How To Make Your Laundry Room Your Happy Place

via Southern Living

Let's start today's post off with a poll:

What's your least favorite task to do around your home?

Washing Dishes

Vacuuming

Cleaning Bathrooms

Doing Laundry

Choose Your Own Adventure!

free surveys

If you chose option 4, laundry, you're in the right place today, because I'm going to try and help you change that! Read on, my friend!

I was texting with a friend recently who just made a big move to a new town, and in her house hunting adventures, she came across a very happy laundry room that got her thinking about her own future laundry room. Here's what she said about it: 

"I have a random idea for you - you should write about ways to make your laundry room your happy place. There was a house we looked at with the happiest laundry room and it's totally inspired me to make my laundry into a place that speaks to me, because let's face it, I'm the one spending so much time in there! A laundry room is always overlooked, but why can't it be special, ya know?!"

I got to thinking - she's so right! Laundry rooms are places we spend a good chunk of time in during our weeks, but all too often, they're sad, dark, and uninspiring. Like my friend said, why shouldn't we give them some love, jazz them up, and make them into places we want to spend time in? Wouldn't that make the arduous task that is washing and folding clothes a little less painful? After all, our environments have a huge impact on our attitudes, so a happy laundry room might be just the ticket to making an everyday task a little more pleasant.

In my own house, our washer and dryer is located in our unfinished basement. (Raise your hand if this is how it is in your house too!) We have plans to do a little freshening up down there, and I can't wait to have a functional and clean space to work in during laundry days. 

So in preparation for the work we'll be doing, and in response to my friend's request for ideas on how to make your laundry room your happy place, I've rounded up a bunch of inspiration for us today. I made sure to include some super simple ideas and some "shoot for the moon" ones too - a girl can dream, right? :) 

First up, start fresh.

via Made By Katy

The purpose of doing laundry is make things clean - pretty obvious, right? So if you currently have a dingy, dirty, or cluttered space that houses your washer and dryer, begin by giving it a fresh start. This can mean anything from deep cleaning the area all the way to giving the walls and ceiling a new coat of paint.

via The Curated House

Also, here's a hint to help it stay clean: stop using your laundry room as a dumping ground for everything that doesn't have a permanent home (I'm totally preaching to the choir here - guilty!). Even if your washer and dryer live in a storage area, like your basement, make sure you don't let what you're storing take over the space you need to get the task done. I know how tempting it is to use your folding space as a drop zone!

Next, add storage and organization.

via HGTV

No matter if you have a whole room dedicated to the task or if your washer and dryer live in a small closet, I'll bet you probably have some space surrounding it to organize. Think about what storage systems will help make the task easier, less dreaded, and even pretty to look at! 

Ideally, you'd have a spot for functional supplies like detergent, a flat surface for folding, and a place to air dry delicate garments. If you live in a small home like I do, you'll probably have to get a little bit creative with those things, but if you do have a little elbow room, take advantage of it and think about ways you can add helpful organizational tools to the space. 

via This Old House

Here are few ideas:

• Add cabinets for concealed storage
• Hang shelves above your washer/dryer and add baskets to them to corral small items
• Build in or mount a collapsible drying rack to a wall that you can pull out when needed
• If you have front loaders side-by-side, add a countertop to create a folding zone
• Carve out a spot for a permanent laundry bin with separate compartments for darks, lights, and linens

Now for the fun part - make it pretty!

via SF Girl By Bay

Laundry rooms are one spot in our homes that I think we should take chances with design-wise. Don't be afraid to try that playful wallpaper, use bright colors, or install some funky tile (floor, wall, or both) with an in-your-face pattern. The laundry room below is a great example of trying some of those things out - hello mint cabinets and starry floor tile! You can also go a completely different direction and create a crisp, clean, and monochromatic space. Think about how you want that space to feel when you're in it, and go with your gut on the design part (P.S. I can help with that if you need it!). 

via Ashley Winn Design

Finally, don't forget to accessorize! Cozy up those floors with a pretty runner rug, add texture with baskets on shelves, grab some pretty containers to hold detergent and other cleaning supplies, hang art on the walls, and oh! don't forget about lighting. A fun fixture or sconces can do wonders for a laundry room!

via Yellow Brick Home

A final word...treat your laundry area just as you would any other space in your home. Though it's probably not a space you entertain or sleep in, you do spend lots of time in there, so give it the attention it deserves. Make that laundry room a place that puts a smile on your face every time you walk in there!

