Transforming your laundry room from a drab and utilitarian space into a stylish and functional haven is easier than you think. With a few clever design choices and strategic organization, you can create a laundry room that you actually enjoy spending time in. From adding shelves for extra storage to incorporating pops of color and personality, the possibilities for a laundry room makeover are endless. Let’s explore some inspiring before-and-after shelf transformations that will elevate your laundry routine.
Open Shelving with Woven Baskets
Before: Cluttered countertops and disorganized supplies. After: Sleek open shelves with neatly arranged woven baskets for a natural and organized look. Incorporate varying basket sizes and textures for visual interest. Color combinations like a soft sage green for the shelves with natural-toned baskets create a calming and organic ambiance, reflecting the biophilic design trend popular in both the US and EU.
Floating Shelves with Glass Jars
Before: Limited storage and visual clutter. After: Minimalist floating shelves with clear glass jars to store laundry detergent, fabric softener, and other essentials. Label each jar with a stylish script font for a touch of elegance. This design utilizes the trend towards transparency and showcases the beauty of everyday items. Consider a monochromatic color scheme of white shelves and clear jars with black labels for a clean and modern aesthetic.
Built-in Shelving with Cabinet Doors
Before: Exposed pipes and unsightly storage solutions. After: Custom built-in shelving with cabinet doors to conceal laundry supplies and create a streamlined look. Paint the cabinets a bold color like navy blue or emerald green for a dramatic statement. This design caters to the desire for hidden storage and clean lines, a prevalent trend in contemporary European design. Brass hardware can add a touch of luxury.
Corner Shelves with Iron Brackets
Before: Wasted corner space. After: Utilizing corner space with sturdy iron brackets and wooden shelves. Display folded towels, decorative plants, and framed artwork to personalize the space. Industrial design elements like iron and reclaimed wood remain popular in both the US and EU. A color palette of grays and blacks with natural wood tones creates a sophisticated industrial chic vibe.
Ladder Shelf with Hanging Plants
Before: Lack of vertical storage. After: A leaning ladder shelf provides vertical storage and visual interest. Hang trailing plants from the shelves to add a touch of greenery and freshness. This design maximizes vertical space and incorporates the biophilic design trend. A white ladder shelf against a pastel wall color like blush pink or mint green creates a light and airy feel.
Reclaimed Wood Shelves with Metal Accents
Before: Bland and uninspired storage. After: Rustic reclaimed wood shelves with industrial metal accents create a unique and character-filled laundry room. This style aligns with the growing appreciation for sustainable and upcycled materials. Pair the shelves with black metal baskets and vintage-inspired accessories for a cohesive look.
Shelf with a Built-in Drying Rack
Before: Inefficient drying space. After: A shelf with a built-in drying rack provides a dedicated space for air-drying delicate garments. This functional and space-saving design is perfect for smaller laundry rooms. Opt for a natural wood finish for the shelf and rack to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Pull-Out Shelf for Laundry Baskets
Before: Difficulty accessing laundry baskets. After: A pull-out shelf allows for easy access to laundry baskets hidden beneath a countertop or shelf. This maximizes space and improves functionality, reflecting a key trend in modern kitchen and laundry room design. Use a neutral color palette for a seamless and integrated look.
Under-Shelf Lighting
Before: Dimly lit workspace. After: Installing under-shelf lighting brightens the workspace and highlights decorative items on the shelves. LED strip lights are energy-efficient and provide even illumination. This enhances functionality and adds a touch of ambiance. Warm white light creates a cozy atmosphere, while cool white light provides a more modern feel.
Mirrored Backsplash with Glass Shelves
Before: Small and cramped feeling. After: A mirrored backsplash combined with glass shelves creates an illusion of spaciousness in a small laundry room. The reflective surfaces bounce light around the room, making it feel brighter and larger. This design trend is particularly popular in European apartments where space is often limited. Pair with sleek chrome fixtures for a glamorous touch.
Boldly Colored Shelves with Wallpapered Backdrop
Before: Lack of personality. After: Paint the shelves a vibrant color like coral or turquoise and add a patterned wallpaper to the back wall for a bold and playful look. This design embraces maximalism and allows for personal expression. Geometric patterns and tropical prints are trending in both the US and EU.
Shelf with Integrated Ironing Board
Before: Lack of dedicated ironing space. After: A shelf with a fold-down ironing board provides a convenient and hidden ironing station. This space-saving solution is ideal for smaller laundry rooms. Choose a neutral color for the shelf and ironing board to blend seamlessly with the surrounding décor.
Open Shelving with Pegboard Backdrop
Before: Limited organization options. After: Open shelving with a pegboard backdrop provides endless possibilities for customizing storage and organization. Hang baskets, hooks, and shelves to create a personalized system. This versatile design caters to the growing trend of DIY and customizable home solutions. A neutral color palette with pops of bright colors on the accessories creates a fun and functional space.
Floating Shelves with Wire Baskets
Before: Lack of visual appeal. After: Install floating shelves with wire baskets for a modern and airy storage solution. This design allows for visibility and easy access to laundry supplies. Black wire baskets against a white wall create a graphic and contemporary look.
Shelves with Sliding Barn Doors
Before: Unsightly storage area. After: Conceal laundry essentials behind sliding barn doors for a rustic and charming look. This design adds architectural interest and provides a hidden storage solution. Reclaimed wood barn doors with black metal hardware are a popular choice in farmhouse-style laundry rooms.
Tiered Shelves with Laundry Hamper Storage
Before: Inefficient use of vertical space. After: Utilize tiered shelves to maximize vertical space and incorporate designated laundry hamper storage. This design improves organization and functionality. White shelves with natural woven laundry hampers create a clean and organized look.
Built-in Shelves with a Fold-Down Drying Rack
Before: Limited drying space. After: Maximize space with built-in shelves incorporating a fold-down drying rack. This cleverly integrates functionality without sacrificing aesthetics. A sleek white finish with chrome hardware complements a modern laundry room design.
Open Shelves with Labeled Storage Containers
Before: Disorganized and cluttered shelves. After: Declutter and organize open shelves with clearly labeled storage containers. This promotes a sense of order and makes it easy to find what you need. Opt for clear containers with minimalist labels for a clean and modern aesthetic.
Floating Shelves with a Gallery Wall
Before: Blank and uninspired walls. After: Combine floating shelves with a gallery wall to personalize the laundry room and showcase artwork or family photos. This adds a touch of personality and creates a visually appealing space. A mix of frame styles and sizes adds visual interest. Choose a cohesive color palette for the frames and artwork to tie the look together.
Industrial Pipe Shelves with Vintage Accents
Before: Lack of character. After: Industrial pipe shelves with vintage accents add a touch of urban chic to the laundry room. This design embraces raw and unfinished materials. Combine the shelves with vintage-inspired laundry signs and accessories for a cohesive look. A color palette of blacks, grays, and metallics creates an edgy and industrial vibe.
Corner Shelves with a Built-in Desk
Before: Wasted corner space. After: Transform a wasted corner into a functional workspace with built-in shelves and a small desk. This creates a dedicated area for folding laundry, paying bills, or working on crafts. A light and bright color palette with natural wood tones creates a welcoming and productive space.
Glass Shelves with Backlit LED Lighting
Before: Lack of ambiance. After: Glass shelves with backlit LED lighting create a dramatic and luxurious look in the laundry room. The lighting highlights decorative items on the shelves and adds a touch of elegance. This design trend is popular in high-end homes and adds a spa-like feel to the laundry room.
