Laundry Room As Is & Makeover Inspiration. When we moved into this house, the laundry room was kind of a disappointment. It is a walk-thru between the kitchen/breakfast room and the garage. We had the same thing in our last house ( it was a walk-thru from the hall to the garage.) At least in the last house it was large enough for a small mudroom area and to hold a second fridge. Nice tile floors and great upper cabinets above the washer and dryer. In this house the laundry room is just a walk-thru with enough room for the washer and dryer, no upper cabinet – just one shelf. So I am trying to figure out how to make a few improvements on a tiny budget. This is what the laundry room looks like at the moment.
Here is the space empty when we moved in. As you can see, no character and just a simple passageway.
I tried to spruce it up a little with some accessories. Many years ago when I lived in the mountains in Oregon, I had a really country decor vibe going on. I loved antiquing with my mom and a friend. My mom also had some things that were keepsakes from her mom, plus my mom did some amazing quilt blocks. I used all of those things in the small laundry room to give it a bit of character.
These are all really sentimental pieces to me since my mom has been in heaven for many years.
As you can see, a really small space just the width of the washer and dryer.
I would like to pack away some of these treasures and give this space a more up-to-date look. However, I do have one exception. I don’t plan to replace the washer and dryer at the moment. I am well aware that they are old, but they work perfectly and a new set will run around $1000 and I am not in the mood to spend that kind of money at the moment. I just want to update the look a bit. I found several spaces that caught my eye on Pinterest, one that I think could be used as a basic inspiration pic.
My inspiration came from this Modern Laundry Room Refresh. I love the wood color shelf and I also like that there is a shelf over the top of the washer & dryer. My shelf over the washer and dryer would go wall to wall since I don’t have any extra space. I love the freehand paint treatment too.
The walls in the laundry room are textured the same way the walls are in the Powder Room that I made over. I want to add some kind of fun paint treatment to the back wall, but I have to be careful that it can be freehand and fun, something that won’t show imperfections.
Super rough, so I have to be careful what kind of paint treatment I pick out.
Here are a few that I found.
I did this dot and dash paint treatment in the master bedroom of my last house. It is really easy to do on textured walls.
I still think I like this one the best. I did a test and this won’t work the best with my textured walls.
I think this would be a good alternative. This one will work. I am going to keep the one white shelf I have and add another white shelf. I think I can get some of the wood look through my accessories. Source.
What do you think? Can I make this work even if I don’t get new machines at the moment?
Absolutely!! It’ll be so cute. I would NOT replace working appliances! My house painters told me their technique for getting a clean edge on a textured wall. Run a bead of caulking along the edge where you don’t want paint. Put your painter’s tape on top of the caulking. When done painting, peel off the caulk and tape together and you’ll have a perfect edge.
Oh Marty I love the last one you put next to your current laundry area. That is gorgeous and so you. Hey I agree with appliances don’t fix what is not broken. I think older appliance were made to last not like all the stuff being made now. Can’t wait to see this when you get it done. Have fun with this new project.
xoxo
So many of us have opted to keep our “old fashioned” top load washers. I feel the same way as I cannot justify buying a new set at this time just as a decor statement. I think your idea is timely and a fresh new direction to inspire many readers. I do like the wooden shelves against the paper and the one you used in the powder room looks great. However you decorate it will be as beautiful as the rest of your lovely home. I look forward to following along.
YOU CAN DO THIS!! Love what you’re thinking…….and it’ll put a smile on your face when looking at before and after pics. You’ll wonder why this wasn’t done sooner!! =-) and by all means don’t mess with replacing appliances when these work……..the day will come soon enough when they will need to be replaced!
I love your quilt blocks. Maybe lighten the frames to modernize their look.
Love this idea…however disagree about appliances…three years ago I upgraded to ordinary and saved so much on utility bills…esp dryer…then this year moved to a condo in Florida and got a really nice washer..no agitator but top loader…a wonderful dryer…what used to take 45-60 minutes to dry takes fifteen…no kidding…saves utilities…good for environment…have to admit I kept one set for 20 years but each time I moved if I had to get new ones did better…just think the old ones use too much electric…dryer…just my thoughts but my friends are replacing also…fridges the same…furniture I don’t replace…love simple condo life at the ocean…minimal…love love love your blog
Mom.
You are always full of great ideas and I love how you have an eye to always pull the details together! I know it is going to look fun and amazing. Love you! Xoxo
Oh yes, you will do it and it will be adorable and I will copy you!! I have a laundry space in much needed sprucing up and am just drawing a blank on what to do. I can hardly wait.
I would not replace the washer/dryer just for an updated look……but when it is time to replace one I would replace both and feel I earned it 🙂
My washer that I had for over 30 years died 10 years ago and I would love to have it back. They clean so much better and the cycle time is much shorter. I hope yours lives forever!
I like your ideas, especially the smaller second shelf just above the washer and dryer. I have seen others add a piece of lattice on the front edge of the shelf to give it a heftier look. I’m sure you could find examples on the web if you think that’s something you might like to try.
You have some good ideas from which to choose. I like the last one you showed. The extra shelf would be nice for storage or just for fun. You may find even more ideas on Pinterest. I would be surprised if you could get a new set for $1000. My fifteen year old washer went kaput on the 11th of this month but the new one is coming tomorrow. The dryer still functions fine so we bought a top loading washer at $680. Other brands were way over that price. Availability is also a huge issue. Some brands were two months out on delivery.
Keep your “old” machines until the bitter end, the new ones stink… I have never been a fan of front loading washers so I found a beautiful top load with smoke glass lid, no agitator. Perfect right? WRONG, made for what I consider Amazon women, I have to keep a stick next to it to fish out the clothes I cant reach. What ever you do will be beautiful.
Love the idea of a narrow shelf right above the washer and dryer. New appliances are not needed!! Consider using a black edge on the shelves or black shelf brackets to repeat the black that is on the washer and dryer. Love the idea of a handprinted wallpaper. Love the framed quilt blocks — consider more modern framing for them, perhaps a black frame.
We are sure you have this. Love what you did in the bathroom. I wish I had my old washer and dryer. Now you have to buy a warranty which cost more than the old washers. Somebody would probably pay a good penny for the “vintage” washer and dryer.LOL
Yes – I have about the same dryer -it has outlived 3 washers. I am not buying a new one until it dies. I just replaced my old washer with a new Maytag. Keep using your set until later. The newer ones are not so hardy.
Marty, We all have to work with what we have!! We redid our laundry room a few years ago and now it’s a space I don’t mind being in . My only suggestion: leave space above your washer and dryer. When you do get new ones, they mostly will be totally flat across the top. A shelf across them, from wall to wall would give you extra space for folding and display. Instead of paint, could you use peel and stick wallpaper?
With the heavy texture on my walls, peel and stick doesn’t stick. It just peels off in a few days.
Yes, you can make it work for you. The double shelves in there make use of that space plus adds some charm to a area that we need all the charm we can get to do laundry. Eye candy plus function is a great combination.
Blessings,
d