I took too long to share this. I really did. It’s just that I spend so much time in this tiny room and usually it’s up to my eyeballs in dirty socks and jeans and soaking stained tees (ie: not with a camera in hand).
Our laundry room is comically small for the size of our home. We have acres of unused closet space and bathroom space in the master bedroom that I would trade in an instant for a few feet of counter in my laundry room. If only! If I ever meet the architect who designed my home, I will have to give them a piece of my mind. Or at least make them do my laundry in that little closet of a room!
Our laundry room measures out at about 7×7 but appears more rectangular/longer because of the way the cabinets are installed and the window/sink area is recessed. We started out with nice ceramic floor tiles that I installed when we built the house and white cabinets and walls. Here is the tragic “before” shot:
Laundry Room "before"
We had a set of Kenmore Elite original front loaders from Sears that were ten years old and coming to the end of their tenure in our 18-loads-a-week home. I was thrilled to replace these with brand new Kenmore Elite units (new! improved! with steam!) in Chili Red. That was the jumping off place for the whole redo.
How could I bring such new, fancy, high tech machines into a space that was so cluttered and messy? I knew I wanted the space to be cheerful and more colorful. As much as I love a serene black and white space, it was just not working here. My closet was crying out for color! First we painted the cabinets a robin’s egg blue and the walls got a warm peachy tone. I wasn’t sure how I’d like it, until it was all done and the washer and dryer were in. I loved it!
Obviously usable storage is a real issue in this tight space. The overhead cabinets are spacious but not so easy to reach into if you’re under 6 ft. So I was happy to have dual pedestals for storage beneath the washer and dryer. These units are a little taller and narrower than the old ones and overall are more ergonomic, and easy to get in/out of. Next we went to Ikea and looked for small storage solutions like the wooden shelf along the right hand wall and the stainless steel rod shelf (doubles as hanging space). We had the most luck in the bathroom section of Ikea which seemed to have the most sturdy, versatile selection of shelves and hooks designed for use in small areas. The large boxes on top of the cabinets are great for out of season storage but to be honest, I really bought them to add a nice punch of color up high which makes the room seem somehow more spacious. I like stripes!
The other issue in this space was where to hang items. For this purpose we purchased an over the door rack at HomeGoods, installed several wall hooks, and found the perfect laundry room shelf that hangs over the sink (items can dry flat on it or hang from the rods). My favorite hang up item however is the cute little fold up octopus. He is my bra’s best friend. Not the chic-est item perhaps but this plastic device gets a lot of use in my home. I use it to hang small sneakers, bras, mittens, gloves and more.
There’s a glimpse of the curtain I made to match the baskets on top of the cabinets. One yard of fabric at Ikea and less than 20 minutes to sew. I used torn, lightly frayed strips of the same fabric to tie it all up. Less than ten bucks! In fact we managed to stay under $150 for decor for the entire space!
I do wish I had one of those large posh laundry rooms that had a folding table and cabinets and a crafting space. Maybe room for a sewing station and definitely an ironing “area”. I also wish I had a maid to go with that dream laundry room. But then I wouldn’t be spending nearly as much time in that laundry room as I am in my cozy closet, right?
I’m so grateful for the Kenmore Elite Washer & Dryer that were the inspiration for this laundry room makeover. They are of course the critical element because without function, none of the design matters! I know whatever I put in, is going to come out clean. That’s a huge relief. With four kids aged 2-13, I never stop washing clothes. Ever. It’s a part of my life that’s a lot more pleasant now than it’s been for years. My laundry room functions perfectly, despite the small size. I can honestly say, it’s now a pleasure to do laundry. Not that I’d mind a *little* less pleasure!
Disclosure: I am a little obsessed with washing clothes. I’m not sure why. I just get an odd satisfaction at making a gross old stained tee look new and appealing again. I like my clothes to last and I like them to look good! I’m also a Kenmore fan. I bought my original washer and dryer before my home was even ready for a walk through. Kenmore furnished the new set that is featured in my makeover. I’ll be showing you a little more of what this new washer and dryer can do in the months to come.
WOW. Nice job! Love the curtains and have laundry machine envy. i have kenmores, but didn’t spring for the steam… next time!!
You could come over and do laundry with me, there is always a load running up there!
Yes next time. When you move back to Cali, right?
Thanks for sharing. I love a good makeover and I want your w& d.
It’s beautiful. I love the color palette. Your laundry room is palatial compared to mine. And … I love the octopus. I think it would be a very useful tool.
I ran across this clothes drying rack the other day. It takes the octopus style for a whole load of laundry. Has anybody else seen this or tried one out. I would love to hear comments before I buy one.