![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/home-management\/files\/2011\/12\/mlb_laundry_16.jpg\")
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<\/a> Actually, this is not entirely true.\u00a0 The shelving was even worse, but this was after we had already changed out for newer shelves.<\/p>\n I lived with the laundry room looking like this for many years.\u00a0 My main reason for not doing anything with the room is because it is just so small.\u00a0 I didn’t feel like there was anything that we could do to really make a difference in this small, but vital, room.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Paint is, of course, an amazing way to transform a room.\u00a0 Even if you can’t afford a big makeover, paint is an affordable and easy way to achieve a new look.\u00a0 Having heard that every house needs a yellow room, I decided to take the plunge and make that room my laundry room.\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 (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?\u00a0 If you have, come over to my house right now!”)<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Due to the small size of our laundry room, we were able to purchase laminate flooring at a very reasonable price.\u00a0 We still hope, one day, to continue this into our kitchen.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 Be sure to make a plan about how you will be using the shelving before installing the shelving.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n (We took into account items like towels, hangers, and organizational baskets when deciding on shelf depths and distances from each other.)<\/p>\n My favorite part of my laundry room makeover was my new method of storing items in my laundry room.\u00a0 While I know that I told you before that buying baskets usually isn’t the key to organization<\/a>, I have to admit that it was very helpful in this instance.\u00a0 But, even more helpful was that I took the time to print a label for each basket and tie it on with a ribbon.\u00a0 This helped to keep the fun, light feel of the room while keeping me more organized.<\/p>\n I would love to say that I’m now cheerful every time I do laundry, but that just wouldn’t be true.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n This is a project that is definitely doable, even for those with a small budget or space.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0 With some work and creativity, you can transform that space!<\/p>\n 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<\/a>. She is also the founder of The Homeschool Classroom<\/a>, Catholic Mothers Online<\/a>, Tiny Owl Designs, and Just a Tiny Owl<\/a> {Etsy shop}.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For many years, I had a “blah” laundry room.\u00a0 The walls were off-white, everything was everywhere, and it was a room that I was just never thrilled with.\u00a0 In fact, here it was: Actually, this is not entirely true.\u00a0 The shelving was even worse, but this was after we had already changed out for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-19680","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a><\/p>\nStep One: Paint<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nStep Two: Flooring<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nStep Three: Shelving<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nStep Four: Organization<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nStep Five: Enjoy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n