5 Ways to Revamp a Laundry Room on a Budget
It’s been a week since I shared my revamped laundry room and load #7 was just finished & folded.
The new space that took me a weekend + $200 to complete has been a gamechanger for how I feel about doing laundry. Laundry has always been my nemesis. I can’t say I love it now, but for the last week, it hasn’t been so bad… and it’s all due to the changes that were made to make the space more organized & aesthetically pleasing.
As a clan of 5, we have a lot of laundry and our laundry “closet” couldn’t go another day without a makeover. Not only was it ugly + drear, it wasn’t functioning to it’s utmost potential, and that’s how the space was failing us!
With some outside-of-the-box thinking + a plan-of-action in place, I revamped & created a laundry space that is organized + functionable + pretty on the eyes.
Let’s break it down… Here are 5 ways + tips to revamp a laundry room on a budget…
Yes, the type of washer + dryer is important to a laundry space (obviously, that’s why it has its name), but the way a laundry space looks & functions really has nothing to do with the model # you have. With my revamp, the W & D stayed and the space around it got jazzed up. My machines are plain ole’ run-of-the-mill white side by side style – Nothing fancy. They were fine, but the space around it wasn’t. I chose to work with what I had and that meant using every square inch of the surrounding walls to make this space better.
If you have a stackable W & D in your laundry area, use the space to the side for storage + organization. The takeaway… use what you have and be happy with it; accept it and work with it! Yes, a lavish laundry room would be a delight, but it’s not the reality for most.
Instead of sorting + washing + drying + folding in a room / closet you dislike, here are 5 ways to revamp that laundry space that’s not quite so pretty…
1/ PAINT. Adding a splash of color to a laundry space will give it new life. Whether there is a window or not, a new coat of paint will make it feel fresh & bright. Paint is truly the easiest + least expensive way to freshen up any space, especially the laundry. For my laundry closet revamp, I used a quart of paint which provided 2 coats and the can was $15.
2/ STORAGE. Storage in a laundry is a huge need. No matter what size the space, no matter what you have to store, storage is important. Wiring shelves, which is what I used, are the easiest + fastest + least inexpensive type of storage you can add to a laundry space to keep the items organized + tidy. I chose to add a 1 x 12 piece of wood on top of the wire shelves to make a steadier shelf so items wouldn’t fall between the spaces of the wire. It’s also important to use as much of the vertical wall space as possible – go as high as you can with the shelving and store non-everyday essentials on the highest shelf & use a stepstool to access.
If you have additional space + a larger budget, wood shelves are a great alternative (but they cost more + take longer to install + aren’t as flexible to move in the future), as is closed cabinetry which can hide away those not-to-be-seen items.
There are many options for storage in a laundry… don’t just stick with the one wire builder-grade shelf above the washer & dryer. That’s a waste of precious wall space.
3/ BASKETS + BINS. On those shelves or in those cabinets, organize your items using baskets & bins. Since revamping my laundry space, having a place for everything has made my life so much easier. It takes the guesswork out of what goes where. Use smaller bins for smaller items (dishtowels, sponges, light bulbs, batteries, etc) and larger bins/baskets for larger items (papertowels, napkins, toilet paper, paper goods, etc).
Organizing the bins with labels (i heart my label maker) indicating what is inside has also made my day-to-day more efficient + simpler. Knowing where items go has taken away the wonderment for the Mister & the kids as well – no more asking “mom, where does this go?” or “hon, do we have rags?”
4/ OTHER STORAGE. In a laundry space, there is a need to store items on a shelf, but there is also the slew of other items to stow away like the broom(s), mop, iron, ironing board, etc… In the “before” laundry, I often would just lean them against the wall and they were ALWAYS in the way. But with the revamped laundry, I simply added a few hooks to the wall and all of a sudden those cumbersome items have a home. By using the side walls, that other storage now has a designated ‘spot’ to live.
There are literally gadgets for everything, so find something (or make it) to hang what you need so that something that doesn’t have a place, finally gets one (like the iron that had been sitting on top of my washer for years). Hooks, screws, holders, etc. are the perfect inexpensive items that will make your life easier and more organized!
5/ LAYERS. Layers are the best. Layers are everything. Layers make ANY space, room, closet COMPLETE… even the laundry area! From pictures to accessories to colorful hangers, adding meaningful + bright + unexpected layers gives the interest and depth to make a room feel whole.
This post wouldn’t be complete without sharing some more laundry love.
Check out these…
INSPIRATIONAL LAUNDRY SPACES.
Filled with blues & yellows, Brittany of Pretty Handy Girl created a beautiful laundry room using a wall system that keeps everything organized and in it’s place.
You don’t have to love laundry to love your laundry room! And I heart Jen’s laundry room. Even though there is no natural light in this space, it feels airy & bright. I’ll take this space anyday! Check out more of Jen’s laundry room at I Heart Organizing.
A laundry “closet” similar to mine, but with a stackable washer + dryer. Melinda of Love Melinda created a laundry space that’s packed with shelving + storage! She also added a pretty stencil design which brings a fun, unexpected layer to the space.
Another laundry “closet” but with side-by-side front loaders. How gorgeous is this “closet”?! Decked out with a solid surface countertop, upper cabinets for storage, and an awesome tiled backsplash, this laundry area is swoon-worthy.
When there is a need to hide the clutter, a little curtain will certainly do the trick! Love this idea by using a tension rod and a simple drapery valance. via Babble
And for those who are blessed with more space than just a teeny closet to call their laundry room, this is beautiful. From the wood countertop to the blue W & D, to the gorgeous built-ins above, I would never again complain about doing laundry! via BHG
Kim of Sand & Sisal hit it out of the park with her laundry revamp. How soothing is that blue hue on the walls paired with elements + layers that remind you of the water. Pretty + Functional all tied into one great laundry room!
Love this idea by My Sweet Savannah of using an over-the-door wire rack to organize all the laundry items. What a great idea when there is limited space.
How incredible is this before and after by Kelly of View Along the Way?! Like my laundry revamp, it’s hard to believe that this is the same space. As I said before, ditch the one wire shelf above the W & D and instead use the vertical space of the surrounding walls! By stenciling the back wall, painting wide stripes on the floor, and adding an upper cabinet + shelves, this laundry room is completely different.
How fun is this?! Bling out your washer + dryer with some funk by adding decals like these stripes & dots by A Beautiful Mess.
I hope you’ve gathered inspiration to make some updates or totally overhaul your laundry room. As you can see from my revamp or the other inspirational spaces, you don’t need a huge budget or tons of time. It’s amazing what can be created with a little effort and outside-of-the-box thinking!
