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Inspiration: Laundry Rooms

by | Dec 28, 2009 | Decorating Inspiration, Laundry Rooms, Organization

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Inspiration: Laundry RoomsCountry Living

While part of me would like to just plant myself by the fire with a great book this week and pretend there is no such thing as laundry, the responsible side tells me that life goes on in between the holidays. And that means we have laundry to do. With extra people in the house and all of my kids under one roof, we have LOTS of laundry.

Did you know that it is estimated the average family spends an average of five to seven hours a week in their laundry room? That seems like a ridiculous amount of time to me, but nevertheless, I DO go in to my laundry room A LOT.

I covet a beautiful and well organized laundry space. But sadly, mine still looks exactly like it did the day we moved in, except for you can’t really see it anymore because of all the laundry piling up. It is pretty tiny (you can see it before we moved in on this post) but I am still excited about having a real laundry room to work with (my old laundry room was in a basement).

I was looking around online for some inspiration, so let’s take a peek at some of these rooms together, shall we?

Inspiration: Laundry Rooms

Country Living

Love the vintage touches in this laundry room.

Inspiration: Laundry RoomsCountry Living

So, subway tile and a pull out ironing board? Love it.

Inspiration: Laundry Rooms

Martha Stewart

Love the color of the cabinets and the open shelving and beadboard.

Inspiration: Laundry Rooms

Country Living

Fun use of wallpaper in this laundry room. I might actually use the wallpaper idea on the cabinet doors I have, just to liven things up a bit. Really love the wallpaper on the ceiling!

Let’s do a little poll: What is the area of your house you would MOST like to improve in the new year?

Hmmm… where will I begin this year…For some reason my laundry room doesn’t sound like one of the first rooms I’d want to work on when I still have a whole house of swine walls to deal with. On the other hand, the laundry room is so small that it could be a fairly quick and inexpensive makeover. Decisions, decisions.

I think 2010 calls for another Procrastinator Party.

Are you getting ready for your 2010 home improvement projects — what room will be YOUR top priority?

For another collection of laundry room inspiration photos, visit this Laundry Rooms post from last December!

More ideas can be found at Country Living: 5 Tips to Improve Your Laundry Room

52 Comments

  1. Barb Boyack

    Melissa, my office is a disaster.its a very small room with my very big desk area…bought the desk and accompanying furniture in my old house which had a huge office. Paid too much for it to even sell it and I love it..but it’s too big:( That room is my achilles heel..
    .-= Barb Boyack´s last blog ..Pink Satur-Day After Christmas =-.

    Reply
  2. linda

    well…you nailed it on the head for me.

    I have been procrastinating about my over small, over worked, over ignored laundry room. I have the materials…just don’t want to start. plus I am allergic to laundry.

    Yep…have a Dr’s note. Kinda.

    Reply
  3. Stacy

    These laundry rooms are gorgeous. I would love to improve my laundry room to look like as beautiful and organized as these! Thanks for the inspiration.
    .-= Stacy@RedDoorHome´s last blog ..Flower Frog Fun =-.

    Reply
  4. Mrs.Rabe

    Our laundry space in the basement could use some work! That is an understatement!
    I think though that we will wait – my parents will be adding an inlaw quarters to our home, in the next year likely. I am wanting to wait to see what that plan is exactly…
    .-= Mrs.Rabe´s last blog ..Reading =-.

    Reply
  5. Dawn-Hydrangea Home

    Oh Melissa, these are beautiful laundry rooms. And that is one room that is on my priority list, as well as the powder room and kitchen! Sorry can’t pick one. But I do plan to do them all on a strict budget using cabinets and furniture that we already have.!
    .-= Dawn-Hydrangea Home´s last blog ..Merry Christmas! =-.

    Reply
  6. Tami Lewis

    i am rearranging my small house so i need to create office space in my bedroom and reorganize the living room where the office came from. i plan to use a quilt to disguise a dresser filled with paper goods etc and go with a farmhouse look hopefully.
    .-= Tami Lewis´s last blog ..prayers needed =-.

    Reply
  7. Spring

    I live in a 100-yr old project house, so I couldn’t possibly pick one! But my laundry area in our damp, 100 yr old brick basement is a particularly rough spot for me. I’d love some ideas for anything I can do to that area!
    .-= Spring´s last blog ..Little… rather…Big Things =-.

