Basement Laundry Room Ideas To Freshen Up Your Design
The laundry room is usually where we least think about making pretty at home. But it sure is an important yet commonly neglected part of the home. Because this place is where all the clothes cleaning happens (and sometimes, the storage for cleaning materials, too), it would only be beneficial and practical to keep it clean, organized, and in tip-top shape.
The ambiance of any space affects the mood of its users. Make your trips to clean clothing feel less dreadful by making the space homier and more appealing. Many studies and research show that clutter distracts the mind and makes it more difficult to focus on tasks. Other studies also correlate the cleanliness/organization of the home to one’s physical and psychological health. This room might seem to be just a small space in our home, but a long-due makeover will only be more beneficial to you. Give it a more fun and bright atmosphere using light colors and a more playful layout.
Unfinished Basement Laundry Room Ideas
Most laundry rooms are placed in the basement, and typically, unfinished basements have concrete floors that tend to be cold and damp. While the amount of work seems dreadful, consider this a blank canvas. After all, if it has no existing flooring, it saves you time and effort from replacing existing floors. Here are some ideas for upgrading your unfinished basement laundry rooms:
Choose a theme – Select a color theme to keep a cohesive design.
Add lighting – Lighting makes a huge difference in any space, and the laundry room is no exception. Basements typically have no windows for natural light, so artificial lighting will help make your room more conducive to its function.
Paint – Paint the walls, the ceiling, or the rafters. We recommend using light colors to brighten up the space.
Add storage – If your current cabinets/storage is insufficient, consider adding more to avoid clutter. Choose cabinetry that offers plenty of storage potential for cleaning products and accessories.
Add countertops – Choose a durable type of material such as granite, or quartz countertops.
Add flooring – Depending on your needs and the current state of your flooring, consider adding/replacing with durable materials suitable for wet areas.
Add wall accessories – These are used for hanging clothing and storing items like the ironing board.
If you have very little space, consider putting in a freestanding wash basin instead of a built-in one to save space. This also allows you to easily re-layout your space should you need readjustments. If you don’t have enough budget for cabinets and other architectural changes, remember to follow the principle that less is more. This freestanding utility sink is great for getting out stubborn stains before clothing hits the wash.
If experimenting with your basement space is not your style, you can always adapt the existing design style of your home or kitchen into your laundry room. Remember to allot sufficient storage so you can move around, for clothing hampers and sorting.
Finished Basement Ideas For Laundry
It could mean less work to do or more for finished laundry rooms, depending on its current state. The important things you need to check for before making any changes are the following:
Check your pipes and drainage – Spills and clogged drains can only cause damage to your sinks and appliances. Make sure this is addressed before you renovate.
Check the existing flooring – If your current flooring is laminate, carpet tiles, or hardwood, consider changing them as those materials are the worst to use for damp/wet areas.
Check the storage – Do you have enough space? How much more do you need?
Checking those three items will help you identify the key areas needing improvement in your current space.
Basement Lighting Ideas
As the laundry room is a very functional/utilitarian space, it’s important to have excellent ambient lighting, even better if you have task lighting. Mood lights or special effect lights can also be installed, but they are not practical or necessary, depending on your goal. Here are some recommended lighting options:
Under-cabinet lighting is a useful feature for any task-oriented floor plan. If your cabinets are installed already, consider getting a plug-in type under cabinet lights.
Just ensure an outlet is accessible from where you want it installed. But if you do have some DIY skills, you’re hiring a professional or are just installing new overhead cabinets, do consider adding built-in LED lamps for a cleaner look.
LED panel lights – Instead of a bulb, an LED panel will install just as easily and produce stronger light. Depending on the installation location, you can choose between different shapes and sizes, between flush mount and recessed mount options.
Pendant lamps – If you don’t have a drop ceiling in your basement, pendant lamps are a great option that’s easy to install.
Laundry Organization in the Basement
The key to organization is knowing/accounting for all your items in a space to determine its ideal storage location. Follow this easy guide to help you organize your laundry room:
- List all the items & products that are currently stored in your room.
- Categorize the items in the inventory to determine which items will be stored together. Example: All opened detergents and fabric softeners should be grouped together. Washing bags, dryer balls, and other cleaning paraphernalia should also be grouped and easily accessible.
- Stock items and potent cleaning agents should be kept further away, where children can’t reach them.
- Determine if you have enough storage space for your inventory. If yes, start your storage planning before implementation.
Baskets and crates are a low-cost and practical way to keep your laundry room clean and organized. A great alternative to plastic baskets and crate boxes would be collapsible fabric storage. This option is easy to execute and very affordable, too!
The addition of a large island counter for folding, sorting, or ironing clothes is a great idea if you have enough space for it. It could also serve as a combination laundry and craft room.
Basement Flooring for Laundry
When choosing flooring for your laundry room, remember that this area is moist and susceptible to water leakage, so select materials that can be used for wet areas. Generally, avoid the following: Laminates, solid wood, engineered wood, and carpet. The best materials to use are vinyl, ceramic tiles, and natural stone. If you want a soft cushion for your feet, you can simply add a small area rug with rubber padding to keep it slip-proof.
Here are some awesome basement laundry room ideas that may inspire you to design or DIY your remodel plan!
Laundry Wallpaper – Adding an uplifting wallpaper to the walls can help liven up and brighten the space to help lift your mood. Choose a product that offers moisture resistance, such as a vinyl-coated wallpaper that is easy to clean and durable. Choose a design that brightens the space. Lighter colors and patterns can help achieve a more open and airy ambiance.
Attached Mudroom – A small mudroom design with seating area is also a great idea for small laundry rooms. That way, you can have a comfortable place to take on and off shoes and coats when you enter the home.
Light Color Theme – Feeling stuffy as your laundry room has no windows, try to keep your color scheme light and bright to counter the dark ambiance of the space. This example shows all-white cabinetry paired with sage green painted walls.
Ceiling Paneling – A bright white ceiling paneling can help lighten up a dark basement and give it new life. Ceiling panels are a lightweight and inexpensive option for a DIY laundry remodel.
Laundry in the Kitchen – If you can’t have a dedicated room, you can also place your laundry in the kitchen, as it already has a plumbing system. This is quite common in small apartments and the washing machines are usually placed under the counters near the sink.
Small Basement – No space? No problem. Even tight, closet-like spaces can be turned into an efficient laundry room with proper planning. If you have a really tight laundry room space, stacking your washer and dryer vertically will help you save space. Keep the color scheme light so the space looks large.
Closet Conversion – Converting an old closet, so the shelving is retained to be put to good use can help tuck appliances out of sight so you can use the remainder of the space for other things. The space below can be used for storage (baskets), and the overhead with a metal shelf that allows the storage of different items.
This small basement laundry not only considers the space for its stackable washer and dryer machines and storage, but it also adds a small nook for their dog and a wet area where one can wash the dog or even do hand-washing for sensitive clothes.
What did you think about these basement laundry design ideas? If we missed something important, let us know in the comments section.
