My laundry room gets spruced up with some paint and inexpensive storage!
My laundry room is basically a large closet off of my dining room/entry room in my home. Is having the laundry room in my dining room ideal? Of course not, but with an old house sometimes the only options are really not all that great. But, I digress, so far it hasn’t bother me at all, the dining room is big enough and my laundry room/closet is plenty big enough so it hasn’t at all been a problem. I have a scratch and dent certified new LG washer/dryer combo, just in case you were wondering why there was only one machine that looks like a washing machine in the picture 🙂 I love my washer/dryer combo so far and I, personally, would never go back to two machines. Here’s how it looked when I got started:
(8/1/2019 WOWSER its been four years since this post came out and I can’t believe how far I’ve come with this space! I was really happy with this remodel once it was complete but I just did a major renovation here and my laundry room now makes me SO HAPPY – CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT!)
This is after I installed and then gave the upper cabinets a face life. After that there was a whole lot of ugly going on.
I did not extend my new wood floors into the laundry closet/room and the whole room is still lacking doors so I needed to do something badly in here. First thing was: I really needed more storage.
Second thing was: I happened to have an old metal counter top (it came off of this cabinet that I ended up using in my kitchen) that needed a home, so, I got to building!
The construction was as simple as simple can get. Just a frame of 2x4s the depth and width of the counter top built right around the washer/dryer combo. I used screws and my impact driver for the whole assembly and it came together really quick and easy.
(I will be covering the two sides of the cabinet in the future with plywood to help cut down on the noise from the machine as well.)
I used scrap 1x4s for the shelf supports and carefully used screws on them as well… I say carefully because 1x4s split very easily. From there I went hunting for shelf material and found I had a 1×10 left over from other shelf projects in my garage, perfect for my laundry room.
With the shelves in I immediately started using them! It’s still wasn’t pretty yet but it was SO great to finally get everything off the floor.
(Note: I know that this warm and damp environment is the worst possible place for squash but I simply had no other place for them, I will be moving them to a better location soon.)
After a few days I finally had the time one day after work to get moving on making the entire thing pretty and nice. I knew I had some extra dowels in the barn left over from my grandparents so I just went to walmart in search of a little curtain of some kind. I cut the dowel with a pair of scissors and used some left over eye hooks that I screwed in to rest the dowel in.
From there I just needed lots of white paint. I went ahead and hit the floors with one coat as well because they just looked dirty before (though they weren’t) I think the whole laundry room/closet came together nice! Having the metal counter top now for folding is just awesome and the three deep shelves as well as the upper cabinets took care of all of my storage needs! Now,
I just need to get closet doors built and put in so I can show you my dining room!
Thanks, as always, for stopping by guys, if you liked this post you could sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss any in the future!
Check out my recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent! It costs us only $3.50 for four gallons!
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I’m Tarah!
It’s been a hell of a ride since I started this blog and renovated and moved into this old farm house back in 2015. I got married, divorced, lost my doggo soul mate, spent two years as a single gal, remodeled everything, threw my back out countless times and was even found by an amazing guy in my own backyard! (The story behind Storyhardt Farm.)
Around here we’re totally fearless when it comes to bettering our home. We love to refinish old furniture, re-purpose old pieces, build it from scratch and totally renovate anything that needs it! If we can do it – so can you. We’ve got some serious plans for this old farm and, for first time ever, I have a real partner!
This is gonna be so much fun!
You can also find out more about the amazing Grandma behind this blog who moved in to this old farmhouse with my Grandpa nearly 70 years ago!
It looks really great Tarah! The addition of the curtain makes it look cozy and homey. And now you also have a bit more storage for your essentials. Pinning and tweeting.
Thank you so much Mary! 🙂
Each post amazes me. You are transforming even small spaces into something useable! This is such a nice project and came out really cute.
Melissa, thank you!
I love your laundry room updates. We recently remodeled our laundry room as well.
Thank you Angela!
Thank you for sharing at SYC! 🙂 Jo
Thanks for coming by!
It may be a small space, but you have done a great job of utilizing it! Love the skirted curtain. I have never heard of a washer/dryer combo. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you Jann!!
I think this is brilliant! I’m moving soon, and the laundry area is in a closet. You’ve made me realize that small laundry spaces can still be very functional. Thanks for then inspiration!
Thank you Anne!
I’ve never really considered a washer/dryer combo. I always thought everything would take too long, but you’ve made me think it might be a good idea. When I move home at the end of the year, I want to do some minor tweaking in my laundry so that the machine is higher up off the ground so it’s easier to access. I’d like some sort of built in with maybe a deep drawer as the base then the washing machine and then the dryer on top. Hope I can make it work.
