As a color specialist, it’s my job not just to pick out colors and arrange schemes for the most visible/used areas of the home, such as the exterior or dining room; no, it’s my job to bring color and design inspiration to all areas of the home, even the not-so-glamours rooms!
In this article, I wanted to take a moment and provide you with some design ideas for the room in the home that is often overlooked, neglected, and, dare I say, disliked by some? Yes, I’m talking about the laundry room; the room dedicated to cleaning stains, splotches, and blotches!
Just because the laundry room is dedicated to the utility of cleaning doesn’t mean the space need to sit uninspired, dull, and ignored. After all, you need to use the laundry room; it’s time to make it a room that makes you smile every time you walk in the door!
We’re fortunate to be living in a design age where wallpaper has come back into fashion in a big way. People no longer consider wallpaper a cheap coverup or “patchwork” design cop-out; no wallpaper has made its way into some of the best interior designers’ work, providing homeowners with many beautiful options.
Wallpaper is great because it’s so dynamic. It can present as luxurious and sophisticated or playful and cheeky; I find the balance between the two is harmonious and perfect for the laundry room. Take a moment and picture these wallpaper-centric laundry room design ideas:
There are few colors, such as those found in spring/summer flowers and plant life, that can better lighten the spirit. If your laundry room is dreary, floral patterns with mint greens, lilac purples, sunny yellows, and pastel sky blues can do miraculous wonders and bring levity to a previously lacking space. Now, there’s got to be a balance here; a mishmash of dizzying floral wallpaper patterns won’t work. But, juxtaposed with clean white front-loader washer and dryer sets and white stone prep tables/stations, floral patterns, or bringing in a variety of plant life will bring the space to life.
Alright, I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for duck-related designs and whimsical things. Whether it’s mallards, cats, clownfish, or whatever animal you choose, a well-composed wallpaper with some wildlife is a fun way to refresh the laundry room. Remember to work with the colors established in the printed design. What do I mean by this? Let’s pretend you get wallpaper with green-headed mallards against a light blue/grey sky; use green accent colors around the space to work the palette into multiple dimensions. This could be green potted house plants or even shelving and cabinetry.
If whimsy isn’t your forte, striped-patterned wallpaper or a design incorporating wood strips works wonderfully in an industrial or minimalist setting. Suppose you’ve got stainless steel washer/dryer combo with stainless steel shelving and a folding bench. In that case, adding some “organic” presence to the scene is great. Add warm wickers, earth tones, and stained wood; anything to warm up the space with organic elements helps warm the space. If you cannot add wood into the space, add organic colors from taupe to tan, brown to beige, grays, or greens; any nature-inspired earth tone would do the trick!
Wallpaper isn’t the only laundry room design idea to invigorate the space. A complete reimagining of the laundry room is possible, and there’s a spectrum of themes and design motifs to choose from.
A laundry room design touch that my clients enjoy highlighting is tile backsplashes behind the laundry bench or folding table. Whether they are black and white subway tile, or something a little more neutral, like a light grey stone tile, it’s a great way to create a patterned focal point in the laundry room, not to mention some visual delineation within the space.
For many, the laundry room is an opportunity to bring country warmth into the home, and I love farmhouse influence within the space. Instead of stone, steel, and marble, you can introduce exposed/repurposed woods, plant life, crates, and baskets!
What’s excellent about the farmhouse laundry room is that it uses both pleasing and functional decor. Keep your towels in an old, repurposed wooded crate, or even house your washing soap pods in a charming watering can! There are so many creative possibilities with farmhouse design.
If you’d prefer something more understated/sophisticated/chic, consider painting the surrounding walls and cabinetry with soft neutral color hues, like foggy greys or creamy off-whites, then create a strong foundation with smoothed concrete countertops. Add a sharp sparkly pop with silver or gold cabinetry knobs and light fixtures. It will feel more like a luxury hotel than a laundry room!
As a color expert and designer, I consistently remind everyone that no area of your home needs to sit uninspired or neglected, even an area like the laundry room has potential and deserves your attention! What’s better than designing a room you love to be in!? So, no matter what motif or color arrangement you choose for your laundry room, just enjoy the process and make sure it represents your tastes.
To get more help with color selection and palette arrangement, check out my helpful color app, Color911. Find a color theme that inspires you and let it be your guide as your design any room in your home. There are also other features, like a color palette generator that takes your own pictures and creates palettes for you to use in your next project. Check it out; I think you’ll have so much fun with it!
