15 Laundry Room Décor Ideas to Style up Your Space

laundry room decor

The once-neglected laundry room has undergone a major identity transformation. In recent years, the laundry room has consistently ranked as one of the most wanted features for home buyers.

The 2024 What Home Buyers Really Want Study found that the laundry room was the most desirable home feature for buyers. 86% of those surveyed chose it, which was tied with houses having a patio.

Home buyers and owners don’t just want a utilitarian room with minimal decorative appeal to wash and dry their clothes, either. Laundry room décor has taken on a new level of importance.

Laundry room makeovers have become very popular as homeowners seek to transform a traditionally drab space into an area they can style up with luxury touches and more modern amenities.

As an interior designer recently told Forbes, “No longer is the laundry room a forsaken, dreadful space. There is every reason to make a place used for chores enjoyable, cheerful and luxe.” An architect also tells Forbes that the laundry room “has emerged as a space ripe for innovation and creativity.”

Why nice laundry room décor matters

A laundry room deserves just as much attention as any other room in our homes. After all, they play a vital role in maintaining a clean and organized living space.

With some design creativity, a laundry room can become a space that is both highly functional and impressively stylish. This helps you get laundry tasks done more efficiently and the work can be done in a more comfortable, inviting space.

Laundry room décor upgrades make even more sense to invest in if the rest of your home has a high-end look. No longer does the laundry room have to be the “black sheep” room in your home that you’d prefer to keep hidden from the eyes of visitors.

From high-quality storage solutions to decorative accents to personalized touches, there are many ways to elevate the aesthetic of your laundry room.

Here are 15 laundry room décor ideas to help you revamp one of the home’s hardest working spaces.

1. Consider how the space will be used

One of the first considerations to make for a laundry room makeover is how the space will be used since this will inform your design choices.

Will it be a dedicated room purely for doing laundry or would you like to make it a dual-purpose space? Pairing laundry rooms with additional functionality has become increasingly popular as people look for ways to maximize their home’s space efficiency. Here are some examples of spaces that can be incorporated into a laundry room:

  • mudroom
  • home storage area
  • crafting space
  • home office
  • pet grooming space
laundry room with storage

A well-designed laundry room can be a valuable home storage space.

2. Pick a practical location and functional layout

A practical location is essential for a laundry room. For convenience, designers typically recommend locating a laundry room near a home’s bedrooms or on the main floor close to the kitchen to allow for easier multitasking.

If a laundry room is beside or near the kitchen, more designers are even incorporating some of the kitchen’s design elements into the laundry room décor. For homes where the laundry room and mudroom are adjoined, this type of design symmetry is also practical.

Having a good laundry room setup is also important. A laundry room with a smart layout that is designed for optimal convenience and efficient workflow makes a significant difference.

3. Choose a laundry room décor style

There are a few ways to go when it comes to picking a laundry room décor style.

One popular design style is farmhouse chic, which gives laundry rooms a vintage look and a cozier feeling. To give the room an appearance that’s rustic and warm, farmhouse-style laundry room décor can incorporate elements like:

  • a farmhouse sink with an antique-style faucet
  • shaker-style cabinets
  • cabinet hardware with a weathered, stylish look (like brass)
  • faux wood flooring
  • butcher block countertops
  • shiplap walls

Another popular design aesthetic for laundry rooms is minimalist, which is all about simplicity. A minimalist-style laundry room keeps its design elements understated by using clean, straight lines, neutral colours, practical light fixtures, and simple cabinet and drawer hardware.

An industrial-inspired laundry room design can incorporate some minimalist design elements along with a few additions to give it a raw and edgy industrial look. Metal accents, stainless steel appliances, specific cabinetry hardware, and a muted colour palette help create a sleek industrial aesthetic.

Another approach is to have a laundry room designed with bold contrasting colours to create visual appeal. This could involve having the floor, walls, and ceiling a lighter colour and darker-coloured appliances, cabinetry, and work surfaces.

4. Pick a colour scheme and wall treatment

A laundry room’s colour scheme significantly impacts its overall ambiance. This article has some great ideas and inspiration for some laundry room colour ideas to consider. Be sure to choose a resilient, easy-to-clean semi-gloss paint that can handle the laundry room’s humidity.

Light and bright colours (like white, light gray, and pastels) can make a small space feel larger and help reflect light better. Bold colours (like red, navy blue, and emerald green) will add depth and character to a room.

In addition to the paint, here are a few other laundry room wall treatment options to consider:

  • Wallpaper is one of the most impactful ways to add visual interest to the walls. Buy moisture-resistant PVC wallpaper and choose a design that suits your style.
  • Shiplap walls are trendy and add texture and visual appeal. To avoid issues with heat and humidity, opt for vinyl, composite, or some type of moisture-resistant shiplap material as opposed to buying pine, cedar, or poplar shiplap.
  • Incorporate ceramic tile backsplashes, which are decorative and very resilient. For an even more appealing room aesthetic, consider matching the tile floor and backsplash pattern.
laundry room wall treatment

A tile backsplash or decorative feature like this faux brick wall treatment adds visual appeal.

5. Upgrade your laundry appliances

The washer and dryer are one of a laundry room’s focal points. If your appliances are past their prime, updating them to sleeker, more modern-looking models is worth considering.

