32 Rustic Laundry Room Ideas for a Cozy Retreat

Rustic design has infiltrated kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, so why should laundry rooms miss out on the fun? Whether it's adding elements like worn wood, stone-tumbled linens, or distressed painted finishes, a rustic aesthetic will be the perfect complement to one of the hardest-working rooms in the home.

If you’re looking for rustic organization solutions or rustic flooring ideas, this round-up of laundry rooms will inspire you.

Canvas Laundry Cart

Originally designed for use in industrial laundry rooms, canvas laundry carts exude plenty of rustic charm and are completely functional.

If your laundry room is on the same floor as your bedrooms, there's no easier way to do a laundry pick-up than taking a canvas laundry cart for a spin. Purchase newly-made bins designed to look rustic, or pick up an authentic vintage piece, salvaged from a hotel or school for a more sustainable option.

Farm Sink in Laundry Room

If you're not sure where to start with a rustic laundry room makeover, consider making a Farmhouse sink your first purchase. They're versatile enough to partner with virtually anything, so whether your next move is installing Shaker cabinets, a subway tile backsplash, or throwing down a herringbone brick floor, a farmhouse sink is sure to complement.

Mixed Art

Art is integral to any room, but it can be especially helpful in setting the tone for a rustic laundry room. Scout out paintings that feature nature, such as pastorals and seascapes.

If you're having a hard time locating pieces, try widening your search to include vintage paintings.

Dried Botanicals

Dried botanicals, which are typically made from pressed flowers or leaves mounted on paper feel rustic by nature and also bring to mind the great outdoors. This will especially be great for laundry rooms that have no windows.

Wood Countertops

Install wood butcher block countertops in a laundry room and partner them with cabinetry in a contrasting shade like sage to make them pop.

Hanging Chandelier

There's no easier way to achieve a shabby chic laundry room than installing a chandelier. Hanging a chandelier in a laundry room might sound out of the norm, but if you opt for a less elaborate design, it can be a seamless fit.

If you're thinking of integrating a chandelier, avoid anything too grandly sized or bedecked in thousands of crystals. Instead, look for rustic tole chandeliers or simple iron and crystal chandeliers.

Beadboarded Walls

Installing beadboard paneling in your laundry room is another simple but impactful way to set a rustic tone. Keep in mind that the finish you select for your beadboard will affect how rustic it feels. Avoid dark finishes that can feel nautical, or golden finishes that can read 1970s-esque. Instead, opt for white or cream-painted finishes.

Library Ladder

To maximize their storage space, laundry rooms often come equipped with high cabinetry. To make those hard-to-reach cabinets more functional, try incorporating a library ladder. Choose a wood ladder or a black wrought iron ladder for something more modern.

Vintage Rug

A vintage rug is a great way to add a rustic element to a laundry room and work in some color. When shopping for vintage rugs that complement rustic decor, keep an eye out for vintage rugs featuring beautifully faded colors.

Turkish Oushaks tend to showcase soft, muted colors while Turkish Kilims often display rustic-feeling earth tones.

Wicker Baskets

Wicker baskets are a hallmark of rustic style. Add in a few to give your laundry room instant rustic appeal. Best of all, wicker baskets are endlessly functional in a laundry room. Use them to store laundry cleaning items, clothespins, dryer balls, mismatched socks, and more—the possibilities are endless.

Bucket Sink

If a farmhouse sink feels too played out for your tastes, consider a bucket sink. Originally designed for use in garages and workshops, bucket sinks are now perfection in rustic laundry rooms.

Rustic Island

Anchoring your space with a rustic center island is an easy way to make an otherwise white-on-white laundry room feel more charming. When selecting an island, go for neutral colors. Cerused tables or limed oak tables are always good options.

Gingham Pattern

With its simple grid-work and bold juxtaposition of white and black, gingham feels perfectly in sync with rustic style. If you're looking for one simple yet impactful move to give your room a rustic feel, consider laying down a gingham floor.

Peg Board

Tack up a pegboard, drape it with a linen laundry bag, top it with a vintage painting, and you have the makings of a rustic laundry room in seconds.

