Nine Suggested Wallpaper Designs for Utility Rooms, According to Professionals, to Infuse a Splash of Happiness into Your Home's Functional Area
Turn your utilitarian utility room into a cheerful haven with these wallpaper ideas! Embrace color and patterns that put a smile on your face while you tackle your daily chores.
1. Go Bold with Vibrant Colors and Patterns
Spice up your laundry room with wallpaper that reflects positive vibes. Don't be afraid to mix and match daring hues – a happy wallpaper can make even the dreariest task more enjoyable!
"With wallpaper, encourage our clients to be fearless in their selections for their utility room," advises Becky Asleson, owner of Maple & White Design. "Not many people enjoy doing laundry, and a wallpaper that makes you smile can add a moment of joy to a mundane task."
This lively room designed by Meg Kelly of Clella Design showcases wake-up colors – red in the captivating wallpaper design and fresh blues and greens in the soft furnishings.
2. Add a Welcome Distraction with Exciting Botanical Patterns
Transform your laundry routine into an enjoyable experience by surrounding yourself with wallpaper you adore!
"Laundry is a chore we all have to deal with regularly, and utility rooms often get overlooked when it comes to design," shares Lauren Kavanagh, a self-proclaimed pattern enthusiast and the art director at Hovia. "My advice is to make the space feel fresh and fun. Adding an unexpected touch of excitement can bring a little extra joy and satisfaction to the task. Bold tropical prints or vibrant geometric patterns are fantastic wallpaper choices to liven up the room!"
Interior designer Jodi Peterman, owner of Elizabeth Erin Designs, also endorses lively and bright patterns. "Forget the safe little prints – go for something bold," says Jodi. "Big-scale murals, abstract patterns, or even a dark, moody floral work well because laundry rooms are pass-through spaces. You're not sitting in there for hours, so it's the perfect place to have fun with a design risk. If you do end up going with a large-scale pattern, pull out a color from the paper to accent the ceiling."
3. Opt for Pastels to Maximize Space
Utility rooms tend to be on the smaller side, so here's how to make the most of a small laundry room:
"Lighter-toned patterns such as soft florals, geometrics, or vertical stripes help create an illusion of a more open and airy space," explains Orna Fathers, founder and lead designer at Grace This Space Interiors. "These lighter colors can help open up smaller, darker rooms while larger spaces allow for bolder designs that make a statement."
"Lighter colors can help open up smaller, darker rooms, while larger spaces allow for bolder designs that make a statement," adds Sarah McCann, product and trend expert at Voyage Maison. "For smaller areas, consider embracing their cozy charm by choosing a country-inspired motif or a simple block print."
4. Utilize 'Quirky' Wallpaper to Amplify Your Space
Don't shy away from experimenting with bold and playful prints, especially if your guests won't see this personal space often. "Since laundry rooms are private spaces, they offer a great opportunity to experiment with bold and playful prints," points out Orna Fathers.
"Small spaces often give you the chance to do something a little more quirky or unique with wallpaper," agrees James Mellan-Matulewicz, creative director and interior designer at design brand Bobbi Beck. "Don't be afraid to choose something more interesting than what you typically might go for."
This compact room designed by San Francisco-based interior design firm Tineke Triggs showcases an eye-catching black and white fossil design wallpaper to keep the space bright yet interesting. "If covering the entire room feels overwhelming, using wallpaper on a feature wall behind shelving or appliances can create a focal point while keeping the rest of the space visually balanced with paint or tile," suggests Orna Fathers.
5. Dress up Cabinetry with Matching Wallpaper
When designing any room, a holistic approach makes a big difference – ensure your laundry room wallpaper ties in with the colors and finishes used elsewhere.
"Tying a color from the wallpaper to the cabinets or tile backsplash helps add a level of cohesiveness," explains Becky Asleson.
6. Blend Bold Cabinets with Subtle Wallpaper
Don't limit yourself to tame paint colors for a laundry room – brighter shades will give the space a happy vibe!
"Brighter colors can help give the space a happy vibe," says Sarah McCann. "For shorter periods, you can consider a stronger statement wall in one area of the room – for example, behind your appliances."
This space was designed by Bishop Studio and features hot pink units that supply the cheerful vibes, while the neutral geometric wallpaper grounds the overall look.
7. Add Whimsical Designs to Lift Your Mood
In rooms devoted to those mundane daily tasks, a few whimsical design touches can elevate your spirits.
For example, in Amber Guyton's laundry room makeover, she chose this golden sun-patterned wallpaper to create a cheerful feeling. The design is 'Ayo' by Justina Blakely.
To help you daydream while you work, consider a mural-style wallpaper. "To add a fun and creative touch to the space, you could try adding a textured effect wall mural in a playful and colorful design," suggests Paula Taylor, color and trend specialist at Graham & Brown.
8. Create Drama with Dark, Bold Pattern and Color
Don't avoid darker hues and dramatic patterns for small laundry rooms – they can still make a stunning impact!
"In designing laundry rooms, I love to infuse a touch of playfulness and treat them with the same design intention as a powder room," states interior designer Alykhan Velji, creative director at Alykhan Velji Designs. "These compact spaces are ideal for bolder choices, and dramatic wallpaper is my go-to for creating visual impact."
By incorporating these ideas, you can transform your utility room into a space that not only functions well but also brings joy to your daily chores.
- Elevate your laundry room with a mix of dark, moody floral patterns and bright accents to create a unique and visually striking space.
- Embrace statement-making, large-scale abstract patterns to add excitement and style to a utility room, with the flexibility to experiment with bold colors since the room is typically a private space.
- For a modern twist on a classic laundry room, opt for vertical stripes, soft florals, or geometric patterns in lighter tones to subtly enhance the visual appeal of a smaller utility room.
- Go for whimsical wallpaper designs such as golden sun patterns to counteract the mundane nature of daily tasks and create a cheerful and uplifting ambiance.
- Tie together the colors and finishes of your laundry room by matching the wallpaper with nearby cabinets or tile backsplash for a unified and cohesive design aesthetic.
- Experiment with darker hues and dramatic patterns, even in smaller laundry rooms, to create instant visual drama and highlight the space's design potential. This approach will help transform the utility room into a statement piece that also functions effectively.
