Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Our Finished Laundry Room Makeover Before & Afters

With the addition of a light fixture and shoe storage this past week (and deciding to nix a window covering for now and just frost the window when we convert the carport into a garage), we just had one last item on our tig ol’ bist (which is how I would imagine Missy Elliott would say “big ol’ list”):

  • Frost the side door for privacy <– seen here
  • Remove the narrow shelving that gets blocked by the open door <– seen here
  • Remove the old shutters that block much-needed light <– seen here
  • Craigslist the old un-energy efficient stacked top loaders and snag a killer deal on new Energy Star front loaders <– seen here
  • Caulk a big ol’ crack in the ceiling <– seen here
  • Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy white <– seen here
  • Redo all the dinged up trim (also in semi-gloss white)   <– seen here
  • Paint the walls <– seen here
  • Replace our dryer hose with a safer all-metal one <– seen here
  • Add adjustable built-in shelving in that nook next to the stacked washer & dryer <– seen here
  • Prime & paint the upper cabinetry <– seen here
  • Replace the hinges and knobs on those upper cabinets <– seen here
  • Hang the ironing board to obscure the giant metal fuse box <– seen here 
  • Add other functional storage near the door for shoes <–seen here
  • Make a new light fixture <– seen here
  • Add a window treatment (maybe a homemade one?) <— will just frost it when we convert the carport to a garage
  • Hang some art to keep it cheerful (and add storage for Burger’s leash)

When it came to what to put on the wall besides the hanging ironing board, Sherry and I bounced around a lot of ideas throughout the whole laundry room process. And ultimately we decided we need something else bouncing around in there: light. Lucky for us, we snagged this awesome $10 mirror at a neighborhood yard sale a few weeks ago. Coincidentally, it was the same one where we got our twig & berry art – so imagine us walking home carrying two big frames and a heavy mirror while pushing a stroller and walking a chihuahua. Yeah, that’s how we roll.

Mirror Before On Ground

We decided it was perfect for that big blank wall next to the door, since whatever went there had to be relatively flat or risk getting slammed by the door (which is why the narrow open shelving left by the previous owners made us nervous so we removed it and frosted that side door for privacy).

Laundry Frosting Done

Anyway, the mirror was perfect. Except that hanging it was going to require some planning because my screws in the wall would have to be perfectly placed thanks to this “do not hang with wire” warning (complete with accompanying illustration):

Mirror Do Not Hang Back

So I tore a piece of printer paper in half, and taped each piece partially over each hook (with that tape facing the mirror) and partially hanging out the sides (with that tape facing away from the mirror). Basically, I gave the mirror dinky paper wings.

Mirror Paper Wings On Mirro

And yes, my Dr. Pepper shirt is campaigning to become The Official Shirt Of Doing Projects With (Or In Front Of) Mirrors. That or I just wear it a lot.

Back to the winged mirror. First I poked a hole right through where my screw would need to go:

Mirror Paper Taped On Back

That way when we held up the mirror in place (making sure it was centered and level) we could slap the exposed pieces of tape against the wall and have an instant guide for where the screws needed to get a-screwed:

Mirror Paper Taped On Wall

I definitely recommend two people for this method. One to hold it up (me) and one to step back and make sure it’s placed well/not wonky (Sherry). After that step it was also Sherry’s job to hold down the taped wings as I pulled the mirror away from the wall to ensure that they successfully separated and remained in the right spots (as opposed to shifting or unsticking as the mirror was pulled away).

After quickly drilling through my guide holes to make small pilot holes, those paper wings that we had taped to the wall came down and a heavy duty anchor and screw soon took their place on each side:

Mirror Screw In Wall

Just as I had hoped (but didn’t expect), it worked and the mirror was hanging in no time. Total shocker. Quick tip: never expect that something like this will work on the first try because you’re practically ensuring that it won’t and you’ll be pissed. I went into this expecting it to take a fortnight (which resulted in “pleasantly surprised John”).

