Doing laundry has long been considered to be one of the most mundane household chores. But with a freshly organized and functional space, it can become more like a welcome diversion. Here are seven interior design tips to help you transform that drab utility room into an elegant and stylish retreat.
Start With Color
Make the room feel instantly bigger with a fresh coat of bright paint. If your utility room has no windows, consider a clean white color such as Sherwin-Williams SW7666 Fleur de Sel or Benjamin Moore’s OC-69 White Opulence. Either of these colors will instantly elevate the feel of the space. A satin or eggshell sheen is a must to make wiping up accidental splashes a breeze. Make sure to cover the ceiling and walls in the same color and sheen to fool the eye into making the room feel larger. Even if you’re using paint and primer in one, it’s important to use two coats as this space tends to be more humid. Skip the trim or molding at this point- we’ll add those details to the cabinet or shelving choice, further elevating the richness of the space.
Add Some Lighting
It’s all about the details. Here’s your chance to easily add a distinctive feature to your space giving it a more upgraded, modern vibe. Skip the fluorescent overhead lighting and enhance the space with a hanging fixture. Industrial wire light fixtures paired with vintage-looking LCD Edison bulbs are a clean and classic look. Consider changing out the light switch for a motion-detecting dimmer. Who wants to fumble for a light switch when your hands are full of laundry?
Now For Some Storage
Pick up a pair of white stock wall cabinets from your local home store to hang above the washer and dryer. Leave a 20-inch clearance from the top of the appliances to the bottom of the wall cabinets to accommodate a countertop for folding laundry. Now is the time to add that crown molding- you’ll find a straight run in multiple lengths in the same aisle as your cabinets to match your cabinet’s finish.
Look for door hardware systems that can make access to storage easy. Lateral, sliding, and folding doors for your utility room or its cabinets can help you make the most of tight spaces. These are great, for example, when you have cabinets in the corner of the room without enough space for the doors to swing all the way open.
Add a Countertop
Your local home store is also the place to pick up a stylish butcher block and solid-sheet wood countertops. They come pre-packaged in 24-inch widths and 6-foot or 8-foot lengths. These countertops install easily atop 1×2 cleats that are virtually invisible once the countertop is mounted. Be sure to leave a half-inch clearance above the appliances so they can be pulled out for service.
And A Folding Ironing Center and Drying Rack
Gone are the days of dragging out that clunky, squeaky ironing board. The well-appointed utility room has a pull-down board that hides away inside of a wall-mounted cabinet. These utility cabinets have a door front designed to match most home store wall cabinets. The other wall-mounted must-have is a fold-down clothes drying rack. These racks replace the old-fashioned hanging closet rod and make it easier to hang fine washables without the risk of hanger marks on the shoulders.
Finish With Wall Art
Tie everything together with a few classic pieces. Fill a few half-gallon lidded glass penny jars with detergent pods, dryer sheets, and wooden clothespins. Roll up a few white hand towels and place them in a wire metal basket. Shop online art galleries like Etsy or wall decor sites such as fy! for vintage prints of laundry instructions or by-gone laundry products to complete the look. Most of these retailers offer a variety of frame choices to complete your look. A couple of large wicker floor baskets are the perfect repositories for last-minute laundry sorting.
And Don’t Forget the Floor
Washable rugs are the perfect solution for a space that not only gets lots of foot traffic, but is also prone to liquid spills. A variety of online sites sell low-pile, machine-washable rugs that are not only stain-resistant and water-resistant, but come in all sorts of styles from Bohemian to contemporary. These low-pile rugs are the perfect finish over wood or tile floors to really warm up the space.
Design A Utility Room You’ll be Happy to Spend Time In
While a utility room renovation won’t significantly increase the monetary value of your home, this simple refresh will make the drudge of doing laundry into a satisfying and pleasurable experience — one you will no longer dread.
You deserve to feel happy and productive in every room of your home. Try a few of these simple updates to take ownership of every inch of your space.