23 Best Paint Colors for Laundry Rooms

Elevate the functional space with winning hues.

The Laundry Room
Photo: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The task of laundry might be mundane, but that doesn't mean your laundry room needs to be too. We're bringing the laundry room into the spotlight; that room once hidden away in the basement has become a primary space that deserves some proper attention, especially when it comes to color. Think bold, inspiring, and fun—a space to experiment in a way you might not in the kitchen or living room. Feeling adventurous? Try a tangy orange or vibrant teal. Or if you're in the market for something more subtle, give a creamy yellow or powder blue a whirl. Whether your style leans towards bright colors floor-to-ceiling or neutral with only a pop of color in the details, we're sharing 20 wall and cabinet colors that just might make doing laundry your new favorite chore.

01 of 23

Try a Tangy Orange

Alabama Cabin Laundry Room Painted Orange
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kiera Coffee

Homeowners EJ and Whit Brown opted for a hue that pops when renovating this Florence, Alabama, 1,400-square foot cabin. The combination of this lively Sherwin-Williams Fame Orange, SW 6346 paint and a gallery wall add personality and style. There's plenty to admire while you're waiting for that load to dry.

02 of 23

Embrace a Bold Blue

Bold blue laundry room
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Page Mullins

Maggie Bullwinkel went bold when it came her kitchen/laundry combo room in the renovation of her 1970s home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. "It's basically where I live," says Bullwinkel of the vibrant space. She chose Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) to set off the stainless steel appliances and gold fixtures in the room.

03 of 23

Keep it Clean With White

White Laundry Room
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Sometimes it's hard to beat a classic white. In the 2019 Southern Living Showcase Home, we used Sherwin-Williams Dover White, SW 6385 to maximize natural light and keep it looking clean. Don't forget to layer in darker accents to accent those bright whites.

04 of 23

Make the Paneling Pop

Idea House 2023 Laundry Room

Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

In the laundry room of our 2023 Idea House, designer Laura Hodges splashed the wood-paneled walls in Sherwin-Williams' Portsmouth (SW 9644), pulling the outdoors' bucolic views inside.

05 of 23

Aim for Classic Character

Taylor Family Home Laundry Room
Cooper painted cabinets in the laundry room in Benjamin Moore's Gray Huskie, 1473.

DANE TASHIMA; Styling: PAGE MULLINS

In this Richmond, Virginia, laundry room, designer Elly Poston Cooper selected Benjamin Moore's Gray Huskie (1473) for the cabinetry to complement the traditional black-and-cream checkerboard flooring.

06 of 23

Experiment with Contrast

Gray laundry room with wood paneling

James Ransom

Designer Hannah Maple made her Lexington, Kentucky, home's workhorse space feel dynamic by painting the cabinetry a deep blue-black and covering the wainscot paneling in Farrow & Ball’s Manor House Gray (No. 265) .

07 of 23

Tie Together Prints With Paint

Red Laundry Room with Stacked Washer and Dryer
Alison Gootee; Design: Meg Kelly; Styling: Matthew Gleason

If your laundry room doesn't have natural light, brighten the space with color and patterns like designer Meg Kelly did in this Nashville home renovation. To get this look, pair a whimsical wallpaper with powder blue accents with Sherwin-Williams Wondrous Blue, SW 6807 on the trim and cabinetry.

08 of 23

Refresh With Minty Green

Andrew Howard Home Laundry Room
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong

"We spend long portions of each day in the laundry room, so I wanted to make ours happy," says interior designer Andrew Howard. In his Jacksonville, Florida, home, the laundry room that doubles as a mudroom features cabinets painted in Benjamin Moore Spruce Green (2035-50) to complement the checkerboard tile floor and cheery wallpaper. Your laundry will smell even fresher in a mint green room.

09 of 23

Cozy Up With Antique Gold

Use All-Over Color in Small Spaces
Photo: Lucas Allen

An antique gold makes this workspace feel calm and cozy. This creamy, golden shade of Benjamin Moore Concord Ivory (HC-12) will warm up your laundry room. The sink skirt and vintage lighting and mirror add to the farmhouse feel.

10 of 23

Cool Your Laundry With Blue

Whitney McGregor Greenville, SC Laundry Room
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cox

Looking for a quick and easy way to dress up your laundry room? Try painting the ceiling a cool blue shade like Farrow & Ball Parma Gray No. 27. or Sherwin-Williams Lullaby, SW 9136. A soft blue creates a light and airy atmosphere, just as it did in this laundry room-meets-mudroom designed by Whitney McGregor.