Mirror Hung Close

Sherry and I are still a bit undecided about the finish on the mirror. Our usual instinct was to paint it white (or ORB, or even the same deep teal from the built-ins), but lately we find ourselves appreciating a mix of finishes more and more. And letting “old pieces” add to the collected feel of a room without always slapping paint on them right away. I know, another shocker. So, for now, we’re living with this crackled gold dealio. Although down the line when we get stainless appliances in the adjoined kitchen it might look clashy and call for a paint job. We’ll keep you posted.

Mirror Hung Super Close

So far our random $10 yard sale mirror is turning out to be an AWESOME addition to the room. Not only does it allow for that last look at ourselves before heading out the door, it also reflects a lot of additional light into our windowless kitchen. Heck, it even makes the laundry room look bigger too thanks to “visually doubling” the space when you stand in front of the dryer (now the room seems to go on and on).

Mirror Hung Angle Lots Of L

But that’s not our only addition to the laundry room walls. We also hung two textured frames (from the Pottery Barn Outlet a few years back – they used to live in our old office slash guest room). And we decided to use them to proudly display some of our favorite family pictures above our new shoe cabinet. As for Burger’s leash, we just tucked it into a white bowl from the kitchen. Oh and we got that pink vase on sale at Target for $7. I actually found it myself and recommended it to the wife since it reminded me of the colors in our ironing board cover. Who knew I had that in me? The laundry room is evidently helping me branch out in ways that I never imagined.

Art On Angle

But back to the art. I actually owe my mom for inspiring the framed family pics. She always had a collage of family photos tacked up in our laundry room growing up and I loved looking at it. Functional spaces like laundry rooms can so quickly become just that – functional – so it’s easy to overlook bringing something personal in. Wow – how lame was that last sentence? To put it in less “TV decorating host” terms: it doesn’t hurt to look at a cute baby while, well, washing diapers for said cute baby. And the rest of the fam doesn’t hurt my eyes either.

Art Straight On

The top pic is a family portrait (Burger included!) from our Outer Banks trip last month. And the bottom is one Katie Bower snapped the last time we visited her in GA. Lucky for us, the yellows in each pic accidentally work nicely with the room’s colors scheme (although we’d probably hang them up even if they clashed because they’re favs). Oh, and next to the top frame is a little iron bee (you know we love us some bees) that we got a while ago while thrifting in Delaware. And once again, we opted to leave it as is (even though we mentioned painting it white in the thrifting post). That, my friends, is our form of rebellion. Yup, we’re bad. Bad to the bone.

Art Close On Bee

Wow, just realized that wall comes from a lot of states. Pictures taken in NC and GA, frames purchased in SC, and a hook found in DE. Though the miscellaneous keys are for things like local PO Boxes and family members’ homes – so that kinda ruins the streak. Oh well.

Art Super Close

And with that fine ladies and gentlemen, we are calling the laundry room COMPLETE… for now at least. So let’s take one more look back at how we got from before…

Tour Laundry Before

Laundry Shutters Before

Laundry Frosting Done

…to done (for now):

Art Final Room Straight On

Art Final Room Angle

Mirror Hung Far

Art Super Close On Mirror

It’s actually the first room we’ve made this much progress on. Quite possibly because it was only about the size of a bathroom stall. Oh well, you know we’re all about taking the whole house makeover thing one tiny project at a time.

And for all you number crunchers out there, here’s the whole budget breakdown of all of the updates we’ve made in the past few weeks:

  • New Energy Star front loading washer/dryer: $388 (well, really $638 but we craigslisted the old set for $250)
  • Frosting film (Home Depot): $18
  • Paint and caulk: $0 (already owned)
  • Built-in shelves (supplies from Lowe’s & Home Depot): $74
  • Ironing board cover (Etsy): $24
  • Ironing board hooks (Lowe’s): $12
  • Cabinet knobs (Hobby Lobby): $8
  • Shoe cabinets (Ikea): $38
  • Clothespin light fixture (homemade here): $34
  • Mirror (yard sale): $10
  • Family photos (CVS): $1
  • Frames (Pottery Barn Outlet): $0 (already owned)
  • Iron fly hook (thrift store): $0 (already owned)
  • Laundry basket (Target): $0 (already owned)
  • Pink vase (Target): $7
  • Other accessories like bowls & baskets: $0 (already owned)
  • TOTAL: $624*

* which is pretty thrilling considering our new front loading washer & dryer alone were originally $1198!

