laundry room before and inspiration

January 30, 2017
IN: design dilemma, design ideas, design inspiration, design thoughts, laundry room

Our new Speed Queen washer and dryer has me wanting to give our good, but kind of plain and boring laundry room a little sprucing. With no windows and zero natural light in this small-ish space I want to infuse a good dose of color and personality in here.

Before

The room double functions as a mudroom and boasts some really great cabinetry. It’s already high on functionality, but I’d love for it to have a personality to match.

*sidenote – You like how my dog chewed the corner edge of the bench? #awesome

I feel like, of any space in a home, a laundry room is the perfect place to go a little bold, maybe even dare I say wild with design. It presents a great opportunity to experiment with color and/or pattern as it’s really a spot that just your immediate family sees. Truthfully, the way my family works, this room is really just mine. No one else that lives under our roof matches me in time spent in here. So I’m claiming design rights and want to do something really fun!

My plan is to bring in a good healthy dose of color. The only decision I’m really struggling with is whether I should paint the cabinets…….or paint the walls?

Paint the Cabinets?

(Ashley Winn Design via Apartment Therapy)

(Urban Grace Interiors via House Beautiful)

(Cari Berg Interior Design – DecorPad)

I really dig colored cabinets, and am still pleased as punch the pink vanity in our powder bathroom! That being said, I also really really loved the pink walls and red ceiling combo I did in the powder bathroom of our Kentucky home. So I’m a little stumped.

Paint the Walls?

(via)

Soft pink walls with white trim and appliances is such a fresh, feminine look!

But a bold peachy-orange is also a mega stunner!

(Apartment Therapy)

Light blue feels really fresh and beach-y!

(House and Home)

Help Me Decide!

So help me decide y’all! Should I paint the walls or the cabinets? What color? Should I just paint the cabinets and leave the built-in white? Or paint it all a fun color? Throw out your ideas friends! I feel like anything goes in this space, which is why I’m struggling to nail down a plan. But I’d really love to get moving on this as I’m hoping it’ll make doing the laundry feel like less of a chore.

You can check out more of my favorite laundry room design inspiration on my Pinterest board here.

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Not pink again ?

paint the walls, not the cabinets. can use tile behind the washer/dryer for extra pop if you have the money!

Paint the cabinets. Love your pink PR vanity.

I do love a fun color on cabinets but I would think painting the walls would be that much easier to do (and to change in the future if you want a quick re-do),
🙂

Paint the walls. White cabinets are classic and never go out of style.

Paint your… Walls!

xoxo

I say paint the cabinetry a fun, bold color like navy blue or kelly green with gold knobs. Painting your interior garage door a light shade of blush pink would look really pretty. Add an interesting light fixture, wall art and some more throw pillows for your bench and you’re done!

Paint the cabinets or install some pretty wallpaper with a lot of color/pattern. It is such a small space that you could make it a pretty little jewel box of pretty finishes and punches of color. Great bones so no matter which direction it is sure to be beautiful! Good luck deciding!

I’d paint the walls and ceiling. Maybe do a funky wallpaper somewhere (if the room isn’t too small for that).

It wasn’t an option but what about the peel and stick wallpaper people are crushing on? Target has a decent selection. Navy and white paper would get my vote. I do love the mint painted cabinets as well. And the light fixture in photo one, yes please!

Paint the walls!!! White cabinets add to the “clean” feeling I think!!! I lean towards a blue or green on the walls.

I painted my old kitchen cabinets that got recycled to the basement years (nay decades ago) and they looked fabulous in blue with new hardware. I was in the dark dreary basement where nobody wanted to spend any time. So I covered all the bare concrete walls with white pegboard and instant storage everywhere plus it bounced the light around a lot more. Adding more lights helped but so did really scrubbing the tiny basement window. I don’t think I’d ever washed that window…

I would paint the walls. That would allow you to find some fun art, fabric for a cute bench cushion and pillows, and maybe a graphic rug. Yet, it would make the room feel too dark. And, if you are like me it will be easier and less expensive to update when you tire of it 😉

I like the coral or green pics. I think those colors would be pretty in your laundry room. You are good at matching up some prints for them. ?

I would paint the walls….I love the pink but also love the aqua blue in one of the pictures. Leaving the cabinets white will make the room lighter, especially if you go with a pastel for the walls. No matter which direction you decide to go, it will look beautiful….all of your spaces and projects do!

I would paint the walls and then do a really fun bold print on the back of the cubbies

I’d lean towards leaving the cabinets white…just seems easier to repaint walls in a few years if you want/need to.

Paint the walls and I love the light blue!

Paint both. Cabinets Urban Bronze and walls pink. If too much? Paint ceiling the pink and cabinets UB. Leave walls cream/white.

Maybe shiplap the walls with some luan, since it’s thin and you already have trim. Paint that a fun color and add a cool light fixture. Or, paint the walls white and get a stencil in a really cool pattern and use a color you really like. I also love adding something old in a space that’s all new. Like a persian rug or an old shelf to store cute laundry supplies.

I agree with Lauren. My thoughts exactly.

Personnaly, I would paint the walls. Easier than doing the cabinets. I also like the light blue.

I love the look of both but after painting my kitchen cabinets and all that went with it, I say just paint the walls! Or do a wallpaper with a great design and coordinating fabric for the bench. Love your new washer and dryer – ours is about to bite the dust and I’m sick of having it serviced so I’ll have to look into these.

What about a pink + peach/orange combination? You’ve done a lot of pink + red – this could switch things up a bit. But if you really like the idea of pink + red as being a theme in your house, go for it! When I’m deciding between a few things, I flip a coin assigning one choice heads and the other tails. If I’m happy with what the coin tells me, I go for it. If I’m disappointed, I do the other anyway : )

I love that blue… It so reminds me of the south. Of course we got 6 inches of snow yesterday and will get 3-5 inches today, so that room would lift my spirits ? That and sunshine

I love the beachy fresh feel of the light blue with the white cabinets and appliances. Then you can use fabrics on the floor and bench to add some punch.

You need to switch your washer and dryer as it will be easier to load to have your door
open on the right.

I say blue walls, white cabinetry is timeless!!

I agree with others to paint the walls – easier to swap out (and dare I say, for resale…Though I hated when anyone said those words to me when we were building our house 🙂 Plenty of fun color, pattern & texture can be achieved through wall color, rugs, other accessories….

It actually isn’t a problem to load as is because the dryer door opens all the way and doesn’t swing to close while it’s being loaded.

I tried using a peel and stick in our guest room and I found it really difficult to work with. Wallpaper is tricky for me as I tend to find it easier to commit to color than pattern. But I don’t disagree that a pattern on the walls would be really fun!

Painted cabinetry looks more high-end than colored walls. However, your cabinetry looks great as is and it’s harder to paint and then change painted cabinetry than it is to change wall color. Why not wallpaper the wall instead? It’s a step up from paint but you could really glam it up in there. Can’t wait to see what you do.

Paint the walls, I loved the blue!

Paint the walls the same green-blue in the photo. Keep everything clean and simple. Add a mirrored medicine cabinet to store sundries and brighten it up.