With a new light fixture and fresh shoe storage installed this week — and the decision to skip a window treatment for now (we’ll frost the window when we convert the carport into a garage) — we finally had just one last area left to finish in our laundry room. Below is the checklist of everything we tackled:
- Frost the side door for privacy – completed
- Remove the narrow shelving that interfered with the door – completed
- Remove the old shutters that blocked light – completed
- Sell the energy-inefficient top loaders and buy Energy Star front-loaders – completed
- Caulk a large crack in the ceiling – completed
- Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy white – completed
- Redo dinged-up trim in semi-gloss white – completed
- Paint the walls – completed
- Replace the dryer hose with a safer all-metal one – completed
- Add adjustable built-in shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer and dryer – completed
- Prime and paint the upper cabinetry – completed
- Replace hinges and knobs on the upper cabinets – completed
- Hang the ironing board to obscure the metal fuse box – completed
- Add functional storage near the door for shoes – completed
- Create a new light fixture – completed
- Add a window treatment later – for now we’ll frost the window when the carport becomes a garage
- Hang artwork to keep the room cheerful and add storage for Burger’s leash – completed
When deciding what to put on the wall besides the hanging ironing board, Sherry and I tossed around lots of ideas. In the end, we realized the space needed more light. We lucked into a great $10 mirror at a neighborhood yard sale a few weeks ago, the same sale where we snagged our twig and berry art. Carrying a couple of frames and a heavy mirror home while pushing a stroller and walking a chihuahua was a memorable way to spend a Saturday.
The mirror was perfect for the blank wall beside the side door. Whatever hung there needed to be relatively flat so the door wouldn’t slam into it. That narrow shelving the previous owners left made us nervous for that reason, so we took it out and frosted the door for privacy.
Hanging the mirror required a bit of planning because it clearly said “do not hang with wire” on the back. So I tore a sheet of printer paper in half and taped each piece over the mirror’s hanging hooks, leaving a tab of tape extending past the mirror’s edge. Then I poked a hole through each paper tab where the screws needed to go. With one person holding the mirror level and centered, we pressed the paper tabs against the wall to mark the exact screw locations.
This two-person method worked really well. One person holds the mirror steady while the other stands back to make sure it’s straight. Then the second person holds the paper tabs down while the mirror is pulled away so the paper stays in place. After drilling pilot holes, we installed heavy-duty anchors and screws and then rehung the mirror. It went up quickly and neatly — a pleasant surprise.
We haven’t fully decided whether to repaint the frame. Our instincts often lean to painting pieces white or ORB, or using a deep teal that matches the built-ins, but lately we appreciate leaving some original finishes to add a collected, layered feel. For now we’re leaving the mirror’s crackled gold finish as-is. If and when we add stainless appliances to the adjoining kitchen, the frame may feel out of place and we’ll reconsider a paint job.
The mirror has been a fantastic addition. It gives us a last look before heading out the door, reflects light into the windowless kitchen, and makes the small laundry room feel larger. We also hung two textured frames we’ve had for years (from the Pottery Barn Outlet) to show family photos above our new shoe cabinet. Burger’s leash tucks into a white bowl from the kitchen, and a pink vase we found at Target adds a small pop of color.
Putting family photos in the laundry room was inspired by my mom, who always had a collage of family pictures in her laundry area when I was growing up. It’s a reminder that functional rooms can benefit from a personal touch. The photos we chose are favorites: a family portrait from our Outer Banks trip and a candid taken by Katie Bower during a visit to Georgia. The yellows in those pictures actually complement the room’s palette, which is a happy accident.
We even added a small iron bee decorative hook we thrifted in Delaware. We left it in its worn finish rather than painting it, partly because we like the mix of finishes and partly because leaving a few pieces as-found feels right for the collected look we’re after.
With that, the laundry room is complete — at least for now. It’s the first room we’ve made this much progress on, and it felt manageable partly because it’s small. Below is a quick budget rundown of what we spent over the past few weeks:
- New Energy Star front-load washer and dryer: $388 (after selling the old set for $250)
- Window frosting film (Home Depot): $18
- Paint and caulk: $0 (already owned)
- Built-in shelving supplies (Lowe’s & Home Depot): $74
- Ironing board cover (Etsy): $24
- Ironing board hooks (Lowe’s): $12
- Cabinet knobs (Hobby Lobby): $8
- Shoe cabinets (Ikea): $38
- Clothespin light fixture (homemade): $34
- Yard sale mirror: $10
- Family photos (CVS): $1
- Pink vase (Target): $7
- Other accessories & items already owned: $0
- TOTAL: $624*
*That total excludes items we already owned or leftover supplies. If you were starting completely from scratch, add about $58 for basic paint, tools, and a few accessories, which would bring the estimated total to roughly $682.
We’re thrilled with how the tiny laundry room turned out: smarter storage, better lighting, and a cozier, more personal space. It’s proof that small, thoughtful updates can make a big difference. Have you updated a laundry room lately or added personal touches to a small, functional space?