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Laundry is one of those chores that never quite disappears — but what if your laundry room could feel more like a retreat than a task zone? Rooted in simplicity, functionality, and calm, Scandinavian design offers the perfect blueprint for transforming your laundry space into a serene, efficient sanctuary.
Whether you're starting from scratch or refreshing an existing room, here are four key principles to create a laundry area that reduces stress and elevates the everyday.
Design with flow to create calm
The foundation of a stress-free laundry room lies in its layout. A well-considered design reduces unnecessary steps, awkward bending, or visual clutter — making the entire experience smoother and more intuitive.
Place your washer and dryer side by side or stacked vertically to save space and streamline movement. For compact areas, consider a smart solution like Electrolux’s 12kg UltimateCare 900 Front load Washing Machine with 8kg Dryer, which combines washing and drying in one efficient unit.
Position a folding station nearby, ideally with room for a hamper underneath, and create clearly defined zones for sorting, ironing, and air drying. When your space supports your flow, laundry becomes far less of a chore — and much more a ritual.
Soften the space with an earthy colour palette
Colour influences mood — and in Scandinavian design, a neutral and natural palette is key to evoking peace. Inspired by the concept of friluftsliv (the Scandinavian love for outdoor living), choose colours that reflect the calm of nature and bring the outdoors in.
Crisp whites and warm off-whites help brighten the space, while soft greys, beige, muted blues or greens, and natural wood tones bring warmth and balance. For a modern contrast, black hardware or darker appliances can add sophistication without overwhelming the palette.
Natural light is essential, so maximise windows where possible. If not, opt for soft, warm LED lighting that mimics the sun’s glow to keep the space inviting, day or night.
Invest in intelligent, time-saving appliances
Scandinavian design champions efficiency with elegance. Selecting high-performance appliances means finding wash life balance.
Electrolux’s 900 Series of washing machines and dryers have a number of intelligent features that take the stress out of laundry. You no longer need to worry about your more delicate garments going through the wash at home, with features like DelicatePlus designed to offer gentle care for all your delicates through optimised drum and washing motion and speed that reduce wear and tear from washing over time.
Features such as the IntelliQuick cycle, which completes a full load in 45 minutes, or SensorWash which help to remove up to 53 different stains without pre-treatment or pre-washing*, help save time in the laundry routine. This means you can spend less time on laundry and more time on fulfilling activities that bring you joy, directly reducing stress.
Incorporate minimal, functional furnishings
Scandinavian interiors are known for their minimalist beauty — and the laundry room is no exception. Famous for being minimalistic, focus on functionality over excess. This means every item in the room needs to balance form and function, and removing unnecessary elements will create a clutter-free space that evokes peace.
Practical organisation solutions are vital to a neat and tidy laundry, and closed cabinets are perfect to keep supplies neatly tucked away. Open shelving is okay to enhance accessibility for frequently used items, but consider maximising clear space below with tall cabinets or floating shelves.
Continue the earthy colour palette by incorporating items such as bamboo baskets, wicker hampers or a wooden drying rack which also add more warmth and texture to the space.
Other items that add moments of joy to the space are also welcome: consider a scent diffuser with calming essential oils that help to mask and soften the smell of dirty laundry. Plus, adding a plant or two also helps to enhance air quality and is a great way to reinforce the connection to nature and produce a calm environment.
*Tested on 5kg load stains from food, household and personal products using Cotton 40°C cycle + StainPro option. Results may vary depending on factors such as models, load size, type and duration of soiling, detergent type and water hardness.
