6 Beautiful Fixer Upper-Inspired Laundry Room Ideas You'll Want To Recreate

Many people think a laundry room is just that — a laundry room. For this reason, activities in the space, including sorting, washing, and folding clothes, can seem like a stressful chore. However, an aesthetic environment is a recipe for motivation, and your laundry room shouldn't be any different. Joanna Gaines of "Fixer Upper," is a big fan of elegant and functional laundry rooms. On her Magnolia blog, Joanna explains how she's married function and aesthetics in the space saying, "The beautiful materials and soft colors come together to create a laundry room that makes work a joy."

As such, there's no harm in giving your laundry area a makeover because it enhances your efficiency and makes laundry feel less like a chore. You can update your laundry room by incorporating decor tips, storage solutions, and other practical ideas to add pop and personality. In addition, investing in your laundry room may even add value to your home. Thankfully, these Joanna Gaines-inspired ideas are perfect for overhauling your own laundering area.

Plants may not be the first thing you consider adding to your laundry room. When you choose the right plants and creatively style them, they make a statement and contribute to the vibe. Joanne's design style often involves a touch of greenery, and it's no surprise that she hangs plants in her laundry room. She explained, "There is something about the ordinary, the profound absence of performance in this space, that lets me be my truest self" while sharing a picture of her plant-filled laundry room on Instagram. 

English Ivy is one of the best indoor plants that will thrive in a small space and is easy to maintain. While plants are a great decorative option, they are also natural air purifiers, improving air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Spider plants and ferns, for example, help to absorb excess moisture and control humidity. Look for laundry room-friendly plants that require low maintenance, like snake plants and pothos, since they can survive in low light. 

While the presence of a table and chair in your laundry room may seem strange, you'll find that they can transform your space and promote productivity. You can journal or even get some work done while keeping an eye on your laundry. Joanna Gaines shared this on Instagram with the caption, "I brought a table and chair into our laundry room a few years ago when I realized the place where I wash and fold may be one of my favorite spaces in our home." She added, "It seems like no matter what's gone on out there, how loud the world gets, I can always come back to the familiar quiet in here: the swoosh of the wash, the rumble of the dryer, the piles undone at rest on the floor". 

You too can turn your laundry room into a retreat to escape the outside world. Besides letting you sit to recollect your thoughts, a table and chair can also contribute to the aesthetics of the space. The size of your laundry room will determine if you can add a table and a chair to recreate this idea. If so, consider a stylish, yet space-saving set like this one from Wayfair. 

To achieve a "Fixer Upper" look, you need the right paint color to make a statement. In the Castle bath and laundry makeover, Joanna Gaines painted the ceilings, walls, and cabinets in Silos White by Magnolia for a natural appeal. It is no secret that Joanna loves neutral paint shades. In an interview with Real Simple, she stated, "For my own home, I typically tend to lean more toward neutral colors and a clean palette." Similarly, choosing the right textures for cabinets, flooring, and other decor could complete the look you're going for. Joanna Gaines says, "One way to bring in texture is by mixing materials," per Magnolia.

For example, you can use an accent wall to liven up the space by installing wood paneling, decorative wall tiles, or stone or brick veneer. You could also implement paint techniques like rag rolling or sponge painting to achieve the desired texture. And, in a neutral space, you have the freedom to add texture with accents like rugs and baskets.

Wallpaper adds a decorative touch to your laundry room, whether you're going for neutral or bold tones. This makeover idea is a simple way of adding style and personality to your space. In "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home" – Episode 1, Joanna and her husband Chip flipped a laundry room for a couple and added playful wallpaper throughout to make the space pop. This whole home makeover was inspired by elements the homeowners loved. And, the wallpaper in the laundry area was particularly inspired by the couple's two dachshunds.

There are many innovative ways to use wallpaper in any room, like your laundry, to give it a "Fixer Upper" vibe. First, consider extending your wallpaper to the ceiling to visually enhance the height of the space. Another option is getting creative with wallpaper placement, such as lining the inside of open shelves or cabinets. For styles and prints, consider the Thread Stripe Wallpaper or the Homestead Wallpaper from the Magnolia Home Wallpaper Shop. Additionally, ensure that you pick a durable one that can withstand humidity and moisture.

Cabinets and shelves are great options for storing laundry supplies while also elevating the ambiance of your space. You can add open or closed cabinets and even floating shelves to your laundry room, depending on what you want your space to look like. Joanna has a knack for playing with a wide range of materials. She incorporated closed cabinets in the laundry and mudroom combo in Fixer-Upper: Welcome Home – Episode 6 for ample storage. Similarly, she added custom cabinets and millwork, including cabinet hardware, to transform The Castle's laundry area.

Installing well-designed cabinets and small-space storage solutions can bolster the functionality of your laundry room. Consider multi-functional cabinets with features like pull-down drying racks, pull-out drawers, and built-in ironing boards to maximize space. You can also tie the space together with specific color schemes, materials, and finishes for a cohesive design theme. When selecting materials, prioritize moisture and wear-resistant materials, such as treated wood or laminate, to ensure durability. More importantly, create ergonomic designs for your cabinets for easy accessibility of supplies and reduced strain. 

With decorative jars and baskets, you can display items and hide some to combine functionality and beauty. You can find several storage materials in Joanna's Laundry Room Shop. For example, wall hooks prevent clutter and help you locate what you need in your laundry room. Additionally, they optimize storage by allowing you to hang clothing, bags, or cleaning tools, ensuring they don't take up floor space. You also get aesthetic value since wall hooks come in different designs, materials, and finishes. Consequently, you can opt for sleek modern hooks, rustic farmhouse-style hooks, or decorative hooks with ornate details to complement the decor.

Another stylish and practical storage option is woven baskets, like the Morgan Water Hyacinth Basket or the Scalloped Woven basket from the Laundry Room Shop. You can place them on shelves or countertops to store smaller items like lint rollers, dryer sheets, and sewing tools. Woven baskets provide texture and warmth to a room while providing hidden storage solutions to keep your laundry room neat and organized. You can also leverage weck jars for storage and adornment by slapping on decorative labels and holding items like detergents, powders, and pods.