Washers and dryers typically only come in a few neutral colours like black, white, and stainless steel gray, but you can still incorporate them into your decorative strategy. New appliances will play a role in refreshing the room’s appearance, too.

In addition to helping shape your laundry room décor, modern washers and dryers have convenient smart tech features that make it easier to get your laundry work done. They’re also significantly more energy-efficient.

To give your laundry room even more of a modern luxury look, consider adding a steam closet like the LG Styler. These new and innovative smart tech appliances feature a sleek design and enhance a laundry room’s functionality. They have a chemical-free dry cleaning system, can steam, deodorize, and sanitize garments, and gently dry clothing faster than air drying.

6. Choose stylish and durable flooring

Laundry room floors need to be a combination of durable, easy to maintain, and attractive. It’s also ideal if you can choose a flooring colour and style that complements the rest of your home’s décor to create a cohesive look.

Ceramic or porcelain tiles are excellent choices for laundry rooms because of their durability, water resistance, low-maintenance nature, and design possibilities. Patterned tiles can add a fun and unique element to the space.

Vinyl flooring has come a long way in recent years. It offers a wide range of styles and is very practical for a high-traffic area like the laundry room. It’s budget-friendly, too, although it’s worth spending a little more to get higher-quality luxury vinyl flooring.

If it’s a wood floor look you’re after, there are a few options. Laminate and hardwood are generally not recommended for laundry rooms because of their sensitivity to heat and moisture. Opinions on using engineered hardwood seem to be rather divided as well. Vinyl and luxury vinyl plank flooring that mimics the look of real wood are viable options.

Since all of the above flooring types are hard surfaces, a little comfort underfoot will be welcome. Add a machine-washable area rug, which adds warmth and texture, as well as another decorative element.

7. Add custom cabinetry

A major part of your laundry room décor comes from the storage cabinets. More homeowners and buyers want aesthetically pleasing storage systems, which is why you should invest in custom cabinetry.

Custom cabinetry allows for many more design options than store-bought products. Organized Interiors can tailor your custom cabinets to your exact taste. We offer hundreds of cabinetry finish options and a huge selection of decorative hardware to create a beautiful-looking laundry space.

When you invest in a custom design for your cabinetry, it’s easier to maximize the room’s storage potential as well. You can seamlessly accommodate appliances, countertops, and other room features and ensure no space is wasted. Using hidden storage for most of your laundry supplies helps the room maintain an attractive appearance and allows the space’s décor to stand out more.

As the main storage area of the laundry room, it’s essential to choose high-quality cabinets that can handle regular use. They also need to be resilient enough to handle the heat and moisture that comes with using a laundry room.

gray laundry room decor with cabinets and appliances

Store-bought cabinetry doesn’t compare aesthetically with stylish laundry room custom cabinetry.

8. Install custom countertops

A laundry room countertop also needs to look nice and be durable for a busy workspace. Materials like laminate, quartz, solid surface, and sealed butcher block are good choices.

Modern countertops offer a vast array of colours and finishes. From solid colours to faux stone designs, matching the countertop with the rest of the room’s design elements can elevate the look of the space.

A laundry room’s countertops get a lot of use. Be sure to create a large enough work surface to handle all of the laundry tasks you’ll be using the counters for like folding, sorting, treating stains, and mending items.

9. Add a high-end sink

A good laundry room sink is important to have for hand-washing, rinsing, and soaking clothes and the type you choose affects how your laundry room décor looks.

Avoid buying a plastic tub, which cheapens the look of a laundry room and tends to stain over time. Aim for a higher-end choice like porcelain, porcelain-coated steel, or stainless steel.

A farmhouse sink is a no-brainer for a farmhouse-style laundry room. A built-in sink makes efficient use of a small laundry room’s space, while a larger room may be more practical to incorporate a high-end freestanding sink, which adds decorative appeal.

For an extra sophisticated touch, outfit the sink with a luxury faucet. Consider getting a faucet model with a pull-down sprayer, which is convenient for some sink-related laundry tasks.

10. Add open shelving

Hidden storage has its benefits, but it’s smart to also incorporate open shelving in your laundry room design. Open shelving offers both practicality and style. It provides easy access to laundry essentials like detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets, making chores a little more efficient.

Open shelving also allows for decorative touches, such as adding plants, framed photos, or stylish containers to enhance the room’s aesthetic. Shelving is also useful for small areas or awkward corners that are less practical for cabinet usage.

Adding shelves to a laundry room may seem like a simple DIY job where you can just install some inexpensive white, brown, or black melamine shelving. By working with a design professional like Organized Interiors, we’ll ensure even this relatively small part of the room’s design looks great and perfectly complements the rest of your laundry room décor.

laundry room open shelving with laundry hampers

Open shelving allows you to add subtle decorative touches. Pullout hampers save space and help keep the room organized.

11. Add a stylish and functional island

Borrowing a design idea commonly used in luxury walk-in closets, adding an island gives a laundry room even more of an upscale look. Match the countertop and cabinetry styles with the room’s main counters and cabinetry setup for a consistent look.

A laundry room island is also very practical. They can be used for extra hidden storage and include open shelving or cubby storage. Any number of useful space-saving accessories like a pullout ironing board, hampers, and a drying rack can be incorporated into the design. Add drawers to store laundry and sewing supplies.

The top of the island also serves as a valuable extra work surface to fold and sort your laundry. A laundry room island also makes better use of the centre of a room with larger dimensions.

