Sunday, July 26

Laundry Room Makeover

I'm excited to share with you a transformation--not just of one object, but of a whole room. First, although I'm embarrassed to admit it, I'll show you a little of what my laundry room looked like "before":



Actually, that shot doesn't look so bad. I must have taken that photo after I'd already cleared some things away; you can actually see some of the top of the dryer.

Anyway, here's what it looks like now:



I'm so happy with the way it turned out. Here are some of the details.

First, do recognize the window dressing as a mistreatment?



It's just fabric that I folded in half, stapled to a 1 x 4, and put up on the wall with L-brackets. Then I hot-glued on the trim. Actually, I glued on two different trims, one on top of the other. Total cost for window treatment: $10. Fabric was $7.99/yard; trim was on sale for $1/yard. 1 x 4 and L-brackets I already had.

I was happy to find the cheerful birdcage fabric, because it enabled me to choose a wall color. I can usually choose paint colors quickly; it's something I like to do. I know that neutral, serene colors are all the rage, but I needed CHEERFUL in the room in which I have to do laundry. So this laundry room had me stumped. The room is adjacent to a little hallway that is painted a buttery cream color (SW Buckram Binding) and next to my kitchen which is painted a sagey green (SW Ruskin Room Green). I needed a color that would work with the white cabinets, and I just couldn't choose. Having the fabric as an inspiration helped me to choose this creamy blue (Benjamin Moore Blue Hydrangea). My boys helped me with the painting. Blue paint looks great in red hair.

That brings me to my very best tip for organizing a laundry room: PAINT IT. Or, if you don't want to paint, pretend that you need to paint it. Go ahead. Take everything out as if you needed to paint. You'll be amazed at what a difference it makes just to empty the space.

Now back to the fun stuff:

I found the small birdcage at a local gift shop. Then I found the slightly larger one on clearance at TJMaxx. Spray painted both of them. Total cost for both: $27.



The rest of the artwork was mostly stuff I had: a Matisse poster that used to hang in my kitchen many years ago;

funky little Danish plates my mother found at an estate sale years ago:



an oval mirror that once graced my foyer (spray painted black);



a corbel that I bought at
TJMaxx years ago and found stashed in a closet. I did buy the yellow plate: $2 at TJMaxx.


By the way, did you notice the green soap dispenser? It was a plain-Jane white ceramic soap dispenser, $2 from Target. You can spray paint anything!

This counter was always crammed full of junk, so I created a little vignette.




The artwork is actually a photograph; this used to hang in my family room three houses ago. The lamp was in my dining room many years ago; I painted it black. The tassel I made myself out of trim left over from another project.



The milk bottles are from a local dairy; I filled them with clothespins. The old iron was my mother's. And the frame was one I had in my stash; I just spray painted it. Total cost for the newly decorated counter: $0. Maybe now I can keep it clean.

Other touches: I replaced my old laundry baskets with baskets I found at Home Goods for $15 each (one for whites and one for darks). I found the rug at TJMaxx; I like the touch of color on the tile floor. The rug was $30.



So for not too much money I now have a laundry room that I love. My only problem with it is that I still have to do laundry in there. Oh, well. At least now I have a nice place to work.

What do you think?

Check out all the fun transformations at Metamorphosis Monday and the fun rooms at Kelly's Korner. And for laundry room inspiration, be sure to visit Traci's laundry room party at Beneath My Heart!

42 comments:

  1. Oooooh, I have laundry room envy. This looks wonderful! I love all of your homey touches and the artwork over that little counter area is beautiful. In my next life, I hope to have a pretty indoor laundry area like this instead of a dark corner in the hot, dirty garage. :)

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  2. I have laundry room envy,too. What a happy color. And I love that you have a lamp in there. Makes it happy and cozy.

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  3. Ooooooh, I love it. My laundry room has become the dogs' room!!! ugh. I have to walk thru it every day to the garage.....it needs help desperately!!! I love your ideas!

    Suzanne

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  4. Great job! What a cheerful room to work in. I love it!

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  5. The curtain fabric is beautiful! Love it, and the wall color is dreamy.

    Amazing job!

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  6. Wow! What a fun place to do such a tedious chore--laundry. Love your color choice and fun accents.
    Hope to see you over my way soon...

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  7. Just love the shade of blue paint you picked out. So perfect and really brightens up the room.

    The bird cages are adorable!

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  8. Looks great! My laundry "room" is a closet in my lower level family room, which my college senior middle daughter is currently living in, and every time I look at it, I need to clean it up. So I'm totally jealous of your pretty space!

