15 Best How to Decorate Laundry Room Shelving Ideas

Elevate your laundry room shelving with easy and budget-friendly decor ideas. These practical tips can transform your laundry room shelves into a functional and visually appealing part of your home.

Check out these ideas for how to decorate laundry room shelving and give your space a fresh new look.

Types of Shelving for a Laundry Room

Bracket Shelves 

Bracket shelves are a type of laundry room shelving that is held up by brackets. The brackets are usually made of metal or wood and are attached to the wall. 

The shelves themselves can be made of any material, but they are most commonly made of wood or glass. These sturdy shelves are a great way to add storage to your laundry room without taking up too much space. 

They are also relatively simple to install, making them an excellent choice for do-it-yourselfers. 

Open Shelves

Open shelves are shelving types that do not have doors or other enclosures. They are often used to display items. However, just like laundry room cabinets, open shelves can be used to store needed laundry essentials.

With open shelves, it is simple to see what is available and allows for easy reach to stored items. 

Floating Shelves 

Floating shelves are a simple way to display your favorite laundry room necessities. These shelves appear to float against the wall and are attached to the wall using brackets. 

You can choose from many different materials and styles of wall-mounted floating shelves, making it easy to find one to fit with your laundry room aesthetic. 

If your laundry room space needs more functionality and style, floating shelves can help add personality to the room and help organize your items. These shelves are ideal for displaying your favorite books, photos, and trinkets. 

They also create the illusion of more space in the room, as opposed to closed cabinetry, because there are no visible supports. 

Wire Shelves 

Wire shelves are a versatile, low-cost laundry room shelving option that can be used in a variety of settings. These types of shelves are great storage solutions for a laundry room since they are simple to clean and can be adjusted to accommodate a wide range of items. 

Not only is wire shelving strong, but it is also long-lasting and durable. This type of laundry room shelving is perfect for storing those heavier items, making them ideal for use in any laundry room, garage, or even a commercial kitchen. 

Pipe Shelves 

Pipe shelves are a type of shelving that uses pipes as the primary support structure. They are typically made of metal or PVC pipes and can be cut to any length. 

These shelves are popular for laundry room shelving because they are strong, durable, and simple to install. 

Plastic Shelves

Plastic shelves are a great option for storage in your laundry room. They are sturdy and can hold a lot of weight, making them ideal for storing heavier laundry essentials. 

They’re also very easy to clean and inexpensive. So if you happen to damage one, you can easily replace them. Plastic shelves come in a variety of styles and patterns. 

What Gets Stored on Laundry Room Shelving?

• Clean Clothes
• Laundry detergent and softener
• Cleaning supplies
• Close pins
• Safety pins
• Clothing iron
• Disposable Bags
• Air fresheners

15 How to Decorate Laundry Room Shelving Ideas

1. Hang Wall Hooks 

Wall hooks come in a variety of styles, making it simple to find one that complements the rest of your laundry room’s decor. Consider how you will use the wall hooks. 

Decorative hooks can be used to simply hang pictures or decorations. But if you’re wanting extra storage and need to hang heavier items, such as coats or towels, make sure to get strong wall hooks that can support the weight. 

Before purchasing wall hooks, measure the space of your laundry room shelving to make sure you’ll have room to use them properly. 

2. Add a Pop of Color 

Make your shelves stand out by adding a splash of color in the background. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to brighten up your laundry room. 

Choose the specific color and type of paint that best suits your shelving needs. You can choose any color to match your decor. 

Painting allows you to add patterns or creative designs to your laundry room space that can help express your personality and style. 

3. Stain Your Wood 

If you have wooden shelves in your laundry room, staining them can help bring in a new sense of style. The shade of your wood complements different appliances, and finding the right stain to pair with yours is essential. 

If your laundry room shelving is already stained, and you want to redo them, you can sand them down to make them stainable again. 

4. Wallpaper 

Adding wallpaper behind your shelves is a simple and effective way to add personality to any room. Wallpaper can help to create a focal point, add color and pattern, and even add texture. 

When selecting wallpaper for your laundry room shelving, choose a design that complements the style of the room. Horizontal stripes can help make a small space appear larger, while busy patterns can add visual interest to a dull laundry room. 

5. Backsplash for sophistication 

Adding a backsplash to your laundry room shelving is a simple and inexpensive way to update the appearance of the space. It’s also an excellent way to protect your walls from water damage or detergent stains. 

If you’re not sure what kind of backsplash to get for your laundry room, spend some time looking through different options online or in home improvement stores. 

6. Create Warmth with Specialty Lighting

If the shelves in your laundry room look a little bare, there are some easy ways to make them look cozier and more inviting. Adding some lighting can help accentuate your shelving and give them a warm, inviting glow. 

A simple lamp will give the laundry room that extra light you never knew you needed. There are many unique styles and shapes of lamps, and it should be easy to find one that fits your laundry room shelving height and aesthetic.

String lights are another great option if you want something a little different. Wrap them around the shelf or drape them over the edge for a softer feel.

Strategically placed up or down lighting can also accentuate your laundry room shelving. The light fixtures can be mounted right onto the shelves to light up the area and won’t take up any unnecessary shelving space.

