Laundry room lighting design is not an easy thing to get right. While this is most certainly a practical room where day-to-day and, lets face it, often rather mundane, tasks get carried out, there is still room for a few design flourishes to brighten up these humdrum activities.
In terms of lighting, the laundry room ideas you opt for need to be chosen with the overall layout in mind, what you intend to use the space for, giving consideration to natural light levels as well as the need for illuminating any storage that you have put in place to keep the room ordered.
Our guide explains how to incorporate the best laundry room lighting that delivers everything you need from it, both practically as well as aesthetically.
What is the best laundry room lighting?
As with any kind of lighting design, a layered approach tends to work best in laundry rooms, allowing you to use it in multiple ways. That said, there should definitely be an emphasis on task lighting – sources that give a focused light that makes carrying out chores easier.
‘Start by layering different types of lighting,’ agrees Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville. ‘Task lighting is essential for activities like ironing, folding and sorting.’
There are several ways you can deliver this task lighting and it pays to split the room into zones and think about what kind of jobs you will be carrying out in each of them.
For example, will you use one corner for ironing? Will one section of the worktop be used for cleaning shoes or dealing with stains? Will there be cabinets for storing detergents that need light? Think about the kind of lighting that will make your life easier and where it needs to be.
Mara is the industrious founder of Industville, the place for handcrafted lighting, interiors and art. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to eco-conscious craftsmanship, Mara focuses on designs which tell a story of timeless elegance and environmental responsibility.
1. Choose and position ceiling lights carefully
Although often thought of as a source of background lighting, ceiling lights can also function as task lighting, at the same time as providing general, overall illumination, making them perfect for both laundry rooms as well as utility room ideas.
“Surface-mounted or recessed downlights work brilliantly as they can easily produce enough light for the space,” picks up Alina Enache, co-founder of Lamp Genius. “If you wanted to go for something more decorative, a semi flush ceiling light can also work well as these styles just drop slightly down from the ceiling and usually have multiple arms or a round shade.”
Opting for spotlights or directional downlighters is a great idea too, as it means you can tailor them to your layout, pointing them towards the exact spot they are needed at any particularly time.
Alina is the co-founder of Lamp Genius, a registered architect, and a project design coordinator
Shop laundry room ceiling lights
LVWIT Ceiling 4-Way Spot Lights
The linen shades of these spots give a softer light, while the fact that they are dimmable means light levels are easy to adjust. Each fitting can be tilted 180° and swiveled 350°.
If you want to add a modern touch to your laundry room, these smart little spot lights are just the thing. The LED head can be rotated and adjusted as needed making this one highly practical fitting.
Allesgute 6X Recessed Ceiling Spotlights
Recessed downlights can be the perfect way to add a good, broad overall illumination, and these sleek stainless steel fittings are also adjustable, meaning you can tailor them to your needs.
2. Use wall lights to add depth to the space
Using wall lights provides you with the opportunity to add a little interest to your laundry room. They are also a really effective way to make small utility rooms and compact laundry areas appear more spacious.
“To enhance style as well as function, wall lights are a great option as they provide adequate illumination while adding a considered design detail,” advises Mara Rypacek Miller. “Consider wall washing lights. These are fixtures that direct light across the surface of the walls, providing an even glow and creating the illusion of a broader space. This technique not only makes compact laundry rooms feel larger but also highlights finishes such as tiled splashbacks or textured cabinetry.”
“If you’re using wall lights near a sink, think about using styles with a pull cord switch if your main light switch is located far away from the sink area,” adds Alina Enache. “Remember too that if the lights are positioned within a 60cm radius of a tap, they’ll need to be IP44 rated.”
Shop laundry room wall lights
Cunningham 2-Light Wall Light
Inject some serious style into your laundry room at the same time as adding warmth and depth with this fluted glass and brass wall washer. It even comes with a pull switch for easy operation.
Fulton Industrial Bathroom Wall Light
Rustic style light fittings work so well in laundry rooms and this matte black and wood fitting is also IP44 rated, meaning it is ideal for use in a laundry room. It can also be dimmed to create different moods.
Edinburgh Matt Black Antique wall light
One of the best things about this elegant, antique-style brushed brass and glass wall light is the fact that matching fittings are available so you can create a smart, cohesive finish.
