Published: April 7, 2026 (https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/small-laundry-room-ideas)

Author: By Lindsey Mather and Sarah Lyon

Even small laundry spaces deserve big love. Instead of seeing a petite workspace as an afterthought, take inspiration from these small laundry room ideas. Interior design professionals have perfected the art of laundry room design and know how to create spaces that are full of function while also boasting plenty of flair. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for a laundry room makeover—whether you’re looking to go take on a DIY with a vibrant paint color, maximize vertical space with a stackable washer and dryer combo, or creatively install a drying rack that doesn’t make your eyes bleed. While doing laundry and folding clothes may never become your favorite chores, at least you’ll be surrounded by beauty as you fly through your to do list. Check out the 33 small laundry room ideas below, which might just prompt you to view your own small space in a new light. After all, laundry day won’t feel like such a chore when you’re washing and folding clothes in a room that you love.

Embrace a color-drenching moment

Small spaces and color drenching go hand in hand! Zoë Feldman opted to cover this laundry room’s walls, ceiling, and millwork in a citrine tone. The color “gives the room depth and presence,” says the founder of Zoë Feldman Design in Washington, DC. “In compact rooms, restraint can feel timid,” she explains. “Confidence is what makes them work.”

Say yes to spray paint

Up for a DIY? Don’t hesitate to grab a can or two of spray paint to really take your laundry room design to the next level. “In this space we used tall cabinets to provide ample storage and then stacked wooden drying racks for lots of hanging and drying space,” says Claire Staszak, the founder of Centered by Design in Chicago, an AD Pro member. "The big secret is that all the cabinetry and drying racks were white (and less costly)—we brought in a painter to spray everything blue and give it a custom look!”

Curtains conceal a washer-dryer—and add elegance to the home. Photo: Sean Litchfield

Just add curtains

Why not create a laundry closet of sorts? The addition of chic curtains can go a long way in transforming a simple nook into a small laundry room, where the washer-dryer are nicely nestled side-by-side under the eaves. “This charm-filled vestibule allows for machines to be easily accessed and then tucked away with the closing of the drape,” explains Laura Keeler Pierce, the founder of Keeler & Co. in Boston and Seal Harbor, Maine.

Nod to location

This sunny yellow laundry area is located within a beach house that has been within the same family for generations. Megan Gorelick, the founder of Megan Gorelick Interiors in Wilmington, Delaware, wanted to go with a paint color that reflected happiness and warmth. She selected the wave-patterned wallpaper to play to the home’s oceanfront location; the blue and yellow color combo couldn’t be more fun. That said, it’s more than okay if your laundry room doesn’t correspond directly to the rest of your home decor—since it’s sectioned off, feel free to go bold!

Work your vertical space

Marea Clark, the founder of Marea Clark Interiors in San Francisco, an AD Pro member, strategically used the vertical space in this small laundry room. She installed upper cabinets, which make for valuable storage solutions, and a space-saving hanging rod above the washing machine. “In small spaces, especially utility rooms, every surface must work harder, but our goal is always to make these spaces feel special rather than overlooked,” she says. “Even the most functional rooms deserve warmth, beauty, and a sense of calm.”

Don’t overlook the floor

“Function always comes first,” Liz Goldberg, the founder of CAROLYNLEONA in Raleigh, North Carolina, says with regard to laundry rooms. That said, she adds, beauty is also important, which is why one of her design ideas was to incorporated painted floor tiles, which, she explains, “bring a touch of European charm home to North Carolina.”

Use a sliding door

Opting for a sliding door can be both pretty and a practical hack. “When the caned doors are closed, they hide the washer and dryer and the space reads like a chic little room,” says Stephanie Kraus, the founder of Stephanie Kraus Designs, an AD Pro member in Wayne, Pennsylvania, of this setup. “And when they are open it becomes a fully functional space for washing and folding.”

Don’t hold back on detail

Olivia Wahler of Hearth Homes Interiors in Santa Barbara, California, didn’t hold back on the architectural details when it came to this small laundry room. “We approached this laundry room with the mindset that scale should never determine the level of design in any space,” she says regarding her decision to incorporate tailored millwork, custom paneling, and a vintage farmhouse utility sink. “Even the most hardworking spaces deserve the same level of design intention as the rest of the home,” she shares.

Add a clothing rod

In a beautiful robin’s-egg-blue laundry room, Alexandra Kaehler, the founder of Alexandra Kaehler Design in Winnetka, Illinois, installed a hanging rod above the washer and dryer. “The space above the units was a wasted space, because of the depth,” she explains. “It was a natural spot to utilize hanging space by adding a rod.”