Hey Libby, a washer/dryer combo is definitely not for everyone. The perks far out way the cons for us though: it plugs in to a regular washer outlet (not the huge outlet/breaker that a dryer requires) so it uses A LOT less energy. I love that it takes up half the space. It cost us about half what buying two machines would have ($900 at a scratch and dent LG Supplier). I didn’t have to cut a hole in my roof for a dryer vent (yay!!) because it just vents into the house which is a real perk in the winter time. However, you have to think when one load would normally have been drying you would have been able to wash another load so if your house hold has a ton of laundry, this setup really might not be for you.
Looks great!! You guys are really creative in make good use of your space!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday!! Pinned!
Thank you Elaine!!
This is absolutely charming! I love what you did with your little laundry room! The little skirt and a fresh coat of paint did wonders for that little space!
Thanks for sharing this with us at Tuesday Talk, I enjoy your little fixer-upper stories.
Thank you so much Ruthie!
I love this! What a great way to spruce up your space. Now it’s lovely and functional!
Thank you Holly!!
I love the way you make the best of the space you have. Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story and have a great week!
Thank you Sandra!
What an awesome idea! It looks amazing 😀
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Thank you Edye!
Wow! What a great idea!!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you Jess!
Loving how it looks now. You did a great job and for very little money too! Thanks for joining the DI & DI Link party, we hope you had fun!
Thank you Christine!!
This would be perfect for anyone without kids at home! I love how your laundry room turned out! Thanks for sharing at the #InspirationSpotlight Pinned & sharing
Thanks Theresa!!
Tarah, your creative talent never ceases to amaze me! I love the addition of the little curtain it just makes is look so warm and cozy! Thank you for sharing with us at #SimplifyWednesdays Pinned, Shared, Tweeted
Thank you very much Carla! 🙂
This is great idea and I love the storage space you created. Awesome job. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. We love having you.
Thank you for coming by Vanessa! 🙂
Simple, yet lively and pretty! Gives me a push to finish our laundry area makeover/creation! 🙂
Thank you Kendall!!
Very pretty transformation.
Thank you 🙂
Wow! That is such an adorable idea! It’s such an improvement 🙂 My laundry closet is very blah. Thanks for sharing your great post at Together on Tuesdays Blog Hop.
Thank you Lisa!
Tara, Perfection! Love the new look and the material you used for the curtain. Thanks for sharing with us at Snickerdoodle Create-Bake-Make Link party! I enjoy seeing all your wonderful projects! Have a great week!
~Laurie
Thank you Laurie!
Love this! What I wouldn’t give for a laundry room! Now I have an idea for making it gorgeous when we get a bigger place and I can have one! x #bloggybrunch
Thanks Claire! This was really simple and makes me happy every time I see it!
It has turned out beautiful! Thanks for sharing at the Family Joy Blog Linkup Party! xoxo
-Shamira
Thank you Shamira!
This is a brilliant inexpensive cute makeover. It provides everything you need in a small space. I love the pretty little curtain its a cozy feminine touch. Once again beautiful job.
Thank you so much Leanna 🙂
Tarahlynn what a great job I love your laundry makeover it looks fantastic.
Thank you Amber!
Oh wow! I love it. I love the shelving above the washer. We are possibly getting a top-load washer, so it’s not a possibility for us ): But it looks beautiful!
Thank you! Yeah our choice to get the combo washer/dryer unit really freed up a whole bunch of space for us for storage etc.
You did a great job! I love the outcome, esp the material of the curtain across the drawers!
Thank you!
Such a cute and simple difference! My laundry is in the part of the basement that looks like a gross old basement…it could definitely use a little spruce.
Thanks so much Lexie! It is amazing what a little paint will do!
That turned out so cute. Love the curtain idea. And it provides color and softens the room. My grandma had a washer dryer combo. They would save a lot of space.
Thanks Theresa! Yup I love our washer/dryer combo, I don’t think we’ll ever go back to two units again, it saves so much space and no more forgetting the wash in the ashing machine for two days lol
What a completely satisfying outcome! I need to do something in my laundry room, and you’ve given me courage!
Thank you Michele, it really helped the whole room brighten up!
Tarahlynn
I just pulled up your Laundry Soap recipe and saw your comment re: grating bar soap. Someone told me to use Zote, (it can be found at walmart) it is pink but I didn’t care, Microwace it and watch it as it will puff up and can be crumbled easily. Check it frequently
Oh that’s a great tip Barbara, thank you!!
Do you think this would support a granite countertop
Hi Tobin, I would use bigger brackets that are rated to the weight of the granite that you’re using but, yes, they back shelf brackets now that should support it.