The laundry room is meant to be a purely functional area of the house, but do you ever find yourself sighing with dismay whenever you step into it? Because the laundry room ends up being in the basement or a back room of most houses, it often gets left out when people design their spaces for beauty and color. However, this room doesn’t have to be a dungeon — in fact, it can be quite welcoming with just a little bit of work!
Fabric Skirts
Do you have a sink, counter or shelf space in the laundry room that is simply used to store unsightly cleaning supplies or items you don’t use often? These shelves and under-sink spaces can become dusty eyesores. If you have some sewing skills or a trusted seamstress, think about hanging a fabric skirt around these areas to obscure the mess. A fabric skirt in a bright, bold color also adds a lovely accent to your laundry room that might surprise you. Choose an all-weather fabric for durability.
Clean Room, Clean Colors
One way to really make the laundry room a welcoming space is to make sure you introduce plenty of color. Look at your walls and the cabinets and consider how you might lighten them up. One beautiful plan to pursue a fresh, clean color palette. Paint your cupboards a brilliant white, and paint the surrounding walls a Caribbean green or a sweet, bold blue. This can make the whole space pop.
Wicker, Wicker, Everywhere
The thing about laundry baskets is that, for the most part, they generally don’t get replaced until they’re falling apart. To combat this, many people trade in their worn, utilitarian plastic baskets for more sophisticated wicker baskets, which add both color and texture to your laundry room. Some people go so far as mounting decorative baskets on the walls to echo the wicker motif.
Off the Floor
One thing that often gives laundry rooms a rather dungeon-like appearance is that the floor space is so small and cluttered. The natural fix for this problem is to get everything off of the ground! Put up some decorative hooks and simply hang everything, from your laundry cups to your fabric softener. This is a good way to make sure that your laundry area stays clean and tidy.
Take a moment to think about your laundry room. It really can be as welcoming as the rest of your home — all it takes is some creative design and a real understanding of the concepts that you love.
Of course, a fully functioning washer and dryer are the key to a clean, efficient laundry room. If your appliances ever break down, a home warranty from American Home Shield can help you get your laundry room back on track. Find out how to keep yourself protected.
Post Author: andyc.