Focusing on function in the laundry room doesn’t have to mean giving up style.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Winter 2026
The well-known design principle that form follows function holds true no matter what the subject, but design elements in the laundry room often get washed away. Many laundry areas end up at one extreme of the design spectrum or the other, either a stylishly impressive space that doesn’t even look like a laundry room or a highly functional space that ignores style completely.
Focusing on the task at hand during a laundry room project can create opportunities to let your style shine. Here are some ways to transform your laundry room into more than just a workstation.
Sort well
Start by determining which tasks you need to accomplish in your laundry area. Is yours a multipurpose space or one dedicated strictly to laundry? Do you simply need room to sort and fold clothing, or is it necessary to have racks or hanging space for drying damp items?
Woodharbor’s Jammie Pekarek says, “About half of our clients need the laundry area to serve another purpose, usually a mudroom, where they can drop dirty items and keep the mess contained in one place.”
“If there’s room, homeowners like to use the space for other purposes, too, like a sewing room,” says Keelie Lawson of The Kitchen & Bath Company.
Any laundry room functions better with a bit of work surface and some storage space.
“There are some features that are pretty nonnegotiable,” says The Kitchen & Bath Company’s Jenni Blum. “I like to include at least a small sink, some counter space for folding clothes, and a couple of cabinets to house cleaning products.”
“There are some features that are pretty nonnegotiable. I like to include at least a small sink, some counter space for folding clothes, and a couple of cabinets to house cleaning products.”
Jenni Blum, The Kitchen & Bath Company
Pekarek agrees. “Storage is a necessity. You can put all the cleaning supplies away to keep the room clutter-free for the most part,” she says.
Lawson says, “If the space is small, a countertop can be set above the front-load washer and dryer. And a tall closet for brooms or coats can usually fit even in a smaller laundry area.”
Since sorting laundry is unavoidable, some sort of built-in storage, cubbies, or bins for the sorted laundry will make your laundry room both more functional and more attractive as well.
“Having somewhere for laundry baskets to go is so useful,” Pekarek says. “Whether it’s a cabinet with shelves to hold the baskets or a moveable unit with baskets included, this keeps the floor free from clutter and can add a touch of style, depending on the option you choose.”
Treat as needed
Just as with your special fabrics, unique needs can also demand unique solutions in the laundry room.
“We’ve done laundry rooms with large soaking sinks,” says Blum, “and a hanging rod for drying delicate items. Another feature that many homeowners like is having front-load washers and dryers set up on a raised pedestal base so there’s less bending over to reach inside.”
Drying racks and hanging rods are easy features to add, even in a smaller laundry room. Lawson says steaming areas are gaining popularity as well, whether it’s a cupboard to hang items for steaming or a built-in steam closet.
Pekarek says, “One of my favorite features is when homeowners have the washer and dryer in one unit. This creates extra space for storage or other features that we wouldn’t otherwise have with two separate appliances.”
Personalize it
Even the most functional space deserves a personal touch. The laundry room is no exception, so think outside the box.
“Instead of a basic sink, opt for a deep farm sink,” says Lawson. “It allows for soaking stained items but also adds style. If it’s possible, I also like to use floating shelves to create a more decorative look than standard cupboards.”
Blum says, “When there’s space for it, keeping the area below the countertop open provides space for laundry hampers or sorting baskets.” This also creates a more open feel in a room that tends to feel enclosed.
Another option to brighten the space is adding a window or, if that’s not possible, some fun lighting.
Cheerful paint colors are becoming common, as are bold wallpaper, colorful backsplashes, and patterned floor tiles. In addition to brightening up the space, custom touches such as these enhance the personal style of a laundry room.
With everything now available from custom pet-washing stations to barn doors that hide appliances, from pull-out cabinetry for sorting laundry to hidden charging stations that keep clutter tucked out of sight, today’s laundry room doesn’t have to sacrifice style to focus on the task at hand. •
Resources
- Jenni Blum The Kitchen & Bath Company
- Keelie Lawson The Kitchen & Bath Company
- Jammie Pekarek Woodharbor