Create a multiuse space

Design a laundry room so that it doubles as a workstation. This one contains a small desk and monitor that’s positioned across from the washer and dryer, making it easy to crank out emails while completing an essential household chore. Designer Megan Evans opted for a skirted desk for extra practicality. “This design element not only adds a touch of elegance, but it conceals a space for storage baskets as well as the computer hard drive beneath the skirt,” says the founder of Megan Evans Interiors in south Louisiana.

Add color with a bold wallpaper

Just because your laundry room is small in size doesn’t mean you can’t go bold. Gray Walker, the founder of Gray Walker Interiors in Charlotte, North Carolina, installed eye-catching patterned Pierre Frey wallpaper from floor to ceiling. “I have always believed in a laundry room loaded with personality,” the designer says. “It is a working space that I like to have fun with—you should enjoy every inch of your home, especially a room where you are doing mundane activities like laundry.”

Plan around storage

Amanda Reynal kept storage solutions top of mind when designing this laundry room, opting for hidden storage behind cabinet doors and cabinetry that extends up to the ceiling. “[This] gives the residents a lot storage without having the room feel messy or cluttered,” the founder of Amanda Reynal Interiors in Des Moines explains.

Don’t forget the art

“Laundry rooms often are pretty, soothing, and utilitarian, but they are not often sexy,” says Kristen Peña, the founder of K Interiors in the San Francisco Bay Area. “The homeowner wanted to be excited about going into her laundry room.” To spice things up, Peña installed Gucci wallpaper and hung an oversized art piece, both of which add major visual interest.

Install high shelving

Make use of vertical space by installing open shelving like Emilie Munroe did in this laundry room—you can even go the DIY route if you wish. To ensure the room appears clutter free, the founder of Studio Munroe in San Francisco also selected aesthetically pleasing woven baskets to keep items corralled—baskets of this size are excellent for housing essentials such as dryer balls, detergent pods, and more.

Put every flat surface to use

Incorporating a wooden butcher block on top of the washer and dryer, as Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors in San Carlos, California, did, turns the tops of the machines into a functional, flat space. A surface like this comes in handy when folding clothes but can also be used to display a small decorative vignette.

Incorporate hampers for easy organization

Sorting laundry once it’s dry is way more simple when you can easily toss items of clothing into each family member’s designated hamper. Shelby Van Daley of Daley Home in Cedar Park, Texas, included space for hampers to sit under this laundry room countertop—and the hampers’ rolling feature makes them even more functional.

Put a drying rack on the wall

Why let your drying rack occupy precious closet space when you can install it so that it hangs from the wall instead (without sacrificing aesthetics, of course)? Kathryn Murphy, the founder of Kathryn Murphy Interiors in Oak Park, Illinois, did just that in this rich blue laundry room, all while maintaining a cohesive color palette throughout.

It’s okay to cover windows

Take a cue from Murphy and install shelving in an L-shape to allow for maximal storage opportunities in a small laundry room. While this shelving does cover a window, the lack of backing and height of the shelving makes it possible to open and close the shade as needed without disrupting anything on display.

Keep laundry materials out of sight

This laundry room, designed by Hannah Fulton, the founder of J. Banks Design in Hilton Head, South Carolina, is another instance in which a utilitarian room for chores doubles as a spot to tackle work. As seen in other small laundry rooms, the cabinets in this space extend all the way up to the ceiling. There is even a small cabinet positioned right above the washing machine, which keeps laundry detergent accessible while camouflaging the plastic bottle.

Create a dual mudroom

Many laundry rooms, including this one by Nadia Watts, the founder of Nadia Watts Interior Design in Denver, serve as mudrooms as well. Here, a bench can serve many useful purposes, functioning as a place to sit down and lace up shoes as well as a spot in which to place folded piles of laundry before carrying them upstairs.

Built-in furniture is not the only path to success

If you’re unable to install a built-in, make like Heidi Woodman, the founder of Heidi Woodman Interiors in Indianapolis, and purchase a standalone bench, which can still function nicely in a small laundry room. This wooden one plays to the space’s moody, vintage-inspired style.

Place pattern all over

Don’t underestimate the power of pattern in creating a jewel box like effect in a small laundry room. Pleated fabric—Scrolling Acanthus by Soane in Cobalt, to be specific—adds a touch of elegance to this space by David Frazier. The founder of the eponymous New York firm also backed the fabric to the wall, giving the appearance of a paper covering.

