There’s nothing like having a newborn to make you appreciate a nice, functional laundry area. Ours works fine, but it’s never felt particularly attractive, so we’ve decided it’s time for a full refresh of our laundry nook.

We’ve already made a few small improvements: the blue trim was painted, old bi-fold doors came down, the flooring was replaced, the hallway walls were refreshed, and we unexpectedly had to replace the appliances. Those changes made the space more usable, but it still feels unfinished and could use a design-driven makeover.

We originally sprayed the bi-fold doors white when we painted trim and doors elsewhere in the house, and they’ve been sitting in storage ever since. Every so often we talk about rehanging them, but we always end up leaving the opening unobstructed because we prefer the openness in small spaces. In our first house we even removed a bi-fold wall to create a more open laundry setup, so open-plan nooks are something we appreciate.

For now, we plan to approach this as a focused, affordable update—what some people call a Phase 1 project. Those kinds of updates let you improve the look and feel of a space without committing to a full renovation. Since our appliances are new, this laundry corner should be a relatively inexpensive upgrade focused on finishes, storage, and lighting. Before swinging a hammer, though, we want to be confident in the plan: the right layout, materials, and details.

So there’s been a lot of debate and thinking about what we want. I actually believe a big part of successful DIY is careful thinking—enough planning so you’re not rushing into decisions, but not so much that you never do anything. This weekend we spent time with family, enjoyed a neighborhood event, and did more thinking than doing. The only real shopping we did was for tile, which helped clarify the direction.

Option #1: Remove the cased opening and shift the appliances to open up room for more storage and a more efficient layout. This approach borrows ideas from a previous laundry makeover and would eliminate awkward dead space beside the appliances. With the wall gone we could install upper cabinets, floating shelves, a tile backsplash, and a light fixture to brighten and prettify the end of the hallway. We also considered adding a base cabinet with drawers on the adjacent corner, topped with a small countertop remnant for folding and extra workspace.

We discussed adding a door in the hallway—a pretty door with a large frosted pane that lets light through while providing sound-dampening when the machines are running. Making the area a genuine laundry room instead of an open nook has appeal, especially for containing noise and hiding clutter during company.

On the downside, removing the cased opening would mean passing through the laundry room to reach the storage space beyond, which could feel odd if that storage becomes a finished TV room or bunk room in the future. The other concern is we might love the finished laundry wall so much that a door would feel like an unnecessary expense. Since the new washer and dryer are quieter than our old ones, the noise isn’t a major issue, which makes us hesitant to add a hall door we may not need.

Option #2: Leave the cased opening intact and focus on finishing the back wall with tile, floating shelves, cabinetry, and updated lighting. This keeps the more polished framed look of the opening and allows us to postpone or avoid structural changes. Option #2 is flexible—if we later decide we want a frosted door or to remove the cased opening, we can do that. We can also rehang nicer bi-folds if we want a closer later on. This approach lets us improve storage, brighten the space with a backsplash, and update function without committing to a major layout change.

Seeing examples of attractive laundry nooks convinced us this simpler route could still look high-end. A finished back wall with tile, hardware, and open shelving can read as purposeful design rather than an unfinished hallway stop.

Update: We received many suggestions and questions about creative alternatives—adding a pocket door, shifting the washer and dryer to a different wall, or using a sliding barn door. Those are all valid options to consider depending on how the rest of the floor plan evolves.

Now a word about tile shopping: even though this laundry space won’t get wet like a bathroom or kitchen, a tile backsplash can introduce texture, reflect light, and give the small space a more finished, luxe feel. We considered several tile options before choosing:

• Classic mini-subway marble tile for an elegant, timeless look.
• Small hex tiles in deep tones, which we liked but worried would darken the space.
• A large-scale, dramatic tile that looked amazing but was expensive and a bit too big for the small wall.
• Shiny milk-colored penny tile that felt charming, though we wanted to try something different than recent projects.
• White lantern tile we’ve used before, but the bright white clashed slightly with our washer and dryer finishes.
• Light marble herringbone tile that balanced scale and reflectivity while complementing our appliances. It felt luxe without being overwhelming and had a variety of tones that play well with the surrounding finishes.

We ultimately chose the herringbone marble option. It gives the small laundry back wall a high-end look, reflects light to brighten the hallway, and coordinates well with the new appliances. Because we only need a modest amount of tile, we can splurge a little for a more refined material and enjoy a big visual impact for a moderate investment.

Next up will be finalizing shelving and cabinetry decisions and beginning the tiling. The goal is to create a laundry area that is brighter, better organized, and pleasant to use—something that enhances the hallway rather than feeling like an afterthought. What did you do this weekend—family time, travel, or a weekend of planning? Even small decisions can make a big difference in a DIY project, and thoughtful planning is an important part of getting a great result.