Laundry room design–see our tips for creating a functional space

The laundry room is no longer considered separate from the rest of your décor—it can blend seamlessly with your home's overall style.

“We choose storage cabinetry for the entire home at once, using the same colors, materials, and furniture in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area. Instead of open shelving, people prefer drawers and cabinets with doors. The idea is to keep everything behind closed doors and focus more on ergonomics,” says designer Senni Terävä.

Clients also want a spa-like atmosphere—familiar from bathrooms—even if the room is small. High-quality materials are increasingly important. People are increasingly willing to make bold, personalized choices.

“Most often, the laundry area is in the bathroom, meaning both bathing and garment care happen in the same space. Good design is vital when you want to fit a sink, storage, and laundry facilities into the same square footage in a stylish way,” adds Senni Terävä.

A carefully planned laundry room can suit both remote work and hobbies. Make sure your workstation is wide enough. If the room doesn’t get natural light, pay special attention to lighting. Choose a desk lamp with an adjustable angle. The cabinets in the photo are by the Swedish brand Vedum.

6 tips for designing a functional laundry room

1. Make use of the entire space

You can never have too much storage in a laundry room. In addition to handling laundry, it’s wise to reserve space for cleaning supplies, seasonal items, and hobby equipment. In small spaces it’s a good idea to use the full height of the room. Versatile storage solutions are particularly important if you also use the laundry room as a mudroom or for outerwear storage.

Clear sorting makes laundry day easier. Pull-out shelves with removable laundry baskets add extra convenience. The combination of satin-gray Laser cabinets and light oak finishes is harmonious. Photo: Noblessa.

2. You need plenty of work surface

Set aside a generous work surface in the area dedicated to laundry and clothing care, giving you enough room to handle garments. Placing a washer and dryer on top of a drawer unit saves your back and leaves a convenient spot underneath for dirty laundry or detergents.

Even though an entire wall of this long laundry room is dedicated to cabinets, the space doesn’t feel cramped. A direct passage outdoors and a glass door bring coziness and light.

3. Position your appliances wisely

Placing your machines side by side provides a handy surface for folding laundry on top. A stacked washer-dryer arrangement, on the other hand, takes up less space, especially in a small laundry room.

4. Leave room for working

Don’t crowd the laundry room. You need about 1.5 meters of free workspace in front of appliances and cabinets. A standard washer and dryer require cabinets with a depth of 60 centimeters, but other cabinets can work well with narrower depths.

5. Keep things bright and comfortable

If possible, arrange your workspace—perhaps for sewing—by a window. A good height for a work surface is about 65–70 centimeters. Meanwhile, a pull-out ironing board is best at around 85–90 centimeters.

When everything is in order, it’s easier to find what you need. Smartstore Basket Recycled storage bins, made from recycled plastic, can be part of your décor. They come in white and taupe.

6. Make washing easy

Choose a large enough sink and a tall faucet for your laundry room. That way, it’s easy to fill a bucket or wash bigger items.

In the laundry room, it’s often better to follow your own style rather than the mainstream. Pastel tones look great on cabinets and add a spark of joy to the room. Epoq Kitchens, Gigantti.

What’s the best place to store cleaning supplies?

Instead of hiding them, keep cleaning supplies where you use them most. By blending your storage solution into the décor, cleaning tools won’t be an eyesore. Buy a vintage wardrobe from an auction or antique store, and turn it into a cleaning closet with the right accessories. You’re more likely to grab the vacuum if it’s easy to take out and put back. In many homes, the area under the stairs is either unused or becomes cluttered storage. It’s surprisingly easy to convert it into a handy cleaning closet with doors or a curtain.

In tight spaces, you might find a storage spot for cleaning supplies in unexpected places, such as behind an interior door. Attach a rail with hooks to the door and hang baskets that fit. The system shown in the photo is by Elfa.

What’s a good spot for drying linens?

When the weather allows, it’s a good idea to dry your sheets outdoors in the fresh air. Nowadays, folding drying racks come in many styles and sizes for balconies both big and small. Even a door can serve as a drying spot if you mount a rack on top. A door-mounted rack for sheets and towels saves floor space and frees up the drying rack for other laundry. A retractable clothesline you can pull inside when not in use is another convenient option.

Many find drying laundry frustrating, and the equipment isn’t always pleasing to the eye. A wall-mounted rack is a stylish solution that’s easy to fold away. The beechwood Chalford rack (60 × 70 × 8 cm) is from Garden Trading.

Where can I store clothes that need ironing?

Attach hooks to the wall or hang a rod above a counter. There, you can add plenty of hangers for clothes waiting to be ironed. You can also fold sheets and bedding onto hangers. Gain more storage by hanging baskets on hooks. Drying clothes on hangers also cuts down on ironing.

In a small space, functionality is key. A metal-framed wall storage system also works well for a laundry corner in the bathroom. The Enhet system here is from Ikea.