Creative Basement Laundry Room Ideas That'll Bring The 'Wow' Factor To Your Space

Laundry day always feels like a chore, and it can feel even worse if you have to go into a dingy basement laundry room. But your laundry room doesn't have to feel this way! For spaces big and small, we've rounded up some basement laundry room ideas to use as inspiration for your space at almost any budget. Even if yours is unfinished, we've included a few affordable ways to make it cozier. Finished laundry rooms tend to look nicer, though, so if you're also planning on renovating or dressing your current space up, we've included plenty of ideas for designing your new space.

Some ideas on our list are straightforward DIYs, while others are more involved projects, but they all have the goal of elevating and creating a functional laundry room. We mainly focus on aesthetic improvements that can update your basement laundry room. Improve form and function, and make your laundry room an area you actually want to spend time in with these creative design ideas.

A little bit of wallpaper can go a long way when it comes to dressing up a room. Consider a wallpaper accent wall to bring pattern and personality, without overdoing it in a small space. Choosing the right wallpaper for an accent wall can transform a compact room like a laundry room. Don't be afraid to experiment here either — it's a room without much guest foot traffic, so why not play with the decor? There are plenty of peel-and-stick options for DIYers too, so you can install new wallpaper if you want a different look.

Instead of sticking wallpaper or tiles to your walls, maybe you prefer the versatility of paint. After all, you'll get to choose your perfect shade. If you want to paint but also want to add some patterns, use wall stencils. These come in a huge range of designs, from floral patterns to geometric shapes to ornate damask motifs. To get a starburst pattern similar to this photo from @simplepaintedwhite, try the Star Tile Stencil (starting at $14.95 from Cutting Edge Stencils). Or if you want a similar look but more minimalist, look at the Stencilit Starburst Wall Stencil for $30.90 from Amazon.

It makes sense to gravitate towards light colors to make a basement feel brighter, but that's not the only option. Light colors can open up a basement space, while darker shades will make it feel more cozy. If you prefer the latter, lean into dark shades and make your basement laundry room an enveloping, comfortable space. Dark wood stains and deep cabinet hues can help achieve the right ambiance. Dim lights will look nice in this space, however, in terms of practicality, you'll want at least one bright overhead light so you can treat stains and double-check that laundry is clean.

Foam tile flooring is an excellent choice for a basement. It works nicely over concrete flooring, adding some padding and insulation. An option like the Trafficmaster Thick Foam Flooring Tiles costs only $0.83 per square foot from The Home Depot and is fabulous for a basement home gym or play area. You can use it for your basement laundry room as well if you're looking for a budget-friendly option. If you can spend a little more, there are other more stylish options. You can grab faux wood foam tile flooring like the Great Mats Wood Grain Foam Floor Tiles for $2.40 per square foot from The Home Depot. Faux tile patterned foam floors are also available, like the Milan Interlocking Foam Floor tiles, which cost $11.99 per pack from Hobby Lobby.

It's an often-overlooked spot for decorating, but you can make such a statement with wallpapered ceilings. This is a great choice for upgrading a laundry room in particular. With many laundry room layouts, you won't even have to move machines, cabinets, or furniture out, but can just add wallpaper to the ceiling. Paired with plain walls, the ceiling wallpaper can create a statement piece. Or you can mix two patterns, like in this example from @a.dabbled.dwelling to create a memorable basement laundry room.

A lot of basement laundry rooms don't have the luxury of a window (or even the possibility to add one). You can create a fake window using a mirror. Sure, it won't let natural light in, but it will reflect the light in your space to make it feel more open. Any old mirror will do the trick for brightening a space, but to truly create a window-like appearance, opt for a framed mirror, like the Barnyard Designs Wood Farmhouse Wall Mirror for $139.95 on Amazon.

Stacking machines in a small laundry room just makes sense. There are a few ways to make stacked machines look intentional and not like you've just squeezed them into a corner. The shelf design in this post from @stylewithmuse does a great job, with shelves that make the machines look built-in to the wall. A little extra space along the top and the sides is very useful (if you can spare it), providing you a spot to tuck laundry day accessories.

A new lick of paint can make a big difference in both old and new basement laundry rooms. Your outdated cabinets can look a bit more modern with the right hue, and a good color palette can elevate a new laundry room even more. Think about how you want your finished laundry room to look before choosing a color scheme, keeping its basement location in mind. Pastel and bright colors can make a basement laundry room look more cheerful. Dark and rich colors lean towards a more sophisticated and mature ambiance.

If your home somehow feels like it's always running out of storage space, then take full advantage of your laundry room walls. You can do so by adding shelves that reach all the way to the ceiling. There's no need to leave that typical gap at the top if you're hurting for storage space — use all the space up! Since many basements have a lower ceiling, the top shelf should still be reachable. If you want to hide clutter (after all, basements can be a catch-all spot for odds and ends), use baskets to keep the mess contained.

Contrasting colors can make any room pop, and mixing bright and dark is one way to bring the wow factor to your basement laundry room. You can try a new paint color or work with what you have. For the latter, consider your current color scheme and add accessories to complement it. For example, if you have dark walls, white shelves and light-colored accents really pop out. On the other hand, if you have light walls, you can add dark pieces to make the room feel more centered and less airy.

It's easy to find examples of modern laundry rooms, but if that's not your style, there's no need to follow current trends. If you love all things vintage, bring that love into your basement laundry room as well. Instead of opting for typical cabinets, consider installing a vintage cabinet sourced from a thrift store or vintage reseller. This laundry room is so homey, with a distinctive wood cabinet that adds a certain character that most modern pieces cannot.

A shiplap wall is a favorite for renovators looking to walk the line between modern and cozy. It's a good option for a basement laundry room if you want to have a textured accent wall rather than just using paint or wallpaper. There is one downside to having a shiplap wall in the laundry room: The panels can become dust magnets, which isn't ideal in a room with a dryer. If you want the look but don't really care for the shiplap texture, you can use a peel-and-stick wallpaper to get a similar pattern. The NuWallpaper Shiplap Vinyl Peel & Stick Wallpaper costs $59.98 from The Home Depot and is an easier-to-clean alternative.

Black and white is a timeless combination — simplicity is on its side. If you want your basement laundry room to look nice for years to come, use white and black as the base colors for your space. It's basic and rather unassuming, but if you have a majority white base, it can brighten up your basement room. Since it's so neutral, you can always add other pops of color to style the laundry room to your current tastes.