    Reply
  8. Marjorie

    Consider yourself lucky if you HAVE a laundry room! Our older home came with a stackable W/D in our already cramped pantry. Last month the washer died an ugly death and the new machine does not stack. So, I now have about 6 inches (maybe) to squeeze into my pantry between the dryer and the door frame. Good thing I am bony! Our big project this year (Ihope) will be our kitchen and that will involve moving the w/d to the basement. Unfortunately this is not cheap. It will be a minimum of $800 just to put in the water and elecricity. Sigh. Hug your laundry room. You are lucky to have one!
    .-= Marjorie´s last blog ..A Craft for the Feast of the Guardian Angels – redux =-.

    Reply
  9. Flower Patch Farmgirl

    Re-doing our laundry/mud room was one of my favorite projects. There’s just something about a crisp, clean space that inspires us weirdos. :)
    .-= Flower Patch Farmgirl´s last blog ..Sneak Preview =-.

    Reply
  10. Traci Hutcherson

    Hi! I have several rooms to work on. The first one I want to tackle in my bedroom. But my 2 year old keeps climbing out of his crib, so I am going to have to move him into his older brother’s room. Then I get to turn his room into my craft room. I will have lots of work to do!
    But I can’t wait!
    Traci
    .-= Traci Hutcherson´s last blog ..Another Fun Tile Creation! =-.

    Reply
  11. shelly

    Pretty much our entire house is getting a much needed face lift! I just finished my oldest’s room (except for making a quilt and painting the dresser, bed and nightstand..well I guess its not “finished”!). Today I am tearing out the nasty plastic blue marble (?) paneling in my bathroom…what where people in the 70’s thinking?!? I was just going to mud over the panels, but when I lifted a piece up, there was BRAND new unfinished drywall underneath?!?!? Can’t wait to get it done (have my inspiration bhg photo on my phone to keep me going!

    Reply
  12. Suzann from The Olive Cottage

    I have several projects on my list to tackle in 2010.
    The main one being – the MAIN living area of the house.
    The kitchen – dining – and living area. They were three rooms and now they are one. One big room that completely doesn’t match. It’s a huge project.
    .-= Suzann from The Olive Cottage´s last blog ..Change… =-.

    Reply
  13. Nancy Ellison

    OMG! You make me want a laundry room. I just have my washer and dryer in a closet but purchased the peel and stick letters to put a cute sign on the door.
    nancy
    .-= Nancy Ellison´s last blog ..Twas The Day After Christmas =-.

    Reply
  14. Satsuki

    I really want to work on my own bedroom. Out of the whole house that areas seems to collect the most clutter- in the form of boxes and bags of stuff to donate. Just cleaning out the room would do wonders.
    .-= Satsuki´s last blog ..New Years Resolutions =-.

    Reply
  15. Gigi

    Melissa – thank you for this post! Just the inspiration I need! I have a laundry room that could be gorgeous – (if you can call a room that is basically a torture chamber (yes that’s how much I hate laundry!) gorgeous) if only I would do something with it. So thanks for giving me the push I needed!
    .-= Gigi´s last blog ..Today could easily be summed up with "Are you F*#%ing Kidding Me?" =-.

    Reply
  16. LesleySW

    I would love to have a well-organized, good-looking laundry room. But…it wouldn’t be my first choice for fixing up a room.

    We’re in the middle of a slowly evolving kitchen remodel. I’d LOVE to get it finished!
    .-= LesleySW´s last blog ..Home tour: A comfy house in a historic area =-.

    Reply
  17. Becky K.

    I still want to make some changes in the kitchen…
    however, the master bath needs a lot of help too.

    As for the Procrastinator’s Party…I finally took my unfinished chair to some Amish Ladies for recaning. Yay!

    It should be done in a couple of months. There were several orders ahead of mine.

    Becky K.
    .-= Becky K.´s last blog ..Will She Be Ours??? =-.

    Reply
  18. LucyT

    main bath we have been without it for months we only have 2 and there is 7 of us.we stipped it down to the joist and studs and thats how it has stayed.

    Reply
  19. Sarah

    I love these laundry rooms! There’s nothing that beats a well organized and functional room that also looks great!

