Earlier this summer I was forced to take stock of my laundry room. Our washer kicked the bucket and we had to buy a new one. Since I had to clean off the clutter around the old washer to make way for the new washer I thought this would be a good opportunity to give my laundry room a makeover.
I have plans to make my laundry room a little bigger but those plans involve a contractor and money so who knows if those plans will ever come to fruition. In the meantime I discovered a way to have a very cost effective and easy laundry room makeover.
Step One:
Admit that your laundry room is a complete wreck and is need of serious attention.
My mom is probably gasping in shock that I would share my before photos with you but how else will you know how much of a transformation this was?
Easy Laundry Room Makeover
BEFORE
STEP TWO:
Take everything out. All this clutter was taken out and sorted. Most of it was either thrown out or given away. The rest just needed to find a new home (unfortunately, the new home is the dining room right around the corner).
When I say take everything out, I mean, everything that you can see. Die hard makeover folks would say you should empty the cabinets as well. That’s just crazy talk. Cleaning out the cabinets is so daunting that it needs its own makeover weekend. If I lumped those two together I may still have glass wear and picnic supplies scattered around the dining room and kitchen.
STEP THREE:
Install ready made shelving, storage drawers and hooks. Custom shelving is too complicated for this project. This is the easy laundry room makeover. Not the super fancy laundry room makeover. I went with two wire basket drawers by Rubbermaid. There is room for a third basket at the top if I see that I need more storage space. Adding these storage drawers gave me a chance to put away the supplies that we need on a regular basis but have a tendency to become cluttered. i.e. cleaning rags, toilet paper, paper towels, Swiffer cleaning pads.
STEP FOUR:
Return to the laundry room only the essentials.
I knew I needed my reusable shopping bags in my laundry room because it is on the way out to the car. Instead of just piling them on top of the dryer (like I usually do) I added a hook to the bottom of the cabinet, put all of the shopping bags in the largest bag and hung that from the hook. Tada!
Now that the counter is cleared off I can actually use it for it’s intended purpose. Folding clothes as they come out of the dryer and making bread in my bread machine. The bread machine has been hidden behind the junk for so long that I think its been at least a year since I’ve used it. yikes. Confession: I don’t always fold clothes as they come out of the dryer. That happens about 1% of the time, but its a nice thought.
Now for the big reveal…
AFTER
Its been several weeks since the easy laundry room makeover and I’m proud to say that my laundry room is still clean. I can’t really say the same for the dining room. Lets not get overly ambitious here.
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Kathryn Green
Be still my beating heart. That is amazing and am proud of you, honey, for taking a giant step forward in transforming your laundry room. MOM
Tanya Gioia
Great Job! – I did a hallway make- over and put a closet system on a flat wall and made individual hanging areas for each member of the family with baskets for gloves and hats. Living in Colorado we deal with a lot of mud and snow so this back hall way serves as a mud room- plus the washer/ drier are right there. We come in the back door, hang up coats, boots and then toss anything wet and dirty in the washer. The system cost about $150.00 from Home Depot but it is worth $100,000 for the clutter it relieves. The morning is the best part- each boy knows exactly where his backpack, shoes and coat are located. Whooo hoo! Now I am working on the 7 and 9 year old packing their own lunch for school. Happy Moming! Tanya
Stephanie Clinton
I love that idea! Someday I would love to have some sort of similar mud room type system where each family member has their spot, right by the back door, where coats and bags get hung up.
Good luck on the lunch training and thanks for reading
Caron Babcock
Hey — Stephanie, I could really use your organizing skills! The next time your in Pampa, how about coming my way and helping me sort and organize the room of your choice!!! The utility room would be a great place to begin! So proud of you and love that you have shared your success with us!!!
Megan Sherrer
It’s amazing what a few drawers can do. Here here, Steph. My house next?
Chris Carter
WOW!! I just LOVE how you were able to organize everything!! Can you come over to my house? No wait- that would be entirely selfish. Wait. Come anyway. 😉
PS: LOVE those crosses!! My favorite part. <3
Stephanie Clinton
I think it’s funny now all of the sudden people think I’m super organized and could do their house too. The rest of the house is a mess! But you are welcome to come and see it!
Susan
Wow! I’m impressed. I’m on step 2 and hope my transformation is as nice as yours when I’m finished.
laundry bags
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