12. Choose stylish accessories

Some thoughtfulness and extra attention to detail with the smaller features that are part of a laundry room’s design help elevate its visual appeal.

If you invest in stylish accessories, your laundry room décor makes a better impression. Organized Interiors offers many types of stylish accessories for laundry rooms, including the following items:

  • pullout laundry hampers
  • hooks
  • premium hanging rods
  • pullout valet rods
  • pullout hanging racks

These types of hanging accessories are perfect for air-drying delicate items or hanging freshly ironed clothes. Additionally, wall hooks can hold ironing boards, brooms, and mops, to keep the room’s floor space uncluttered.

Get some matching laundry baskets or hampers to not only streamline the laundry process but also give the room a cohesive look.

13. Use stylish storage containers

Instead of keeping your laundry supplies in their original plastic containers and boxes, transfer their contents to stylish glass jars, woven baskets, and ceramic canisters. Choose containers that complement your laundry room décor.

Large glass jars with airtight lids are perfect for storing powder detergent, clothespins, and other small items. They keep things organized while adding a touch of elegance.

For liquid detergents, fabric softeners, and stain removers, plenty of attractive glass and plastic products are available to keep them in, many of which have handy dispensers.

Woven baskets are both functional and decorative, adding texture and warmth to the space.

14. Personalize your space and add finishing touches

Once you have all of your laundry room décor essentials in place, it’s time to add some finishing touches with decorative accents that reflect your style and make the room feel inviting.

Here are a few things to consider adding to make the space uniquely yours:

  • a dry erase board
  • wall art like motivational quotes or a vintage laundry sign
  • family photos
  • real or artificial plants
  • a stylish rug
  • a comfy chair or stool
laundry room decor finishing touches

Personalize your laundry room with finishing touches like adding attractive flowers or plants.

15. Add lighting to enhance your laundry room décor

Last but not least to consider for your laundry room décor is the lighting. One reason laundry rooms often look and feel so dreary is because their main light source comes from an outdated single bulb or a fluorescent strip light.

Ensure you have adequate lighting for all your tasks, but don’t overlook the opportunity to add some stylish light fixtures. Proper lighting helps make any room feel more appealing and cozy and can showcase your laundry room décor upgrades to much greater effect.

Most types of overhead lighting fixtures are practical for a laundry room. Luckily, there are many models to choose from to complement the room’s style.

Considering that doing the laundry is one of a household’s most time-consuming chores, you’ll also want good task lighting to improve the room’s functionality. LED undercabinet strips are ideal for this. Use them to provide better illumination for your countertop areas.

Upgrade your laundry room décor

Transforming your laundry room into a more stylish and functional space makes a world of difference in how you perform your laundry tasks. With these laundry room décor ideas and upgrades, doing the laundry can become a more enjoyable and efficient task.

Are you thinking about investing in some much-needed laundry room upgrades? Schedule a free design consultation with Organized Interiors to discuss your laundry room remodel project goals and design options.

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Home Library and Reading Space Ideas Any Booklover Would Love

home library dark wood built-in cabinetry

In this increasingly tech-driven world, it may surprise you to learn that physical books still far outsell e-books.

50% of Canadian adults read or listened to at least one book in 2021, according to a BookNet Canada survey. Physical books were the format of choice for the vast majority of those readers.

Clearly, good ol’ fashioned paper books still have a place in the digital age.

Create a home library with form and function

Avid readers tend to own a large collection of already-read books that they hold onto for sentimental reasons and to loan to friends, as well as an ever-growing backlog of books they plan to read.  

Without a proper home library, it can be a challenge keeping large book collections organized. Most homeowners use storage systems like shelving and bookcases that are bought separately over the years as their book collection grows. Often, this variety of storage systems has a cobbled-together look that lacks any decorative cohesion and is more spread out in a room, instead of keeping the books in one place.

woman on ladder grabbing book off custom bookcase

The best solution to keep a large book collection more organized and also give your home a decorative boost is to create a home library featuring a custom built-in bookcase. And if you have the space, including a comfortable reading area where your books are kept is ultra-practical, too.

Do you envision a space where your books can be stored more efficiently and in stylish surroundings? And does having a cozy, quiet home space that lets you transport yourself to wherever the imaginations of your favourite authors takes you sound appealing? Then find out why you won’t regret your investment in a home library and reading space.

Aren’t home libraries outdated? No, and here’s why.

The concept of a home library nowadays may seem outdated to some, but lots of people don’t subscribe to the idea that their entire book collection should be stored on an iPad. Plenty of readers want their favourite books to occupy square footage in their home, not gigabytes of memory space on a tablet.

In fact, most readers prefer the tactile, more personal experience of holding a book, appreciating the cover art, turning the pages, placing and removing a bookmark, and that satisfying feeling when a completed book is closed for the final time. And no charging is required!

This Statista infographic, which unfortunately doesn’t include figures for Canada, shows how physical books continue to have enduring appeal around the world:

Research and infographic from Statista.

Another reason physical books still matter to people is the experience of book shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. Many music lovers (including myself) miss the unique anticipatory experience of visiting an HMV or Sam The Record Man store and leisurely browsing through the racks for the newest amazing CDs or records to add to our music libraries. Digitally shopping at the iTunes Store just ain’t the same in comparison.

