6 New Laundry Rooms Packed With Style and Storage
Designers share the key details they used to add function and personality to utility rooms recently uploaded to Houzz
A well-designed laundry room combines style and function in a way that makes washing clothes enjoyable. Throw in some charming personal touches, maybe even a pet-friendly feature or two, and you’ve really got a space that earns its place in a home. Here, designers share the colors, materials and elements they used to create pretty, practical and personalized laundry rooms.
Designer tip. “I always make sure there is a space for hanging,” Thiel says. “This can be for blouses and other delicates to hang dry.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The client wanted the checkerboard floors at the last minute,” Thiel says. “We did not have time to wait for items to be shipped. We found the right color tiles but not the size we wanted. We ended up cutting the 24-by-24-inch tiles to 18 by 18 inches so that the scale fit the laundry room. We wanted the checkerboard pattern to be prominent. Cutting the tiles did take more labor time, but we were able to avoid the lead times of waiting for the right tile at the right size to come in.”
Project photos: Scott Sikora
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“Uh-oh” moment. “The client wanted the checkerboard floors at the last minute,” Thiel says. “We did not have time to wait for items to be shipped. We found the right color tiles but not the size we wanted. We ended up cutting the 24-by-24-inch tiles to 18 by 18 inches so that the scale fit the laundry room. We wanted the checkerboard pattern to be prominent. Cutting the tiles did take more labor time, but we were able to avoid the lead times of waiting for the right tile at the right size to come in.”
Project photos: Scott Sikora
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2. Soft and Serene Touches
Designer: Jeremy Lanier of ReVision Design/Remodeling
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 91 square feet (8.5 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The existing laundry room was barely larger than a closet, and the main goal was to increase the square footage so we could have a proper working space with a sink, drying racks, hanging space and a zone for hampers,” designer Jeremy Lanier says. “By incorporating an underutilized nook from an adjacent loft area, we were able to take the old laundry room from 34 square feet up to 91 square feet.”
Special features. “Custom drying racks pull out from a tall cabinet, and we also incorporated vertical drying racks plus a folding table,” Lanier says. “The apron-front sink provides a mix of both form and functionality with its fluted front, and the bold Graham & Brown wallpaper — Chelsea Sky — adds a punch of fun texture throughout the space. The homeowner had the vision of using a checkerboard pattern floor, and we set the design off by painting the ceiling and trim Sherwin-Williams’ Upward.”
Designer: Jeremy Lanier of ReVision Design/Remodeling
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Size: 91 square feet (8.5 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The existing laundry room was barely larger than a closet, and the main goal was to increase the square footage so we could have a proper working space with a sink, drying racks, hanging space and a zone for hampers,” designer Jeremy Lanier says. “By incorporating an underutilized nook from an adjacent loft area, we were able to take the old laundry room from 34 square feet up to 91 square feet.”
Special features. “Custom drying racks pull out from a tall cabinet, and we also incorporated vertical drying racks plus a folding table,” Lanier says. “The apron-front sink provides a mix of both form and functionality with its fluted front, and the bold Graham & Brown wallpaper — Chelsea Sky — adds a punch of fun texture throughout the space. The homeowner had the vision of using a checkerboard pattern floor, and we set the design off by painting the ceiling and trim Sherwin-Williams’ Upward.”
Designer tip. “Use color!” Lanier says. “Painting the ceiling and trim white would have left the wallpaper feeling unfinished, so don’t be afraid to go bold for your ceiling and trims. You can pull an accent color from art, tile, fabrics or, in this case, wallpaper. Go for something that makes you smile, especially in a room that serves a more utilitarian function.”
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3. Palm-Patterned Flooring and Blue-Green Cabinets
Designer: Ashley Christensen of Lindy Design Build
Location: Denver
Size: 53 square feet (4.9 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The original laundry room wasn’t checking many boxes for our clients,” designer Ashley Christensen says. “It provided no built-in storage and included a freestanding laundry sink that left much to be desired.”