Install a unique light fixture

Swap out your laundry room’s builder grade lighting with a showstopping fixture that will bring a smile to your face every time you see it. Rachel Cannon, the founder of Rachel Cannon Limited in Baton Rouge, hung a beaded chandelier in this laundry room, and the fixture adds plenty of whimsy, particularly when paired with vibrant wallpaper.

Place cabinets on top of your washer/dryer

If you’re looking to amplify laundry room storage without taking on a remodel—or even drilling into the walls—purchase a couple of standalone cabinets and place them on top of your washer/dryer for a space-saving solution, as seen in this space by Rob Stuart, the founder of Rob Stuart Interiors in New York. This renter friendly hack is simple yet impactful makeover. You can of course swap in your own hardware if the piece’s existing door pulls don’t reflect your aesthetic.

Add texture with cabinet fronts

Consider using cabinetry with a mesh front in lieu of standard glass to immediately add extra detail to a room and invoke a bit of English-inspired flair. It’s what Kriste Michelini, the founder of Kriste Michelini Interiors in Danville, California, did in this space.

Hide away your washer and dryer

If you prefer to not stare at your washer and dryer, consider placing the machines behind closed cabinet doors, as seen in this space by Lisa Laliberte-Alle of Laliberte Interiors in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Don’t be shy about introducing a dose of color, either. The plum colored built-ins add lots of personality to the small space.

Camouflage appliances

Alternatively, if you leave your stacked washer and dryer exposed, painting the area around the machines in a bold color can still result in a camouflage-like effect, drawing less attention to the appliances. Here, Craig O’Connell, the founder of Craig O’Connell Architecture in San Francisco, also incorporated a geometric backsplash into the mix.

Go for sliding racks

If you don’t like the look of a traditional wooden drying rack, consider a setup like this one by Shannon Adamson. The founder of Shannon Adamson Interior Design in Seattle, the designer installed sliding racks that fit perfectly in the empty space between the washer/dryer and nearby countertops.

Lean into neutrals

There’s nothing wrong with keeping your small laundry room nice and simple if you crave a serene vibe. Just take a cue from Nicole Yee of NY Interiors in the San Francisco Bay Area and go all in with neutrals. For a slight vintage touch, opt for penny tile flooring.

Add a countertop to a galley laundry room

This galley laundry room by Meghan Dorrian of Young America Creative in Oakland and Santa Cruz, California, is compact but majorly functional thanks to the expansive wooden countertop, which makes it easy to fold clothes or set down cleaning supplies.

Choose a vibrant color scheme

Bring on the brightness and pair patterned wallpaper with a neon green trim. Emily June Spanos, the founder of Emily June Designs in Houston, opted to turn this small laundry room into a colorful oasis that is full of pep.

Play with geometry

An artful pendant light adds a dose of charm to this laundry room by Sara Hillery, the founder of Sara Hillery Interior Design in Richmond, Virginia. The space has been painted a serene blue hue yet features whimsical geometric designs on both the floor and ceiling.

Opt for moody elegance

This gray-and-black laundry room by Denise Morrison of Morrison Interiors in Costa Mesa, California, is moody and modern. The addition of three wall-mounted sconces above the window ensures that the space will still be plenty bright for completing key chores.

Frequently Asked Questions

To design a small laundry room, you will want to take the same approach you would in any other small space and maximize storage solutions. As you will see based on the small laundry room ideas shared above, built-in or open shelving solutions are a practical choice in many instances. Sometimes a small laundry room will double as a mudroom and therefore contain other forms of cabinetry.
Many people will opt for a stackable washer/dryer to make use of the vertical space offered in a small laundry room, as per many of the laundry room ideas pictured above. You will also want room for clothes to hang dry; this may mean adding a laundry closet or a rod with hangers above the washing machine. Plenty of countertop space for folding clothes is also key.
A small laundry room should contain storage space or shelving to house essentials such as laundry detergents and dryer sheets. Many people also like their small laundry room to contain a cabinet or closet for linens and have room to tuck away laundry baskets, drying racks, ironing boards, and the like.
Interior designers are pros when it comes to laundry room organization. Opt for plenty of cabinets in a small laundry room, Gorelick says, noting that basic supplies like detergent, stain remover, and more need somewhere to live. “These products must be within arm's length of the washing machines but tucked away so they aren't on display,” she explains (so yes, skip the open shelving in this instance!).
Kraus recommends using containers or bins for organization as well as thinking outside of the box a bit. “If you can use the back of a door for hanging items or a fold-down drying rack to hang dry items,” she says.
Finally, since sorting and folding clothes is also an important part of laundry day, incorporating plenty of counter space also essential, Gorelick adds.

33 Small Laundry Room Ideas for the Tiniest of Spaces