The laundry room is often the nerve center of the home. I think it deserves to be fun, colorful and a place where you actually enjoy spending time!

Whether it’s a small laundry closet or a spacious laundry/craft room, I love the idea of making the space more useful, fun and personal.

Decorate it

• Paint it a bright, unexpected color like lime green or tomato red – the color will make you smile every time you see it.
• Paint a mural on the wall or have a favorite family photo enlarged to poster size.
• Attach a yardstick or measuring tape to the wall and use it to mark off your kids’ heights as they grow up.

Make it efficient

• Attach a row of pegs for a simple way to hang a hanger for air-drying.
• Add a steel-wire hamper on wheels for portable loading and “delivery” of clean laundry.
• Attach a drop-down drying rack and a fold-down ironing board to the wall.

Add storage

• Stack the washer/dryer on storage pedestals for more space and more storage.
• Even a single wall-hung cabinet can add lots of functional storage. You can attach a towel bar to the bottom of it and use it to drip-dry hosiery or delicates.
• Add hooks and shelves for dog leashes, backpacks, totes, kids’ stuff and sports gear.

Remember what’s important

Create a family memory board to hang on the door, where you can tuck in photos, reminders, invitations – anything that’s special to you.

• Cut a sheet of lightweight plywood to the preferred size.
• Wrap the plywood in batting, then in your fabric of choice.
• Criss-cross the board with ribbons at regular intervals, then use colored tacks, brass nail heads or pushpins to hold the ribbons in place.
• Add hanging hardware and picture wire to the back.
• Tuck your bits and pieces under the ribbons – it’s easy to change and rearrange them as you like.