Special features. “We added oodles of storage, an undermount sink with a wall-mounted faucet and counter space to give this little laundry room the functionality they needed,” Christensen says. “The floor tile (Palm Life from Haustile) is our absolute favorite. This tile was such a unique pattern, but also offered additional variety in our options for installation. We leaned into the touch of gold accent on the floor tile by incorporating a gold-veined counter and brass finish for the hardware to tie them all together beautifully.”
Designer: Ashley Christensen of Lindy Design Build
Location: Denver
Size: 53 square feet (4.9 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The original laundry room wasn’t checking many boxes for our clients,” designer Ashley Christensen says. “It provided no built-in storage and included a freestanding laundry sink that left much to be desired.”
Special features. “We added oodles of storage, an undermount sink with a wall-mounted faucet and counter space to give this little laundry room the functionality they needed,” Christensen says. “The floor tile (Palm Life from Haustile) is our absolute favorite. This tile was such a unique pattern, but also offered additional variety in our options for installation. We leaned into the touch of gold accent on the floor tile by incorporating a gold-veined counter and brass finish for the hardware to tie them all together beautifully.”
Designer tip. “Balance warm and cool tones with a fun mix of patterns and accents,” Christensen says. “The brilliant floor tile provides great energy and movement in the space, so we kept the backsplash tile simple to let the floor tile steal the show. We also selected a cabinetry finish in a rich blue-green that lets the fun oversized brass knobs pop.”
Backsplash tile: Carolina in Fog Gray, 2 by 20 inches, TileBar; cabinetry: Boulder door, Tedd Wood; hardware: Dot knob, 2 inches, Atlas; trim paint: Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams
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Backsplash tile: Carolina in Fog Gray, 2 by 20 inches, TileBar; cabinetry: Boulder door, Tedd Wood; hardware: Dot knob, 2 inches, Atlas; trim paint: Tricorn Black, Sherwin-Williams
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4. Brick-Like Flooring and a Wipeable Wallcovering
Designer: Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design
Location: Los Gatos, California
Size: 46 square feet (4.3 square meters); 6 by 7 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “We reconfigured about 80% of the existing floor plan within this home and added about 6 feet onto the side yard to create a dedicated laundry room space, as the washer and dryer units were previously located in the unfinished garage,” designer Katelyn Gilmour says. “Our client wanted top-loading units instead of front-loading. She needed a sink for soaking but it didn’t need to be large. She also wanted storage for laundry items, a hang-dry rod and a hamper spot for dirty clothes instead of carrying them to the bedroom hampers.”
Special features. “This room features brick paver-like porcelain floor tile laid in a herringbone pattern, which is the same floor tile in the adjacent mudroom, powder bath and pantry,” Gilmour says. “I love the practicality and durability that a porcelain tile provides. It still offers the range of colors that a real aged brick paver would bring but without the porousness.
“For the flush-inset edge-band cabinetry, we echoed two paint colors from the dining and kitchen cabinets (Natural Choice for the uppers and Evergreen Fog for lowers, both by Sherwin-Williams). In lieu of a tile backsplash we opted for a washable and wipeable geometric wallcovering. We then brought in a stained white oak shelf to coordinate with other areas of the home. The shelf above the top-loading units is made from reinforced engineered quartz, making it both rigid and water- and detergent-resistant.”
Designer: Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design
Location: Los Gatos, California
Size: 46 square feet (4.3 square meters); 6 by 7 feet, 7 inches
Homeowners’ request. “We reconfigured about 80% of the existing floor plan within this home and added about 6 feet onto the side yard to create a dedicated laundry room space, as the washer and dryer units were previously located in the unfinished garage,” designer Katelyn Gilmour says. “Our client wanted top-loading units instead of front-loading. She needed a sink for soaking but it didn’t need to be large. She also wanted storage for laundry items, a hang-dry rod and a hamper spot for dirty clothes instead of carrying them to the bedroom hampers.”
Special features. “This room features brick paver-like porcelain floor tile laid in a herringbone pattern, which is the same floor tile in the adjacent mudroom, powder bath and pantry,” Gilmour says. “I love the practicality and durability that a porcelain tile provides. It still offers the range of colors that a real aged brick paver would bring but without the porousness.
