel. It also keeps kids and pets out of a workspace while still letting light and air in.
Paint the door crisp white or pick up one of the lovely chalky colors by English paint company Farrow & Ball. Try Pale Powder 204, Vert de Terre 234 or Hound Lemon 2. The Dead Flat finish is great for a matte, vintage look.
Paint the door crisp white or pick up one of the lovely chalky colors by English paint company Farrow & Ball. Try Pale Powder 204, Vert de Terre 234 or Hound Lemon 2. The Dead Flat finish is great for a matte, vintage look.
8. Carve out a coat tree. If you have an underused nook or a cupboard, you can take the door off and use it as a handy place for coats and shoes. To really give it that English cottage style, add beadboard paneling (painted in soft pastels) to the walls or some vintage floral wallpaper. A seat cushion in pretty florals or soft stripes is the perfect place for sitting when you're taking off your shoes.
9. Dry clothes the old-fashioned way. Now I'm not asking you to give up your trusty tumble dryer anytime soon, so don't worry. But the English are known for a love of hanging out their laundry the old-fashioned way — especially outdoors to get that fresh-air smell.
You might not be ready to go whole hog, but it does still make sense for your laundry space to have somewhere to air dry clothes like delicates or wools. Try this clever idea of suspending a pastel painted ladder from the ceiling.
You might not be ready to go whole hog, but it does still make sense for your laundry space to have somewhere to air dry clothes like delicates or wools. Try this clever idea of suspending a pastel painted ladder from the ceiling.
Find a worktable for folding laundry on at a local flea market. Sand it down and spruce it up with some paint — soft greens, baby blues or powder pinks always fit this style well.
An old metal sink is great for this look, and these sinks are often nice and deep — great for hand washing items of clothing. Big white ceramic farmhouse sinks are a nice nod toward country style too.
Add some personal touches such as a cute little vintage picture (a personal photo or some needlepoint art would look great); a green plant or a small vase of flowers would add something fresh. This vintage fan adds character, and the little lamp provides accent lighting and gives the space a homely feel.