The laundry room may not be the most glamorous spot in your home but it absolutely deserves to be one of the smartest and most stylish. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing setup, a well-designed laundry space can transform your daily routine into something efficient, calming, and even inspiring.
Today’s laundry room trends are all about combining beauty with purpose. Think wall-mounted drying racks, statement tile flooring, custom cabinets, and smart washer-dryer units that fit seamlessly into your home’s flow. Whether you’re working with a compact closet, a basement corner, or a spacious mudroom, these ideas are designed to help you maximize every square inch—without compromising on style.
With these 27 laundry room design ideas, you’ll discover how to create a space that works hard and looks good doing it. From clever storage hacks to budget-friendly upgrades, get ready to turn your laundry zone into one of your favorite rooms in the house.
1. Add Bold Wallpaper for Instant Style
Breathe life into your laundry space with a bold, patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper. Florals, geometrics, or tropical prints offer an unexpected design moment. The wallpaper becomes the star, especially when balanced with white cabinetry and brass hardware.
This is a low-commitment, high-impact solution that’s perfect for both large and small laundry rooms.
2. Install Statement Floor Tiles
Give your laundry room the designer treatment by swapping out basic flooring for encaustic-look ceramic tiles or waterproof luxury vinyl planks. Bold floors—like checkerboard or Moroccan motifs—anchor the space and bring visual energy. They also hide scuffs and spills better than plain surfaces, which is ideal for high-use areas.
3. Use Floating Wood Shelves for Stylish Storage
Ditch the bulky cabinets and install open floating wood shelves above your washer and dryer. Use them to display glass storage jars, folded towels, or even a small potted plant. Choose shelves in a tone that contrasts your walls—like warm oak against white or black—so they feel intentionally designed.
4. Add a Ceiling-Mounted Drying Rack
Maximize your vertical space with a retractable ceiling-mounted drying rack. This clever feature is great for air-drying delicates, gym wear, or anything that shouldn’t go in the dryer. When not in use, it folds up and disappears, making it ideal for narrow laundry zones or mudroom combos.
5. Stack Your Washer and Dryer
A simple layout tweak stacking your front-load washer and dryer can double your floor space. Use the extra room for a storage tower, folding counter, or even a compact ironing board cabinet. This arrangement is especially helpful in closets or apartment settings where square footage is limited.
6. Go Floor-to-Ceiling with Cabinets
Tall custom cabinetry creates clean lines and hides everything from detergents to brooms. Choose slim vertical doors, soft-close hardware, and interior pull-out storage baskets to make every inch count. Painting the cabinets in sage green, navy, or warm white makes them pop while blending with the rest of your home.
7. Incorporate a Multi-Use Countertop
Install a butcher block countertop or stone slab that runs over your washer and dryer to create a large folding and sorting surface. Bonus: it gives the room a polished, built-in look. Leave a small open cubby below for laundry baskets, rolling hampers, or pet gear storage.
8. Blend with a Mudroom Setup
Combine your laundry area with a mudroom layout by adding coat hooks, a shoe bench, and locker-style cubbies near the entrance. This dual-purpose design works well in homes with families, pets, or entry-through-the-garage routines. It helps centralize mess while keeping essentials within reach.
9. Use a Stylish Utility Sink
Upgrade from a basic utility basin to a farmhouse-style apron sink with a pull-down faucet. Not only does it look better, but it makes soaking, scrubbing, and filling mop buckets a more pleasant task. Surround it with stone backsplash tile or beadboard paneling for that vintage-meets-functional appeal.
10. Add Rolling Laundry Sorters Under Counter
Place a three-bin rolling laundry sorter under your folding table or floating counter. Label each bin for lights, darks, and delicates. These carts make sorting easy, mobile, and visually clean when not in use—especially when tucked behind cabinet skirting or under an open counter space.
11. Include a Tile Backsplash for Easy Maintenance
A backsplash isn’t just for kitchens. Installing subway tile, mosaic glass tile, or peel-and-stick backsplash panels behind your sink or counter keeps the area clean and adds visual depth. Choose a color that pops—like teal or navy—or stick with classic white for a crisp, clean backdrop.
