I love that we are seeing more and more spaces looking “designed” in a home, especially the smaller, more utilitarian rooms.
I think people are breaking out and having fun here. They aren’t afraid to experiment or try something special in smaller areas. These are the places where they can get more personalized with design.
Obviously, we are all influenced by social media and some of the special touches everyone is putting on small spaces there, from pantries and laundry rooms to storage closets and mudrooms. I love it all and it does make for more useful and attractive spaces in which to live and take care of chores or keep you organized.
I had my pantry painted indigo blue, my favorite color. carlaaston.com
We’ve been using the powder room and maybe the dining room as places to express more personality and customize for some time. They are typically more enclosed and easier to address as a single unit. In many open plan homes everything is so connected, you can’t change a wall color without changing it all over your house!
I just heard a phrase from a realtor I follow on TikTok called the “half bath lash out”.
She says it is something realtors comment on a lot. It is where everything in the house is subtle and beautifully designed, neutral and rather non-descript. Then, you get to the half bath or powder bath and zowieeeeeee! There is color, pattern and all things crazy in there. It’s the “lash out”!
I love that! Finding a small space in a home to go a little crazy is fun. I always encourage my clients to do something bolder in a small space like that. (Makes it much easier to change when you get tired of it!)
Let’s see a few specialty room like this below, and see how you could incorporate a little customization and fun in your smaller rooms.
Laundry Rooms
Who doesn’t want a beautiful place to take care of this dreary task, laundry!
I really love some fun flooring in a room like this, since it is mostly the machines and cabinets. If you have a window, a fun window treatment is always an easy way to add some style.
Patterned floor tile and a window valance bring some fun to this laundry room in The New American Home, 2022.
Wallpaper and a unique drying rack add personality in the laundry room of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, 2022. Designer: Denise Bosley Interiors
These drilled holes create a fun pattern as well as provide air circulation in the laundry room of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, 2022. Designer: Denise Bosley Interiors
A cute shelf and apron front sink make this laundry room special at the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, 2022. Designer: Denise Bosley Interiors
A fold-down ironing board and farm sink add much to this laundry room. Carla Aston, Designer
This finishes in this room make this a nice place to do laundry. Carla Aston, Designer
The mosaic tile floor in this laundry room has a bold, fun pattern. Southern Living Showhome, Chairma Design Group
A stacking washer and dryer makes more floor space for full height storage and a wine fridge in this small laundry room. Carla Aston, Designer
Beautiful oak closets house the laundry room in this contemporary new build in Malibu. Seen at the Dwell by Design home tours.
A fun floor tile and custom Roman shade dress up this laundry room. Designer: Carla Aston
Mudrooms
Everyone is asking for mudrooms these days when they remodel. They are so helpful for families with children keep the messes manageable and life a little more organized. Durable surfaces and custom cabinetry make it hard working and stylish.
A patterned porcelain tile floor hides the dirt and provides the durability for this busy family entry. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
This pretty wallcovering is a great backdrop for your hats and bags. Pasadena Showcase House of Design, 2022. Designer: Denise Bosley Interiors
We turned an unused built-in desk into a mudroom bench near the garage door in this home for a more useful way of organizing the clutter and feeding the pups. Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photo
Closets
Feminine, masculine, contemporary or more traditional, closets are becoming design destinations in a home. Full cabinet storage or more open styles, it is all just about personal preference.
This pretty wallcovering made for a stylish dressing room in a closet area upstairs in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, 2022. Designer: Rachel Durate Design
Custom cabinetry and dramatic black wallcovering make for a contemporary closet in The New American Home 2022.
The masculine side of this closet has chocolate brown cabinetry and animal print carpet. ASID Showhouse, Designer: Donna Vining
Pantries
A barn door and shallow shelving help get every inch of storage out of this pantry. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
Easy access from the kitchen sink with a barn door that stays open when cooking, creates a very workable space. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
Wallcovering, tile and a countertop add more fun and function to this pantry in the ASID Showhouse. Design by Chairma Design Group.
This fun dog room just off the mudroom in a hill country home is a great stop for quick rinse of Fido’s muddy paws before he runs through the house. Carla Aston, Designer
Brick walls in the Butler’s pantry and a custom pantry door elevate the entry to this pantry. Carla Aston, Designer
Do you have some small spaces in your home that need some personalization and design?
If you’re in The Woodlands, TX area, local to me, I’d love to design something special for you. :-) Click here to learn about full service design services.
