5 Laundry Room Lighting Ideas You’ll Love: Creative lighting tips from a designer who’s made laundry rooms shine

One of my funniest design memories? A client once asked me to make her laundry room feel like a Parisian café. Yep – the place where socks vanish had to be charming enough for coffee dates. That project taught me that even the most functional spaces can deserve beautiful lighting, and small rooms can spark big creativity. Today, I’ll walk you through 5 lighting ideas I’ve used (and tested!) to make laundry rooms feel fresh, functional, and stylish.

Sometimes, when planning a compact space, I use a room planning tool early on to visualize how light will bounce and avoid awkward shadows. It’s a quick step that saves loads of headaches later.

Tip 1: Go for layered lighting

In a laundry room, a single ceiling lamp often leaves corners dull. Add under-cabinet strips, recessed lights, and a statement fixture to create depth. It makes folding less of a chore and gives the space personality. Just remember—more layers can mean more wiring cost.

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Tip 2: Choose bright but soft ambient light

Cold, overly white bulbs can make your laundry area feel like a hospital corridor. I prefer warm LEDs around 3000K for a cozy workspace. They highlight textures without distorting fabric colors. I often map them out using a floor plan design sketch before buying fixtures.

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Tip 3: Add a spotlight for ironing station

An adjustable spotlight above the ironing board saves your back and eyes. It feels like a tiny stage just for crisp shirt sleeves. Position it to avoid glare—otherwise you’ll squint through every crease.

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Tip 4: Include natural light wherever possible

Even a small frosted window can transform the mood. It reduces odors and makes colors look accurate. I’ve worked on projects where shifting one appliance gave us room to add a high shelf and a mini skylight. The difference was worth it.

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Tip 5: Play with pendants or fun fixtures

Pendants aren’t just for dining tables. Hang one above the laundry sorter and suddenly the space feels curated. I once used a matte black pendant with brass accents in a tiny laundry nook—it turned the chore zone into a design feature. When choosing styles, check dimensions carefully; in small spaces, even a gorgeous lamp can overwhelm. I sometimes preview proportions in a kitchen layout mock-up tool since the visual scale works similarly.

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FAQ

1. What type of lighting is best for laundry rooms? Soft but bright LED lighting around 3000K works well, keeping colors accurate without glare.

2. Can I use pendant lights in laundry rooms? Yes! Choose smaller pendants that fit the scale of the room to avoid clutter.

3. How do I prevent shadows in a laundry room? Layer different light sources—ceiling, under-cabinet, and task—to cover all angles.

4. Is natural light important? Absolutely. It improves mood, reduces odors, and shows colors accurately.

5. Should I have a light near the washer and dryer? Yes, direct light helps when reading controls or cleaning filters.

6. How bright should laundry room lighting be? Aim for 70–100 lumens per square foot; refer to IES Lighting Handbook for standards.

7. What’s the best budget lighting upgrade? LED strip lights under cabinets—they’re affordable and reduce shadow areas.

8. Do I need special bulbs for laundry room? No special bulbs, but choose ones with high CRI (Color Rendering Index) for accurate fabric colors.