Wash Up: Designing a Friendly, Efficient Laundry Room

Kit Pollard

I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst, and a stay-at-home mom.

I'm a design and food-obsessed freelance writer and market research analyst,... More »

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Just a few months ago, my laundry room went from being a dirty corner of the unfinished portion of my basement to a pretty, blue-gray and white room with slate tile and cabinets and a closet for storage. It's still a work in progress, though - I'm still figuring out exactly how best to organize the space when I need my drying rack and ironing board at the same time. Plus, I'm always on the lookout for cute, laundry-appropriate artwork.

With that in mind, I went in search of some great laundry rooms that combine form and function. I found these:

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I love this color green. So much, actually, that it's the color of my kitchen and dining room and here, I think it's a great fit with the blue tile and orange accents. This much color makes a laundry room - a place where nothing much fun happens - extra cheerful. Even with clothes to be folded, the room looks bright and happy.

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Like the room above, I love this color for its bright cheeriness and the way it works with white appliances. Here, the shelves are awfully inspiring, too. I'm nearly convinced that orderly shelves are the way to make laundry fun and satisfying.

by The Container Store »

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Here's a third color that really works in a laundry room. This shade of pink could be overpowering in a large space, but in a little laundry closet, it's cheery. Plus, I love the really efficient use of space here - every inch is useful.

by Young House Love »

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This laundry room, from the Young house in Richmond, is full of natural light, thanks to the adjacent sunroom. This is a good reminder that the best laundry rooms will be conveniently located within the house. While it's nice to tuck the laundry out of the way, nobody wants to slink down dusty cellar steps with a giant basket of dirty clothes.

by electronichouse.com »

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This room makes me wonder - if I had a desk in the laundry room (or if my washer and dryer were in my office), would I do more laundry? Or would I just spend more time online?

by Susan M. Davis »

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Many laundry rooms put an emphasis on bright colors to fit with white appliances. I like the way this room warms up with wood cabinets (useful, too), tucking the washer and dryer under a counter. Plus, that's so useful for folding.

by House to Home »

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This is such a pretty color in general and I especially like it for a laundry. Plus, all of these different storage options - including the wall-mounted ironing board - are giving me laundry storage envy.

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I'm typically not a fan of country - too kitschy and too old fashioned for my modernist sensibilities - but there's something very friendly and approachable about this countrified laundry. I like that there are some personal, decorative touches in the laundry room. While I do believe the space is best used for storage, when you've got a little extra room, why not add something decorative?

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Like the picture above, this laundry space appeals to me for its personal touches and because it doesn't feel like a clinical laundry. It's a space I might like to hang out in. Plus, as un-modernist as they are, I have a soft spot for those big farmhouse sinks. I just think they're so cool.