20 Tips for Creating a Stylish Basement Laundry Room

Doing laundry in the basement doesn’t have to be a dark and dank experience. We’ve got easy ways to make your subterranean laundry room bright and functional.

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November 02, 2020

By: Jacquelyn McGilvray and Keri Sanders

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Employ Upbeat Colors

A color palette of white and pale mint keeps this basement space light and cheery. Large molding around the small window makes it appear bigger and turns it into a feature and not just a tiny porthole. Built-in shelving keeps the space organized while the large countertop is a convenient space for folding and sorting.

Add Big Patterns

Basements are a great place to go bold and have fun with your design. Here, geometric wallpaper and a large clock add a ton of personality to this laundry area and storage room.

See More: 21 Beautiful Removable Wallpaper Designs Renters Should Know About

From: Justine Sterling

Use Accents and Accessories

Usually, a basement utility room with a washer, dryer, slop sink and upright freezer is far from the most attractive place in the house. But the wood countertop and table, graphic rug, wall art and other decor items add tons of charm and style. A live plant may not be viable in a basement, but a faux one can also provide just the right touch.

See More: 14 Best Laundry Room Ideas and Essentials

Implement Closed and Open Storage

Open shelves in a laundry room are great for often-used items while standard cabinets are handy for stashing seasonal items or cleaning supplies. A closet rod hung above the sink makes a practical drying rack. The penny-tile backsplash and the bold-red washer and dryer add style and lots of personality.

Skirt the Issue

Instead of using drawers under the washer and dryer, these homeowners placed the appliances on a platform. The space underneath the platform is covered in curtains to conceal the detergents and laundry supplies that are housed there. The curtains are a budget-friendly solution that softens the hard lines and adds a touch of farmhouse charm.

Surround With Storage

If your laundry space is just an open wall in the basement, surround your appliances with shelves, tables, carts and racks. The tracks used to hold up these shelves and rods can be installed on masonry walls as well as drywall. Two tables create a large countertop over the washer and dryer while freestanding racks with drawers and a laundry cart provide plenty of storage.

See More Photos: 30 Clever Storage and Organization Ideas for Your Tiny Laundry Room

Use Convertible Surfaces

This laundry room was lacking on counter space, so a hinged fold-down table was built onto the wall. Large hooks above the table provide a place to hang clothes to dry.

See More: How to Fold Fitted Sheets

From: Christina Tello

Close It Off With Curtains

If you can’t close off your laundry area with doors, curtains are an easy and inexpensive alternative. Shower curtains are a good choice for basements because they’re made to prevent mold and mildew. A shower curtain tension rod will allow you to span a wide space, if that doesn't work, try hanging curtain hardware from the ceiling.

Create Colorful Cubbies

Laminated plywood and peel-and-stick wallpaper were used to create this convenient and adorable washer and dryer surround. Adding cheery colors and whimsical touches to a basement laundry is one way to keep the chore from being so mundane.

See More Photos: 20 Basement Paint Color Ideas

Make It Multi-Purpose

Many older homes have the unfortunate situation where the basement laundry room is also a bathroom. It’s the price you have to pay for vintage charm. But that doesn’t mean the space has to be an eyesore. Here, a natural-stone countertop mixed with various-sized floor and wall tile makes the space practical and efficient as well as pleasant and comfortable.

Pack in the Storage

This spacious laundry room is made practical with the addition of floor-to-ceiling cabinets. Built-in shelves in between the washer and dryer and a countertop above provide a handy place to stash soaps and detergent and fold the clean laundry.

See More Photos: Our Favorite Laundry Rooms From HGTV Home Giveaways

Hide With Style

Don’t underestimate what one piece of fabric can do. Here, a vibrant-green chevron-pattern sink skirt adds a punch of personality and hides the ugly plumbing under the slop sink.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Sink Skirt

Add a Fun Color

Who thought a brick-walled laundry corner could be so cute? Kelly green paint is used on the cabinet faces to match the storage boxes on the shelves. Painting the brick white and styling the space with a geometric light fixture and a few pieces of artwork is also a budget-friendly way to punch up the personality.

Upcycle Vintage Cabinets

A set of base cabinets was added to this laundry room for style and function. A practical laminate countertop was fitted over the cabinets as well as the washer and dryer (on the left). A closet rod hung close to the ceiling makes a convenient place to dry shirts. A table lamp and wall art add a little style while a stainless-steel table makes a terrific gift-wrap station.

See More Photos: Upcycled Design From HGTV Urban Oasis 2020

Add Sassy Colors

This could be a boring laundry room, but it's not thanks to the midnight-blue cabinets, a lemon-yellow backsplash and a jet-black floor. A large countertop and closet rod hung between the cabinets help make the colorful space practical as well as fun.

From: Claire Paquin

Use Every Inch of Space

Laundry will hardly ever pile up if you’re lucky enough to have two washers and two dryers. A natural stone countertop running the length of the room provides plenty of space for folding laundry or doing crafts and messy projects. Under-cabinet lighting along with recessed ceiling lights keeps this space bright and cheery.

From: Shane Inman

Try a Crisp and Clean Color Palette

Stainless-steel appliances mixed with chrome accents and light pastel colors create a clean and tranquil setting. A metal shelving unit tucked into the corner is a handy place to hang wet clothes and a row of upper cabinets provide lots of storage for laundry supplies.

From: 2id Interiors

Get Daring

A funky metallic divider separates this sleek laundry room from the storage closet beyond. Don't be afraid to go a little daring and bold in your basement laundry room design; after all, you're probably not going to be hosting dinner parties in there.

Keep It Concealed

When not in use, this front-load washing machine and dryer are hidden within built-in cabinets. A gray granite countertop covers a stack of storage drawers perfect for holding arts and crafts supplies.

See More Photos: 12 Amazing Craft Room Organization Ideas

From: FBC Remodel

Elevate the Storage

A platform underneath the washer and dryer offers extra storage space, while a ledge above can be used for decorative pieces or more practical cleaning supplies.