“For the flush-inset edge-band cabinetry, we echoed two paint colors from the dining and kitchen cabinets (Natural Choice for the uppers and Evergreen Fog for lowers, both by Sherwin-Williams). In lieu of a tile backsplash we opted for a washable and wipeable geometric wallcovering. We then brought in a stained white oak shelf to coordinate with other areas of the home. The shelf above the top-loading units is made from reinforced engineered quartz, making it both rigid and water- and detergent-resistant.”
Designer tip. “Opting for a high-impact wallcovering instead of a tiled backsplash is my go-to cost-saving design material pivot,” Gilmour says. “You need to be sure your wallcovering selection is either washable, wipeable or approved for wet locations since laundry rooms do contain moisture.”
Wallcovering: Sawgrass Trellis, York Wallcoverings; floor tile: Castle Brick in red, Arizona Tile; project photos: Agnieszka Jakubowicz; sink: Ventana, Native Trails; wall and ceiling paint: Cool December, Dunn-Edwards; trim paint: Eider White (main) and Iron Ore (window), Sherwin-Williams
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Wallcovering: Sawgrass Trellis, York Wallcoverings; floor tile: Castle Brick in red, Arizona Tile; project photos: Agnieszka Jakubowicz; sink: Ventana, Native Trails; wall and ceiling paint: Cool December, Dunn-Edwards; trim paint: Eider White (main) and Iron Ore (window), Sherwin-Williams
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5. Pretty and Pet-Friendly
Designer: Molly Robinson of Homoly Design + Build
Location: Westwood, Kansas
Homeowners’ request. “This room was thoughtfully designed with the homeowners’ two dogs and two cats in mind,” says designer Molly Robinson, who uses Houzz Pro software.
Special features. “A dedicated ‘cat condo’ includes a custom ramp, a designated litter box area and built-in ventilation to keep things fresh and functional,” Robinson says. “For the pups, there’s a cozy zone complete with a doggy door that provides easy access to the outdoors. The black-and-white checkered tile flooring, paired with bold wallpaper that extends across the walls and ceiling, injects a playful and whimsical energy into the space. The pattern creates visual interest and a sense of movement, making the room feel dynamic and full of personality.
“To ground the design and let those elements shine, we opted for neutral white cabinetry that adds a crisp, clean contrast without competing for attention. The result is a fun, stylish space that feels both fresh and thoughtfully balanced.”
Designer tip. “We designed the countertop to be slightly taller than standard height, which makes folding laundry more comfortable and ergonomic — no more hunching over,” Robinson says. “As a bonus, the added height also serves a practical purpose by keeping pet treats and other essentials out of reach of curious paws.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One of the biggest ‘uh-oh’ moments came when we realized just how tricky it would be to incorporate all of the custom pet features and maintain a clean, functional layout for everyday use,” Robinson says. “Between the cat ramp, litter box ventilation, doggy access to the outdoors and still needing room for laundry tasks, it started to feel like we were designing three rooms in one. We reworked the cabinetry layout and decided to go fully custom, which gave us the flexibility to tuck away the pet zones in a way that felt intentional and integrated.”
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Designer: Molly Robinson of Homoly Design + Build
Location: Westwood, Kansas
Homeowners’ request. “This room was thoughtfully designed with the homeowners’ two dogs and two cats in mind,” says designer Molly Robinson, who uses Houzz Pro software.
Special features. “A dedicated ‘cat condo’ includes a custom ramp, a designated litter box area and built-in ventilation to keep things fresh and functional,” Robinson says. “For the pups, there’s a cozy zone complete with a doggy door that provides easy access to the outdoors. The black-and-white checkered tile flooring, paired with bold wallpaper that extends across the walls and ceiling, injects a playful and whimsical energy into the space. The pattern creates visual interest and a sense of movement, making the room feel dynamic and full of personality.
“To ground the design and let those elements shine, we opted for neutral white cabinetry that adds a crisp, clean contrast without competing for attention. The result is a fun, stylish space that feels both fresh and thoughtfully balanced.”