The book shopping experience is very similar. For many bookworms, shopping in-person at an Indigo store or a favourite small bookstore and browsing their selection of titles is still an enjoyable, satisfying part of the book owning and reading experience.

And all of those physical books still being sold end up somewhere in people’s homes. So why not keep them somewhere that’s a cut above a cheap, self-assembled bookcase or in boxes or storage bins?

Avid readers and book collectors take their hobby seriously. It’s usually one of their main passions and a fundamental part of their daily life, so it only makes sense to store the things that give them so much joy with care.

The satisfying in-person book shopping experience is one of many reasons why physical books remain the medium’s dominant format.

Six more reasons to consider adding a home library

In addition to bookcases keeping a collection of books tidier, here are six more practical reasons to consider creating a home library:

  1. A custom-made built-in bookcase revamps the architecture of a room and transforms it into vastly different space.
  2. Bookcases allow your most cherished books to be displayed in an artful manner.
  3. A book-filled, personalized home library makes a room feel more lived-in.
  4. The books you own and display reflect your personality (as Walter Mosely wrote in his book The Long Fall, “A man’s bookcase will tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about him.”)
  5. An attractive bookcase can be a great conversation starter.
  6. Giving books a proper home is the best long-term storage solution to preserve them (as opposed to moving them around occasionally or storing them in less-than-deal conditions in a basement).

The benefits of keeping books in the home

It’s an age-old debate about whether or not it makes any sense to keep a book you’ve already read. Just like the e-book vs. physical book discussion, it’s all about someone’s preferences and taste.

book at bedside table

Ask anyone who chooses to hold onto most of the books they’ve read about why they do so and you’ll get a lot of different answers. Here are some of the reasons they might give:

  • Memorable books have deep, sentimental value.
  • Book collections add a sophisticated touch to a room and instantly make a statement that you’re literally a well-read person!
  • You can share an enjoyable literary experience with someone by gifting or loaning them books.
  • Just like paintings, drawings, and photographs, books are works of art that are equally worthy of displaying and being appreciated more than once.
  • Scientific research shows that book-filled homes have a positive impact on the academic development of kids.
  • The distinct smell of old books (which is caused by a book’s chemical compounds breaking down as it ages) provides a satisfying sensory experience.
  • The sight of rows of neatly organized books simply appeals to some people’s visual taste.

Some reading benefits you might not know

We’ve already listed a number of reasons reading and keeping books gives so many people pleasure. Reading has numerous positive health benefits you may be unaware of, too. Research has shown that reading regularly can:

  • reduce stress
  • help you sleep better
  • slow down age-related cognitive decline by keeping your brain more active and sharp
  • lessen the effects of depression
  • improve your ability to empathize with others
  • increase the likelihood of your kids adopting reading as one of their leisure activities

Invest in a custom bookcase for your home library

A new bookcase from Ikea or Amazon is where most people will turn when they’re looking for a home book storage solution. If you’re really serious about creating the perfect home library design, however, it’s worth it to spend a little more for a custom-made bookcase with a higher-end look.

It’s the bookcase, after all, that will define a home library space and commonly become the room’s focal point. No mass-produced, assemble-it-yourself bookcase product can match the quality of a customized cabinetry piece that is precisely designed, crafted, and professionally installed to fit your living space, storage needs, and design taste.

With a custom bookcase design, you’ll have infinitely more layout, finish, and style options to choose from to complement your décor. You’re not limited to just a few basic design options chosen by a large furniture manufacturer’s design team that are aimed at mass consumer appeal.

A bespoke home library bookcase can be designed to virtually any dimensions you want, whether it’s a large, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling size or something smaller. Customize the heights, widths, and depths of the shelving. Get creative and have your designer incorporate open spaces in specific areas so you can decorate with things like plants and candles. Add upper and/or lower cabinets if you desire.

Because a bookcase is holding a significant amount of weight, the quality of the materials and craftsmanship matters if you want the furniture piece to last a long time. Once again, a custom-built bookcase will be superior to the mass-produced products you’ll find from a big-box or online retailer.

home library bookcase

A custom-made bookcase is more attractive than a low-quality bookcase you assemble yourself. Built-in bookcases also look more like a part of a room’s architecture.

A built-in bookcase optimizes a room’s space

Built-in custom cabinetry is designed to make optimal use of a room’s space, which helps make the room feel bigger and provides a visually appealing architectural element.

Unlike a freestanding bookcase, a well-designed built-in bookcase looks more like a carefully considered part of a room’s architecture, not an afterthought.

By taking the existing architecture of a room into consideration in the design process, built-in cabinetry eliminates or reduces the amount of wasted space, particularly in awkward corners and nooks.

Compared to a freestanding, off-the-shelf bookcase product, this leaves you with more storage space for books and decorative items.

Choosing the right location for a home library

A home library can take on many different forms. If your book collection is large enough and you have the room, a home library can take up an entire room (typically a spare room).

Ideally, you’ll want to situate a library on the main or upper floor. Although the basement likely provides more privacy in your home (which is a significant consideration if you’re combining a home library with a reading space), its cooler temperatures and lack of natural light may feel too inhospitable.

Many home libraries work in tandem with a room’s other functions. Home offices are a natural fit for a paired library space. A home office bookcase can share space between your work-related books and the leisure reading books you own.

home office book library white built-in cabinetry

Maybe you have a home office, guest room, or hobby room that isn’t used regularly. Get more use out of them by adding a bookcase to maximize the room’s functionality. A wide hallway or a large stairway landing area are other areas you could potentially have a built-in bookcase or bookshelves installed. 

