8-Tips for a Great Laundry Room

Recently, we completed a major Laundry Room renovation

here at The Everyday Home.

In typical DIY-style, my one week schedule morphed into

a long-drawn out three week schedule – where the laundry

situation got so bad I almost resorted to stealing

The Hubbs’ last pair of clean underwear.  

(the only clean pair left in the house)

True to form, not only did the schedule increase like a

pair of stretch pants at an All-You-Can-Eat Chinese Buffet,

so did the budget.

 The budget literally imploded.  It was ugly.  

There were bits of budget all over the place.  

Messy, I say.  Just messy.

Here is the BEFORE of my Laundry Room, to give

you a good idea of where started.  

It put a whole new meaning to ugly and inefficient.  

Don’t hate.   

But, in the end – I am thrilled with my new laundry room.

 

 

When I was planning the renovation, I sat down and created

a list of goals I hoped to accomplish.  This list, also, helped

me establish a budget goal.

As the budget grew, the list would shrink.  

I had to mark things off the list

such as a Maid’s Quarters.  Dagnabbit!

 

 

Here are the 8 Tips I used to Create a

Great Laundry Room:

 

1) Walls/Color:

(source) 

My laundry room, unfortunately, did not have a window,

so I knew that “color” would be a relative term.  My color scheme

would be primarily white, for a good reason.  

But, if you are blessed to have a window in your

laundry room, your options are much broader.  Take for

example, this beautiful laundry room above.  

The cool blue color adds an element that a white or neutral

wall could never offer.

I also wrapped 3/4 of my Laundry Room with Beadboard.

(the ceiling, too!)

(source)

 

I love the tile backsplash seen below…

(source) 

So basically, your budget will determine your walls – paint being

the cheapest and quickest fix – and tile being on the higher end.

 

2) Flooring:

(source)

I’m pretty sure that “carpet” does not rank too high on anyone’s

choice for Laundry Room flooring.  At least the wall to wall kind.  

Whether you choose a more budget-friendly vinyl or a

laminate, or a more design forward tile… durability is key.  

In my laundry room, I never have muddy clothes or dirty,

stinky socks or dripping-wet bathing suits.  Oh wait, that’s

my dream home with the Maid’s Quarters.  

I chose a new flooring system available at The Home Depot

because I loved that it was a DIY-able, durable – and I simply

loved the look.

 (source)

This picture is pre-grout.  While it is very pretty, I did not find

it very easy to install. I cannot attest to it’s durability factor as

it is relatively new, but I will say if it survives this house,

it’s probably a sure thing it can survive other

Laundry Rooms, too.  

 

3) Cabinetry and Shelving:

(source)

When we did the demo, my son and I ripped out the original

cabinetry.  It was ugleeeeeey – so no big loss.  I knew I would

be putting in a new  stackable washer and dryer, so there would

not be any room for cabinets.

My Laundry Room also pulls double-duty as my Pantry.  

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Welcome to one of the worst

planned  custom-built homes you will ever find.  There was

NO pantry added when this home was originally built.  And,

to clue you in on how “observant” I was…I did not realize

this fact until I was unpacking the boxes marked

“Pantry” from the last house.  

(talk about a forehead slapping moment.)  

We chose the laminated wire shelving system below, even

though The Hubbs wanted to use painted, white wood shelving.  

 

From a design stance, I absolutely agreed with him.  I knew

that the painted wood shelving would look so much more

pleasing to the room as a whole.

But, I chose practicality over aesthetics.  I wanted the

convenience of being able to raise and lower the shelves

as my pantry needs evolved.

(aka as I needed more baskets and containers.)   

So, while these may not be my optimal choice, they serve

their needs well.

This look below would have been a dream set-up for me…

(source)

Shelving which holds large wicker baskets for sorting clothes.

 In my case, the baskets would be marked “Stinky Socks Which

Smell Like Death;” “Wet Towels Left on the Bathroom Floor;”

and, “That Stain Looks Like It Has Set Up Residence.”  

 

Speaking of cabinets, my first apartment didn’t have this many.

 

 (source) 

Swoon!  

Cabinetry can be expensive, so think about substituting some

pretty open shelving instead.

(source)

 

(source)

4) Storage and Organizing

“We have way too much storage and couldn’t possibly

need any more.”