P.S. Want more laundry room inspiration? I've got a whole Pinterest board dedicated to my favorites from around the web!

via Classy Clutter

Get the Look: Cozy Eclectic Living Room

via Glitter Guide

When I came across Mara Ferreira's home on Glitter Guide, I was immediately drawn into how light and bright (and slightly feminine) it is. We share love for white walls, neutral furniture, and a clean, but cozy feel. At the same time, it's clear that she doesn't shy away from color - the living room I'm sharing for today's Get the Look post is a prime example of that! Hello, overdyed teal rug!

It's hard to put a finger on what her style is exactly, which is actually a really wonderful thing in my book. Looking at her eclectic mix of pieces, it seems to fall under a number of different ones including traditional, coastal, bohemian, and even mid-century. To bring her vision to life, she enlisted the help of interior design powerhouse Studio McGee, who took on the (super fun!) job of melding all of those styles together. The result? An insanely gorgeous home that I'm sure Mara will be happy with for many years to come. 

I'm excited to share some look-a-like pieces with you below so you can get the look of Mara's living room in your own home. Scroll on down to see my picks, and you can Pin the graphic below for future shopping if you'd like!

English Roll Arm Sectional with Chaise* | Overdyed Teal (Blue/Green) Rug | Hmong Batik Pillow | Pink Watercolor Floral Pillow | Moroccan Wedding Pouf | White Faux Fur Lumbar Pillow | Feather Wall Art | Marble and Chrome Coffee Table | White and Brass Mid-Century Floor Lamp | Gold Urchin Decor | Scented Candle | Geometric Vase

TOTAL COST: Approx. $4,500

Don't let that total scare you - the primary driver behind it is the sectional/sofa with chaise at about $3,000. The rest of the pieces are super affordable! I chose that particular sofa mainly because I believe in investing in pieces you'll use every day. If this is your main hangout in your home, you're going to want a sofa that's comfortable and good quality, am I right? ;) Go for the best sofa you can afford - that's my humble opinion!

I also want to point out a couple of other highlights: the marble-topped coffee table and that fabulous teal overdyed rug. They play together so nicely with their colors and textures, and both are classics that will stand the test of time. They're definitely highlights in this space, and will go with just about anything. 

Happy shopping my friends!

(P.S. A little programming note - I *think* this will be the final post in the Get the Look series. It's been such a fun one to write and scheme up, but it's time to move on! I'm excited to re-launch the Best Of series I wrote last fall, which I know many of you have missed. If there are any stores you'd like me to cover in this edition, let me know! The fall furniture releases I've seen so far have been looking pretty amazing!)

*This post contains affiliate links, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.

Five No-Fail Ways To Decorate Around Your Bed

Design: Katie Hodges, photography: Amy Bartlam 

Over the past couple of months, I've found myself working on some fantastic bedroom projects with my e-design clients, and one part of that process is deciding how to decorate around the bed. In other words, what should go on the walls? Should we hang art above it? A mirror? Add framed photos to either side? Leave it empty and open? There are lots of possibilities, which is good news(!), but sometimes having too many options can be slightly paralyzing and leave you feeling indecisive. 

Well fear not, my friends. Today I'm going to walk you through a few of my favorite options for filling those walls around your bed and how I figure out what will work well in a particular space. I've pulled together some great examples from around the web to demonstrate some of those can't-go-wrong ideas. I made sure to include several different styles too - my hope is that there's a little something for everyone in this post and that you'll leave feeling confident to get out there and fill those empty walls in your bedrooms!

