New This Week: 5 Stylish Laundry Rooms With Great Storage Ideas
Open shelves, dedicated laundry basket cubbies, pullouts and other storage ideas create hardworking spaces
Most people use their laundry areas for more than just washing clothes. In addition to storing laundry items, these spaces often act as overflow storage for things like batteries, extra paper towels and other household supplies. And sometimes the laundry room needs to work as a mudroom or a comfy place for the dog. To achieve this level of multipurpose functionality, storage is key. Here, design pros share the special storage features that helped create hardworking laundry rooms.
2. Storage Pullout and Retractable Doors
Designer: Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters); 8 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We designed this room for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase house but worked directly with the homeowner to make this function for their family,” designer Jennifer Wundrow says. “This was new construction, so we were able to design the space according to the homeowners’ specifications. The laundry room is one of the workhorses of every household, so bringing a sense of calm and tranquillity to this space makes it a more enjoyable experience for all. Inspired by the alluring tree just outside the window, this space is all about a clean, neutral palette and creating movement through textures and different finishes. We wanted to make the chaos of everyday life slowly slip away while performing daily household tasks.”
Special storage features. A vertical pullout — similar to something you might find next to a range in a kitchen — stores detergent pods and paper towels between the appliances. The lower cabinet doors conceal the appliances when not in use. “The key element to the success of our design was the idea to hide the washer and dryer away behind retractable cabinet doors,” Wundrow says. “These doors can be left open when the units are in use, but when someone is not actively working on the laundry, the room becomes more of a sanctuary.”
Other key details. Custom reeded oak lower cabinets. Quartzite countertops and backsplash. Hand-painted wallpaper in a custom color. Hand-painted terra-cotta floor tile. The upper cabinets are painted in Scroll by Benjamin Moore.
Designer tip. “Two different cabinet finishes create visual interest, while the organic nature of the floors grounds the space,” Wundrow says.
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Designer: Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 80 square feet (7.4 square meters); 8 by 10 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We designed this room for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase house but worked directly with the homeowner to make this function for their family,” designer Jennifer Wundrow says. “This was new construction, so we were able to design the space according to the homeowners’ specifications. The laundry room is one of the workhorses of every household, so bringing a sense of calm and tranquillity to this space makes it a more enjoyable experience for all. Inspired by the alluring tree just outside the window, this space is all about a clean, neutral palette and creating movement through textures and different finishes. We wanted to make the chaos of everyday life slowly slip away while performing daily household tasks.”
Special storage features. A vertical pullout — similar to something you might find next to a range in a kitchen — stores detergent pods and paper towels between the appliances. The lower cabinet doors conceal the appliances when not in use. “The key element to the success of our design was the idea to hide the washer and dryer away behind retractable cabinet doors,” Wundrow says. “These doors can be left open when the units are in use, but when someone is not actively working on the laundry, the room becomes more of a sanctuary.”
Other key details. Custom reeded oak lower cabinets. Quartzite countertops and backsplash. Hand-painted wallpaper in a custom color. Hand-painted terra-cotta floor tile. The upper cabinets are painted in Scroll by Benjamin Moore.
Designer tip. “Two different cabinet finishes create visual interest, while the organic nature of the floors grounds the space,” Wundrow says.
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3. Mudroom Cabinets and Open Cubbies
Designer: Julie Kantrowitz of JK Interior Living
Location: Ridgewood, New Jersey
Size: 126 square feet (12 square meters); 7 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The home’s laundry room was originally located in the basement — not the most ideal location for this homeowner,” designer Julie Kantrowitz says. “We decided to bring the laundry room up to the first floor, and combining the mudroom with laundry made the most sense from a functionality standpoint.”
Special storage features. Mudroom cabinets near the door. Open cabinets near the ceiling above the washer and dryer to display plants and other items, and wall hooks to corral bags, coats and hats.
Other key details. 12-by-24-inch porcelain floor tile that resembles slate. “The nickel finishes as well as the soft tones made the space feel fresh and inviting,” Kantrowitz says. “The paint color I used here was Benjamin Moore Shoreline. And of course, no mudroom is complete without the comfort of radiant floors.”
Designer tip. “Adding hooks is a crucial detail in any mudroom or side-entry space,” Kantrowitz says. “Factor in the size of the family as well as the size of the space to determine how many hooks are necessary.”