Limited home space? Create a book nook!

You don’t need an entire room or half of a room to create space to store books and even room to read. A book nook can be added in many areas of the home that are underutilized, specifically a small corner, recess, or alcove.

The corner of a large bedroom, home office, or any other room can be used. You could set up a small book storage and reading space around a window and have a comfortable built-in window seat added so you can enjoy your books in a cozy sunny setting.

Another option is to make better use of the space underneath a staircase, which is loaded with organizational and storage possibilities. Most staircases are near the front entryway, so remodelling this area with a book and reading nook is a great way to give the space a decorative upgrade.

home window seat and bookshelves

This built-in window seat provides a cozy home reading space. The flanking built-in bookshelves can be used for book storage and displaying decorative items.

Set up a cozy home reading space

According to a recent Indigo survey, Canadian adults spend an average of six hours per week reading as a leisure activity. If you’re in your happy place when you’re reading every day or just a few times per month, why not create a home space that is dedicated to one of your passions?

A home library and reading space that is set up for maximum comfort and minimal distractions will enhance your reading experience and inspire you to read more often. If possible, locate your reading area in a more secluded area of the home that is relatively quiet and private. 

You don’t need much space to set up a cozy reading area. It only requires room for a chair that is comfortable enough for those extended reading sessions, a lamp, a side table, and perhaps an ottoman if you like to stretch out while reading. If you enjoy mixing in listening to audiobooks or podcasts with your book reading, consider choosing a chair that can be reclined for more comfort.

Augment the room’s ambient and task lighting (which should be warm and soft) with accent lighting on the bookcase that showcases the beautiful cabinetry. Consider giving the room even more of a true library look by installing a rolling ladder for the bookcase. The ladder adds a sophisticated decorative touch and helpful functionality for accessing the upper bookshelves.

Decorate by styling your bookshelves

There are many ways to display a book collection. Sorting them by genre, author, or alphabetically makes the most sense from an organizational point of view.

Lots of people, however, like to get creative and prioritize giving their home library some extra visual appeal by storing their books in a variety of artful, interesting ways. Here are a few examples of how books can be playfully arranged to add visual interest to a room:

  • organize them by colour to create a rainbow look
  • arrange the books by height
  • display your favourite books by turning the covers outwards
  • mix in stacks of horizontally arranged books with your vertically stored books
  • display books with the spines turned inward (we don’t get it, but this understandably divisive trend is apparently a thing)

A home library’s bookcase shelves have more uses than just storing books. Bookshelf styling is an art all by itself and has become more popular in recent years. It allows you to create an infinite number of interesting looks by using decorative items like photos, plants, vases, candles, and other knick-knacks to express your decorating style.

home library bookcase

Bookshelf styling has become a popular way to decorate.

Create your bespoke home library and reading space

If that vision of having your own home library and reading space just won’t go away, there’s no time like the present to turn that dream into reality.

Organized Interiors specializes in providing beautifully designed custom cabinetry solutions for your home. Let’s collaborate on a bookcase design that is fully customized just for your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with one of our designers today.

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A Wall Bed With Desk: The Practical Study & Work From Home Solution

wall bed with desk hero

We’ve had to get more creative with how our condos and houses were used over the past couple of years.

Our homes have been not just a living space, but a fully-encompassing life space during the majority of that time. Most of us have done virtually everything in them including working, sleeping, relaxing, eating, exercising, entertaining ourselves, and socializing virtually.

Optimizing our homes for maximum functionality has taken on new importance. Furniture designs that saved space and offered more than one function – especially as everyone pivoted to studying and working from home – have been in higher demand.

A wall bed with desk setup turned out to be the perfect way for some families to study and work from home, without sacrificing too much functionality in one of their rooms.

What exactly is a wall bed with desk?

A wall bed with a desk comes in a couple of design styles. In this article, we’re mostly looking at the type that includes a wall bed with a side desk (and surrounding storage if desired) that is built-in to look like one large, integrated furniture piece.

The other type of wall bed with desk design is the kind that has the desk built right into the bed. The desk is attached to the bottom of the bed. When the bed is raised, the work surface is available to use. When the bed is lowered, the desk remains in a horizontal position and drops underneath the bed.

Depending on the manufacturer, the beds in both of these types of designs can be positioned horizontally or vertically. The biggest benefit of these beds is the significant amount of space they save in a room because they can be folded up into the wall during the daytime.

Some wall bed with desk models use genuine Murphy wall beds and hardware. The Murphy bed has stood the test of time since being introduced a little over a century ago. The highly respected “Murphy” name is as synonymous with wall beds as “Kleenex” is with facial tissues and as “Q-tip” is with cotton swabs.

Inventive furniture designers have improved on the classic, already-great Murphy wall bed concept by incorporating features in addition to built-in desks. You can even buy a wall bed that converts into a comfortable sofa!

A wall bed with desk saves space

Space-saving furniture designs have always been practical. When you’ve been confined to our homes for as much time as we have been during 2020 and 2021, our living spaces started to feel more and more cramped as each month passed. That’s made space-saving furniture even more practical and essential.

Built-in custom cabinetry like a Murphy wall bed and desk saves more space than freestanding store-bought furniture. It’s specifically built to the room’s dimensions, providing the highest level of space optimization.

