13 creative laundry room ideas for New Zealand homes

Homes in New Zealand, especially older villas and bungalows, often have small laundry rooms that are hard to work with. Because of this, many don't pay much attention to these spaces not realising the opportunity and potential that exists with small but subtle changes. As these laundry room ideas show, you can make some huge practical and stylistic improvements with less effort than you might think.

The herringbone pattern is a much-loved design, especially when it comes to flooring. Its classic look brings visual interest to a space that can be incredibly alluring. It also works well in a small laundry room or a narrow space, like this exquisite renovation in Tamahere. The pattern leads the eye in a specific direction adding to the illusion of space which helps it feel like a more spacious laundry room.

If you're designing a laundry room with front-loading appliances in mind, then you'll be able to save a huge amount of space with a laundry stacker solution. Washing machines and tumble dryers are large and take up a decent amount of floor space. However, with a stacked washer and dryer, you essentially save half the space which is invaluable, especially when working with a small laundry room. These solutions often come as part of custom laundry storage packages allowing you to make use of every inch of space.

Ironing boards are unwieldy items at the best of times and their elongated form often makes them a nuisance to store. A pull-out ironing board, however, solves both of these problems. It can be pulled out without any lifting involved and neatly pushed back in for effortless storage. It might sound inconsequential but you'd be surprised how much time and effort it saves you in the long run to the point you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

Lighting fixtures can make a big difference to a laundry room both in terms of lighting and look. A statement lighting fixture, for instance, can transform the entire atmosphere of a laundry room given the prominence it will have in the space. This luxurious laundry by Nicola Manning Design features a beautiful designer pendant light that adds a unique, almost sculptural element and a layered lighting aesthetic.

Related article: Pendant lights — what are they and how to use them best

Further to the previous point, the lack of natural light can be a common issue in laundry room design given their size and location in the home. A great solution to complement your ceiling lights is to install under cabinet lighting. These can be installed at the bottom of your cabinets in a sleek and discreet way, often as recessed lights or strip lights. They create a warm lighting effect and provide crucial task lighting to help you carry out your household chores.

The laundry room is a very task-orientated space so anything you can do to make it more functional is hugely beneficial. Having a clothes hanger mounted on a wall is a great way to add utility to an otherwise unused space. As you can see with this stylish laundry room in St Heliers by Celia Visser Design the clothes hanger give its homeowners a great place to hang shirts and other clothes item in and around their laundry duties.

Laundry rooms have a habit of turning into slightly sterile environments due to the often confined spaces and the need to prioritise appliances and the laundry tub. However, the inclusion of just one pot plant can drastically change the complexion and feel of a laundry room on a number of levels. First, the strong pop of green will stand out and create a visual point of interest, especially in a laundry with a neutral colour scheme. The presence of plants and nature are also calming influences, purifying the air and making one feel at ease. Plants also represent life and vitality, wonderful sentiments to evoke in a space where cleanliness and freshness are important.

A heated towel rail is a common feature in most bathrooms across New Zealand but less so in the laundry making it one of the more novel laundry room ideas to consider. When you actually stop to think about it, a heated towel rail in a laundry room makes a lot of sense. As a wall-mounted furnishing, seen here in this colonial-style home in St Heliers, they take up very little space but add so much versatility. You can use them to keep warm towels within arm's reach. You can use them to help dry damp clothes, hand towels, facecloths etc. when there isn't enough for a full load in the dryer. You can even use them to help keep your laundry room warm during the winter months, a thought that will appeal to many.

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If you're someone who can't abide clutter then this may be one that appeals. A sliding door installed in front of a cavity where your laundry machines live can be used to conceal these appliances and any other laundry items, like cleaning supplies, that you might be storing in this space. If you've only got a small laundry area then this is even better as you don't have to accommodate doors that swing open. The sliding barn door is currently very on-trend given its rustic appearance though if you prefer a more minimalist look, then a solid white sliding door will suit you fine.

Storage is always a pressure point when it comes to laundry rooms, especially in busy modern households. Even when you are well-stocked with storage solutions in the form of cabinets, you can still find yourself pushed for space. Shelving towers are a great supplementary form of storage that you can use to ease some of this burden. They are tall and slim, making them great for laundry rooms and their open shelving means you can grab essentials like cleaning products, quickly and easily, as and when you need them.

Laundry day involves a lot of heavy lifting that includes carrying large containers of cleaning products and laundry baskets full of dirty clothes which get even heavier after a cycle in the washing machine. A pull-out surface, which can be easily installed into your custom cabinets, gives you a solid platform to rest your washing basket and laundry supplies so you don't have to put in a back-breaking effort every time. This makes the whole routine much easier, safer and quicker and the less time spent on laundry, the better.

The splashback presents a tremendous opportunity to transform your space into a stylishly chic laundry room. While the splashback serves an important practical purpose, protecting your walls from water damage, it can also be highly decorative. Wall tiles are a very popular choice for this with a wide range of colours, patterns, finishes, shapes and sizes available. This diversity allows you to create something completely unique that will catch the eye and elevate the aesthetics to something that is special and meaningful to you.

Related article: 19 kitchen splashback ideas from stylish New Zealand homes

There's nothing more unsightly in a laundry room than a pile of discarded dirty clothes, something that can quickly appear in a busy household. The solution for most is to buy a laundry hamper which can work to some extent but even they can look a little tardy with wear or if overfilled. A pull-out laundry hamper, on the other hand, solves these problems by being hidden from view, seamlessly integrating into your cabinetry. This also has the added benefit of freeing up precious floor space too.

As you can see, there are many creative laundry room ideas that you can consider to enhance the styling and improve the functionality of the space. The laundry room isn't where you'll spend a huge amount of your time compared to your living or dining room but with a few small touches like these, you can make it a space you enjoy spending time in and that in itself can make a big difference in your daily life.