Laundry Room Makeover: Before & After
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Laundry isn’t the most exciting chore. It needs to be done but is never finished – the piles never end! I wanted to make this dull task tolerable and a laundry room makeover was just the way to do it! This post has all the functional design elements and decor I used to create a space that makes me look forward to laundry day!
Laundry Room Before
Our 90s home needed some updates and the laundry room was no exception. Boring brown ceramic tile on the floors, yellow walls, and don’t even get me started on the fluorescent light fixture. The kitchen renovation made the current adjacent laundry room look extra bland. Let’s just say I kept that door closed as much as possible.
The laundry room makeover started slow. The previous owners had cabinets with a countertop on the opposite of the washer and dryer. Since this space doubles as the mudroom between the garage and kitchen, I needed to change that to built-in cabinets to provide a specific storage area for things like coats, shoes, and backpacks.
Laundry Room Floor Tile
Initially, we didn’t change the tile on the floor. We lived with it while we worked on other spaces in our home. The new paint color and cabinets made them tolerable.
One of my favorite looks is the classic checkerboard floor. It made such a huge impact in our small basement bathroom so I knew a marble checkerboard floor was going to be the perfect choice for the laundry room.
The diamond pattern is such an elegant look and creates a flawless transition to the classic red oak wood floors in the kitchen. Because this is space gets a lot to foot traffic, I went with a dark gray grout.
Laundry Room Sink
If you have the space for a sink in the laundry room I highly recommend it. You can pretreat stains more easily and wash your hands.
This doesn’t have to be an ugly utility sink! Aesthetics are just as important as function to me so I chose one with that in mind. Does it have a marble top and a polished nickel faucet? Why yes it does! But these pretty little details are just what this room design needed. You can find my vanity at Home Depot.
Decorative Touches
Every room needs decor – even your laundry room! Since this is a functional space the decor should add to the look of the room without obstructing movement. Here are some ways used decor in my laundry room makeover:
Greenery
I didn’t want to move the plumbing therefore I needed to find a way to hide the water supply lines that were visible when the washer and dryer were put back into place. Instead of building some elaborate contraption that would make it difficult to access the water lines, I just grabbed a cute little Anthropologie pot, added some draping greenery and styled it on the vanity. Is it perfect? No, but it hides the lines well enough to not bother me.
Laundry Room Wallpaper and Vertical Shiplap
The laundry room walls really got a makeover! To hold us over I had painted the walls a light shade of blue. It was trendy at the time, but hanging wallpaper and installing vertical shiplap truly reflects my current style.
I hung Nuvolette wallpaper in our primary bedroom, bathroom, and closet and had enough left over to get started in the laundry room. Since most people that come to my home won’t see the bedroom, I was comfortable using the same pattern again here. The neutral colors in the wallpaper work so well with the color I used to paint the bathroom vanity and custom closet cabinets so I reused that here too. See all the Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams in my home!
Wall Art
Will you find signs that say “Laundry Room” in my laundry room? Absolutely not! The washer and dryer are a dead giveaway to my whereabouts. What this neutral color palette needed was a pop of color and this large wall art was just the thing.
I had just enough room to add some small wall art above the sink too!
Floating Shelf with Gallery Rail
Where there is an opportunity for open shelving I’m going to take it! Our basement wet bar has floating shelves that have a modern look. The laundry room has more of a traditional style and to give the floating shelf some flair, I added a brass gallery rail to the top and a brass bar to the bottom which I use to hang clothing that needs to air dry.
Functional Updates
The functional details in my laundry room makeover are what make this design complete. After all, the point of this space is doing laundry.
Storage Under the Sink
I mentioned my pretty sink above, but I didn’t explain that the sink has cabinet space below. Storage is key in any home, but laundry rooms have lots of things that need hiding. Detergent, cleaning supplies, and more. I keep the pretty stuff up on the floating shelf.
Clothes Drying Rack
Some clothing items shouldn’t be hung on hangers to dry because the weight of the garment will cause those dreaded lumps and bumps. For the pieces that I cannot hang on the brass rail, I use a drying rack. Often it’s just one or two things that need to air dry so I use this collapsible drying rack that is easy to hide when not in use.
Wall hooks
Using wall space is key for laundry rooms that don’t have much storage. You can hang baskets from wall hooks and tuck cleaning supplies inside. It’s also a good spot to hang things like brooms and dustpans – get some cute ones!
A single pretty hook is just what this wall needed. Its purpose is more decorative since I have plenty of storage space. But I didn’t want to hang wall art here that would compete with the large colorful piece that is within view.
Hamper on Wheels
This is my favorite thing to use when doing laundry. I can wheel it all around for convenience but the best part is the sweet vintage look it adds. It’s one of those things that pulls double duty because it is functional and pretty too!
Frequently Asked Questions about a Laundry Room Makeover
It’s best to have waterproof flooring in a laundry room. Tile is a great choice, but if you want something more affordable you can use luxury vinyl planks or tiles. Otherwise, you might want to use a drain pan under the washer in the event of a leak.
Sometimes small changes make the biggest impact. A coat of paint in a new color is an affordable way to give your laundry room a refresh. Add a new rug, some wall art, and a new light fixture and you’ll look forward to laundry day!
Let me count the ways! If big changes are in your budget, consider adding more cabinetry and possible stacking your washer and dryer. One of my favorite ways to add storage space is open shelving if you have wall space. Even a small shelf will provide a place to keep things within reach. I always recommend using baskets and bins which help to corral similar items and prevent clutter – which happens pretty quick in smaller spaces.
Just like any other room in your home! Stick with the same design style and use decor that is similar to what you already have around your home. Use faux flowers (dust frequently), wall art and shelf decor. If you have the space, add a decorative stool or some other small accent furniture. The possibilities are endless!