Furniture like a wall bed with a desk is ideal for guest rooms, small bedrooms, condos, and any type of small living space.

Improve a room’s functionality

By making the most of a room’s space, you can upgrade its functionality and let one of your rooms work a little harder.

Wall beds are commonly used in guest rooms. Most of us only have guests stay overnight once or twice a year, however. Unless you live in a 30-room mansion and can afford to have one room in your home that will get used relatively infrequently, a single-purpose guest room may not be the most practical usage of your square footage.

A wall bed turns any room into a hospitable space in your home for guests in mere seconds. There’s no fussing around making up a rollaway bed, futon, or sofa bed that don’t provide a comfortable sleeping experience. Simply lower the bed from the wall and the fresh sheets put on the bed from the last time it was used make everything good to go.

For the vast majority of the time when the room isn’t hosting guests, it can be used as a home office and study space by having a desk included in the custom cabinetry design.

It’s a smart solution if you don’t have the square footage to dedicate an entire room for use as a home office and want to get everyday functionality from a spare room. Organized Interiors can design a highly functional home workstation that accommodates your family’s work and study needs.

bed pulled down and workspace

A wall bed with a side desk can be used in a guest room, bedroom, or small living space.

A dedicated workspace helps with productivity

Not having a stable work from home setup can hurt your productivity. It’s harder to focus and produce a good workflow when your work area is the dining room table one day and at the kitchen table the following day.

A permanent work setup with a proper desk, enough space, ample storage, and some privacy just may be your ticket back to better work productivity at home.

A wall bed with desk setup also creates a better study from home environment. Even if your kids resume in-class learning, a well-designed home study space provides them with an area that can be used for doing homework.

Triple-up on a room’s functionality

A spare room can do even more than function as a guest room with a home office, especially if it’s larger. Don’t just double-up on the room’s functionality by using it as a guest room and home office – triple-up!

Because a wall bed with desk takes up so little space, the room could be utilized in any number of additional useful ways. Here are a few ideas:

  • yoga room
  • exercise space
  • reading room
  • home library
  • music room
  • home entertainment room

The integrated furniture design featuring a wall bed and desk can be customized to include lots of surrounding open and closed storage for things like office supplies, bedding, books, and personal items.

Instead of a traditional wall bed, you could add a dual-purpose wall bed with a sofa and include a small entertainment centre in the room. Now you have the perfect home space to work, relax, and rest!

wall bed lowered

This room features a home office and sofa that converts into a wall bed.

The multi-purpose room provides the perfect space to work, relax, and rest.

4 drawbacks of a wall bed with a built-in desk

Wall beds with a built-in desk undeniably save space. They do have a few notable limitations, however. Here are some of them:

1. A small work area

The concept of a built-in desk and wall bed combo sounds great in theory, but take a look at any photos of them and you’ll immediately see one of their most glaring limitations – they have a very small work surface.

The tiny work area of a built-in desk consists of a single flat surface. There’s little surface space for a computer, printer, scanner, papers, office supplies, a desk lamp, and snacks and drinks. Forget about personalizing the desk with things like photos or plants.

2. A lack of storage and overall functionality

You’re not getting anything close to the “fully functional desk” that you’re being promised with virtually any desk that’s part of a wall bed. The furniture’s design simply can’t accommodate it.

The only functionality provided with a built-in desk is whatever you can do on the bare-bones work surface. We’d call that pretty one-dimensional.

There are no desk drawers and you can’t store things above the desk in overhead cabinets or on shelving. Extra storage would have to be added to the side of the bed/desk.

The wall bed’s bottom provides the backing of the desk and has a faux front that looks like cabinetry. The handles, which look like they’re meant to open cabinet doors, actually work as pulls to lower the bed.

3. Impracticality

One of the selling points of some bed/desk models is that you don’t even have to remove anything from the desk surface when you lower the bed. That’s because the desk stays in a horizontal position just off the floor below the lowered bed.

When you read the fine print on some product descriptions, however, they can say things like the lowered desk can’t have items taller than four inches left on it. With a clearance that low, you’d be forced to use a laptop instead of a desktop computer and have to be regularly clearing things off the desk when your workday is done (like you’re right back at the kitchen or dining room table).

Some furniture retailers even boast that you can leave a cup of coffee or glass of water on the desk when the bed is lowered. We’ll take a pass on drinking from either of them the next day, thanks.

4. Low weight capacities

The basic nature of built-in desks means they usually have fairly low weight capacities. Some models we looked at online had a weight limit of just 20 lbs. This is another example of the lack of practicality of using a built-in desk for a home workspace.

Be especially leery of buying add-on desk kits that can be attached to standard wall beds. They’ll likely underperform in the weight limit category for your workspace as well.

guest room with office

Even a small work setup like this is more practical and functional than what you’ll get from a wall bed with a built-in desk.

Get your home workspace design started

Talk to Organized Interiors about upgrading your home’s functionality with a custom-designed Murphy wall bed with desk and surrounding storage.

Our wall bed designs use genuine Murphy bed hardware for its superior quality and ease of use. The hardware is backed by a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Schedule a free consultation with us to start planning the design for your space for studying or working from home.

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3 Savvy Condo Storage Ideas Worth Stealing for Your Home

Condo living has its benefits. Things like not having to mow a lawn, living in the heart of the city, and being able to easily access amenities such as a gym or pool in your building are convenient and practical.