11 of 23

Get Daringly Dark

2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas Blue Mudroom
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

In our 2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas, designer Meredith Ellis proves mudrooms and laundry rooms don't have to be all work and no play. Give your laundry room a bold facelift with Sherwin-Williams' Cyberspace (SW 7076) on the cabinets or walls. A bright floor tile keeps the mood light in this utilitarian space.

12 of 23

Bask in a Garden Green

Dark Green Mudroom
Carmel Brantley; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Want to make a ho-hum room feel a bit more alive? Look no further. Designer Ellen Kavanaugh brightened the walls of her renovated laundry room with an easy-to-clean satin paint from Benjamin Moore Garden Cucumber, 644 and abstract wallpaper from Rebecca Atwood. An inviting view of the garden makes this a space you'll be happy to linger in.

13 of 23

Dress Up White With Black

Monica Stewart Black and White Laundry Room
Photo: Jeff Herr; Design: Monica Stewart, Misfit House

In a simple laundry space, you can't go wrong with a black-and-white palette accented with greenery and pottery. Get the look of designer Monica Stewart's farmhouse style laundry room with Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, SW 7008 paired with Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore SW 7069. For a subtle hint of green, try Sherwin-Williams Jasper SW 6216.

14 of 23

Relax With Beachy Blue

Laundry Sink
Photo by: Tria Giovan, Styling by: Matthew Gleason

Add cheer to a small space with a beachy hue of blue. Even if you typically avoid bolder colors, take a hint from our Texas Escondido Idea House and try this moody blue-green Waterscape (SW6470) by Sherwin-Williams to bring tranquility to your (potentially otherwise chaotic) laundry room.

15 of 23

Paint a Lively Lilac

The Details: Painted Ceiling
Photo: Erica George Dines; Design: Suzanne Kasler; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Designer Suzanne Kasler brings the unexpected with a high-gloss lilac to invigorate a timeless, mostly white palette. To get the look, try Sherwin-Williams Zurich White, SW 7626 paired with Benjamin Moore's Spring Iris 1402. Accent the room in an unusual spot—the ceiling.

16 of 23

Keep it Classic

Allen Patterson Builders Habersham Home
Photography: Laurey Glenn

No laundry room? No problem. Find inspiration in our 2020 Southern Living Showcase Home and give a closet door or nook some seriously stylish impact with Sherwin-Williams Smoky Azurite, SW 9148. Louvered doors, a small-print wallpaper, and painted trim result in timeless appeal.

17 of 23

Soften With Ivory

Grecian Ivory Cabinets in Mudroom
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Escape the chaos of the rest of your home with a soft look that hides the mess. Dark countertops are balanced with cabinets and trim painted in Sherwin-Williams' Grecian Ivory, SW 7541. Go a step further and add wallpaper or patterned window treatments to elevate the room.

18 of 23

Accent With Evergreen

Laundry Room
Alyssa Rosenheck

Make a statement with a shade of forest green like Sherwin-Williams Evergreens, SW 6447. Try one accent wall, or commit to the whole room for a delightfully outdoorsy feel. A beaded curtain divides the utility area from a more public space.

19 of 23

Add Color With Tile

The Laundry Room
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

A small mosaic tile has much the same effect as wallpaper, adding both color and texture to a room. Here an olive green tile is paired with the same tile in an ivory, which matches the woodwork around the windows. A pretty sink skirt coordinates with the wall color in this serene and well-organized space.

20 of 23

Warm Up a Neutral

Morning Star Laundry Room
Photo: Kolanowski Studios

Whether you choose oatmeal, taupe, buff, or biscuit, warm neutrals provide a calm setting for a busy space. This office nook combined with crafting space and laundry room is pretty enough for all tasks. A vivid teal stool adds a splash of color.

21 of 23

Add Cheer With Wallpaper

Hydrangea Wallpapered Laundry Room
Laurey W. Glenn

Nashville designer Sarah Bartholomew says that laundry rooms are just as worthy of a cheerful wallpaper as other rooms in the house. "I spend so much time in here and it's an extension of the kitchen," she says. Try someting like Quadrille's "Climbing Hydrangea" and you'll happily slip away to do the ironing.

22 of 23

Jazz it Up With Red

Jazzed-Up Laundry Room-- Laundry room

A lively shade of red could have you dancing while you sort and load. Bold reds are repeated throughout this laundry room, from the floor tile to the wallpaper to the cabinet pulls. Setting this fiery color on a white background keeps it from overwhelming a small space.

23 of 23

Try Color on Cabinets

Use a Serene Color Palette for Organization
Charles Walton

Keep the walls neutral and add a pop of color with the cabinets. In this laundry nook, the table legs and cabinets were painted an enchanting mossy green. An accent color on cabinets will add charm, making your workspace anything but drab.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles