Q: My laundry room is the ugliest room in the house. I see it when I come home and when I leave my home. What can I do to make it a happier place?
Mary Jane R.
This is one of my favorite subjects to talk about. I love designing laundry rooms because they can be the most important and used room in the house.
By properly designing and personalizing the laundry room, you have an opportunity to affect your attitude upon entering and leaving your home. Here are your first and last impressions and memories of your home, not to mention how you feel and function in the room when using the room.
If you have such a layout the laundry room is also your foyer – I would approach this room not as a laundry room, but as your entry. Think about what would benefit you as you leave the house: a mirror, a shelf for reminders to take with you, a hook for car/house keys, a place for notes to other family members, a phone for those who always call as you are leaving or entering and a place for a purse or briefcase.
Here are the traditional functions of a laundry room:
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Washing, drying, and folding clothing for your family’s health and appearance.
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Tools to keep your home running well.
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Containers for dirty clothing and a place to hang wet clothing.
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Storage for things for which you have no other place.
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A place for your cleaning supplies.
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Room for ironing.
Now here are a few questions to think about regarding your laundry room:
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Do your washer and dryer match?
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What color are the walls?
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What flooring do you stand on and work on?
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Do you have enough surface space for folding clothing or working on projects?
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Is it also a hobby room/area?
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Does it have an extra sink for watering plants or bathing animals?
The laundry room is actually a personal space that can be designed for your needs, habits, and likes. Since it is your work room, you can decide how you want it to function efficiently as well as look pleasing. For example, you might create a space to keep all your wrapping paper and supplies to wrap presents.
Now that you have decided on the functions, it’s time to create the design. This is where you can express your personal style. Since laundry rooms generally function as serious places and remind us of work, what are some things that might balance this? You can begin with what makes you smile and laugh.
What color would you like the laundry room – or, better yet, what colors? You can paint the four walls and ceiling all different colors and write motivational sayings, funny words, jokes, or your family’s favorite sayings.
Apply your family members’ handprints or footprints in personally chosen colors. Use your imagination and come up with your own original room. The flooring can have a color-coordinated washable rug to catch dirt from the comings and goings. Besides adding warmth, it will also mute the sounds of machines.
Don’t forget the lighting. Fluorescent or LED with daylight bulbs can work the best, especially if there is no window. A lamp on a timer can greet you after dark when you come home.
You may even choose to add music or TV to accompany you during the time you spend there.
Once you’ve given thought to your needs and your feelings about your laundry room, you will discover that rooms have no feelings, you do!
Barbara Kaplan, creator of the Bajaro Method for personalized interior design, offers individual interior design consultations for guidance, ideas, and solutions to make your home truly yours. Contact me at Barbara@BarbaraKaplan.com.