One area where condos present a challenge, however, is space. Living space. Private space. And storage space, of course.

A lack of condo storage space is becoming an even bigger problem when you look at the shrinking sizes of Toronto condos.

Some new 3-bedroom condos in Toronto range anywhere from 740 square feet to 825 square feet. The average size of new condos and apartments in Toronto is only 647 square feet.

That’s well down from the average of 1,070 square feet for new condo and apartment developments built in the city between 1981 and 1990.

condo storage ideas hero

The condo owner loved their bed and wanted us to build storage around it.

We got creative with these condo storage ideas

A condo storage locker can only hold so many things. So how can you do more with your condo storage space when the unit you live in has a much smaller scale than a house?

It turns out there’s plenty you can do.

Join us on a walkthrough of a project we did in a modern Toronto condo, with solutions in a variety of areas.

You’ll see different looks and styles for different rooms. In the end, all of these condo storage ideas and designs work together in harmony to create a home design that is elegant and practical. Perhaps you’ll find some inspiration for your own home.

All three areas of the home feature different colours, different hardware, and even different lines in the cabinet designs, but everything works well in the space.

This was a new condo location for the client, but the approach we took can also work nicely for you if you live in a house, whether it’s new or you’ve lived there for many years.

Use dual-purpose furniture in smaller living spaces

Finding space for enough condo bedroom storage may be one of the biggest tests for anyone new to condo living.

Using dual-purpose furniture to consolidate tasks is the way to go, which is what we did with this remodel.

The main showpiece in the condo remodel was the bedroom piece pictured in the top photo. In this case, the clients had a wonderful bed already and the task was to create a storage solution that went around it and worked with it.

This type of custom bedroom cabinetry is sometimes referred to as a bed surround. Beds that just have drawers for storage below the mattress without storage incorporated into the sides and top of the furniture are also known as storage beds and captains beds.

A space for storage, sleeping, and work

Our designer, Christopher, came up with a concept that looks great. It provides a useful condo storage solution, as well as a space for sleeping and working.

To the left of the bed, we built a tall, narrow cabinet for enclosed storage. The base of it protrudes and acts as a night table, so there’s a convenient space for a book, an alarm clock, a cell phone, etc.

On the right-hand side, a desk was created for a work space. It’s open at the bottom for more legroom and has convenient cubby hole storage space directly above it.

Across the top and bridging the two sides, we built a series of creative open and enclosed storage spaces. Using this design allows the client to use the appropriate space to either display things or conceal items they may not want to be left out in the open, such as extra bedding.

cabinetry condo storage ideas

Open and closed storage and display spaces above the bed give the condo owner more storage versatility.

Keeping things bright and light, we built the bulk of the structure using white melamine and added exterior trims and facing with a high-gloss white finish, giving the piece a popular, modern touch.

White melamine was also used for the closet peeking through the door to the right of the bed

The framed glass doors may look like aluminum, but they’re actually board and framed using a thermo laminate called Stainless. The doors then had the same white laminated glass we use for our sliding doors inserted for a great look.

For hardware, we used the ever-popular “towel bar” style of handle in stainless steel. We added a pair of LED puck lights above the sleeping area to provide more light for reading in bed.

undercabinet lighting above bed

Elevated undercabinet lighting provides reading light for the bed.

Built-in storage for the den

In addition to the work in the bedroom, we also designed and installed built-in cabinetry for the den.

This solution is a wall unit for general storage and the design required drawer storage for smaller, loose items that don’t stay put as well on the shelves.

To preserve the clean, vertical lines of the doors, we placed the drawers behind them so they’re hidden. The drawer boxes are the same size as they otherwise would be, but without the addition of a face or extra handles.

cabinet condo storage ideas

This built-in wall unit has hidden drawers to preserve the clean, vertical lines of the doors.

On the outside, you can see a series of flat doors with consistent handles. Inside, however, it varies.

This cabinet was built using melamine in Cayenne Maple. You might have thought that a crown moulding doesn’t go with flat fronts, but as you can see here, it works quite nicely and finishes off the cabinet.

open wall unit with drawer pulled out

Hidden, easy-to-access drawers keep things well-organized.

Condo storage for the dining room

The last of the condo storage ideas we looked at for the project involved the dining room. We designed and installed a simple built-in cabinet here. This cabinet features a combination of solid doors for concealed storage, as well as doors with clear glass inserts for display.

Again, we added LED lighting to the cabinet for illuminating their display items and further used glass for the shelves so that the light can pass through.

This cabinet was built using a combination of melamine and thermo laminates in Chocolate Pear, with shaker-style solid doors.

dining room cabinet

This built-in dining room cabinet has a simple design, but still adds a stylish, elegant aesthetic to the condo.

Customize your condo storage

Even a small or modestly-sized living space can be designed for comfort and optimal storage efficiency.

Blending traditional design details with fresh, modern lines is always exciting and effective and we can help implement these condo storage ideas in your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with Organized Interiors to discuss what condo storage solutions can work best in your living space.

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This Tiny Space Is Carefully Customized For Comfort

All Brian Care cared about was having a home base in Canada that was comfortable and maintenance-free.

Brian’s occupation as a designer involves international travel that can have him away from home for months at a time.

tiny space living room

Owning a condo or house wasn’t practical, considering how little time Brian would get to spend in his home during the year. Brian didn’t need much space, nor did he want much. A tiny space was all he required.

