Before & After: Laundry Room Remodel

The laundry room is an important space in any home and one where we spend a lot of time. Having a laundry space that is beautiful, efficient, and organized will make household chores feel less like a chore and more like joy!

For an easy and beautiful transformation, take some inspiration from this space that proves that a few simple changes make all the difference. Before, this sample homeowner’s space felt cold and very utilitarian. It was lacking storage and felt very dated with the dark wood cabinets and linoleum floor.

This transformation began with brightening and freshening the room with paint. The homeowner used a warm white by Behr called “Polar Bear” on the walls and a dark navy by Behr called “Undersea” on the cabinets. Paint is such an easy and inexpensive way to transform a room and should be your first consideration, it will also lend a fresh palette for the rest of the room’s design elements.

A new floor is a budget-friendly option in a small room like this. Peel-and-stick vinyl floor tiles are a nice DIY option that can be laid directly over the old floor. A laundry room is also a great place to try out a bold pattern and create an eye-catching floor that you’ll enjoy every time you see it!

Opt for washable throw rugs to soften the space and add a slim, rolling, laundry basket to save on space and show off those floors.

More storage was added to this laundry room with shelves that were built between the existing cupboards. The closet rod that was between the cabinets before was replaced with a handy, accordion-style, wall-mount laundry drying rack that lends more drying space for hanging delicate items to dry. When not in use, it simply folds flat and stays out of your way. A DIY, hanging, slatted wood piece hides unsightly laundry hookups and cords.

Once the room had a fresh coat of paint and the floors and storage were addressed, some artwork and plants were added to the room. Plants always add life and beauty, if you have a window in your room then real plants will also help reduce toxins in the air. If you don’t have any natural light, you can get the same feel by choosing faux plants instead. Also, adding artwork to your laundry room makes it feel less like a utility room and more like an extension of your true living space.

Our homeowner added new bar-style cabinet pulls and switched out the old faucet on the laundry sink to match. Changing the hardware, sink fixtures, and even doorknobs can have a huge impact on the total look of your space by upgrading the utilitarian laundry sink into something very high-end feeling.

Finally, you can make wash days easier in a beautiful, storage-savvy space by adding style and color with paint, making a few simple changes, and adding some decor items!

Budget Breakdown

For a small laundry room like this one, you can expect to pay:

• Paint – $50
• Peel & Stick Floors – $75
• Shelves – $50
• New Cabinet Hardware – $9
• New Faucet – $60
• Throw Rug – $22
• Wall Mount Drying Rack – $28
• Slim, Rolling Laundry Basket – $19
• Towel Ring – $13
• Total: $326

Tania Pelletier has been the do-it-yourself blogger behind littlevintagecottage.com for over 10 years. She has a passion for sharing the journey she is on to fix up her small ranch house and also shares fun crafts and upcycling projects. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to see more of her ideas.