Laundry room re-do creates beautiful, functional space

By Lisa Canning
April 15, 2019

I recently worked with Alison, a busy firefighter and mom who was in need of a major laundry room overhaul. At work, people depend on Alison to help save lives, and at home, her family depends on her for countless things. So, creating systems and spaces that allow her to efficiently get the job done was my main goal and of course, it had to look good, too.

ESSENTIAL APPLIANCES

No laundry room is complete without a washer and dryer. For this space I chose Maytag’s (maytag.ca) Front Load Extra Power Washer and Dryer pair that have an Extra Power feature. For the washer, the Extra Power button fights stains that dissolve best in hot water and in cold – all in one load. For the dryer, the Extra Power button helps get thick fabrics drier the first time by adding extra time to the cycle.

STORAGE

Alison’s home is on the smaller size, so every single square inch of this space needed to count. I went with taller than normal uppers from Ikea (ikea.ca) in a high gloss navy blue for a look that is both modern and functional, allowing Alison to store detergent, cleaning supplies, towels and other necessities within arms’ reach. We also incorporated storage on the other side of the room with multiple drawers and decorative shelving. This space doubles as a desk for Alison’s young daughter when not needed for folding.

FOLDING SPACE

Whether you are a Netflix-and-fold kind of person or not, I think a dependable laundry space needs to have ample counter space. Here I used butcher block counters to provide a warm textural contrast against the blue cabinetry and marble wallpapered walls that I found at Anewall (anewall.com). Installing a counter over a front-load washer and dryer is always a must for me as it provides a durable surface and creates a more built-in look to your appliances.

HANG IT

I think one of the most overlooked functions of a laundry room is space for hanging clothing that needs to air dry. Whether you use a folding wire contraption that allows clothing to lay flat, a rope that allows you to hang clothing, or hooks like I did right here, you definitely need to plan for this element so the behaviour of air drying clothing actually happens.

MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL

I am a big believer that when a space is beautiful, we are happy to be there, and this makes us super productive. So, we utilized all kinds of strategies to make this space just gorgeous. We wrapped a marble wallpaper along all the walls, we added gorgeous crown moulding, we added teal accents that we found at HomeSense (homesense.ca) and just had so much fun with art, beautiful towels, and greenery.

About Lisa Canning

Lisa Canning is an interior design consultant in Toronto Canada. Read more about her family friendly approach to design on her blog, lisacanning.ca

Have great ideas? Become a Contributor.

Contact Us

Our Publications

Read all your favourites online without a subscription

Read Now

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

Sign up to receive the smartest advice and latest inspiration from the editors of NextHome

Subscribe