Brian shared a home with good friends for many years. When they moved, they made sure that a dedicated space was available for him. On the lower level of their new house, Brian was offered an area that was just shy of 274 square feet.

What Brian needed for his tiny space

Brian’s tiny space just had to be functional and include certain essential components that made it feel like home.

With the help of Organized Interiors design consultant Micheline Young, the two embarked on transforming an unfinished space in a new townhouse into a safe, comfortable place for him to land each year.

The finished space had to accommodate Brian when he came back to Canada for a few months, which included making space for his most cherished possessions.

Downsizing for a small living space

To start with, Brian had to get rid of a lifetime of possessions. Large, antique, pine furniture pieces went to friends. He pared back his wardrobe to just the basics.

“I sorted everything and didn’t bring anything that I questioned about ever needing or using again,” says Brian.

“At some point, I came to realize that if I was to put anything in storage, I might as well get rid of it. I’ll never remember where it is or never bother to pull it out again. It was actually very liberating.”

small pine bench coffee table

Brian decided to keep some mirrors, a pine bench, a chaise, and an easy chair.

Bringing Brian’s design to life

From day one, creating the tiny space design was a collaborative effort. “Since Brian is a designer, he was able to convey his ideas very clearly,” says Micheline. “My job as a designer for Organized Interiors was to interpret his thoughts into reality.”

Lots of sketches of possible layouts were drawn up before exact measurements helped to determine the best possible options.

custom bathroom cabinetry

Custom bathroom cabinetry provides all the room needed for storing toiletries and supplies.

“Often, architects and designers don’t know how a space needs to function for a client,” says Brian. “Functionality was the key to creating a totally livable and workable space under 274 square feet.”

Good communication was key

For much of the project, Brian was in Mexico and he and Micheline connected on a regular basis.

“Not knowing the engineering aspects of custom cabinetry, it was really helpful to have Micheline troubleshoot,” says Brian. “Communicating with her was easy and I always felt that she had my best interests at heart.”

There were lots of back-and-forth emails, many site visits, and numerous changes, according to Micheline.

One example of adjustments that were made involved a wardrobe. A standard wardrobe is 24 inches in depth, but the placement of the pot lights was 22 inches from the back wall. Micheline was able to alter its positioning to solve this dilemma.

She was also able to size the drawer depths and cabinets to Brian’s specifications to accommodate specific items.

Getting the kitchen space ready

Brian pre-ordered a refrigerator and a sink so that they had the tangible items and measurements to work around.

Panels were added, adjustments were made, and unexpected solutions actually provided more space in the food prep area.

tiny kitchen space

He got rid of his blender and food processor and bought a Magic Bullet®, which does both functions and takes up little space.

kitchen sink and induction stove top

Brian uses a single induction cooktop, which also saves space and slides out of the way easily. A combination microwave/convection/broiler/air fryer oven covers the rest of Brian’s cooking needs.

Customizing the storage cabinetry for a small living space

The custom overhead cabinets were perfect for storing items that weren’t required on a daily basis.

Baskets and wooden boxes were included in open spaces above the bed and under the television for easy access.

custom overhead-cabinetry

“The advantage of custom cabinetry is that you can customize each piece for what you want it to contain,” says Brian.

Refining the tiny living space’s décor and lighting

New rugs were purchased to complement the furniture that Brian decided to keep. He only kept photos and mementos that he couldn’t bear to part with.

Instead of a backsplash in the kitchen, he plans to incorporate cherished pottery pieces.

Remote-controlled downlights were added above the bed, as well as on the cabinets to light Brian’s workspace at night.

remote-controlled lighting and upper builtin cabinets

Remote-controlled downlights and upper cabinets above the bed keep the small space functional.

Because Brian chose to limit his wardrobe to a black palette, he needed excellent lighting in his closet. As Brian says, “Nothing looks good under poor lighting.”

The finished space is really comfortable and cozy, according to Brian. “Everything has its place. My things fit perfectly into the cabinetry. I couldn’t be more pleased with the overall functionality and how it all turned out.”

5 crucial tiny space custom design considerations

Brian’s experience with Organized Interiors taught him that there are five things anyone looking at having a tiny living space designed should consider:

  1. Design: When working with a knowledgeable designer, a plan will naturally evolve, and ultimately reflect the client’s tendencies towards a specific style.
  2. Function: When dealing with limited square footage, consider how a space is to be used and adapt all design sensibilities towards that outcome.
  3. Materials: When choosing materials and finishes, considerations like functionality, cost, availability, and personal preferences will all come into play. Assess all pros and cons before making a final decision.
  4. Plumbing and electricity: It’s ideal to work with your existing infrastructure. If your utilities aren’t conducive to your design plan or add to the aesthetics of the overall space, it’s best to have them modified by a professional.
  5. Trust your designer: Brian’s last piece of advice is, “Carefully choose your professionals. Check references and reviews. Be open to suggestions. Be clear about your expectations. Be patient and be appreciative.”

Get started on your tiny space design

Just like Brian, Canadians are increasingly embracing small space living.

Brian is happy he worked with Organized Interiors on his tiny space design and you’ll love what we can do for you, too.

From concept to completion, we can reconfigure your tiny space for maximum efficiency. Schedule a free design consultation with us.

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