Designer tip. “We designed the countertop to be slightly taller than standard height, which makes folding laundry more comfortable and ergonomic — no more hunching over,” Robinson says. “As a bonus, the added height also serves a practical purpose by keeping pet treats and other essentials out of reach of curious paws.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “One of the biggest ‘uh-oh’ moments came when we realized just how tricky it would be to incorporate all of the custom pet features and maintain a clean, functional layout for everyday use,” Robinson says. “Between the cat ramp, litter box ventilation, doggy access to the outdoors and still needing room for laundry tasks, it started to feel like we were designing three rooms in one. We reworked the cabinetry layout and decided to go fully custom, which gave us the flexibility to tuck away the pet zones in a way that felt intentional and integrated.”
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6. Clean and Bright
Designer: Nicole Zeigler of Enzy Design
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters); 7 feet, 8 inches by 9 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The original laundry room was small and dark, hardly a space anyone wanted to spend time in,” designer Nicole Zeigler says. “The homeowner dreamed of something brighter and more cheerful. As part of the main floor remodel, we relocated the laundry area to the former kitchen space. This change gave us a much larger footprint and brought in natural light, an instant game changer for both mood and functionality.”
Special features. “We leaned into that light with clean, bright finishes and chose a happy blue color (Yarmouth Blue by Benjamin Moore) for the cabinetry to keep the space feeling lively and fresh,” Zeigler says. “I’ve used this ceiling-mount hanging rod in many laundry rooms, including my own. It’s a stylish and affordable way to add an extra bit of drying space without taking up too much space.” The flooring is patterned luxury vinyl plank (LVP).
Designer tip. “Laundry rooms don’t have to be dull — make them cheerful and inviting,” Zeigler says. “Brighten up the space with bold cabinet or wall colors, choose unique hardware and add some fun decor. A few creative touches can turn this utilitarian room into one you actually enjoy walking into.”
Backsplash tile: Concerto in matte white, Arizona Tile
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Designer: Nicole Zeigler of Enzy Design
Location: Salt Lake City
Size: 75 square feet (7 square meters); 7 feet, 8 inches by 9 feet, 10 inches
Homeowners’ request. “The original laundry room was small and dark, hardly a space anyone wanted to spend time in,” designer Nicole Zeigler says. “The homeowner dreamed of something brighter and more cheerful. As part of the main floor remodel, we relocated the laundry area to the former kitchen space. This change gave us a much larger footprint and brought in natural light, an instant game changer for both mood and functionality.”
Special features. “We leaned into that light with clean, bright finishes and chose a happy blue color (Yarmouth Blue by Benjamin Moore) for the cabinetry to keep the space feeling lively and fresh,” Zeigler says. “I’ve used this ceiling-mount hanging rod in many laundry rooms, including my own. It’s a stylish and affordable way to add an extra bit of drying space without taking up too much space.” The flooring is patterned luxury vinyl plank (LVP).
Designer tip. “Laundry rooms don’t have to be dull — make them cheerful and inviting,” Zeigler says. “Brighten up the space with bold cabinet or wall colors, choose unique hardware and add some fun decor. A few creative touches can turn this utilitarian room into one you actually enjoy walking into.”
Backsplash tile: Concerto in matte white, Arizona Tile
More on Houzz
Read more laundry room stories
Browse laundry room photos
Find a design professional
Shop for laundry room products
Designer: Susan Thiel Design
General contractor: Todd Custom Homes
Location: Dana Point, California
Size: 135 square feet (13 square meters); 9 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a laundry room that also worked as an office,” designer Susan Thiel says. “She wanted a transitional look with colors of cream, black and brass.”
Special features. “The laundry room has a nice desk station (not shown) with a printer pullout, file storage and pencil drawer,” Thiel says. “There is space for her computer and a shelf for books. We also hid a lot of unique storage. We have hidden hanging rods for scrubs — both owners are dentists. We have trash pullouts, hamper pullouts, detergent pullouts and a gift wrapping pullout. We also wanted the laundry room to be as beautiful as the kitchen. This meant that we needed to hide things behind the cabinets.” The cabinet paint is Onyx by Benjamin Moore.
Thiel uses Houzz Pro software to manage her business. “I use Houzz for all of my invoicing and proposals,” she says. “I use the Room Board feature to show clients different options for furniture and lighting. I also use the 3D Room Scanner when taking on new projects. The dimensions are quite accurate and I am able to create my floor plans with them.”
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