– Said no Homeowner ever.  

 

I had a few main goals in mind when I was planning the

Laundry Room reno.

Storage and Organization was very high on the list. With

minimal square footage to work with, I knew I had to utilize

some space which often goes overlooked and underused.

 

Look up, my friends.  The ceiling is the limit.  

We built an inexpensive shelf and added baskets from Kmart

so I could use them to store paper towels and tissue and lightbulbs,

and whatever else I could stuff (oh I mean organize) up there.  

 

This is a great idea, below,  if you have a closet door…

 

(source) 

 

This set-up below, is ideal for a family.  

One basket for every family member.

(source)

5) Lighting:

(source)

While some may think Lighting-Schmighting – it’s a Laundry Room.

I say “let it shine, baby!”  I think your Laundry Room is a place

where you can have fun and do something creative and unexpected.

 

You can create something yourself such as this cute

Laundry Pin Fixture…

(source)

… to creating a fixture from a vintage colander.

(source)

Be original.  Use something that makes you smile every time

you flip on that light switch.

 

6) Washer and Dryer:

(source)

 

Now granted, this particular “tip” is one that is very personal

to everyone, and is also something that some of you can skip

(you already have a washer and dryer)…or you may find

of interest because you might find yourself in the market

sometime in the future.  We needed a new set.  Our old set

was perfectly fine and possibly, could have lasted a few more

years, but to gain the space we needed – we had to purchase

a new stackable set.  But, because I have other plans for

expanding my pantry in the future, I wanted a set that

could convert back to a regular singular standing washer and

dryer.  I did do some research, and we decided on the

Samsung VLT brand.  Samsung is in no way paying me to say

this, but I want to say I LOVE MY WASHER AND DRYER,

if it is possible to do so.  Can you love something which

requires you to work and slave long hours?  

(source)

I adore the brightly-colored and personality-filled washers

and dryers… 

 Here’s how you can really add your own personality to 

you appliances. 

Whatever you already have – or if you’re gonna be in the market,

there is no doubt that a washer and dryer is THE major

component of the Laundry Room.  

Even if it is polka dotted.  

 

7) Convenience:

 (source)

 

What exactly does convenience have to do with a Laundry Room?

Well, I guess you would have to be the lucky owner of THE

most inconvenient Laundry Room ever, to know the difference.

 (That would have been me!)

Take the cute ironing board hanger above.  It’s the little

conveniences as simple as being able to quickly access

your ironing board that can make the labor

of laundry a little easier.

(source)

I put some thought into the details which would allow me to

have some basic items at my fingertips.  Detergent, fabric softener,

clothes pin, hangers.  While you want a pretty Laundry Room,

let’s face it – convenience is an absolute necessity, too.

 

(source)

 

8) Makin’ it Pretty:

(source)

I won’t lie.  The whole time we were up to our eyeballs in sheetrock

dust and caulk and paint…and more caulk – my mind was awhirl

with the part of the remodel I looked forward to the most.

Makin’ it pretty.

 

A laundry room is probably one of the most functional rooms

in your home,  but no one said it had to be boring and bland.

 

(source)

Most of you know me pretty well, and you know that I am all

about the details. I love that the details of a room immediately

speak of the personality of the homeowner.  I wanted something

inexpensive and fun and unexpected in our laundry room,

so I grabbed some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, an artist’s

canvas and a package of old fashioned clothespins.  A few

hot glue sticks later, I had created this easy and almost free

Laundry Room Art.

 (source) 

I love this next inspirational picture below because it pulls in

so many of the above tips, all in one beautiful package.

(source)

1) Color :  This homeowner used beautiful tiles on the backsplash

that added a burst  of color to the room, and played up the

design aesthetics to the hilt.

2) Cabinetry :

An abundance of cabinetry offered lots of convenient storage.

3) Makin’ it Pretty:

The wall graphics are fun and unexpected. 

The perfect example of a Laundry Room that meets the needs of the

homeowner, but also meets the needs of the purpose of the room.

 

So, that’s the 8-Tips I put to use when I was in the planning

stages of my Laundry Room.  I hope this will be inspirational

and informative, if and when, you ever do a Laundry Room

renovation or redesign of your own.

 

Now, excuse me… my laundry piles are multiplying faster than

Rabbits on fertility drugs.   

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xxoo, Barb

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