7. Plants Can Add Life to Your Laundry Room 

Plants in your shelving are an easy way to add nature to your laundry room. Not only can greenery add visual interest to laundry room shelving, but plants can also help purify the air and improve your health. 

Succulents, air plants, and cacti are some of the best plants for laundry rooms because they are low maintenance and low in weight. If you want to add a larger-sized plant to your shelves, you want to avoid closed cabinets and make sure you use an open shelf to provide it with enough room to grow. 

You can also install a grow light or install your shelves next to a window to help your plants receive enough sunlight to thrive. 

8. Add Glass Jars 

Glass jars come in a variety of sizes and styles, so it won’t be hard to find one that matches your laundry room decor. They’re also great for storing items like clothes pins, detergent pods, and buttons. 

For a more minimal look, you can find a large pack of mason jars at the grocery store and use these to store your smaller items in your laundry room. Mason jars are inexpensive, durable, and complement just about any space. 

9. Add Labels 

If you have a variety of products or tools in your laundry room, adding labels to your shelves can be a great way to keep them organized. When adding labels to your shelves, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

You’ll need to decide what kind of label you want to use. There are many different types of labels available, so you’ll need to find one that meets your requirements. 

Decide where you want the label to go. You’ll want to make sure it’s visible and easy to read. 

Finally, select a font and color for your label. Again, make sure it’s easy to read. 

10. Candles 

Candles are an excellent way to add ambiance to any room. By simply adding candles to the decor of your laundry room shelving, you can make your space appear more organized and even taller. 

It’s important to only use candles on open shelves. In between laundry, keeping a linen-scented candle in the laundry room is great for keeping the space smelling fresh. 

If you’re looking for a candle alternative, wax warmers are a safer option and give you the option to change out scents as you please. 

11. Books 

Consider adding some cleaning books to your shelves to add some organization to your laundry room. Not only will they help keep your laundry room tidy, but they can also be a great resource for learning new cleaning techniques. 

12. Store Folded Towels

Fold your towels and stack them on top of each other on the laundry room shelves. This way, you can easily grab one whenever you need it, without having to rummage through a pile of clothing. 

It will also keep your laundry area looking organized and tidy. 

13. Visually Balance Your Shelves 

When it comes to styling shelves, there are a few key things to remember to achieve a visually balanced look. First, consider the items you intend to display and their various sizes, shapes, and colors. 

You’ll want to group similar items and arrange them to create visual harmony. Another important factor to consider is the overall shape of your shelving unit. 

If it’s long and narrow, fill it with items of varying heights to add interest and create a more balanced look. Don’t be afraid to experiment with negative space.

Leaving some space on your shelves can actually help create a more aesthetically pleasing look. 

14. Make Your Shelves Seasonal

In the summer, try adding some greenery to your shelves. Potted plants or flowers can brighten up any space and help to bring the outdoors in. 

When fall arrives, it’s time to start thinking about incorporating more cozy elements into your home. Shelves are a great place to add some warmth with candles and throws or simply rearrange your existing items into a new configuration. 

15. Play with Unique Shelving

Staying away from the norm and going with unique laundry room shelving ideas can add an unexpected touch of whimsy to any space.

While hexagon shelves are ideal for displaying small trinkets and books, triangle shelves are a great way to add interest to an otherwise boring wall. Circle shelves will also work for rounding out a corner or filling an empty space. They come in various patterns and colors and are perfect for displaying anything from plants to photos.

Or you could mount some baskets to the wall on their sides for an even more uncommon storage solution. Unique shelving has a distinct appearance that will stand out in any laundry room.

FAQ

How deep should shelves be in your laundry room?

Standard Laundry room shelving

These shelves are between 5 – 10 inches deep and are often used to display small items and not necessarily jugs of laundry detergent. 

Consider what you’ll be storing on the shelves. If you’re looking to simply add a few pictures, books, or plants to your laundry room, you may only need standard depth shelving. 

Deep laundry room Shelving

If you’re looking for shelves to organize your cleaning and laundry supplies, a deeper-sized shelf may be more durable. 

You can find shelves that are between 16 – 20 inches deep, providing you with enough room to store laundry detergent, fabric softener, and other heavy-duty supplies. 

Also, think about the size of your room. Shallow shelves in a small laundry room can help make it appear larger and more open. Deep shelves in a small laundry room can make it feel cramped and cluttered. 

What is the strongest material for laundry room shelving?

If you want the strongest material for the shelves in your laundry room, steel is the way to go. Steel can support a lot of weight without bowing or breaking because its strength is much higher than other materials like wood or plastic. 

Steel is not only strong, but it is also highly resistant to moisture and humidity, making it an excellent choice for laundry room shelves. Even if your laundry room is subject to moisture or condensation, steel will not warp or swell like other materials.

Conclusion

Laundry room shelving is a great way to keep your space clean and organized. If your laundry room is crowded, shelving can help arrange your cleaning products and clothes more efficiently. 

When deciding on shelving for your laundry room, make sure you choose a material and size that will complement a sense of your style and taste. 

There are many types of shelving styles and materials, making it easy to find shelving that best suits your preference. Get creative with your shelves, and try adding a pop of color, some lighting, or bringing plants into your space.