Defying the wishy-washy

STUCK between the garage and the kitchen, or banished to a closet or basement, the typical clothes-cleaning area is usually a social no-man’s land of linoleum floors and prefab storage units. It may be suitable for airing one’s dirty laundry, but not for lingering over a neighborly cup of coffee.

Sure, Whirlpool Duet and Fisher & Paykel washers and dryers offer a splash of blue trim, but the majority of these major appliances come in any designer shade you like, as long as you like white (or off-white “bisque”) and gray (“graphite” or “pewter”).

If it seems a bit over the top to suggest wallpapering the space above the top-loader, at least there are new products, such as irons with retractable cords and recolored classics, that can inexpensively remove even the most stubborn washday blues.

This spring, soft seafoam green puts a delicate spin on the retro styling of Restoration Hardware’s enameled detergent container, its jaunty green and yellow laundry bag with a duffel handle, and the French country look of fancy fabric softener in glass bottles (now marketed as “laundry fragrance”).

Martha Stewart covers ironing boards with stripes (no prison jokes, please) that coordinate with her Everyday line of linens and sand-colored plastic clothespins, bringing a beach house vibe to the fluffing and folding table.

Those who plan to carry basic black into their summer wardrobes might also want to invest in an extra willow laundry basket. Thanks to Fewa Black Magic washing liquid, a formulation that reduces color fading, you may want to sort your loads into lights, darks and darkests.