I keep getting distracted with Halloween projects – LOL! Here’s what it looked like before:
Here’s a messier. more recent picture:
My Laundry Room is the darkest room in my home. It is situated right behind our garage, so it has a firewall on two sides of the room. The other wall in the room butts up against the family room and there is a bedroom above. I found out there was no way to install any natural light. The only light in the room was a flourescent light.
The first thing I did was installed Board & Batten treatment. Have you seen Shelley from House of Smith’s Bathroom? Well she inspired me to put some color in between the panels. I stenciled the walls using a wonderful stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. If you want some tips on Board & Batten tips and how to stencil the walls — I posted about it in my Laundry Room Quick Peek post.
The cabinets were a high quality maple, but the color wasn’t quite what I had in mind, so I painted them. I tried a couple of different techniques. I also decided to paint the bottom cabinets a darker color to ground the room. I painted the walls using Mythic Paint — Aquarium Water. {{Mythic paint is a non-toxic, odor-free paint that is safe for children and pets.}}
Then I went two shades darker for the cabinet color. Here’s what I learned in painting the cabinets:
- Wash the cabinets with a cleaning agent.
- Take the doors and cabinet fronts off to paint.
- Prime all the cabinets first.
- Use a small, foam roller and a small, angled paintbrush.
- Paint the cabinets with a thin coat of paint. Let dry.
- Then using a fine grade sandpaper. Lightly sand. Then wipe down.
- Paint all cabinets and drawer fronts 3-4 coats of paint.
Another big project in the room was making a cabinet underneath the counter for laundry baskets. And getting it in the room took a few tries – lol.
I also made some little plaques for the front of the laundry baskets with scrpabook paper, mod podge and vinyl. I hot glued them onto the front of the baskets.
I found a vintage chandelier on Craigslist for $30 from an estate in New Hampshire and had them ship it to me. I love how rusted and old it looks. And my FANTASTIC Father in law came and installed 4 recessed lights. PLUS, he put the chandelier and the recessed lights on separate dimmer switches. So now I have mood lighting in my laundry room!!!!
I installed these sparkly knobs from Rockler – they dress up the cabinets and add a little sparkle to the room.
The lockers are in an area of the room that used to be a closet. We took the doors off and drywalled the opening. Then I painted the lockers the same off-white as the top cabinets. I added a little vinyl lettering on the bottom drawers.
And I found some little frames at Michaels for .50 each. I added a little scrapbook paper behind the frames and then printed out some vinyl letters and put them on top of the glass. {I promise my children have names – they are not just numbers LOL}
I originally had a cork board in the room for school papers. I took the board, covered it with wrapping paper. Secured the paper with glue dots and then made some rolled fabric flowers to dress it up. Then I hung the bulletin board on the back of the door. This way there is still a place for papers, but they are not out in the middle of the room.
{{And this project — FREE!!}}
Above the sink I added a magnet board. I had this board and it started out blue. I added a few coats of glossy off-white spray paint and voila — it matches my room now. I made a rolled flowers and attached them to magnets with a few dabs of regular Gorilla Glue.
One of the newest sponsors of the DIY Club is Design Divas Vinyl Lettering:
They sent me a cute Laundry Room vinyl decal and I put it on this mirror that was in my bathroom. I spray painted it Heirloom White. I think the mirror mimics a window in the room.
Whew!! I think that is everything!!
Sorry for the long post. To wrap up — I am thrilled with my much lighter and brighter and more organized laundry room. I told my friend the other day, I need to install a comfy chair in here — it’s now my favorite room in the house!!
If you’ve made it to the end of this very long post — Thank You!!
Have a Terrific Day!!
XOXO
Check this fun linky party out:
Jen says
Can you tell me where you purchased the door knob?
Anita says
Amazing love all the details, it makes the room look so much bigger, Great creativity!
Lauraleigh says
Jen, I DID make it to the end of your redecorating your laundry room…I am so impressed w/you! It is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. Laura Leigh
Jen says
Oh thanks so much!!! You are so sweet. Happy New Year!!
xxoxo
Ramona says
It’s gorgeous. Your laundry room looks a part of your home and not like an after-thought like mine. Thanks for sharing.
Amanda says
This is awesome. The lay-out of your laundry room remind me of ours and I was kind of at a loss as to how to spruce it up. So thank you!