Oh and we don’t factor in the cost of things that we have leftover from previous projects or already own since they’re usually already “counted” in other budget breakdowns (ex: the wall paint we used was already counted in the kitchen painting breakdown, so using the remaining paint for this project and saying “$20 again” would be double-counting). But a few folks commented to say that it might be helpful to mention the cost of those already-owned items in case someone at home was planning to do the same thing (but had to buy everything from scratch) so adding about $25 for some caulk & a quart of paint, $25 for frames & accessories, $3 for the plastic laundry basket, and $5 for the iron bee hook that we found thrifting should do it (for a grand total of $682).

Thee cheers for appliance deals and DIY built-ins and ironing-board-covers-as-art and thrift store hooks and clothespin chandeliers and all the other odd calls that we made for our tiny laundry room. And now I’ll toss in this awkward monkey-toed picture, lest you forget just how narrow this space really is:

Spider John

And so ends the laundry room makeover. We’re currently enjoying diaper-washing-day a little too much. And my mom and dad saw our clothespin light in person and proclaimed it “the coolest thing we’ve ever made besides Clara.” Which got us all awkward and blushy. Have you guys done any laundry room revamps lately? Or made any cute babies? Or done some owling on a windowsill? Apparently owling is the new planking.

Comments

  2. Heidi says

    I’m excited that this room came together so quickly and nicely. (seemed quick over the interwebs anyway). It feels like just yesterday I was wondering “when are these crazy kids going to ever get around to that laundry room…” :)

    Reply

  3. Lizzy says

    love the dab of pink (case) in there!

    also, random question but did you “stage” the laundry basket or does the dirty laundry just happen to match the colors in the room? ha!

    Reply

    • Karla says

      The funny thing is, is that I notice that I wear the colors I decorate with. My husband says that all the time. If I ask him if I look ok he says “Yes, you look like our livingroom! But, in a good way!” :) So I can see how your laundry matches your laundry room! :) Love it by the way!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- that’s so funny! I guess it makes sense though because Clara has inspired us to embrace more color with this house. So her little outfits could definitely be pointed to as inspiration!

      xo,
      s

  4. Maureen says

    I love this! You guys are so inspiring for someone like me, who also lives in an older home. My 1956 Cape Cod has its challenges space wise and I am looking for ward to doing something like this in my house! Also, thanks to your inspiration we have started to update the house DIY style. :) You guys are awesome!

    Reply

  5. holly says

    lovely! It certainly makes the sucky job of doing laundry a little less sucky! think I may have to give our laundry room in the dungeon (basement) a coat of paint and some photos! ps. what about Burger’s leash? :)

    Reply

  6. Marypat says

    Love the finished laundry room! Thanks for the tip on hanging the mirror, so simple. We always end up making too many holes. I hang my daughters’ big art paintings on the wall in my laundry room. Definitely cheered it up! In fact, they are way past that age now (in their 20s), but the pictures are still there!

    Reply

  7. Rachel @ Common to Moms says

    The laundry room is beautiful! It must make you smile every time you go in to do laundry :) Or walk in or out of your house:) I think those last touches (mirror and the pics/accessories) really made that room hit a home run. The laundry room and the guest room- I now have two favorite rooms! I think you have discovered the style my heart wants to have but it is too afraid to do on my own :)

    You guys are awesome!

    Reply

  10. Erin says

    Again, this is why people like you are so inspiring. People like me say this is an uninspired little laundry nook and will leave it as is for 3 years until we finally get around to painting it. People like you will tackle it one mini project at a time until the room is sweet and adorable. So flipping jealous!

