We love our new built-in shelves in the laundry room, but they interfered with the old ironing board storage solution that clanged every time the washer spun. The ironing board needed a new home. We considered building a cubby inside the built-ins, but wanted to keep maximum space for baskets and bins instead of narrowing the opening. Shoving the board into a closet felt wrong — it belongs in the laundry room, just not looking battered and ugly.
Those dark streaks you can see were residue from a frequently used no-sew hem tape. An earlier, more colorful cover had been ripped and ruined as well. After a quick trip to Etsy for inspiration, Sherry opted to buy a handmade cover rather than sew one herself. She loved the fabric and couldn’t find anything similar locally. For about $24 we had an attractive new cover that she’s proud to display. Yes, she’s unusually excited about an ironing board cover.
I get some husband points for letting her pick the pink option — it actually looks great against the yellow-green walls. Leaning the board against the wall was only temporary. We wanted to hang it, keep it removable, and avoid an iron holder that would show our ugly iron and risk knocks in the narrow room. We briefly considered a pulley system to fold it out for ironing, but the laundry room is about as narrow as a bathroom stall, so a hanging solution that can be taken down and used elsewhere felt smarter.
The ideal spot was the wall opposite the door, which also had painted-over fuse boxes that could use some visual coverage. Hanging the ironing board there accomplishes two tasks: it keeps the board handy but out of the way, and the board can be removed easily to access the fuse box when necessary, much like a framed picture or bulletin board might be hung there.
We couldn’t find a retail hook caddy we liked — most included iron holders we didn’t want. Instead, we repurposed two jumbo coat hooks from Lowe’s and installed them with long screws driven into studs for a secure hold and to avoid wiring near the fuse box. The hooks accommodate the wide ironing board bar and passed the wife-approved aesthetics test.
We debated which direction to hang the board. Sherry preferred the board pointing up; I liked it the other way. Ultimately I got my way in these photos, but both options work fine. We positioned the board a bit away from the appliances on purpose: first, to align it with the fuse box, and second, to keep it out of the washer and dryer door swing so it doesn’t get banged every time we do laundry. If we flip the dryer door in the future it’ll be even less in the way.
While working on the ironing board, we also tackled the upper cabinet doors. The inherited built-ins were valuable for concealed storage, but the cabinet doors were an off-white that clashed with the crisp white trim and had dull hardware. We removed the doors, knobs, and hinges and replaced them with new hardware and a fresh coat of paint.
After priming the doors and frame with a no-VOC primer, we applied two thin coats of white semi-gloss paint. The change is subtle in photos, but the white edges around the doors cleaned up the look nicely. We swapped the old white knobs and brass hinges for pink glass knobs and brushed nickel hinges — small, affordable updates that gave the cabinets a fresher, more intentional finish.
The new knobs were an inexpensive way to add personality. Once the paint dried and the hardware was installed, the doors were reattached. We kept them slightly ajar for a day to prevent sticking, and then they were back to fully functional. The result isn’t dramatic, but sometimes small details like fresh paint and new pulls make the most impact.
Inside the cabinet is the usual jumble: a drill, paint supplies, rarely used laundry items, bungee cords, and a couple of saws. It’s practical storage for tools and oddments that would otherwise clutter visible spaces.
Before I sign off, here’s our updated laundry room to-do list:
- Replace the light fixture — possibly DIY something small and decorative
- Add a window treatment or decide to leave the window bare
- Add functional storage near the door for shoes, leashes, and daily items
- Add adjustable built-in shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer and dryer
- Prime and paint the rest of the upper cabinetry
- Replace remaining hinges and knobs
- Switch the dryer hose to a safer all-metal model
- Hang art or small decor to keep the room cheerful
We’re still debating the window treatment. The window doesn’t present a privacy issue — you mostly see the tops of the built-ins and the ceiling from outside — and a shade might crowd the area since the window sits so close to the cabinetry. We plan to decide after finalizing the light fixture so everything feels cohesive.
What about you — any small projects on your weekend to-do list like new hardware, a fresh coat of paint, or a simple storage upgrade? Are you unexpectedly attached to an item of decor the way Sherry is with her ironing board cover? We’d love to hear what tweaks make your daily chores more pleasant.