This is an example of an asian galley utility room in Nagoya with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, brown walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Traditional Laundry Room

Design ideas for a small traditional single-wall utility room in New York with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, marble benchtops, light hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, medium wood cabinets and brown walls.

Wellington Residence

Procopio Family Homes

Large transitional galley dedicated laundry room in Baltimore with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, brown walls, light hardwood floors, a side-by-side washer and dryer, beige floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Chestnut Hill Kitchen and Laundry Room Remodel

James McCoy Carpentry LLC

Photo by Caity MacLeod
This is an example of a small transitional galley utility room in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown walls, light hardwood floors and a side-by-side washer and dryer.

Craftsman Laundry Room

The Cabinet en-Counter, Inc.

This laundry room/ powder room features Diamond cabinets. The Montgomery door style in Pearl paint works well with all the natural wood in the space. Photo by Salted Soul Graphics

Rustic Family Cabin 08396

EASA Architecture

Hall with laundry in closet
Small country laundry cupboard in San Francisco with brown walls, light hardwood floors, a stacked washer and dryer and brown floor.

Craftsman Laundry Room

The Cabinet en-Counter, Inc.

This laundry room/ powder room features Diamond cabinets. The Montgomery door style in Pearl paint works well with all the natural wood in the space. Photo by Salted Soul Graphics

Laundry Room Design Ideas with Brown Walls and Light Hardwood Floors

Laundry designs seldom receive the attention they deserve, especially considering how often they’re used. A well-planned laundry, complete with built-in cabinets, a laundry sink, washing machine and clothes dryer, can serve many needs. It can help simplify your household chores; store drying clothes and cleaning products; and can even provide a spot for you to groom pets. Because of its hardworking, multipurpose potential, a laundry renovation is a worthwhile investment. Smart laundry designs have layouts that save you time and effort. For example, a washing machine and clothes dryer should be positioned next to one another or stacked, and laundry baskets and hampers should be within easy reach; while an ironing board should be stowed by a power point. Ample storage, bench space for laundry baskets and practical lighting are also essential. Browse the photos on Houzz for efficient laundry ideas, from layouts and storage to appliances, and strike up a conversation with the designers of your favourite laundry renovations. For more laundry ideas, browse the Stories section on Houzz.

How do I add storage to my laundry?

A combination of storage solutions is key to running an efficient laundry. Include shelves above or beside the washing machine to store washing detergent, softener and other cleaning products; and laundry bins for dirty clothes. Consider a custom-built cupboard for an ironing board, so it can easily fold out when you need it, or mount the ironing board directly to the wall or on the back of a door. A retractable clothesline is a handy addition to dry delicate clothes, while a clothes hanger mounted to the wall is ideal for hanging freshly pressed shirts.

What else can I use my laundry for?

Multipurpose laundry rooms or utility rooms can help save valuable space in your home. The laundry sink can be used to bathe your furry friends; your laundry cupboard can store sports equipment, gardening tools and umbrellas; and a spare nook can be filled with a desk and chair to create an office space while you wait for your load to finish. If your laundry is at the front of the house, consider using it as a drop station for mail, mobile phones and keys. Include a bench seat or stool, wall-mounted hooks for bags and a coat stand and it can even be used as a place to get the kids organised before you walk out the front door.

How can I decorate my laundry?

Laundries are usually filled to the brim with appliances and storage, so take advantage of your walls when decorating and use cheery paint colours or wallpaper to make doing the chores more pleasant! Fun signs, posters, murals and wall decals will also add character to the space. Think of your storage as decor, too – look for bins and baskets with decorative touches, and use brightly-coloured or patterned hangers.