Just because it’s a laundry room doesn’t mean it should be dreary. Use a few cleaning tips, a few dollars and some good old fashioned elbow grease to make the laundry room one of your favorite rooms in the house.
Laundry Room Makeover Ideas
One of the most important parts of a laundry room is functionality. Most people need to make the most of a small space so that everyone in the family can have clean clothes every week. Here are some strategies to get the most out of your laundry room.
Storage bins and baskets can be your best friends. You can organize all your laundry supplies and knick knacks with some well-chosen decorative baskets. Affordable baskets can be found at retailers such as Target and Walmart and come with all different styles and designs. Many also have a place on the front of the basket for a label. Use these to organize things such as miscellaneous buttons and single socks and for a touch of color in a typically dreary space.
When baskets just aren’t enough, see if you can create more space by installing cabinets. Often there is wall space above appliances that is not being used. Take advantage of every square inch of your laundry room and have some cabinets installed. You can always use the extra storage.
Hooks can also come in handy. If you have items that need to be hung, hooks along the wall or on the back of the door can be organizational and stylish. If you have many things that you need to organize you could also use a peg board to keep your items in place and orderly.
If your laundry room is like most, it is strictly utilitarian. Breathe some new life into by updating the flooring. Make sure that the material you choose is durable and decorative. Any new flooring should be able to withstand the occasional scratching, as sometimes washing machines might bounce around while in the midst of a spin cycle. But it also needs to bring some personality to the room. In this day and age of laminates, stone, tile and wood, you have lots of options to choose from.
Add counter space if needed. You need some room to fold and stash clothing while you work. If you don’t already have it, strategically place your cabinets or shelving so that it creates counter top space that can also be utilized.
Create an accent wall. Accent walls are a common decorating tool with good reason. They are fairly easy to do, relatively inexpensive and can make a big difference. If you need refresh your laundry room play with paint colors and design to find the perfect accent for your space.
Laundry Room Makeovers on a Budget
If brand new appliances or cabinetry isn’t in your budget, have no fear, you can still reclaim and refresh your laundry room on a budget.
A little bit of paint goes a long way. Lighter colors reflect light while darker absorb it, so consider a lighter color scheme if you need help to make a small space feel bigger.
If cabinets are not in your budget try installing less expensive shelving. A few well cut pieces of wood can be easily installed and used for decorative storage. Shelving gives you a convenient place for all your laundry items and can still be pretty.
If you have existing cabinets that need some sprucing, a little bit of paint and lining can go a long way. Painting your cabinets is a great way to bring them new life and lining the inside of the cabinets is a small but distinctive touch. You can easily and inexpensively use peel and stick decorative paper to update your cabinets and give them an extra touch of flair.
Get creative with your storage. Add a touch of décor and functionality by putting items such as laundry soap cubes and dryer sheets in labeled glass jars. If you want to really kick it up a notch, apply small chalkboard labels to the jars and ribbon to the rims.
When deciding how to make your laundry room your refuge instead of your torture chamber, don’t forget to hang pictures. Whether it be pictures of your family, homemade art from your kids or just some fun prints you found at a thrift store, pictures can make any space more enjoyable. All it takes is a few minutes and a couple nails to make this room feel homey.
If you don’t love the aesthetics of your appliances, add a curtain to hide your washer and dryer. You can use a wooden shelf or adjustable tension rod to support a decorative curtain that can discreetly hide your appliances and brighten up your space.
When a Makeover Isn’t Enough
Sometimes what feels like a makeover issue is really a cleaning issue. If you have decorated and organized your heart out and you still can’t stand the thought of spending time in your laundry room, call Two Ladies and a Bucket. We can keep your laundry room and the rest of your home sparkling clean so that every time you walk into a room, you can’t help but smile.