    I don’t have a house, so I don’t have a room to tackle (I’m in college) but I would probably start with the area that is used the most.
    .-= Sarah @ Dream In Domestic´s last blog ..Woof Woof! (Merry Christmas) =-.

    Reply
  20. Vee

    What project would take priority (presuming there were funds for such a project)? I’d love to redo my kitchen since it is seen the most. Actually, I’m nearly ready to torch the place. It seems way beyond help. Ha!

    Reply
  21. Gayle

    Love the pictures of the laundry rooms. Mine is also the back entrance/mud room. I’m not sure there is much hope for it. Everyone seems to drop their junk there and I end up cleaning it up every week or so. Sigh…
    I hope to work on our floors this year. New carpet upstairs, perhaps changing to wood downstairs. We’ll see…
    .-= Gayle´s last blog ..Winter Walk =-.

    Reply
  22. Katie

    Thankyou so much for this post!!! I have benn thinking about doing mine… it’s ugly! White stucco wals & paneled walls! I have a whole gallon of Martha Stewart robins egg blue paint that i never used that I was going to put in there. It’s filled with lot’s of new white cabinets & I am going to try to squeeze in a small table so i can set up my sewing stuff in it.

    Reply
  23. Amy B

    I am definitely focusing on my bedroom and bathroom this year. I have lived in this home for three years and have yet to do a thing. Hopefully it won’t take me that long to finish my “to-do’s”!
    .-= Amy B´s last blog ..Random Bits as the year ends… =-.

    Reply
  24. Genevieve Ferraro

    Hi Melissa,
    I haven’t had a chance to stop by in a while, but I’m always so glad when I have a few moments to visit! Your posts are so practical and fun! This year I’m saving money to get a set of stacking washer/dryers so I have more room in my teeny tiny laundry room. I also desperately need to redo the little study my husband and I share. He is a pack rat, I’m not – so I’m looking for a miracle makeover!
    .-= Genevieve Ferraro´s last blog ..Happy Holidays! =-.

    Reply
  25. micaela

    love this post! i’ve always wanted one of those wall mounted drying racks like the first pic. one day my laundry room will be pretty like these!
    .-= micaela @ hishouse;herhelp.´s last blog ..flooring; solid vs engineered wood. =-.

    Reply
  26. Tami

    I would love to redo our living room. New paint, area rugs and furniture would be great… but I am leaning towards living with it,saving the money and going to Hawaii with family.
    The room can wait but the kids are moving out and I want to make more memories.
    Last year I added a chandelier to the laundry room. Just what It needed.
    http://theladyinthestonehouse.blogspot.com/2009/03/let-there-be-light.html
    .-= Tami´s last blog ..We Are Family =-.

    Reply
  27. Holly

    Love, love, love these laundry rooms! At least you have a room, Melissa, with a window and a sink, no less! I had my laundry put on the second floor with the bedrooms when we built our house, which is the best thing ever. But the trade-off was that instead of a room, it’s in a closet…no sink or storage or anything.

    Reply
  28. Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists

    Oh, what I would give for a real laundry room. In my tiny house, the laundry machine is in the unattached garage. (I do try every day to be thankful for even HAVING a washer/dryer, though.)

    I spend this morning working on reorganizing my living room. There are always ways to make it work just a little bit better.
    .-= Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists´s last blog ..A sweet way to say thanks =-.

    Reply
  29. Jessica Sparacio

    I would love a pretty laundry room. Right now I have my washer and dryer down the basement and it is not pleasant. I bring my clothing up to fold and iron in the middle of my room. I have so many projects to complete. We will be painting my daughter’s room next week and painting the living room again in the next month. We have outdoor projects that need to be completed too.
    .-= Jessica Sparacio´s last blog ..New Year’s Resolutions??? =-.

    Reply
  30. Jill: The Welcome Home

    Those laundry rooms are so sunny, neat and pretty! My laundry room is really just a large closet in my basement. No windows, cement floor and the electrical boxes, alarm box and Verizon box. Not pretty but sort of functional.

    I wish I could say this is on my list for 2010 but we are in the middle of renovating the ground floor of our beach house. It needs everything! 2 new bathrooms, tear out an old kitchen and turn it into a wet bar, build a wall, fill a whole in the floor, new flooring, paint, and so on.