    Oh, and you might have already used this idea or seen it done elsewhere, but I have found that contact adhesive strips are perfection for sticking vases and other things to table tops so that my 3 and 2 year old cannot knock them over easily. They aren’t completely glued down like a hotel and won’t wreck your table or ledge finish, but add enough stick so that when our little ones go careening into furniture the stuff is less likely to tip over on their heads. Just thought of that when I saw your cute vase. :)

    Reply

  12. jennifer f says

    I love it. such a huge difference from before. I have one of those standard laundry closets with my side by side washer/dryer and then the wire shelf above (which I cant reach and therefore have my detergent, etc sitting on top of my dryer). Any suggestions? Also, I am in desperate need of organization/storage. I love the woven baskets and need a bunch for the laundry room, nursery, bathroom, etc etc. Do you have suggestions on where to get good, and inexpensive woven baskets of various sizes? Also, do you think those woven baskets are kid friendly (some Ive seen are very rough and could give me splinters). Thanks – keep up the great work!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We get a lot of our baskets at Michael’s for 50% off (whenever they have a basket sale) and Ikea. Hope it helps! As for your laundry closet situation, maybe post a pic on our Facebook page and folks can offer suggestions? Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  13. Erin says

    Kind of a silly side note, but actually the velcro adhesive stickies are the way to go because you can remove the item (to add flowers, etc.) and then stick back down without needing to remove your strips everytime.

    Reply

  17. Elizabeth says

    LOVE IT! Every re-do that y’all do is incredible, but I really love this one because y’all took such a tiny room and made it functional and pretty. Great job!!

    Reply

  18. {hooked on hickory} says

    wow! what a difference! makes me want to do some laundry! can’t wait until ours is complete! i’d keep the mirror gold. i may be crazy for saying this, but it really adds something to the room!

    ashley

    Reply

  19. Iomay says

    The laundry room looks awesome! I was going to say it makes me feel like doing laundry but that would be a lie. The walls would have to be covered in money for that to happen :)

    Also, seriously, I thought you were prankin’ us with this planking/owling thing. So strange.

    Reply

  20. Giulia says

    This looks great. Love the pictures and the bee. Have you thought have thrifting or finding a well priced straw/baskety type laundry basked to match your frames? Could add a nice natural touch?

    Reply

  23. Julie says

    I think I am going to need a second job if I keep reading your site. So far you have inspired me to redo my living room. Pillows alone have cost me almost $100. Oops. :)

    Julie
    ilikebeerandbabies.com

    Reply

  24. Kristen says

    The laundry room turned out great!! I can’t believe that you took such a small, boring space and turned it into something cheerful and fun. I especially love the pictures near the door and the bee hook. The perfect amount of a personal touch. :)

    Reply

  27. Elena says

    Looks great! I’ve been thinking about the stacking wash/dry combo for a minute, but I’m concerned about it’s height. I don’t consider myself short (5 ft. 6), but I can’t gauge exactly how high it will be. In other words, on average, would I have to be on tip-toes to reach the buttons? Sherry, can you reach them comfortably? Thanks guys.

    Reply

  28. Sandy says

    Great and cheery bite size space! What happened to that pretty pink vase you already have? Could have saved yourselves some mula and used your already have vase. If not mistaken, the one you got from crate and barrel a while back.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That was actually too fat/wide to sit on the narrow show cabinets, so the tall skinny vase was better for that spot. I’m sure Sherry will keep using the other pink vase in the kitchen/living room though!

      -John

  29. Christie says

    The laundry room looks fantastic. I LOVE the addition of the photos. I’m actually loving that whole moment over by the light switch. Perfecto!

