The Block 2022: 5 laundry, mudroom and hallway trends you'll love 

There’s more to The Block than bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms! In Scott Cam’s opinion, the hallways, laundries, mudrooms, and powder rooms connect everything and are crucial to creating a winning package.

We spoke to design experts about how you can apply some of this season’s key laundry, mudroom and hallway trends in your own home.

• The Block 2022 listings are now live, and updated weekly. See them here.

Statement sinks and basins

In the laundries, several contestants made a statement with oversized farmhouse-style porcelain sinks. Sharon and Ankur chose a dramatic matt-black basin for their powder rooms, while Omar and Oz opted for a raised grey vessel sink. 

Designer Samantha Bacon says, “Bathrooms and laundries are full of hard, practical surfaces and lack the softening effect that accessories like cushions, rugs and lamps bring to a room. A sculptural basin with organic features can become a stand-in focal point and a way to elevate a practical, workhorse-style room to an elegant one that reflects the style of the house.”

As designer Perrie Henderson points out, “Gone are the days of laundries being just functional zones. Instead, home owners are choosing to incorporate fixtures that are both practical and stylish. Farmhouse-style sinks have been increasingly popular and can infuse a space with a chic modern-traditional style when paired with modern tapware.”

Stylish splashbacks and tiling

Incorporating a fabulous splashback (like Tom and Sarah-Jane) or stylish floor tile (like Sharon and Ankur) is a clever and easy way to banish the boredom factor in functional rooms like laundries and mudrooms. 

According to Henderson, “You can easily introduce some elegance and a wow factor into your laundry by using textured and beautifully crafted tiles such as glass, marble, metallic mosaics or hand-cut tiles for that organic look. You need to ensure the tones and style are in keeping with the overall palette of your home.”

“Tile shapes and patterns are an important way of complementing other design elements in a laundry, mudroom or powder room,” Bacon points out. “Innovative shapes and the repetition of those shapes can create a more subtle and pleasing addition to the finished space than, say, a bold paint colour.” 

Multi-functional mudrooms

Mud has been a defining factor in this season’s country-based properties, with Jenny describing it best: “Dry mud, wet mud, soggy mud. Just – mud.” All the more reason for mudrooms to take centre stage. 

The judges loved Tom and Sarah-Jane’s mudroom – describing it as luxe but highly functional. While Sharon and Ankur’s hallway divided the judges, their mudroom got the tick of approval. 

“Once considered the exclusive domain of wealthy homeowners, the mudroom is a practical room that by virtue of its existence makes all the others so much tidier,” Bacon says. “If you don’t have the luxury of being able to create a dedicated mudroom, a nook in your hallway can work just as well. Visual zoning is a great idea, so consider using wall panelling or custom-made joinery,” she adds. 

As Henderson suggests, “When space is limited, think about the places where you can incorporate mudroom-style storage where you enter and leave the home. A simple bench seat with clever compartments for messy items and hooks can help create a drop zone at your front door or in a hallway if there is no space for a separate room.” 

“Barkitecture” and pet-friendly features

The judges were delighted by Tom and Sarah-Jane’s recessed leather dog bed, matching seat and under-bench feeding station. While Shaynna thought Sharon and Ankur’s hallway was a “dog’s breakfast”, their mudroom (with pet bath) was a “dog’s paradise!”

“An easy way to incorporate pets into your home is to think of their needs as an extension of the household needs,” Henderson says. “This includes things like a bed that fits with the style of the home, cavities at floor height in your laundry or mudroom for food and water bowls and dedicated storage for pet food, toys and accessories.”

Bacon explains that it’s easy for pet owners to keep their animals comfortable while also safeguarding their fixtures and furnishings. “Consider hard-wearing tiles or commercial-grade vinyl that replicate timber and stand up to wear and tear,” she says. “Many upholstery fabrics now contain excellent stain-resistant qualities. Better still, purchase furniture with removable covers that can be washed or dry cleaned. There are also fabulous pet-friendly rugs nowadays that look stylish but are highly stain resistant.” 

Gallery-style art displays

The judges admired the selection of hallway artworks, especially Rachel and Ryan’s oversized abstract and large floral piece.

“Artwork can make a house feel like a home,” Henderson says. “A large piece like Rachel and Ryan’s has immediate impact and sets the tone for the colours and style of the space, with similar hues being echoed by artwork along the hallway.” 

Bacon advises that hallways can be the most challenging spaces to adorn and that when planning the display of your artworks, negative space is just as important as positive space. “This means that if you hang one or two lonely artworks on a long expanse of wall, it will highlight the blank wall, and the art will lose impact.”  

A gallery-style display can be more visually powerful, she adds. “When putting a gallery wall together, lay the artworks on the floor first. Try aligning them from the top, bottom or a central point until you get the look you want before transferring them to the wall.”