The laundry room is finished!
We owe a big thanks to Lesley for suggesting we carve out a dedicated laundry room — it fits so naturally it feels like it was always here. Adding a new glass door at the end of a previously dark hallway transformed the space with daylight and made the whole corridor feel brighter and more inviting.
When we last updated you, the room still felt a bit unfinished. It’s remarkable how much the final details can change a space. Our first steps were installing the filler pieces, baseboards, toe kick and crown trim we had planned when the cabinets went in. That closed gaps along the sides, top and bottom of the cabinets and instantly made everything look complete. We added door casings and new doorknobs to match the rest of the house, and then we installed under-cabinet lights — which were the cherry on top.
Under-cabinet lighting is now my favorite addition. They currently plug in behind the washer — you can see the small white cord in the corner above the washer — but we’ve contacted our electrician to add a wall switch by the door so we can turn them on as soon as we walk in. These lights were an impulse upgrade when we were buying the cabinets, and they were absolutely worth it. A reader mentioned they make it easier to spot stains so you can pre-treat garments before washing, and that practical benefit sealed the deal for us.
Even with the under-cabinet lights off, the room stays bright thanks to the overhead fixture. Someday we’d love to add a skylight or solar tube to bring in even more natural light, but for now the space feels warm and welcoming.
After the finishing trims and lighting, my favorite part was furnishing the space. Adding practical items — a drying rack, ironing board, artwork, a laundry sorter, and little baskets — made the room functional and pleasant. I organized supplies into neat bins and stacked them in the cabinets and drawers so everything has a clear place.
We kept the shelf items simple and purposeful: a basket for lost socks, a small dish for spare change and pocket debris, and the everyday detergent within easy reach. A mint green caddy holds lint rollers and dryer balls, and a matching mint trash can sits on the counter for lint, tags and other small waste. A faux succulent adds a touch of green without the maintenance.
Opposite the washer we installed a pull-out drying rack and it’s a game changer. Previously we’d air-dry items on a daybed or a deep windowsill; having a dedicated pull-out rack gives us more hanging and draping space without taking up permanent floor area. When not in use it folds back neatly against the wall.
Below the drying rack is a three-bin laundry sorter we love — it streamlines sorting and makes laundry day more efficient. For the ironing board we chose to keep a full-sized board portable and out of the way by hanging it on wall hooks behind the door. We avoided mounting it directly on the door to prevent rattling and used a small door stop to protect the hooks from being hit by the door.
Artwork and framed pieces personalize the room. We used simple wood frames that complement the baskets, shelf and countertop. On one wall a wood canvas with a friendly message adds character, and another framed piece clipped with a wooden pants hanger felt fitting for a laundry space. A small embroidered handkerchief with the name Clara brings a nostalgic, handmade touch.
For cabinet hardware we chose simple octagon pulls with a polished chrome finish; mixing two metal tones around the room helped tie finishes together — the oil-rubbed bronze doorknob and matching accents on the appliances balance the chrome details elsewhere. On the ceiling we installed a modest flush-mount fixture and swapped the previous cooler bulb for a warmer LED to bring out the honey tones in the wood and soften the whites in the room.
Here’s the budget breakdown for the renovation:
- Framing (labor & materials): $360
- Electric (labor & materials): $400
- Plumbing (labor & materials): $375
- New dryer vent: $87
- New HVAC vent: $59
- Drywall & insulation: $298
- Drywall mudding: $84
- Sub-floor materials: $30
- Tiled floor: $451
- Ikea cabinets, filler pieces, toe kick, and under-cabinet lighting: $802
- Appliance re-install: $15
- Tiled marble accent wall: $281
- Shelf & counter (including stain testers & stain): $97
- New glass hallway door + framing and hanging two doors: $297
- Trim, crown, baseboard and door casings for both doors + two new doorknobs: $268
- Function/organization items (baskets, laundry sorter, drying rack, hooks, etc.): $112
- Finishing touches (overhead light, cabinet hardware, frames, etc.): $176
- TOTAL: $4,192
We’re curious about how much value this reno might add to the home, so we’re thinking of having a realtor give an estimate. The most useful functional upgrades for us are the laundry sorter, the drying rack, the storage in cabinets and drawers, and the additional countertop and open shelf space. The features that make the room feel most upgraded are the tile backsplash, under-cabinet lighting, crown molding and soft-close doors and drawers — those are the elements that elevated the look and feel.
Here’s a quick before-and-after thought: this space used to be just a laundry area; now it’s a real room, intentional and organized. We’re thrilled with how it turned out and it’s definitely one of our favorite house changes — a room that literally didn’t exist before. Thanks for following along on this laundry room renovation journey!
Psst — Want to see where we got items or what paint color we used? Check our shop list in the house resource section.
