Channel your inner Joanna Gaines with these small laundry room ideas with farmhouse style. Open shelving tips, vintage decor finds, and space-saving solutions will help you create a beautiful and functional space, even on a budget. Get inspired with these simple tips.
Let’s face it, laundry rooms often get relegated to the “forgotten corners” of our homes. But even in the most compact spaces, you can inject some farmhouse charm and make laundry day a little less of a chore.
It seems strange to decorate the laundry room doesn’t it? But hear me out. We spend A LOT of time doing laundry and if we have to do it, we should at least have a nice place to work.
I mean, why shouldn’t the space where we wash our clothes be as nice as any other room in our house? Let’s chat about creating a functional workspace that suits your style and style.
My former laundry room was prime for an update. Our small, outdated laundry room was part of the bathroom. When we remodeled our main floor bathroom, we made two separate rooms: one was small bathroom and the other a small laundry room.
The laundry room dimensions are roughly 6.5′ x 6′. I searched high and low for small laundry room ideas to find inspiration that felt warm, open, and inviting. This space is a pass through area to get into the bathroom so it needed to be both functional AND look pretty.
Wait until you see these farmhouse laundry room ideas for smaller spaces!
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Creating a Laundry Room With Function and Style
Creating a laundry room that’s both stylish and functional is all about striking the perfect balance between form and function. Before we focus on small laundry room ideas, here are some key things to consider before renovating your clothes-washing workspace.
Start with laundry room essentials
Make sure your layout accommodates your washer, dryer, and any other appliances you need, like a sink or ironing board. Consider adding vertical storage solutions like cabinets or hanging shelves to maximize space.
Embrace open shelving
Ditch bulky cabinets and showcase your laundry essentials in style with open shelves. Add baskets, jars, and canisters for a touch of rustic organization. This not only frees up floor space but also allows you to personalize the space with decorative items.
Let the light in your farmhouse laundry room
If possible, replace heavy curtains with light-filtering blinds or a sheer window treatment. Natural light will instantly brighten your space and make it feel more open and airy. Consider skylights in larger laundry rooms for an extra dose of sunshine.
Incorporate texture and dimension
Play with different materials and textures to add visual interest. Shiplap walls, wood accents, and woven baskets are all great ways to achieve this. You can also use a patterned rug or wallpaper to add a pop of personality.
Don’t forget the finishing touches!
A vintage rug, chalkboard message, or galvanized metal accents will add personality and charm. Fresh greenery is always a welcome addition, even in a laundry room. Choose low-maintenance plants like succulents or air plants that thrive in humid environments.
My laundry room has no natural light as it is a pass-through from the living room to the bathroom. So for me, it was really important to keep this small space light and bright so nothing in the room weighted it down.
It’s a little bit bigger than an oversized laundry closet so when decorated it, I had to keep in mind the overall size so it didn’t feel cluttered and unusable.
Small Space, Big Style: Small Laundry Room Ideas
Now that we chatted about different laundry room ideas, there are a few ways to scale it down to accommodate smaller spaces. The focus here is on functional laundry room design with an emphasis on storage, light, and functionality.
Big bulky cabinets can really enclose a space. Swap them out for open shelving where you can make it functional and reflect your personal style. Mason jars, wicker baskets, and vintage tins keep everything organized while adding a touch of farmhouse flair.
Utilize wall space by installing a drying rack or hanging shelves above your washer and dryer. This frees up floor space and keeps essentials within easy reach.
A strategically placed mirror can make your laundry room feel larger and brighter. Opt for a rustic farmhouse frame to complete the look.
Invest in a folding ironing board or wall-mounted ironing station to save precious floor space. Bonus points for a vintage-style ironing board that doubles as decor.
If possible, replace heavy curtains with light-filtering blinds or a sheer window treatment. Natural light will instantly brighten your space and make it feel more open.
How to Add Farmhouse Style to Your Small Laundry Room
Farmhouse style evokes a warm, rustic aesthetic reminiscent of cozy country living. It blends elements of practicality and comfort with hints of vintage charm and a touch of industrial inspiration. Here are some ways to infuse your farmhouse style with your laundry room.
- Natural materials: Think wood, stone, and textiles like cotton and linen are prominent, to create a grounded and organic feel. Opt for unfinished or weathered wooden furniture, exposed beams, and stone countertops for a more authentic vibe.
- Simple, functional design: Choose furniture with clean lines and uncluttered designs, emphasizing efficiency and ease of use.
- Vintage touches: Bring in elements that speak to a bygone era, like galvanized metal buckets, enamelware washboards, or antique jars for storing detergent. Vintage finds add character and tell a story, making your laundry room feel unique.
- Muted color palette: Think whites, creams, beiges, and grays for a calming and airy atmosphere. Earthy tones like terracotta and olive green can be used as accents to add depth and warmth.
- Rustic textures: Play with textures like shiplap walls, rough-hewn wooden benches, and woven baskets to add visual interest and dimension.
