E7

By CONNIE OLIVER
The Canadian Press

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Though utilitarian in nature, the laundry room is a part of the home that is used regularly and could use a touch of beauty. Having a cheery space in which to perform rather mundane tasks makes the job easier.

The chore of doing laundry would be a more pleasant experience if the room were bright and organized.

The laundry room is often tucked into a poorly lit corner of the basement, which makes the entire experience of doing laundry dreary. Dim lighting, cold floors and unfinished walls make a basement laundry room a place you'd rather not spend any time in, yet each week we must.

Thankfully, laundry rooms are finally receiving consideration as a room worthy of updating. Decorative storage, shelving, organizing systems, stylish, colourful appliances and functional laundry aids can turn this space from awful to awesome.

Organizing for function

Having a space that is functional is your first hurdle. Just as kitchens are designed using the working triangle, the laundry room needs a little preplanning to make light of what can be heavy work.

Taking your wash from the washer to the dryer and to the ironing board or folding table should be a smooth operation, saving you time and energy. If you can, try to plan your room in terms of the working triangle. The path of activity needs to be kept clear and the laundry supplies should be within easy reach.

If you have to stick with a less-than-perfect layout due to the plumbing and electrical layout of the space, then buy yourself a rolling laundry basket so you can wheel heavy, wet laundry to the dryer and so forth which will save your back in the end.

Brighten and freshen

Now that you have your layout determined, you can plan to finish (or freshen) the walls, floor and ceiling. A little drywall and paint can make a huge difference to an unfinished basement room. If drywall is too daunting of a task for you to do yourself, perhaps a light-coloured panelling could be installed instead. You may have to hire someone to finish the walls and ceiling, but it is worth a few dollars to have a cheery space.

If your walls are finished but could use some brightening, a little paint or wallpaper can go a long way to bring a dank space into the light. Use a cheery colour like yellow to make the space feel sunny and cheerful.

Storage is important

There usually isn't a need for tons of storage in the laundry room, but it's nice to have a place where laundry supplies and tools are accessible yet out of sight. Luckily, functional storage can be beautiful. Invest in cabinets with furniture styling or storage units that will unify the look of the room as well as serve their purpose.

You may already have something in the home that can be used for storage. Take a look around your home before you start shopping. A baker's rack, a wicker étagere or even a plain bookcase might work in the right setting.

More room-brightening ideas

Mirrors will add dimension and reflect light into the space. This is helpful if your laundry room is in the basement where windows are small and natural light scarce.

Add task lighting to light up work surfaces and accent the art in your space.

Add a CD player or a radio to the room so you can relax while completing your chores. Bring in a small television on a wall-mounted stand to catch up on your favourite shows while you fold laundry.