Pegboards aren't just stylish, either. In a laundry room, there are near-infinite ways to use one. Hang cleaning tools like feather dusters or hand brooms, or use them to air-dry hand-cleaned goods like hats or delicate silk scarves.

Antique Laundry Tools

Displaying antique laundry tools like drying racks, washboards, and even laundry wringers is a surefire way to add some charm to your laundry room. Some items like drying racks can be incorporated as functional pieces, while others like washboards can simply be hung as three-dimensional art.

Drop-Leaf Table

Whether you opt for a newly made design or a distressed antique, a drop-leaf table is rustic by nature. Add one to a laundry room to add style and incorporate a compact workspace for folding clothes. Simply extend a leaf to create more surface area for folding and drop it back when not in use.

Laundry Art

Laundry word art is relatively simple and inexpensive to source. The best part? As long as you opt for a casual wood frame, it's sure to evoke a rustic feel.

Pastel Shaker Cabinets

Cast Shaker cabinets in virtually any color to give the space a pop of color. If you're going especially far outside of the box with color, partnering them with beadboard or shiplap can double down on the overall look.

Baskets and Jars

Add a few woven bins, linen-lined baskets, and cork-topped jars to any laundry room countertop to create more storage vessels for all your laundry supplies.

Metal Canisters

Transfer your powdered laundry detergent from its original box to a metal tin to instantly transform it from eye-sore to chic, rustic decor. Metal laundry tins are easy to purchase new, or keep an eye out for vintage tins.

Hanging Pendant

Laundry room lighting is easy to overlook, but a simple and classic fixture can go a long way. Search for elegant and understated pieces like metal bell pendants, iron lantern pendants, enamel schoolhouse pendants, gooseneck sconces, and more.

Topiary

There's something about a sweet topiary housed in a distressed terracotta pot that feels charming to its core. If your laundry room receives natural light, consider incorporating one into your decor to soften your appliances' edges.

Bench

A wood-topped bench will give any space a classic look and provide a place to sit. Work a wood bench into a laundry room that's stationed near your back door to turn it into a hybrid laundry room.

Laundry Drying Bar

A drying bar is a functional tool in any laundry room. Choose a drying bar with a little bit of an industrial edge to make it feel in sync with your other decor. Try one made of galvanized steel or black iron, for instance.

Natural Fiber Rug

Texture is a mainstay of rustic design, as are neutral colors. Be it made of sisal, jute, or rattan, a natural fiber rug offers both. Best of all, most natural fiber rugs are durable and can hold up to heavy foot traffic.

Brick Floors

With its weathered appearance, brick is a natural complement to the rustic style. It's also ultra-durable, which makes it a smart pick for a hard-working laundry room. Up the style quota even more and opt for an eye-catching herringbone pattern.

Open Shelves

Open shelving is a standby in rustic kitchens, so why shouldn't it be in the laundry room too? Keep your open shelving looking tidy by using jars to corral laundry essentials like clothespins, dryer sheets, and even dryer balls.

Black and White Combo

Be it tiny penny tiles or basic square tiles set on a diagonal, a black and white floor sets a charming tone. Installing a black and white floor in your laundry room is an easy way to land rustic style without having to overthink your flooring decisions.

Paneled Cabinets

Try a paneled door, like paneled cabinets, a paneled door feels fresh and different but feels firmly grounded in rustic style.

Ceramic Urns

Whether you use them for stashing less-than-aesthetically pleasing laundry incidentals like dryer sheets or detergent pods, or you simply leave them empty, ceramic urns merge seamlessly with the rustic look. Opt for slightly oversized urns to add interest to your space.

Coffee Bar

A laundry nook often results in a purely utilitarian space, but outfitting its next-door neighbor (in this case a coffee bar) can make your laundry nook feel more rustic by association. Stick to warm wood cabinetry in your bar and don't forget to incorporate small rustic touches like white ceramics and small framed art pieces.

Upgrade Your Hardware

Swap out chrome or stainless handles on your cabinets for something more in sync with rustic design. Brass pieces with spindled ends are a great option, as are hand-forged pieces crafted of wrought iron or oil-rubbed bronze.

Read Next: 28 Pretty & Functional Laundry Room Shelving Ideas

Read the original article on The Spruce.