    We need to get it all done in time for the next rental season (no pressure). Maybe the laundry room at the beach will be a pretty and bright space. . .

    I love the idea of another Procrastinator Party!
    .-= Jill: The Welcome Home´s last blog ..Another Great Christmas Eve! =-.

    Reply
  31. Beki - TheRustedChain

    Well I tackled my studio the day after Christmas, so that must’ve been on the top of my list even though I didn’t realize it.

    My bedroom needs some work. And the living room. To be honest, the laundry room is at the very bottom…

    Reply
  32. Tracy

    Oh boy, what area of my home does NOT need improvement? That would be a much shorter list! And the list of what I “want” to do would be much different from the list of what we “need” to do. Top priority though is the master bathroom (need to), followed by the master bedroom (need to), then the kitchen (want to) which just needs a new coat of paint and a few tweaks. I wish I could put “laundry room” on my list but I don’t have one! I have a laundry “area” in my garage—yuck. But I do think that, with a little effort, it could be a lot more attractive and pleasant to work in. Maybe in this new year that project will move up on the priority list. Thanks for the inspiration!
    .-= Tracy´s last blog ..A Lovely Post-Christmas Gift =-.

    Reply
  33. Cottage Dreamers

    I love a laundry room with a window in it! The green one is my favorite!
    .-= Cottage Dreamers´s last blog ..??? daze ??? =-.

    Reply
  34. Pinky

    Finally after 24 years in this house we did the laundry room (small though it is). We got cabinets to replace the HORRIBLE wire shelves, painted a calming green color and I even “decorated” the room! I COVET a laundry tub. Have never had one in this house and would LOVE to, but sadly NO ROOM for one:( Our MB really could use some TLC, it hasn’t been done in awhile but I would LOVE, love, love to totally redo the kitchen….it s 25 years old and DATED!!!

    Reply
  35. Heidi

    ha! ha! I just sat down at my computer, because I don’t want to look at my laundry pile!
    I love the drying rack idea in the first picture. That will have to go into my idea binder!
    .-= Heidi´s last blog ..Christmas Morning! =-.

    Reply
  36. mary b

    Oh how I wish I had a laundry room! My W & D are stuck in their basement quarters for now. At least they have a couple room mates…the big ol’ oil tank, and a chest freezer.
    I thought to start I will paint the cement floor something bright and cheery.
    But really my top project this year will be the kitchen area.
    .-= mary b´s last blog ..Merry Christmas to All! =-.

    Reply
  37. Bekki

    Laundry room, I have one of those. It’s benn unfinished for 3 1/2 years. Plywood floors that you can see the concrete through the cracks, no drywall in some places, and unfinished in others. No trim around the door to the garage to make for a very cold room! I had such high hopes for this room and have been buying little vintage items when I find them cheap at yard sales and such. Now we are moving in a month and I won’t get to enjoy it finished. So I am dreaming about a laundry room in the next house. With 4 children I think I spend way more time in there than mentioned. I say finish it first. It will be worth it! :)
    .-= Bekki´s last blog ..Outakes =-.

    Reply
  38. Amber

    Wow, 5 hours a week in a laundry room? Doing what? Folding? That is the only thing I can think of that would take time. Or ironing…does anyone iron anymore? My “laundry room” is a corner of my garage so I certainly don’t hang out in there much. My top room to get done though is my studio.
    .-= Amber´s last blog ..Dec 10, How to Paint Countertops =-.

    Reply
  39. Carmie

    It would have to be my GARAGE. So much stuff and things from my Mom’s days as an Avon Lady that are just taking up space.

    Reply
  40. Meredith

    With six children, it feels like I spend 5 hours a day in the laundry! I wish I could call it a laundry room, it’s more like a laundry corridor with three doors leading off it…ugh. I try to treat it like a pit stop at the Indy 500….haul the wet clothes out…throw dirty clothes in…throw in powder…slam down the lid…sprint out the back door with basket…I really need a pit crew or at the very least, a sponsor. Meredith xo.
    .-= Meredith´s last blog ..the homies =-.

