No Longer Hidden Away—From Laundry Room to Showpiece

Though laundry rooms were once auxiliary spaces hidden away from guests in bathrooms, basements, and back corners, designers and homeowners are giving them a makeover that visitors won't want to miss. Rather than serving as a dedicated space for washing clothes, recent design trends are transforming multipurpose flex rooms into laundry rooms with shared pantries or dog-grooming areas.

Work areas with folding counters and storage baskets can also maximize space and increase productivity to keep the clutter and the work confined to the laundry room, according to The New York Times. Laundry rooms are taking on fresh patterns, bright lighting, and even artwork to make home chores seem less of a hassle in a quiet, tranquil, and open space.

“A lot of my clients are starting with the idea of the laundry room being one of the most important spaces of their home,” said Ashley Martin, an interior designer in Winter Park, Fla. As people continue to move away from formality in favor of relaxed, casual living, the laundry room is “becoming a showpiece,” she said, instead of something to hide.

And who knows? A well-designed laundry room may make washing dirty clothes just a little less onerous. “The things that we don’t love to do as grown-ups become a little more pleasant when the spaces are beautiful,” said Bria Hammel, an interior designer based in St. Paul, Minn.

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