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  9. What a well put together room to go and do your laundry. Very pretty!

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  10. What a nice place to do laundry! You did a great job with not a lot of money! That's my kind of makeover!

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  11. What a cute laundry room - add me to the green with envy list. I won't even show mine yet. lol You did a great job. It's beautiful!

    Roeshel

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  12. Your laundry transformation is fabulous! I love all the lovely touches like the window treatment and the birdcages!

    Tin

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  13. I feel like saying bravo! Bravo! :) Love the colors! It's great. I know you spend lots of time doing laundry just like I do so at least now you have a pretty room to do it in.

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  14. What a great transformation!!!

    Your selections are wonderful -- only one draw back-- i would want to spend a bit more time in there.

    for me-- in and out as fast as i can. I could linger here.

    TTFN~~Claudia ♥

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  15. Now that's one pretty laundry room. I love the color and all the little details!

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  16. Hi Richella !
    I am just amazed at the lovely transformation ! I love the great colors ! The little lamp and oh that tassle are fantastic ! All your colors with art and rug , turned out just like a decorators showroom !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  17. ahhh... it must be a joy to do laundry in there! and i love the color. One day maybe i'll get my act together and work on that room!

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  18. Beautiful! I love the color you chose for your walls! It looks fantastic!

    We have a three-year-plan to made a laundry room in our garage. Right now the laundry is done off of the kitchen, in a tiny closet. You can't even walk in the closet, just open the doors and BAM their the machines are!! :)

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  19. Oh, I love your laundry room redo! I wish I had a laundry room. My area consists of the walkway through from the kitchen to the garage. Not much to work with. I love those bird cages you painted too. And all the little details you've added here for personality. Envy your room!
    Brenda

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  20. Nice job Rich! And you are so lucky to have a SINK!!

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  21. Beautiful makeover. Blue walls are a favorite of mine too.

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  22. what a great laundry room. I love the colors you chose! my favs. are the bird cages, valance, and rug! way to go!

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  23. Super job. Laundries deserve art and color just as much as any other room. With children you spend a lot of time in there, a lot of time.

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  24. I love the metamorphosis of your laundry room!
    You are an excellent designer!

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  25. Richella...this turned out fantastic! Really, what a pretty laundry room. Mine needs some serious TLC in a bad way! My favorite touches are the milk bottles full of clothespins and the old iron (my mom has one just like that too). Great job!

    ~Amanda

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  26. The tassel you made is sooooo cute! Love that color that you chose (must be because I love hydrangeas)! Good job - it really looks fantastic and it must be a joy to do laundry now (at least a bit more fun anyway LOL)!

    Manuela

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  27. Fantastic! I must check out the local TJMaxx, I've never been there but obviously they have many treasures. I think the laundry is lucky to be dirty and spend some time in the lovely room..;p

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  28. Not very many laundry rooms are ones that I would consider inviting, but yours sure is!

    My laundry wants to come visit....

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  29. Ooooh...I really like it! I like the little pops of color along with the blue.

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  30. Richella...I love your laundry room...what a beautiful transformation! I love that your boys helped you paint it...what good sons! Getting paint out of hair isn't much fun...I've had way too much experience with that! LOL
    Thanks for sharing all the special touches you added...really feels like a great room to be in...despite it's purpose. :-) Susan

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  31. Richella~I love how your laundry room turned out~so fresh, crisp, and clean, exactly how laundry is *supposed* to be, right? :) Great job~

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  32. I never thought I could be jealous of a laundry room but, I am. It looks so high end. I love the color and accessories. Now I feel like I have to do something to mine. I feel like I am neglecting the laundry room.

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  33. This looks beautiful. I love the colors! The birdcage fabric is darling.

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  34. love the makeover! (i'd kill for a sink in mine!) the blue and bird cages def makes the space perfect!

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  35. Your laundry room is cute! I love the fabric & how you did it-I may have to do that in my bathroom.

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  36. Here from Kelly's Korner. Your laundry room transformation is gorgeous! What a difference! A place I'd love to work in myself!

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  37. I love the fabric for your curtains. It's a beautiful space.
    I'm still working on our laundry room and will be sharing photos next week.

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  38. Nicely done! Love the cozy color of the room.

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  39. Great improvement and that little tassel is just the cutest:)

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  40. I love the bird cage theme that you came up with and how you coordinated it all with the blue paint. I love fun, bright rugs too and think yours makes the space cheerful. Great job!

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  41. I love the homey touches of lamp and artwork... why not make the laundry room a pleasant spot? Also really like that soft blue paint color!

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