12. Create a Folding Zone with Purpose
Carve out a dedicated folding area by adding a wide solid-surface countertop above base cabinets or machines. This helps you stay organized and minimizes laundry pileups. Use decorative trays, folding baskets, or a small garment steamer nearby to streamline your routine.
13. Try Beadboard or Shiplap Walls
Add classic charm with beadboard panels or painted shiplap on one or more walls. These textures are especially fitting for cottage, farmhouse, or transitional styles. Pair with matte black hooks, iron shelf brackets, and natural wood tones for a layered, comfortable space.
14. Upgrade to a Stylish Light Fixture
Swap out your builder-grade flush mount for a statement ceiling light, modern pendant, or even a schoolhouse-style semi-flush fixture. This small upgrade creates a focal point and instantly makes the room feel more intentional—especially in rooms without natural light.
15. Add a Mirror to Reflect Light and Style
Hang a decorative mirror on one wall to bounce light and make the space feel larger. Round mirrors with gold trim, rattan frames, or even arched wood mirrors add both function and texture to a laundry space. Bonus: it’s perfect for mudroom-laundry combos.
16. Install Wall-Mounted Drying Rods
Add one or two wall-mounted retractable rods for drying delicates or hanging pressed shirts. They’re discreet when not in use and help avoid clutter from over-the-door drying racks. Position above the sink or alongside the counter for easy access.
17. Use Glass Jars for Stylish Storage
Store detergent pods, wool dryer balls, and clothespins in clear apothecary jars or large lidded canisters on open shelving. This upgrade keeps essentials visible, organized, and visually pleasing—especially when styled with small plants or labels.
18. Bring in a Washable Area Rug
Add warmth and softness with a machine-washable rug or durable runner. Go for vintage-inspired patterns or bold geometrics to ground the space and disguise any accidental spills. This also helps reduce noise in rooms with tile or laminate flooring.
19. Paint Cabinets a Unique Color
Don’t settle for builder beige. Refresh your laundry cabinets with trendy colors like sage green, charcoal blue, or terracotta clay. Matte or satin finishes look best under strong light and pair beautifully with brass knobs or matte black pulls for contrast.
20. Tuck In a Pull-Out Ironing Board
Avoid hauling out a heavy ironing board by installing a pull-out ironing board drawer or a fold-down wall unit. These solutions save space and keep the room tidy, especially when built into a cabinet next to the washer or folding counter.
21. Integrate Smart Appliances
Upgrade your laundry setup with smart washer and dryer units that sync to your phone or voice assistant. Features like cycle alerts, automatic detergent dispensing, and energy-saving modes make laundry day more efficient and hands-free. Pair with a smart home hub to control everything in one spot.
22. Install a Continuous Countertop Over Appliances
A solid surface countertop that runs the length of your washer and dryer gives you a seamless folding space while hiding the machines for a built-in look. Choose quartz, laminate, or butcher block depending on your style and budget.
23. Add Decorative Wall Art or Decals
Style your walls with laundry-themed wall art, funny sayings, or minimalist prints. Or, go for vinyl wall decals to add personality without clutter. It’s a simple way to bring in warmth, color, and your unique style—especially in all-white spaces.
24. Use Woven Baskets for Sorting
Ditch the plastic bins and opt for woven laundry baskets in natural or black finishes. These look great on open shelving or under counters, and they’re perfect for sorting lights, darks, and delicates in a way that doesn’t feel messy or utilitarian.
25. Add Pull-Out Hampers Under Cabinets
Install built-in pull-out hampers or sliding laundry baskets underneath countertops or inside base cabinets. This hides dirty laundry and keeps floors clear. Many units are soft-close and easy to install—even in retrofits.
26. Mount a Chalkboard or Pegboard Wall
Designate a spot for a chalkboard wall for chore tracking or weekly reminders. Alternatively, install a painted pegboard to hang items like lint rollers, brushes, and cleaning tools using S-hooks or wire baskets.
27. Layer Lighting for Comfort and Clarity
Layer your lighting with a ceiling flush mount, wall sconces, and under-cabinet LED strips. This ensures every corner is bright enough for sorting, folding, or scrubbing, while also letting you set the mood with softer lighting when the room isn’t in use.
