Tuesday, June 30, 2009

$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?

17 comments:

Kelli said...

You did a great job Mandi. I love what you did with the wire basket.

Natalie Meester said...

Mandi...WOW! What a tranformation! I had to look at the before and after a couple times to make sure it was still the same room.

At first glance, I thought you added a window!

Great Job!

How about making a room divider (like what you put in the corner of rooms to add interest or hide things) and make it only a smidge taller than the water heater.

OR make a burlap or linen curtain that you velcro on the water heater. Maybe old feed sacks that are all the craze right now. I'd velcro it at the top kinda like you do an apron cover on a sink in bathrooms.

What a perfect room to get away and do laundry in! Congrats!

Stacie said...

Only one suggestion--get your self over to my house and do this to my laundry room! Love it!

julie & joe said...

It looks great! I love your colors. My laundry room is in the basement.....totally yucky!

Tara said...

What a transformation! Pretty, clean & everything is handy - perfect!

In the picture, it looks like the greyish color on the water heater matches with your washer/dryer. If it were me, I'd call it good!

Carrie said...

Okay, you are amazing! I love your transformation. Very inspiring! I wish I had some fabric as cute as yours laying around my house!!

I would be so shamed to show my laundry room as it currently is! But you are making me want to get in there and work on it.

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

Mandi...it looks sooooooooo good! And I love it even more because you did it on the way cheap!

I think that maybe a screen or room divider would do a good job of hiding that water heater. What about one of those screens that also holds pictures? Or you could make your own with a frame and fabric panels?

Bryce's momma said...

Love it Mandi! My favorite, besides the fab deco, is the basket for orphaned socks! My suggestion is some kind of cage-like build. A pretty, vented metal that you could paint with heat- resistant paint and you could trim it with ribbon or fabric. You could hang stuff on it or leave it plain. You could hang picture frames on it or something. I am sure that you have some fabulous idea up your sleeve! Love it! Great job! I live at..... lol

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

No suggestions at all!! You are the queen! This is such an amazing transformation....and to think it only cost $43!! Mandi, you really outdid yourself. It's really so nice. I especially like your little lamp display. Bravo girl!!

P.S. LOVE your new blog look!!!!

Becky @ Our Sweet Peas said...

Looks awesome and so does the blog!!!

BlueCastle said...

Great, great job! If you don't want to live with the hot water heater, get a screen or small room divider. But, you're right - it is a laundry room. Sometimes you can't hide it all :)

Anonymous said...

how about painting the water heater to look like a big ole fish tank!!! you could probably find some large fish stick-ons....go for it! patti b.
you are amazing....thought you were on vacation this week!

Girl with the Curlz said...

Great Job!!! It looks awesome. You have inspired me. Maybe I can do something with mine.

The Hat Chick said...

That is totally awesome! (And I love the new blog makeover too). I have no suggestions for the hot water heater....I'm not worthy....I'm not worthy.

Alisha said...

I stumbled upon your blog like 2 weeks ago. It has been fun reading your posts. I love what you did to your laundry room. You will have to do a post in a few weeks and let us know if it stayed so nice and clean :) Good Job!

Tamara said...

I have no suggestion for your water heater I just wanted to say WOW great job!

Catherine said...

Love what you have done with your Laundry Mandy-it looks Fantastic-my idea was to put up some sort of screen(which i notice has been suggested a few times)I thought a bamboo,reed or something like that might be nice.Not sure what you have available over there-but i'm sure you'll come up with something great..Best of luck with it,enjoy your break..hugs Catherine x

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