Designer: Julie Kantrowitz of JK Interior Living
Location: Ridgewood, New Jersey
Size: 126 square feet (12 square meters); 7 by 18 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The home’s laundry room was originally located in the basement — not the most ideal location for this homeowner,” designer Julie Kantrowitz says. “We decided to bring the laundry room up to the first floor, and combining the mudroom with laundry made the most sense from a functionality standpoint.”
Special storage features. Mudroom cabinets near the door. Open cabinets near the ceiling above the washer and dryer to display plants and other items, and wall hooks to corral bags, coats and hats.
Other key details. 12-by-24-inch porcelain floor tile that resembles slate. “The nickel finishes as well as the soft tones made the space feel fresh and inviting,” Kantrowitz says. “The paint color I used here was Benjamin Moore Shoreline. And of course, no mudroom is complete without the comfort of radiant floors.”
Designer tip. “Adding hooks is a crucial detail in any mudroom or side-entry space,” Kantrowitz says. “Factor in the size of the family as well as the size of the space to determine how many hooks are necessary.”
4. Sliding Doors, Mudroom Storage and Open Cubbies
Designer: Jeremy Spurgin of Outside Architecture
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters); 10 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This space solved two challenges with the existing home’s design,” designer Jeremy Spurgin says. “This house is on a large garden property and the owners needed a durable space to act as the buffer between the garden and the house. Additionally, the house’s front entry was not well connected to the kitchen, complicating the daily arrival home. The solution was to create a new pass-through mudroom from entry court to garden beyond.”
Special storage features. “We had fun hiding the laundry machines behind two large birch sliding doors,” Spurgin says. “When the doors slide open, they fit perfectly over the coat and boot alcoves on either side. The sliding doors have a series of vent holes that were designed to mimic the original 1940 mechanical room doors. In fact, the laundry cabinet is part of a single, larger casework moment containing some of the kitchen cabinetry in the adjacent room and hiding a bearing wall between the two. You can walk 360 degrees around the wood object, which knits the two spaces together. It was fun to use the casework to separate the spaces versus just a standard wall.”
Designer tip. “One of the most successful parts of this room is the simple, controlled material palette,” Spurgin says. “The white oak butcher block countertop and brass accents really pop against the white walls and cabinet doors.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Proposing the laundry machines hidden within wood casework looks great but presents a ventilation challenge,” Spurgin says. “No one was comfortable having the machines behind doors without great ventilation, for fear of warping the wood. Beyond the vent holes in the door, we added a ceiling exhaust fan with a humidity sensor to ensure we weren’t trapping moisture within the wood box. It’s not as clean of a ceiling but was a good insurance policy.”
Designer: Jeremy Spurgin of Outside Architecture
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 200 square feet (19 square meters); 10 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This space solved two challenges with the existing home’s design,” designer Jeremy Spurgin says. “This house is on a large garden property and the owners needed a durable space to act as the buffer between the garden and the house. Additionally, the house’s front entry was not well connected to the kitchen, complicating the daily arrival home. The solution was to create a new pass-through mudroom from entry court to garden beyond.”
Special storage features. “We had fun hiding the laundry machines behind two large birch sliding doors,” Spurgin says. “When the doors slide open, they fit perfectly over the coat and boot alcoves on either side. The sliding doors have a series of vent holes that were designed to mimic the original 1940 mechanical room doors. In fact, the laundry cabinet is part of a single, larger casework moment containing some of the kitchen cabinetry in the adjacent room and hiding a bearing wall between the two. You can walk 360 degrees around the wood object, which knits the two spaces together. It was fun to use the casework to separate the spaces versus just a standard wall.”
Designer tip. “One of the most successful parts of this room is the simple, controlled material palette,” Spurgin says. “The white oak butcher block countertop and brass accents really pop against the white walls and cabinet doors.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Proposing the laundry machines hidden within wood casework looks great but presents a ventilation challenge,” Spurgin says. “No one was comfortable having the machines behind doors without great ventilation, for fear of warping the wood. Beyond the vent holes in the door, we added a ceiling exhaust fan with a humidity sensor to ensure we weren’t trapping moisture within the wood box. It’s not as clean of a ceiling but was a good insurance policy.”
5. Dedicated Laundry Basket Storage and Open Shelves
Designer: Rufino Labra of Labra Design Build
Location: Milford, Michigan
Size: 212½ square feet (20 square meters); 12½ by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The clients had a small laundry room with no room to do the laundry work,” design-build pro Rufino Labra says. “I suggested abandoning that space and converting an unused room to create a functional and enjoyable laundry room. The additional space for storage and countertop workspace, along with a bright and clean design, would make doing laundry an enjoyable part of living rather than dreaded.”
