Make Your Laundry Room Inviting as well as functional

By Sally Moe, Times Total Media Correspondent

LAUNDRY. The mere word draws a groan. It’s a chore and it never lets up. If you have a small laundry room with tight spaces, it’s even more of a chore. Regardless of its size, don’t let the look of your laundry room be an afterthought. The more stylish and well-organized this room is, the less you’ll feel like avoiding it.

Fans: If you have the standard small laundry room,

I feel your pain. Especially in the summer, and particularly if your laundry is off the (un-air-conditioned) garage, it can get hot in there when you’re drying multiple loads. A remote-controlled fan is a blessing for this problem. If you have shelves, set a desk fan on the lower shelf, point it to your level and keep the remote in an accessible spot on the wall in a caddy or shelf. No shelves? Install an adjustable wall-mount fan. Or, if you have available floor space, place a slim tower fan in a corner. A ceiling fan with light in place of the overhead light is also an option and saves maximum space.

Walls: Paint the walls a color you love, or put up wallpaper. Wallpaper is enjoying a renaissance and adds personality to a room, and there’s no denying a laundry room needs personality! Indulge your creative side and go with something that speaks to you: Monkeys in the jungle? Steampunk Paris with hot air balloons? Or just paint or wallpaper one wall, like the wall behind your washer and dryer. There’s no reason your laundry room can’t have a feature wall!

On the opposite wall, you could install grid wall panels for a space-saving way to hang clothes, and use with swiveling hangers. If you use matching hangers throughout (your closet as well as your laundry room), you’ll achieve a neater, less chaotic look, which is more calming to the eye and spirit.

Floors: Best for this room are sheet vinyl flooring, ceramic tile or luxury vinyl plank (LVP), which can look like wood in a range of shades and grains. Since it’s usually a relatively small space, you can splurge a little on the flooring if you find something you love. Finish off the floor with a non-slip accent rug.

Washer/Dryer: If space is an issue, consider full-size front-loading stackable units. (LG has gone one better and makes a vertical washer/ dryer that has the controls between them.) This leaves more space for cabinets, a “slop sink” and/or accessories like a drying rack or a wall- or door-mounted ironing board. If you prefer side-byside units and have some extra space, place a narrow laundry storage cart between them to hold dryer sheets, stain remover, detergent, etc. If you don’t have that extra space, and your machines have controls in the front (vs. the top back), install a shelf above them for folding; you could even add a petite lamp and some faux (or real) plants there for a touch of charm.

Hampers: A quick search yields a range of affordable space-saving options online, like an over-the-door pop-up hamper by SmartDesign; two will fit on a standard door and stay nicely out of the way. There is a range of laundry sorters on wheels with two to four compartments; a commercial laundry cart on wheels by Gracie Oaks has capacity to spare, a canvas liner and pull handles –making it very easy to move from room to room.

Final decorative touches can include something fun like a retro wall clock, a droll calendar or snarky artwork celebrating the universally loathed drudgery of laundry. Now your laundry room practically beckons. And if you leave the door open, it’s so inviting that people actually want to go in there!