    Reply

  31. Natalie says

    Your laundry room is awesome! I made a clothespin chandelier yesterday and used 350 pins. Packs of 50 from Walmart for 97 cents each! As I was putting it together I kept running back to my computer to check your blog and copied it pretty much exactly….so thanks! I love it! I still have to hang it but will send a picture when I do. For now, it’s fun to just admire it as it sits on the floor in the corner of my bedroom!

    Reply

  35. Liz says

    I love it! Our “laundry room” is just part of the basement/garage so it’s hard to spruce up much, but this is lovely. I totally appreciate the “mix of finishes” thing, but I can’t help but think that the mirror would be DEAD SEXY in teal.

    Reply

  38. [email protected] says

    you guys made that space so “high style in a casual way,” especially with it being so tiny! Nice job! LOVE LOVE LOVE the mirror and am slightly married to its finish, but I’m sure it’ll look great not matter what you guys decide! :)

    Reply

  39. Sara says

    We didn’t make a cute baby (yet) but we just found out today that we’re having a boy! Perhaps a future DIY-er boyfriend for Clara? (if she’s willing to date a younger guy of course) :)

    Reply

  40. Rabbit says

    Nice work!!!!

    I know you have the bowl thing going on for Burger’s leash, but I totally thought of you guys a few weeks ago when at a craft expo. (Is that weird? To see something and think that you might like it?)

    Anyway, since I know you have a dog and like maps–I thought you might get a kick out of this artist. She makes push pins, magnets, hooks, etc out of old maps! Tanner Glass: tannerglass.etsy.com

    I would have totally gotten one for myself had I a dog (and a place to put a hook like this near my back entry), but I knew you guys might find them fun. Enjoy!

    (And I swear, this isn’t a plug, this is the first time I’d seen this stuff)

    Reply

  41. Rabbit says

    Forgot something–I LOVE the mirror hanging idea. I have a mirror that I haven’t hung in 5 yrs (and 2 moves!) because it’s super heavy. It’d be a serious job to get it on a wall, and I’m afraid it’ll fall down or that it won’t be level when hung. I’m gonna take that first step and consider hanging it now. THANK YOU!

    Reply

  43. Lauren says

    The monkey-toe picture gets me every time. I have crazy monkey arms (like seriously my “wingspan” is inches longer than my height.) You can sort of see a picture of it toward the bottom of the page here http://filingjointly.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-06-24T12%3A13%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=7

    It’s good for reaching things on the top shelf and for smacking my husband (playfully of course)while staying out of reach of his t-rex arms.

    Love Love the Laundry Room by the way. It makes me want a laundry room instead of just a laundry closet.

    Reply

  44. Susan says

    This looks great! Super basic question– what kind of anchors do you use and how do you install them? We have 100-year-old plaster and the hardware store guy couldn’t help me.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just use heavy duty anchors that come with accompanying screws in the pack from Home Depot. The box of anchors says “Bluehawk Plastic Anchors) and there are 40 of them in the container (and 40 screws) if that helps!

      xo,
      s

  45. Stacy says

    Everything came together so nicely, you two! So fun seeing the room make such a drastic change over the course of – what, a month?! Inspiring work! I still can’t handle how *perfectly* those show containers fit on the wall… that kind of accidental perfection would be enough to make me giggle every time I come in the door. :)

    Reply

  46. Raven says

    Looks great guys! I am starting to save your little snippits as inspiration for our new home! I can’t wait to get started “me-ifying” a new house!

    Reply

  47. Corey says

    It looks great – the whole room came together so nicely! And I definitely think the mirror is perfect as it is – no paint necessary! :)

    Reply

  49. Liz says

    Love that mirror! What a great find for $10! Don’t paint it; the gold looks great. I think mixing metals looks more sophisticated, anyway. WWNBD? (What would Nate Berkus do?) That’s what I ask myself. I don’t think he’d paint the mirror. :)
    As we speak, (or, uhhh, as I write), we’re getting our new washer and dryer delivered. Not because we wanted new ones, but because our clothes were getting rusted on. No thanks. But I guess new front loaders are kinda exciting. I’ll be doing laundry all day!

    Reply

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