    Reply
  41. pam rosenberg

    I just redid my laundry room this fall and bragged about it to the world in a recent post -http://becolorful.typepad.com/becolorful/2009/11/laundry-room-panache.html
    This was my last project before the holidays and I am trying to decide where I am going next. I’d love to do a bathroom but ours needs new fixtures, plumbing etc. and I may have to wait awhile longer for that. So I’m thinking something a little less $$$ demanding. I’ve narrowed it down to a bedroom or my living room which I did ten years ago and is too formal for my taste and lifestyle today. I will be checking back to see your progress and final result. Inspire me :)
    .-= pam rosenberg´s last blog ..Deck The Halls With Sinamay =-.

    Reply
  42. Donna

    Beautiful laundry rooms – all of them! My laundry room is definitely on the list for sometime in the future, but we are ending this year and beginning the next with a guest room renovation. Once that is done {I’m crossing my fingers that it will be mid January :)}, the next priority will be the kitchen-dining room. If I had my way, every room in the house would be on the list – but I have to curb my enthusiasm for a happy hubby!!!
    .-= Donna @ dh-designs´s last blog ..Merry Christmas to All! =-.

    Reply
  43. Hannah

    We’re a family of 8 with a laundry closet, so there is always laundry in the hallway, which I hate. However, I am so thankful that it is upstairs.
    Our home, which we’re renovating, is over 200 yrs old. There is always a major project to be done. This year I am looking forward to finishing the family/kid/homeschooling room above the kitchen. It has great views overlooking the valley, which can only be seen from this room.
    .-= Hannah´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Jesus! =-.

    Reply
  44. Melanie

    I have many projects that need doing. We just moved into our new home about 6 weeks ago. There are far to many to list but I am going to start them soon.
    .-= Melanie´s last blog ..Chocolate Chip Cookies. =-.

    Reply
  45. Connie

    I love the pics of the laundry room. But… my priority is the kitchen. My house was built in the early 80’s and is need of an update. I will paint and glaze the cabinets, add moulding, and hopefully get new counter-tops (with the help of a wonderful son – who lives close). Thank you for all the inspiration.
    .-= Connie´s last blog ..Vintage Up-cycled candle holder candelabra APPLE GREEN – so pretty =-.

    Reply
  46. Denise

    You know me, I am working on many rooms, but am trying to focus on sprucing up my mantle and working on the living room before I head to our master bedroom…you told me one room at a time, but it is hard!!

    Reply
  47. Nanci

    I have the laundry room redo on my back burner for the new year! I painted the cabinets, walls and totally redid the counters, etc. about 3 years ago, but am ready for a new look. Tired of my “pumpkin ginger” walls and going to a calming blue. May end up painting the cabinets again. I believe a laundry room should be fun and cheerful! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  48. Minnesotamom

    I’d love to re-do my dining room. It’s been on my “things to change about this house” list since we moved in three and a half years ago! I’ve made a start, too. We have a new dining table and chairs on the way.
    .-= Minnesotamom´s last blog ..Current Obsessions: A Meme =-.

    Reply
  49. Catherine

    We’ll be moving into a new house soon and I can’t imagine what I’m going to do w/the laundry room/pantry room that the house has. It’s my least favorite thing about the house, but somehow we’re going to have to make it work. I would reallllly like to be able to talk the builder into making the laundry room bigger, but I doubt that’s going to happen so I’m going to have to figure out how to do laundry for 7 people in a tiny space….right now I have 5 tall baskets in the laundry room at the house we’re in for sorting….I guess I’ll have to simplify when we move because, quite frankly, I don’t know where I’m going to be able to even put one basket! Yikes.

    At the house we’re in, I’d like to work on my and my husband’s bedroom – seems it’s always at the bottom of the list!
    .-= Catherine´s last blog ..pulling up and on her way! =-.

    Reply
  50. Ann

    Our whole house is in dire need of attention! Nothing has been done to it since we moved in almost 7 years ago, and it hadn’t even been painted since it was built! Gulp!! With a 5yr old and a 1yr old we have other priorities, but this year I vow to at least do our master bedroom/ensuite! I love the idea of making it into a retreat and having home date nights!! :-)

    Reply
  51. shanna

    I love your website! I like your pages and ideas- they are completely my taste. I too have a lot to do in my home and have been in it for almost 9 years! I plan to get a lot done this year, especially a better laundry room!
    Happy New year :)

    Reply

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