Gray laundry room ideas and inspo.

What’s the best way to design and decorate a gray laundry room?

Laundry rooms are essential in any home, providing a dedicated space for washing, drying, and organizing clothing and linens. The design should be functional, optimizing the workflow from dirty laundry to clean and stored items. Some laundry rooms also double as mudrooms.

Whether you're in the process of a laundry room remodel or looking to makeover your existing one, these are the key elements to include in your design:

• Paint or Wallpaper: Select a color or pattern that sets the desired mood for the laundry room and complements the style you want to achieve. We are partial to covering walls, ceilings, and trim in a uniform paint color to create a cohesive look. Shiplap walls tend to be common design elements in a laundry room for their durability and modern farmhouse style.
• Decorative Lighting: Combine task, ambient, and accent lighting for a layered lighting scheme. Consider the placement of lighting fixtures to eliminate shadows and evenly light the space. Dimmer switches can adjust the mood.
• Washing Machine and Dryer: The core components of any laundry room, these can be side-by-side or stacked to save space. Ensure there's enough clearance for doors to open fully.
• Utility Sink: A deep, wide sink is invaluable for hand-washing delicates, soaking stained items, or cleaning up after DIY or home projects.
• Storage Units: Cabinets or shelving above and beside the washer and dryer provide storage for detergents, fabric softeners, clothespins, and other laundry essentials. Consider a mix of closed cabinets for unsightly items and open shelving for easy access to frequently used supplies. If you have the space, a linen closet or laundry is a great addition to a utility room.
• Countertop: A counter for sorting, treating stains, and folding clean laundry is a must. If space allows, a long, uninterrupted counter surface is ideal. Different countertop materials, from butcher block wood countertops to natural stones like marble or granite or engineered surfaces like quartz, offer unique textures that can add depth and interest to your laundry room design. Add a gray tile backsplash above the counter to tie it all together. Subway tile is a popular choice for laundry rooms.
• Drying Rack: For air-drying delicates and garments that cannot go into the dryer. A wall-mounted, fold-down rack can save space when not in use.
• Ironing Board: A built-in, fold-out ironing board saves space and is convenient for quick touch-ups. Alternatively, a freestanding ironing board that can be stowed away is also practical.
• Laundry Hamper: Built-in or freestanding hampers or laundry baskets for sorting laundry help keep the room organized, and are fun laundry room decor decisions. Consider separate bins for lights, darks, and delicates.
• Seating: A small bench, stool, or even an accent chair can be helpful for putting on shoes or resting as you fold clothes.
• Utility Cart: A rolling cart provides portable storage and can be used to transport laundry supplies or folded clothes.
• Curtains or Blinds: Window treatments not only help control the light and provide privacy but also serve to tie the room's design together. They offer an opportunity to inject color, texture, and pattern into the living space, making it more inviting and personalized. Whether flowing and sheer for a light, airy feel or rich and textured for a more luxurious look, curtains play a pivotal role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the laundry room. Don’t forget the curtain rod!

By integrating these elements into your laundry room's design, you can create a highly functional and efficient space that makes the task of laundry less of a chore. If you need an extra hand in your design process, check out our step-by-step guide on How To Design a Room.

How do you decorate with gray?

From ethereal silvers to deep, commanding charcoals, gray serves as a wonderful neutral foundation in interior design. Celebrated for its sophisticated nature, gray can give your space an air of traditional elegance or contemporary flair. Gray's versatility makes it suitable for nearly any room. In communal spaces like living rooms or kitchens, lighter grays can contribute to a lively and inviting atmosphere. In spaces designed for rest or concentration, such as bedrooms or home offices, darker grays can evoke a sense of tranquility and focus.

Layering various tones of gray in your laundry room, from light to dark, can create a sophisticated and cohesive look. To prevent a gray scheme from feeling flat, introduce a variety of accent colors, textures or patterns. For a timeless look, combine gray with crisp whites or deep blacks. For a pop of vibrancy, consider accenting gray tones with bold colors like mustard, teal, or coral. Combining gray with natural elements like wood, stone, or greenery can soften its coolness and add warmth to the space. Metallic finishes such as silver, gold, or copper beautifully complement gray, adding a touch of luxury and refinement. Metallic light fixtures, picture frames, or decorative items can introduce a glam feel to your space.

The perception of gray paint can significantly change under different lighting conditions. Natural light can enhance its softness, making it feel more airy and open. Though gray paint can often read white in larger rooms, so don’t be afraid to go darker if you want the color to shine.