Laundry, But Make It Lovely: A Design Story in 60 Square Feet
- Michael Burton
- May 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2025
A case study in bringing calm and beauty to the most functional corners of the home.
The Overlooked Space
Every home has one — that hard-working space we use every day, but barely notice, rarely enjoy, and often learn to tolerate. For this project, it was the laundry room.
Tucked midway along the second-floor hall behind a pocket door, the room had been neglected and felt like an afterthought.
Exposed wiring and laundry connections, harsh lighting, minimal storage, and a lack of personality made it a place to rush through, not retreat to.
As the homeowner suggested early in the project:
“This space doesn’t have to be beautiful… but it would be nice if it didn’t frustrate me every time I opened the door.”
The Design Challenge
We weren’t working with a large footprint — roughly 60 square feet — but even small rooms deserve thoughtful design. The goals were simple: improve function, lighten the mood, and bring a sense of calm and order to an otherwise purely utilitarian space.
Storage was top of mind. So was better lighting. And if we could sneak in a bit of visual delight? Even better.
The Refresh Plan
We started with a fairly fixed layout — so the mission was clear: how could we optimize what was already here without a full gut renovation?
From there, we introduced new cabinetry, a walnut laundry topper and shelving, selected a fresh but timeless wall color, and added functional touches like organized storage bins inside the cabinetry, a hamper, and decorative containers for detergents and wool dryer balls. A dimmer switch was installed, along with a new, attractive light fixture.
But the real transformation came in the materials. The honed marble mosaic tile wall in a herringbone pattern brought in much-needed texture in an elevated material. An abstract canvas artwork strategically covers the painfully unattractive electrical box. We kept the existing floor tiles but gave them a deep clean and refreshed the grout in a softer tone for less contrast and more harmony — finally grounding the space with a natural, thick jute rug.
Suddenly, the space felt fresh. Lifted. Intentional.
The Transformation
What was once an eyesore has become one of the client’s favorite corners of the home. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration — after all, it is a laundry room. But the biggest surprise?
“I never thought I’d care this much about my laundry room,” the client laughed. “But I actually enjoy being in there now.”
This space didn’t just get more beautiful — it became more livable. More supportive. A small moment of order in the midst of a busy life.
The Takeaway
Sometimes the most powerful changes happen in the most unexpected spaces.
A “refresh” doesn’t have to be massive to be meaningful — and when done well, even a utility room can become a daily source of calm, clarity, and care.
If there’s a part of your home that’s quietly making your day harder, we’d love to help you rethink it — and make it feel like a space you actually want to walk into.
