$43 Laundry Room Re-do...

As I said yesterday, I have been moving right along in my efforts to makeover my laundry room. I have finally finished it, and couldn't wait to show it to you.

I am gonna start by saying that this entire makeover cost me about $43. I am operating on a shoestring budget, but I enjoy the challenge of being thrifty. Here is how it came together.

Before pic, so you know where we started:

I know, I know. It's painful to look at! Anything would be better than that, so I had Papa build me a table over the washer and dryer, and a shelf with a clothes rack in the dead space. (By the way, this is the only way the washer and dryer can sit since they are front loaders. I did not want to take down my shelves and stack them, so this was the only option. Just thought I'd answer before you asked.) We used leftover plywood from another project and bought about $8 worth of supplies. I had the caulk and paint, so the table and shelf both got sanded and painted. Next I cleaned off those shelves, and got rid of everything but cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. I bought a tension rod from Wal-Mart ($3), and made a curtian out of left over fabric from another project.
Then I made my $7 towel rack:

I needed a rug for the floor, but couldn't find one, so I bought 2 kitchen rugs and duct taped them together on the underside. Yes you read correctly, but I figured when I need to wash them I can just take the tape off and then tape them back. I'll probably sew them eventually, but my duct tape is working beautifully! I got both rugs at Wal-Mart for $12 total.

Then I wanted to put something pretty on the counter, so I re-did this old tray I had in the garage. I spray painted it, and then cut a piece of cardboard to fit in the center. I hot glued a fabric remnant on the cardboard, and voila! A perfect little tray.
I put a lamp I already had, a couple shells, and a little jar of sand on it. I also sat my basket of stain removers there. With my 2 boys, I use a stainstick with practically every load of laundry so I need it handy. I picked up this little box with a clothespin design at TJ Maxx on clearance for $3. It holds my dryer sheets.
I got these 2 baskets at Hobby Lobby for under $10 total when they had their baskets on clearance. One holds mismatched socks.
The one problem area I have left is the huge water heater. I was gonna paint it, but decided against it. Part of me feels like it's a laundry room, enough already. But the other part of me says, it would sure look better if... So the jury's still out on the fate of the waterheater.

Suggestions?