The average person spends six hours a week in their laundry room washing clothes, according to a survey of homeowners conducted on behalf of Sears, Roebuck and Co. With so much time spent doing laundry, it's no wonder Americans crave a more attractive and better organized laundry space.

Increasingly, the laundry room is coming out of hiding in basements and closets and moving into more accessible areas of the home such as the master suite and mudroom. In fact, the homeowner survey showed that 61 percent of laundry rooms are now located on the home's main level, up from only 45 percent in 1999. With these more visible laundry rooms, interesting design and good organization are key to creating a comfortable and functional space that homeowners can be proud of.

Style and Color
Until recently, laundry appliances were primarily offered in white or cream colors, and laundry rooms were often stark white or unfinished. In fact, half of people surveyed say they don't like the color or design of their laundry rooms and think it could be better decorated.

An easy way to liven up the laundry room is with color, and manufacturers are offering a broader spectrum of colorful washers and dryers every year. The just-released Kenmore Elite HE(5t) laundry line, for example, is offering a new designer red finish called Barolo. This rich, wine color brings warmth and elegance to the laundry room. The line is also available in other designer colors, such as Pacific Blue, Black Diamond and Champagne. So, whether it's on the walls or the appliances, the addition of bold or unexpected hues can really enhance the laundry room's look and feel and make it a place where homeowners want to spend time.

Organization
Organization is crucial to improving function and efficiency in the laundry room. Eliminating clutter can also make laundry feel like less of a chore. Incorporating a storage system that meets your needs is a great way to get organized, and your local home organization store may offer inexpensive and build-to-fit storage and shelving solutions to get you started.

There are also new laundry accessories designed with organization and multitasking in mind, like the Kenmore Laundry Plus+ system. It includes a vertical storage unit, laundry work surface and all-in-one ironing station that coordinate with most washers and dryers. You can also maximize underutilized space with collapsible storage and drying units that can be stowed away when not in use.

Efficiency
When updating your laundry room, consider installing high efficiency laundry appliances. They'll save you money in water and energy costs, and many high efficiency washers, like the Kenmore Elite HE(5t), offer larger drum capacities so you can wash more clothes in fewer loads. Look for efficiency improvements in washers and dryers across the industry to save time, money and help the environment.

With so many advances in laundry appliances and accessories, it's a great time to think about a laundry room makeover - 55 percent of American homeowners already want one. Forget about the days of bland basement laundry rooms and update yours for increased organization, style and efficiency. Perhaps those six hours spent each week doing laundry will be a bit more enjoyable.