The 20 Most Popular Laundry Room Photos of 2015
No drudgery here when it comes to laundry. High style and multifunctionality have made these rooms new favorites this year.
“These days people really want their laundry rooms to look like they’ve been well thought out,” interior designer Marci Barnes told me during an interview this year. She was right — laundry rooms really came into their own in 2015, with designers and homeowners paying special attention to lifting them from what traditionally has been purely utilitarian aesthetics. That’s not to say utility wasn’t still key. In fact, laundry rooms expanded to incorporate sorting, stain-removal, folding and ironing space, as well as room for wrapping gifts, crafting and even home office tasks. In many cases, the laundry room became command central for households. Here are some of the year’s big trends.
High design. At first glance I thought this was a photo of a lovely kitchen. Homeowners and designers approached laundry rooms like any other room in the house, outfitting them with beautiful floors, tiles, paint colors, hardware, cabinets and more.
Wallpaper. Details like this colorful wallcovering, a vintage glass light fixture and hexagonal floor tiles make this laundry room bright and cheery. The homeowners probably look forward to spending time in here rather than dreading laundry as a chore.
Wallpaper: Pierre Frey; counters: white Qortstone; yellow tile: Mission Tile West
Wallpaper: Pierre Frey; counters: white Qortstone; yellow tile: Mission Tile West
Dazzling backsplash. Laundry room designers took a page from kitchen and bath design, adding pattern, texture and shine by tiling the walls. The white mosaic gives this laundry room a glamorous dressing room kind of feel.
Backsplash: Opalo Blend, Onix Mosaico; floor tile: Porcelain Grigio Floor MT35R 12x24; wall color: Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore; faucet: Grohe; cabinets: custom, Rosedale Kitchens
Backsplash: Opalo Blend, Onix Mosaico; floor tile: Porcelain Grigio Floor MT35R 12x24; wall color: Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore; faucet: Grohe; cabinets: custom, Rosedale Kitchens
Barn doors. Style extended even beyond the laundry room itself, with accents like sliding barn doors at the entry. When a laundry room is this beautiful, though, you’ll want to keep that door open, which is why we also saw many French doors and salvaged doors with windows that kept the view open.
See the rest of this laundry room
Barn door paint: Sunset by Sherwin-Williams
See the rest of this laundry room
Barn door paint: Sunset by Sherwin-Williams
Farmhouse style. A comfortable feel was also popular in laundry rooms this year. Here, the brick floor and fabric tucked behind chicken wire on the cabinet doors create a relaxed country style.
See more of this Texas country home
See more of this Texas country home
Mudroom-laundry room mash-up. The great thing about this combo is that when someone comes in muddy, you can have them strip down to their skivvies and toss the dirty clothes right into the washing machine. The counter space comes in handy for folding as well as getting organized or unloading when exiting and entering.
Sinks. A laundry room sink is handy for stain removal and hand-washing. It’s also helpful when a laundry room doubles as a mudroom, stopping dirty hands from getting any further into the house.
Wall color: Old Soul by Benjamin Moore; counter: Porcelanosa Britania; sink: Signature Hardware
Wall color: Old Soul by Benjamin Moore; counter: Porcelanosa Britania; sink: Signature Hardware
Natural light. Rather than stuffing the laundry room into a closet-sized space in the middle of the house, designers are moving it to spots where the laundress-laundry man can enjoy the view out a window.
Appliances: Duet, Whirlpool
Appliances: Duet, Whirlpool
Counter over machines. One of the perks of having a front-loading washing machine is the opportunity to add a counter right over the washer-dryer set. It’s a functional space saver when dimensions are tight.
Integration with the bathroom. By combining a bathroom and laundry room, both gain more space and a luxurious open feeling. These clever architects found a way to tuck the washer and dryer behind cabinet doors and added an adjacent folding shelf.
