You can even improve this

If you are buying a home or looking rot build one, consider this, have the laundry room where all the dirty clothes are. This is normally where the bedrooms are, specifically kid's bedrooms. It amazes me how many laundry rooms are either on the first floor or in the basement. The problem is the bedrooms are normally on he second floor. If you already are in home that your are planning on staying in, just move the laundry room. Many people have guest room they never use. Idea: consider cutting that room in half. This will allow a larger closet for someone, whoever's room is behind the given area, as well as, having sufficient room to add a laundry room. Turn your existing laundry room into a mudroom or pantry.

Dress up that old fireplace

If you have a traditional red brick fireplace. You can replace the bricks with a prefabricated stacked stone. It is siimple and dramatically changes the appearance. (Allied concrete has some great selections).