(P.S. need art suggestions? I've got two posts for you that are full of them! Head on over here and here to check out my recommendations.)

To start, you'll want to think about the big picture of what's going on already in your room. Take a minute to jot down the answers to the questions below to help guide your thought process on what options you have:

• What's your ceiling height?
• What unchangeable architectural elements are around your bed? Windows? Solid wall? Sloped ceiling?
• What kind of bed/headboard do you have? Is it tall, short, curvy, minimalist? And how much space do you have between the ceiling and your bed?
• What kind of environment do you live in? For example, if you live in an earthquake state, you may not want a big ole heavy mirror hanging above your head!

Now that you have those things in mind, let's dive into some of the possibilities. Of course, now that you've thought about your space, not all of these ideas will necessarily work, but that's the goal, right? We have to narrow things down so you can make a decision and act on it. :) If you have low ceilings and a tall headboard, hanging a large piece of art may not be a good fit, but hanging art on either side might be!

Option 1: Hang framed art or photos above the bed

via Oh, I Design

One of the simplest solutions that works in many, many rooms is to hang art or photos above the bed. Most of the time, beds are placed against a wall with a big, blank space above it, which just begs for something to hang above it. You can either hang a single, large piece or a collection of a few pieces. For a classic look, go symmetrical, or if you're feeling a little more eclectic and adventurous, mix up the size and placement.

via Becki Owens

via West Elm* 

via Brepurposed

Option 2: Hang a mirror centered above the bed

via Architectural Digest

When I go with the mirror above the bed option, I often like to choose a shape that's complementary to the shape of the bed. For example, I might use a round mirror if the bed has straight lines and hard angles. If it has curves or is more dramatic in shape, the opposite would be true - a simpler mirror may work best.

via Sarah Bartholomew

via Birmingham Home & Garden

Option 3: Hang framed art or photos on either side of the bed above your nightstands

via Studio McGee

Symmetry can be your friend when you're designing a room, and this is especially true when it comes to hanging art or photos above your bedside tables. The pieces don't need to be identical (in fact, I like when they're not!), but to keep it looking cohesive, I do like to choose ones that have the same finish. You can go with a single piece on either side or try the "stacked" look - two pieces, one on top of the other. 

via Serena and Lilly

via Nicole Davis

Option 4: Hang matching mirrors on either side of the bed

via Studio McGee

Mirrors have the ability to open up a room and act like windows, so if you have a small space or a long, windowless wall, this is a great option. Go with a simple rectangle, circle, or oval shape if you have a lot of other patterns and colors going on in the rest of the room, or if you need to add some visual interest, introduce mirrors in fun shapes or colors. One thing I like about using mirrors above nightstands is the ability to go with a "non-practical" one since you probably won't be using it in the way you would a bathroom mirror or full-length mirror. 

via Amber Interiors

via Ballard Designs

Option 5: Leave the walls empty!

via HGTV

Sometimes, less is more. Don't feel like you have to hang anything just because that's what it seems like you're supposed to do. Maybe you're more of a minimalist and prefer simplicity. Perhaps you've got a bed that's already a major focal point and you don't want (or need!) to introduce anything else to detract attention away from it. Or maybe there's an architectural that you want to emphasize. The only caution I have here is to challenge you to figure out if you're leaving it empty because you've got decorating commitment issues or if you truly like how it looks that way - those are my two cents! ;) 

That being said, there are lots of gorgeous examples of bedrooms where there isn't anything on the walls above or around the bed. The ones here show you just how pretty it can be!

via Studio McGee

via Lonny 

So there you have it! Five ways to decorate the walls around your bed. I hope this helps you fill those empty walls with confidence!

On a final note, know that there are many, many ways and styles of decorating - I only touched on a few simple ones that I thought would be most helpful. Don't be afraid to put your own spin on them. You're not limited to only putting a mirror over the bed or only hanging art on either side - you can do both in the right space! Have fun, and let me know if you have any questions!

This post contains affiliate links, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission when you purchase at no cost to you.