INTERIOR DECORATING/HOME - Dream House: Laundry Rooms
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 12:09AM As mentioned in a previous post, I recently started a fun, personal project to “build” a dream house by collecting my favorite photos from magazines and online. Working room by room, I am assembling my ideal yet achievable ‘dream’ house. This week, I’m focusing on an often-overlooked yet essential room in the house, the laundry room.
Photos found on SouthernLiving.com & Pinterest.com
Unlike my experiences with apartments in Texas, most reasonably priced apartment complexes in Los Angeles do NOT come with outlets for your own washer/dryer. And while I have grown accustomed to sharing a laundry room with our apartment complex (not all that different from my sorority house), I will deeply appreciate the time when we once again have a laundry room to call our own. After compiling my photographs, I realized a few key traits that I think every laundry room should have:
- Reasonably small size - You don’t want a laundry room that eats up the valuable living space of your home, but you need enough room to complete your tasks without feeling claustrophobic. Don’t make doing laundry any more miserable or important than it needs to be by having a space that is either too tiny or too large.
- Pop of warm color or serene hues – You want the space to lighten your load – not add to it. Keep it warm, fresh, and light by either choosing splashes of vibrant color or calming shades that will brighten your mood.
- Obviously… A reliable washer/dryer – You don’t need the latest and greatest washer & dryer, but you do need reliable machines that don’t make you pull out your hair with their maintenance issues. I recommend research before making your decision.
- A deep sink –Laundry rooms need deep sinks to accommodate all of your cleaning needs. From hand-washing delicate clothes and soaking your cleaning rags to washing off muddy shoes and bathing your dog, the laundry room sink is your cleaning catch-all. There are some things you just shouldn’t wash in your kitchen or bathroom sinks.
- Organizational baskets/jars/bins/tubs (your preference) – You need attractive storage containers for your cleaning supplies, dirty clothes, towels, etc. Keeping everything tidy and in its proper place will prevent laundry from becoming a painstaking process. It will also help you manage your supplies, so that you know what you need when it comes time for grocery shopping.
My other favorite ideas from the photos…
#1 – Colorful cabinets – beautiful color & excellent for hidden storage space
#2 – Labeled laundry hampers, Pullout drying rack, & Hanger for ironing board
#3 – Mudroom storage items like the umbrella basket and hat rack & those flowers!
#4 – Beautiful lighting/windows; the wall sconces also add a nice touch of understated elegance
#5 – Bold pattern choices – the bright floral sink skirt, the black & white striped rug, and the map on the wall
#6 – That sink! - and the fun, bright wallpaper
Reader Comments (2)
Hi, the bright wallpaper in photo #6 is an excellent choice. Direct sunlight falls on the adjacent walls and the whole room gets a yellow tinge. Nice choice of color and thanks a lot for sharing this. The photos are quite inspiring.
Amazing interior!
I became interested in having this laundry room. I just put my washing machine behind my house. So, I feel lazy to wash. But now I get inspiration from your post. Thanks for sharing.