For many years, I had a “blah” laundry room. The walls were off-white, everything was everywhere, and it was a room that I was just never thrilled with. In fact, here it was:
Actually, this is not entirely true. The shelving was even worse, but this was after we had already changed out for newer shelves.
I lived with the laundry room looking like this for many years. My main reason for not doing anything with the room is because it is just so small. I didn’t feel like there was anything that we could do to really make a difference in this small, but vital, room. However, when we found ourselves with extra money to buy front loading laundry appliances, I just knew that it was the perfect opportunity to do something new.
Step One: Paint
Paint is, of course, an amazing way to transform a room. Even if you can’t afford a big makeover, paint is an affordable and easy way to achieve a new look. Having heard that every house needs a yellow room, I decided to take the plunge and make that room my laundry room. I hoped this would make the space feel a little larger, as well as to help it feel more cheerful (especially when doing the laundry for a family of five).
Due to the small size of the room, coupled with the fact that much of the wall space would be taken up with appliances and shelving, I was able to go with a much brighter yellow than I might have done in a typical room. (In fact, I quipped to my mother on the phone during the painting process, “Have you ever wondered what a giant Post-It note might look like? If you have, come over to my house right now!”)
In order to further the fun feeling, as well as tone down the bright yellow, we added removeable decals onto the walls, as well as a wallpaper border to help cover up areas that didn’t fare well when we took down the old wallpaper border that was in the house when we moved in.
Step Two: Flooring
Due to the small size of our laundry room, we were able to purchase laminate flooring at a very reasonable price. We still hope, one day, to continue this into our kitchen. However, since we had a few days with no washer and dryer, it left us with the perfect opportunity to put in the flooring at that time.
Step Three: Shelving
While we had already put up new shelving, this would be the point at which you would want to add in new shelving, if it is needed. Be sure to make a plan about how you will be using the shelving before installing the shelving. While new shelving is great, if you install it without a plan, you may find that there isn’t enough room to actually store what you want to have in your laundry room.
(We took into account items like towels, hangers, and organizational baskets when deciding on shelf depths and distances from each other.)
Step Four: Organization
My favorite part of my laundry room makeover was my new method of storing items in my laundry room. While I know that I told you before that buying baskets usually isn’t the key to organization, I have to admit that it was very helpful in this instance. But, even more helpful was that I took the time to print a label for each basket and tie it on with a ribbon. This helped to keep the fun, light feel of the room while keeping me more organized.
Step Five: Enjoy
I would love to say that I’m now cheerful every time I do laundry, but that just wouldn’t be true. However, it would be true to tell you that my laundry room is now a happier room to be in, and I’m always able to find items that are stored in my laundry room, which includes everything from laundry detergent to vacuum bags to my punch bowl, and so much more.
This is a project that is definitely doable, even for those with a small budget or space. Although our washer and dryer were the largest expense in this makeover, we could have easily done the same thing without getting new appliances and completed the rest of it for $125 or less.
Don’t let yourself feel that your budget or space are too small and that you just need to live with a drab, sad area. With some work and creativity, you can transform that space!
Angie, a contributing writer at The Happy Housewife, is a homeschooling mom to three children and writes about the adventures of her life as a domestically challenged nerd-type turned stay at home Mom at Many Little Blessings. She is also the founder of The Homeschool Classroom, Catholic Mothers Online, Tiny Owl Designs, and Just a Tiny Owl {Etsy shop}.
Ika Devita Susanti says
Great job! I can’t tell you how much I love your new Laundry room. I will very enjoy washing clothes. Love it!
Gina says
Much prettier! I really want to do this with my laundry room, but it’s also the furnace/storage/mess room, so it’s bigger and it overwhelms me. Hopefully in 2012, though.
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
Maybe it would help if you took it in steps, and didn’t worry about doing the whole project at once. It would be a great 2012 project!
Kirstian says
I am just about to do this. I have front loaders as well so I think I may put a counter top over them for my food dehydrator.
MamaLaundry says
Angie – Beautiful job! “Cheery” is definitely accurate. I love it.
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
Thanks so much, Lauren! 🙂 I appreciate it, especially coming from a laundry expert.
Heidi says
Very nice! Congratulations on the new appliances too! I love mine. My husband build a wood table under mine that was tall enough to fit laundry baskets under. Much nicer than those drawers they charge you an arm and a leg for. 🙂
nicole says
Looks great! I should put more effort into our laundry room. It looks like ours is only slightly larger than yours. Thanks for the inspiration!
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
Really — the only thing that pushed me into doing it was the new appliances. It was an easy room to just leave looking blah. But, now I don’t mind if people see it. 😉
Paula says
I love it! I think making over my laundry room would make the never-ending job a little more pleasant. Thanks for the ideas!
Lorin says
This makes me want to redo my whole basement 🙂
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
Wow! That would be a job, huh? What all do you have down there now?
Tiffany says
I *love* the fact you have clothes in your washer/dryer! 🙂
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
I suppose it would have been nice if I had taken the things out before I took the pictures, huh? LOL
Lisa M says
Gorgeous!! Oh, to HAVE a laundry room! I live in the UK and my washer and dryer are in my kitchen!!!:-(
Emma Ann Weatherly says
I never mind doing laundry when I have a lovely – and organized! – laundry room. If I showed a photo of my existing one right now, it would be a Before the Before the Before of yours… So, yes, I needed your inspiration! Down to the basement I shall go!
Savor laundry those little ones’ clothes… All too soon they’re off to college & then their own apartments, and gasp! Suddenly they’ve bought their own homes, and how you’ll long for the days when that little red sock came out of the dryer alone and you wondered “Now where the heck is Number Two Red Sock?!” : )
Lovely, lovely job!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Heather says
Awesome! Really makes me want to paint my laundry room right now. I’m glad that I’m not the only person who wants to do yellow too. Mine is too dark and the yellow will definitely help make it brighter.
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
I was actually kind of freaked out right after I did the yellow. I thought, “What in the world did I do and how are we going to cover it back up?” LOL But, I’m glad that I just went with it and put everything back in the room. Now I really like it.
Katrina Smith says
I have a question. Our laundry room was a room that was added on to the original house. It has a separate door from the main house into the room and another door to the outside of the house. The flooring is concrete & the walls are wood paneling. There is not heating in the room either, so when it is cold…I am miserable! What kind of adjustments or changes do you suggest to make this room more inviting and friendly? Thanks!
Amaris H says
Where did you find your baskets to organize? Planning my attack on our laundry room. 🙂