One of my least favorite chores is laundry and I know one of the reasons has to do with the laundry room itself. Creating an organized and functional space can help your daily responsibilities feel less mundane. Organizing a closet, rearranging your fridge or pantry, and reconfiguring the laundry room all help minimize clutter and streamline house chores.
The laundry room is not always the first place you think of to spend money on renovating. We never bothered to organize or even paint our previous laundry areas because they were out of sight and not on our priority list.
In our current home the laundry room is right in your face when you come in from the garage, which moved it a little higher up on our list this time around.
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The space is larger than our previous houses so it was important to take advantage of the extra space and use it to its fullest potential.
The room’s original layout included deep shelves which were difficult to access, shallow cabinets over the washer & dryer and an unnecessarily large area for hanging clothing.
We took measurements and drew out our plan on graph paper using the most common cabinet measurements. By moving the machines to a different wall we opened up the space and made room for more cabinets. The deep shelves fit a standard size base & wall cabinet with a countertop. The rest of our plans came down to our storage needs and a cohesive look.
Laundry Room Needs
- Storage for laundry and cleaning supplies
- Storage for brooms & vacuum
- Storage for seasonal items (beach towels, winter gloves/hats)
- Storage for small home decor items (candles, vases, etc.)
- A place for first aid, sunscreen, misc.
- Surface for folding and sorting laundry
- Area for hanging clothes to dry
- New water proof flooring
This project had a short timeline because we did not want to be without a washer and dryer for long. Our first step was to demo everything and then prep for the new flooring.
Flooring Install
We chose the the Carrara Marble 12 in. x 24 in. Peel and Stick Vinyl Tile and the installation was a breeze compared to regular tile. We installed the vinyl right over the existing laminate. After a deep clean, we peeled off the backing and stuck the tiles to the floor leaving a space in-between for grout, which is optional.
No tile saw is needed, just a box cutter to make your cuts. Grouting was similar to the normal grouting process with a float and sponge. The grout lines are not as deep so it went a lot faster. We purchased a premixed grout specifically for vinyl tiles. It has a smoother, less sandy consistency and was really easy to work with.
Install Steps
- Remove trim.
- Deep clean existing flooring.
- Lay out tiles to determine cuts.
- Peel and stick tiles onto existing floor (use box cutter for cuts).
- Let set overnight.
- Apply grout with a float and sponge.
- Let dry overnight.
Laundry Cabinets
To save money we went on the hunt for used cabinets to paint and repurpose. After visiting our favorite locations and coming up empty handed, we ended up at Lowe’s to price out new options.
The kitchen cabinet section was above our budget for this room but we found the perfect options in the Utility cabinet isle. We ended up picking out several options from the Estate by RSI collection.
The backs of the cabinets are open with a thin mdf board backing to attach. This allowed us easy access to an outlet and we cut a hole to fit the plug for our vacuum charger.
I am so happy we ended up purchasing these cabinets. They are sturdy and the shelves are adjustable so we can move them around as our needs change. In the future we may add one more row of 12″ wall cabinets up top, but do not have an immediate need for additional cabinets.
DIY Counter Tops
The countertops ended up being a DIY because of the depth and small L shape extension on one side. Brandon cut a piece of plywood to custom fit the space. He also added a piece of wood trim along the front to make the counter look more substantial with a finished look.
After filling all of the nail holes and seams, we primed and painted with an semi-gloss enamel paint. The glossy finish is easy to wipe off and resistant to chipping.
To install the counters, we attached 2×4 pieces of wood on the wall for the plywood to rest on top of and nailed it down into the wood with finishing nails. The holes were easily patched and painted over. We also installed L brackets underneath for added support towards the front of the countertop, and secured all of the hoses.
New Storage Space
I am so excited about how much storage we created in this space. The organization for the cabinets is still a work in progress, but we have more than enough room for all the items on our list. I especially love the addition of the baskets up top. We use these for paper towels, clothing donation, and items that need repair.
The small nook by the door includes a wall cabinet, base cabinet with a drawer and countertop. This is a great place to drop off sun glasses and we use the top cabinet for all of our first aid items. The base cabinet is still under consideration and changes with the seasons (hats, sandals, gloves).
Results and Future Additions
When I see the before picture for this space I cannot believe this is now our laundry room! I still want to purchase some more bins to maximize the space and install a clothes hanger which extends from the wall.
New blinds are on the way and I’m even contemplating wall paper for the back wall. In the meantime, I still dislike doing laundry but this space makes the task a little less daunting and has offered some much needed storage.
Laundry Room After
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