A Makeover That Proves Laundry Rooms Can Look Stylish

The hardest-working room in the house gets a major upgrade.

Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

Written by Sarah Yang October 19, 2026

The laundry room is one of the most-used rooms in this six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom house in Mesa, Arizona, which is why it needed a stylish and efficient makeover. It originally felt very builder-grade, plan, and lacked the visual impact and functionality the homeowners wanted. It was small and dark, with a layout that didn’t quite work.

Before and After Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
“Our clients love art and color so we took that inspiration and ran with it in a bolder way, creating a laundry room that feels playful and unique while still fitting naturally within its Arizona surroundings,” Kim says.

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

“One of the biggest challenges was the lack of functional storage,” explains Kim Dee, principal designer and owner of Kim Dee Designs. “There wasn’t enough space to easily tuck away clothing, laundry essentials, and everyday items, which made the room feel more cluttered. The limited counter space also made it difficult to comfortably fold clothes or use the room for organizing and sorting. Overall, the laundry room had the square footage to be much more functional, but the existing design wasn’t making the most of it.”

Kim’s clients—a couple with three kids—envisioned a laundry room that “felt clean, elevated, and intentional, and that also incorporated moody, modern Spanish-style influences that complemented the overall aesthetic of their home.”

Hamper Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
“To provide more practical functionality for this family, we customized the lower cabinetry to allow hidden and seamless storage and easy removal of rolling laundry baskets (one for each child that can be pushed from their rooms),” says Kim.

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

Creative storage solutions and a stronger sense of cohesion were priorities. Plus, the homeowners wanted the cabinetry to extend to the ceiling; the washer and dryer to be more integrated into the space; areas dedicated for laundry baskets and air-drying clothes; additional counter space for folding and organizing; and concealed storage for everyday laundry items.

Washer Dryer Before After Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
The washer and dryer was incorporated into the room more.

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

“We took inspiration from the Spanish-style architecture and design influences found throughout Arizona as the starting point for the space,” says Kim. “We wanted to build on that familiar desert aesthetic, but turn it up a notch and make it feel a little more bold and unexpected. Rather than sticking with the softer, muted neutral tones often seen in desert-inspired design, we incorporated richer tones, bolder materials, and more distinctive details. The goal was to create a space that still felt connected to its Arizona surroundings, while giving this laundry room a fresh, modern take on Spanish style.”

Cabinets Before After Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
The sink was removed for more counter space.

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

Kim and team kept the original layout but made updates to improve its functionality. They added full-height storage with a built-in broom closet and upper cabinet for extra storage. Lower cabinetry wraps around the back wall and connects to the cabinetry on the right side. 

Drying Rack Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
“The Spanish influence was really where we had fun with the design,” Kim explains. “The Spanish brick flooring was laid in a herringbone pattern, adding another layer of detail to the space. On the left wall, we incorporated a tumbled matte Zellige tile beneath the floating shelf, while the back wall features a decorative matte Zellige tile with a bold pattern to add visual interest.”

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

A floating shelf was added for art and decor. The hardly-used sink was removed in favor of more counter and cabinet space. The bold cabinet color is Behr Rumors (MQ1-15), which ties all the materials and finishes together.

Door Before and After Laundry Room Makeover Kim Dee Designs
“We further leaned into the Spanish influences already existing throughout the home by adding a custom arched wood pocket door,” adds Kim.

Stephanie Studer of Life Created

“The result was a laundry room that works much harder for the homeowners without changing the original layout, while also bringing in the bold Spanish-inspired style we wanted to achieve,” Kim says of the finished design that’s highly functional and incredibly stylish.

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