Countertop: aqua glass, CBD Glass Studios; shower tile: Cristallo, Olympia Tile; floor tile: Rock series in Anthracite, Olympia Tile
Countertop: aqua glass, CBD Glass Studios; shower tile: Cristallo, Olympia Tile; floor tile: Rock series in Anthracite, Olympia Tile
Pullout folding surface. This clever built-in offers the best of both worlds: a solid wall of cabinets for storage and a hidden countertop for folding.
Faucet and sink: Kohler; cabinets: Amazonia Cabinetry; backsplash tile: Rittenhouse 3x6 white gloss, Daltile
Faucet and sink: Kohler; cabinets: Amazonia Cabinetry; backsplash tile: Rittenhouse 3x6 white gloss, Daltile
Ironing cabinet. Another great way to save space is with an oldie but goodie, the ironing board cabinet. If you live in an older home that retains a lot of original features, you may even have one built into the wall. The board folds up and out of the way. I’ve always admired these — none of that dragging around and folding and unfolding of that cumbersome free-standing board.
Pet-washing stations. More and more new construction and renovations incorporated convenient places to give Buddy and Bella a bath. A handheld shower head makes it so much easier. A design element worth noting here is the use of the same material on the floor and around the tub, which provides continuity.
Sorting solutions. For this mother of eight, keeping the laundry room organized and efficient was a priority. For just $400, she transformed the room into a stylish place where she can keep her family’s clothing organized.
See it in action on Houzz TV
Baskets: secondhand purchase; gliding hardware: D. Lawless Hardware
See it in action on Houzz TV
Baskets: secondhand purchase; gliding hardware: D. Lawless Hardware
Sorting hampers. Multiple hampers were another popular solution for those who have the room. I recommend three: one for darks, one for lights and one for hand-washing.
Counters: planked oak fed with white oil
Counters: planked oak fed with white oil
Room for crafting. Wrapping and craft stations partnered up with washer-dryers in 2015. Counter space used for folding is also great for wrapping gifts or pulling up a stool and getting creative with scrapbooking and art projects.
Room for hanging. Rods to hang clothes for drying, steaming or stashing after ironing are a handy feature in larger laundry rooms.
Also in this room, the homeowners requested a sink large enough for bathing their dogs.
See the rest of this home
Tile: custom color, Tabarka Studio
Also in this room, the homeowners requested a sink large enough for bathing their dogs.
See the rest of this home
Tile: custom color, Tabarka Studio
Artwork. A French door allows a big view into this light and bright laundry room, with pretty artwork straight ahead. A laundry room is a good place to have some fun with art and personalize the space — a piece that makes you smile as you sort is a great choice.
Wall color: Top Sail by Sherwin-Williams; cabinet color: Moody Blue by Sherwin-Williams
Wall color: Top Sail by Sherwin-Williams; cabinet color: Moody Blue by Sherwin-Williams
Small space. Even when laundry rooms were really just two machines in a double closet (and let’s face it, that’s what most of us have), design was still in play. A countertop over the machines and attractively arranged shelves will make you feel happier when you open these doors. An alternative to all the shelves would be a hanging rod for drying.
Your turn: Did you pick up any tips from laundry rooms you saw on Houzz this year? Have any others you care to share? If so, please do so in the Comments.
More
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Laundry Room
Your turn: Did you pick up any tips from laundry rooms you saw on Houzz this year? Have any others you care to share? If so, please do so in the Comments.
More
Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Laundry Room
Wall paint: Duration Neutral Ground in matte by Sherwin-Williams; desk (birch base, alder top): custom by T&T Custom Cabinets in Omaha, Nebraska; desk base color: Downy by Sherwin-Williams; desktop stain: Ipswich Pine by Minwax; light fixture: Schoolhouse Electric; wallpaper: Thibaut; pulls: Top Knobs; tile: Daltile; grout: Ardex high-performance grout; laundry hanging racks: Ballard Designs; laundry tower: Pier 1 Imports