Special storage features. Dedicated laundry basket compartments. Plenty of drawers and cabinets. Open shelves for display space. “Going with custom cabinetry allows for the room to be organized around the needs and appliances, even sized to fit the laundry baskets just right,” Labra says.
Other key details. “I’d have to say the most significant element of the design is the clean feeling it provides,” Labra says. “This is done via the white color of cabinetry, white countertops, white backsplash, ample lighting both in the ceiling and in the cabinetry, as well as the large-format glossy tile floor that looks sleek enough to eat on. This feeling of cleanliness works with the mood of the users to feel comfortable doing the work of cleaning.”
Designer tip. “Go big,” Labra says. “If you have the ability, give extra room to the spaces that need it — kitchens, mudrooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms and closets. These spaces are so commonly not given enough square footage, leaving the users with a claustrophobic feeling during critical moments in their day — getting ready, getting home, cooking and doing laundry. These are the things that make a home enjoyable to use and live in and, in turn, improve your mood in general.”
More on Houzz
12 Pro Tips for Planning Your Laundry Area
Read more design and remodeling stories
Find a home professional
Shop for home products
Designer: Rufino Labra of Labra Design Build
Location: Milford, Michigan
Size: 212½ square feet (20 square meters); 12½ by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The clients had a small laundry room with no room to do the laundry work,” design-build pro Rufino Labra says. “I suggested abandoning that space and converting an unused room to create a functional and enjoyable laundry room. The additional space for storage and countertop workspace, along with a bright and clean design, would make doing laundry an enjoyable part of living rather than dreaded.”
Special storage features. Dedicated laundry basket compartments. Plenty of drawers and cabinets. Open shelves for display space. “Going with custom cabinetry allows for the room to be organized around the needs and appliances, even sized to fit the laundry baskets just right,” Labra says.
Other key details. “I’d have to say the most significant element of the design is the clean feeling it provides,” Labra says. “This is done via the white color of cabinetry, white countertops, white backsplash, ample lighting both in the ceiling and in the cabinetry, as well as the large-format glossy tile floor that looks sleek enough to eat on. This feeling of cleanliness works with the mood of the users to feel comfortable doing the work of cleaning.”
Designer tip. “Go big,” Labra says. “If you have the ability, give extra room to the spaces that need it — kitchens, mudrooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms and closets. These spaces are so commonly not given enough square footage, leaving the users with a claustrophobic feeling during critical moments in their day — getting ready, getting home, cooking and doing laundry. These are the things that make a home enjoyable to use and live in and, in turn, improve your mood in general.”
More on Houzz
12 Pro Tips for Planning Your Laundry Area
Read more design and remodeling stories
Find a home professional
Shop for home products
Designer: Kymberlea Earnshaw Holistic Living & Design
Location: Rancho Santa Fe, California
Size: 100 square feet (9.3 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Like many spaces these days, this area really needed to function as a multiuse space,” says designer Kymberlea Earnshaw, who used Houzz ideabooks with her clients to gather and discuss design ideas. “My clients needed a space to drop shoes, backpacks, do laundry and a comfortable space for their two rescue pups to hang out in while they’re gone,” she says. “We actually reworked this space a few times to make sure it was just right and fit the coastal farmhouse vibe of the rest of the house.”
Special storage features. In addition to lots of cabinet space, quartersawn white oak shelves create display space, can keep essentials like detergent pods nearby and help break up the span of upper cabinets. Plus, a large cubby holds a cushion for the owners’ dogs, Mae and Willie Nelson.
Other key details. “The one feature that immediately stands out in this room is the Kenzzi Zoudia tile backsplash,” Earnshaw says. “Its neutral color and simple pattern pull in the other elements in the space. In the end, it adds a fresh and uplifting playfulness to the laundry room.”
Matte black cabinet hardware, faucet and sconces help break up the white cabinetry, countertops and appliances. The floor is large-format porcelain tile. “We also included a Dutch door to the entrance of this room for a more open feel when the dogs are in this space,” Earnshaw says. “This door acts as more of a baby gate when half open and keeps these fur babies connected to the rest of the house.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This is a very narrow room but does have a small pop-out for benches and coat storage,” Earnshaw says. “We realized, on the later side, that the washer and dryer we had originally selected left the walkway feeling too tight. At this point, we had to pivot and explore a more Euro-style option for the washer and dryer. It turned out to be a more sleek and less bulky option that felt perfect in the end.”
Wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore
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