- Shiplap walls: This iconic element instantly adds rustic charm and texture. Consider painting it white for a bright and airy feel, or leave it natural for a more traditional look.
- Open shelving: Swap bulky cabinets for open shelves to showcase laundry essentials in decorative baskets and vintage jars.
- Vintage sink: A deep farmhouse sink adds functionality and style. Opt for a classic white porcelain or an enameled cast iron sink for a touch of nostalgia.
- Galvanized accents: Metal buckets, wall organizers, or even light fixtures in galvanized metal add an industrial touch and complement the rustic vibe.
- Woven baskets and rugs: Use woven baskets to store laundry supplies or folded clothes, and layer a natural fiber rug like jute or sisal for warmth and texture.
- Bring in the greenery: Plants add life and color to any space. Opt for low-maintenance options like succulents or air plants that thrive in humid environments.
- Thrift Store Decor: Add vintage finds from second-hand stores to make your laundry room truly unique.
Farmhouse style is about personalizing your space. Mix and match textures, colors, and vintage finds to create a laundry room that feels comfortable, inviting, and uniquely yours.
Are Shiplap Walls Out of Style?
Now, let’s talk about shiplap walls. Are they out of style? Well, some say they are out. These rustic wooden planks add instant texture, dimension, and personality to any space. No wonder Joanna Gaines catapulted them to fame on Fixer Upper. But here’s the truth: trends come and go. And while shiplap might not be the hottest thing on Pinterest anymore, if it speaks to your heart and makes your laundry room feel more like home, then embrace it!
Shiplap for Every Style:
- Classic white: A timeless choice, white shiplap creates a bright and airy feel that complements any farmhouse aesthetic.
- Weathered wood: For a touch of rustic charm, opt for reclaimed or weathered wood shiplap. This adds warmth and character to your space.
- Bold and moody: Don’t shy away from dark paint! Navy blue, charcoal grey, or even deep green shiplap can add a dramatic and unexpected twist to your laundry room.
- Accent wall: Not ready to go all-in? Use shiplap as an accent wall behind your washer and dryer or on a single focal point like a drying rack.
Simple Laundry Room Design Ideas to Create a Space You’ll Want to Wash Clothes In
When creating a functional and stylish laundry room, there are a few things to consider.
- If your appliances are old and you can afford it, its time to upgrade. You can’t beat some of the features on newer models. And they are designed to fit small laundry room spaces.
- Skip the drawers that go underneath the appliances. Add a countertop instead. It’s pretty and more functional.
- Use open shelving instead of cabinets. In small spaces, cabinets take up a lot of visual space and look lifeless. Add open shelving to display decor and baskets for all the things.
- Think about overall organization. What supplies do you need to store? Decorative baskets, storage bins and glass jars are a great way to decoratively hide the clutter on laundry room shelves.
- Accessorize your space with the things you love! Add wall decor, a pretty area rug, trendy light fixture and seasonal decor items to personalize the space.
- Add faux or real plants and flowers. They bring life to a space, warm it up and boost the mood.
- And finally, add some seasonal touches. I just finished decorating mine with fall decor.
Laundry Room Decor: How I Styled My Small Laundry Room with a Farmhouse Aesthetic
Since the bathroom and laundry room share a space, we changed the flooring to a gorgeous wood plank tile. And it looks like real wood too.
To add visual interest, we decided to make a shiplap wall. And because our original appliances are about 15 years old, we replaced both the washer and dryer. Instead of using drawers underneath, we made a poplar countertop that we stained with same finish we used on my kitchen range hood.
In addition to the countertop, we added open shelving made with poplar and finished it like the countertop. We used these large wrought iron brackets to hold the shelves. They are very inexpensive and look great!
And for storage organization, I purchased these gorgeous hyacinth baskets to hold all the laundry items. They fold flat and come in a package of 4. It was a steal.
While I’m still tweaking the final touches, I did pick up this cool laundry cart. One of the things I love about it is I can keep the dirty laundry in it so it’s not piled on the floor. We had some room between the appliances and the wall, so it can be tucked in under the counter as well.
And how about this light fixture? I looked all over for a beaded chandelier that was not too big to hang in this spot. It is a perfect size and adds just the right amount of light to a room without any windows.
Final Thoughts About Small Laundry Room Ideas with a Farmhouse Look
Now I really love passing through here to get to the bathroom. And I love doing laundry in here too. Although it is a small laundry room, it is now functional and pretty! With pretty and functional space, I love to decorate it for the seasons too. Wait until you see how it looks in spring.
Do you have a small laundry room too? Have you decorated it so you can enjoy it more when you do laundry? What’s your decorating style? I would love to know more in the comments below.
For more Joanna Gaines inspo, check out this article from House Digest.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear! And feel free to share this post with anyone you think would find it helpful too.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xoxo
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This is what it looked like for the holidays.
