What do you think of my weekend project?

I finally tackled the one part of my house I’ve been low-key avoiding: the tiny, dark laundry nook. Every time I stepped in there, it felt like a dungeon. So this weekend, I ripped out the old wire shelf, painted the walls a brighter color, and built a custom wood counter over the washer/dryer so I can actually fold clothes in there.

I’m not a pro, so it’s definitely not perfect—there are a couple of spots I’ll need to sand and re-stain but the difference it makes is insane. It feels warm now instead of “unfinished basement corner.”

Here are some before-and-after shots.
What do you think? Should I add a hanging rod for air-drying, or keep it open and simple?