Our freshly painted laundry room feels so bright and cheerful it practically makes me want to sing. I started by repainting all the trim with Olympic No-VOC semi-gloss in an off-the-shelf white and painted the brown quarter-round near the baseboards so it would blend with the trim. I applied three thin coats of the same Olympic No-VOC paint without primer, since I used the same method successfully in another room and preferred to keep things simple. For the walls we used leftover paint from the adjoining kitchen so the two spaces would flow together—especially important because you see the kitchen when you enter the laundry room from the side door.
Because the laundry room is compact, we wanted a color that would connect and visually elongate the space rather than interrupt it. We may add a subtle stencil or another paint treatment later, but for now we’re waiting to see how window treatments, a new light fixture, shelving, storage, and artwork influence the room before deciding on anything more elaborate.
The color is Sesame 381 by Benjamin Moore, color-matched to Olympic’s No-VOC paint in a semi-gloss finish. In our small, naturally lit laundry room—with a door and window that open to the carport—the tone reads a bit more yellow than in the kitchen, yet it remains an artichoke-like mix of green and yellow that is unexpectedly cheerful. In short:
- It’s slightly brighter than the kitchen paint.
- It reads more yellow in this space due to the light.
- It creates a lively, uplifting atmosphere for a small utility room.
As soon as I began cutting in, I could tell the color would wake up the entire room. The white trim balances the wall color and will help keep the space feeling fresh and open.
When we moved in, the room felt bland and unfinished. Now, with a fresh coat of color and a few other tweaks, it feels welcoming and intentional. That white board you see under the stacked machines is a thick piece of plywood we installed to stabilize the appliances; stabilizing the washer and dryer can extend their lifespan. I painted the plywood white so it will blend in once shelving is added to that side of the nook.
Some photos of the room look more neon or slightly off-color than the space actually is; in person the paint is not neon or unpleasant—it’s light, soft, and cheerful, like “liquid sunshine.” We felt confident using this hue because:
- We plan to add plenty of white shelving that will temper the color and coordinate with the white washer and dryer.
- The window, glass door, and open doorway into the kitchen help break up the color blocks and let light in.
- When we eventually install wood floors, the warm tones will further subdue the color and add balance.
We also updated a metal fuse box cover. Instead of replacing it, we rolled on several thin, even coats of paint directly over the metal without priming. Metal accepts thin coats well, and by avoiding heavy, globby layers and testing the panel’s operation between coats, the cover still opens and closes smoothly. Thin, even applications make all the difference.
Total spent for this phase: effectively zero, since we used leftover trim and wall paint from the kitchen. We did buy a pack of rollers for about eight dollars, but otherwise the refresh cost almost nothing. We still have plans to add functional touches—shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer and dryer, a safer all-metal dryer hose, updated cabinet hardware, a new light fixture, window treatments, shoe and pet storage by the door, and artwork to keep the space cheerful and to visually hide the fuse box. Here’s the current to-do list:
Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy whiteRedo all the dinged up trim (also in semi-gloss white)Paint the walls- Replace the dryer hose with a safer all-metal one
- Add adjustable built-in shelving in the nook beside the stacked washer and dryer (the room is only 3.5′ wide, so we can’t relocate them)
- Replace hinges and knobs on the upper cabinetry
- Install a new light fixture—maybe a small chandelier or a DIY option
- Add a window treatment, possibly homemade
- Create functional storage near the door for shoes, a dog leash, and other essentials
- Hang artwork to keep the space cheerful and to disguise the metal fuse box
Crisp white trim really elevates the look of the warm greeny-gold walls; the contrast keeps the room feeling clean and bright. One photo captures the paint color more accurately than the others—light, slightly lighter in person, and unmistakably a yellow with a hint of green: think artichoke heart. The refreshed room makes even laundry feel a little more pleasant.
P.S. Thank you for the kind comments about my recent haircut. I appreciated the sweet feedback, even though I’m certain a stylist’s magic is hard to replicate at home.