3. Conceal LEDs beneath cabinets for focused light
Just as with some of the best utility room lighting ideas, those you use in a laundry room can add a certain ambience at the same time as being really useful.
“If you have cabinets similar to those in your kitchen in the laundry room, consider adding under-cabinet lighting,” suggests Alina Enache. “You can either surface mount thin LEDs within a slimline profile to the cabinet or have it recessed in for a more premium feel.
“Another, more straightforward, idea is under cabinet spotlights, which are surface-mounted and can be screwed in place – some can just be stuck with adhesive backs to the underside of the cabinet.”
SIRYYUI COB LED Strip Lights 3M
Perfect for cutting and sticking to the underside of laundry room cabinets, this affordable roll of LED lighting can also be remote controlled.
4. Arrange laundry room lighting according to layout
Regardless of the type of lighting you have chosen for your laundry room, you will still need to think really carefully about its positioning if you want it to make daily life a little easier.
“Effective laundry room lighting balances broad illumination with targeted functionality,” advises Lee Lovett, co-founder of Soho Lighting Company. “Overhead lighting, whether in the form of downlights or a central pendant, provides general luminosity, while strategically positioned wall lights work well for specific tasks such as laundry or ironing.”
Really think through how many downlighters you need in this space and, if you are using them to illuminate an area of work surface, plan their positioning carefully. You want to ensure that they will hit in just the right place and that by standing to carry out tasks, you won’t be blocking their beam.
In 2017, after struggling to find the right lighting for her own renovation projects refurbishing historical buildings in Soho, co-founder Lee Lovett established The Soho Lighting Company, creating superior lighting solutions enabled by innovative technology. Designed in London and hand-finished in Cornwall by skilled artisans, the lighting brings together the best of British talent and a considered approach to creativity.
5. Consider lighting temperature within your scheme
The colour ‘temperature’ of the lighting you use in any room plays a huge role in how the space feels to spend time in.
Lighting temperature is measured in Kelvins (K), with the light getting ‘cooler’ as the scale goes up.
“I still recommend using warm white (3000K) for a laundry room, especially if the rest of your kitchen is in this colour temperature and the laundry room can be seen from the kitchen – otherwise, the rooms can clash when both lights are switched on,” says Alina Enache.
“However, this really comes down to personal preference, and if you’d like more task-focused light, move the colour temperature to 4000K, but don’t go above this.”
6. Include some design-led fittings
It is all too easy, in rooms with a primarily practical purpose, to neglect to incorporate any stylish or aesthetically pleasing fittings and finishes. Big mistake. These are the elements that take modern utility room ideas and boring laundry rooms from functional to fun.
“Complement task lighting with a statement pendant or flush ceiling light to bring in softer ambient lighting and balance the overall scheme,” advises Mara Rypacek Miller.
“One project we worked on was a laundry room in a basement,’ picks up Clare Jones, Outreach Manager at Custom Neon. “The space was dark and dingy, but the customer transformed it with hot pink subway tiles, bold floor stripes, a disco ball and an LED neon sign saying ‘WERK’.
“Their laundry room is no longer a place of dread – instead they sip cocktails whilst they fold laundry,” continues Clare. “LED neon is the perfect lighting for a space like this.”
7. Small details make all the difference
The finer details you choose for these statement light fittings, as well as the light switches that control them, can really change the ambience of the space too.
“The finish of the lighting is just as important as the placement,” explains Mara. “Glass fittings with ribbed or tinted colour cast light in unique patterns and hues, adding visual depth and softening the utilitarian edge of the room.
“Ribbed (prismatic) glass also helps diffuse hotspots, reducing glare on glossy appliances,” continues Mara. “Hardware in warm metallics, such as brushed brass or bronze, can also elevate the design and tie in with handles or shelving brackets.”
FAQs
What IP Rating does laundry room lighting need?
IP rating stands for ‘Ingress Protection rating’ and is often taken into consideration when planning out bathroom zones. It indicates how much protection from moisture a light offers. IP65 means a light can be used within very wet areas, such as in shower cubicles, while IP44 will suffice around sinks.
“If your laundry has a sink or will be subjected to frequent splashes, choose fixtures rated at least IP44 for added protection,” advises Mara Rypacek Miller.
Does a utility room need an extractor fan? This is a really important question to look into, particularly when choosing lighting as some fans incorporate lights too.
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