The 6 Biggest Laundry Room Trends for 2026—and How They’ll Upgrade Your Routine

Let’s put some pep in laundry day. Laundry rooms are no longer just tucked-away spaces kept out of public view. Instead, we’re leaning into utility rooms with personality, elevated finishes, and hidden features that increase functionality and storage. Here, two interior designers share their insights into the six biggest laundry trends for the year ahead, so you can start transforming your space today.

1. Micro Laundry Rooms or Multiple Laundry Rooms

As our floor plans have evolved from open-concept layouts to more dedicated rooms, Libby Baker Speight, founder of Baker Design Co., anticipates that laundry rooms will be slightly smaller than in recent years. Alternatively, if space and budget allow, multiple, smaller laundry rooms can be a viable solution. For example, a main-floor laundry room can handle most of the home’s laundry needs, while a small laundry closet with stackable units near the bedrooms or the primary bedroom can handle day-to-day laundry.

2. Hidden Appliances

Just because it’s a utilitarian space doesn’t mean your laundry room needs to look like it. Looking ahead to laundry room trends for 2026, Kristin Farnan, founder of Ridge Residential Design, says appliances might not be at the forefront. Instead, she anticipates homeowners will look for ways to create a more seamless look in their space, tucking the washer and dryer units behind cabinets with matching paneling. Within that customized cabinetry, be sure to utilize every square inch. “Stackable units with integrated storage above maximize efficiency and elevate style,” she says.

3. Spa-Inspired Finishes

“Laundry rooms are shedding a utilitarian look for calming, spa-inspired finishes like soft neutrals, natural stone surfaces, and hidden hardware,” says Farnan. The designer says selecting materials that look and feel upscale yet are durable enough to withstand the messy jobs likely to come into this room can help elevate the space. She also suggests opting for playful touches, such as colorful tile or splashy wallpaper. “Make it a place that brings joy since you spend a lot of time there.”

4. Flexible Work Zones

Farnan says that, in 2026, viewing our laundry rooms as multi-functional spaces means we’ll also need the surfaces to be chameleons. “Multi-purpose counters that serve folding, ironing, and even home office tasks promote efficiency,” says the designer. She advises installing features such as pull-out drying racks and height-adjustable surfaces. When it comes to functionality, ergonomics matter.

5. Recessed Dryer Vents

Dryer vents might not be the most chic aspect of your laundry room, but Speight says they still deserve some love. “I know this sounds silly, but those 4 to 6 inches can eat up your floor space quickly,” she says.  Converting your dryer vent to a recessed wall placement can save floor space and make it easier to move the washer and dryer in and out as needed.

6. Hybrid Spaces

Laundry rooms that do more than wash and dry are in. Whether it’s a drop zone, pet area, gardening space, flower-arranging space, or even a hub for household recycling, your laundry room is prime real estate for creating a multifunctional space. “Homes are maximizing every square foot with multifunctional solutions as people want to streamline household chores into one efficient zone,” says Farnan.

Small Laundry Room Tips

• Light it up: Lighting is key, but it might be overlooked in small laundry closets. Add an LED tape light around the door trim or on the inside of the door, says Speight, or attach a small rechargeable lamp to a shelf to lend a bit of ambience.
• Add hidden functionality: Speight recommends ceiling-mounted or fold-down drying racks, a built-in ironing board, and hanging rods, all of which can enhance the space without bulk.
• Look up: Farnan recommends stackable laundry units, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry or shelving, and adjustable shelves for storing laundry essentials.
• Add a style element: “An accent tile backsplash inside the closet that peeks out when the doors are open, patterned flooring that continues into the hallway, and light, warm cabinet tones with integrated LED task lighting keep it feeling open and cheerful as well as modernize the space,” says Farnan.

Large Laundry Room Tips

• Create dedicated storage areas: A single built-in cabinet can house a variety of household items. Think chargers, cleaning products, batteries, lightbulbs, and more. “I love to have a simple tall cabinet in the space with bins or baskets behind closed doors for all the items to be contained by category,” says Speight.
• Add an island: Adding an island to a large laundry space doesn’t have to mean more cabinetry, says Speight. It can be as simple as rolling in a stainless steel table on wheels or sourcing a cool antique or vintage piece that adds a cozy feel to the space.
• Carve out task zones: Farnan suggests dividing a large laundry room into zones to simplify your routine—one area for prep and folding, another for washing and drying, and a third for hanging and staging.