$30 Laundry Room Makeover

I have long desired to give my plain white laundry room some personality and the faster my due date approaches the more motivation I have to get some projects done around the house (Some call this nesting, but I like to call it necessity.) Like always, budget is a concern so I was waiting for some of my Facebook Swap Shop items to sell for the extra cash to dive into this project. Thankfully some sales went through and I had about $30 to spend on this project. Set with a gallon of paint (which at $21, was the bulk of my spending) and several Pins on Pinterest I got started! I haven't completely finished since I have not decided on my laundry sorters (although I'm not sure I will ever really be "done") and I kept waiting to take pictures until all the laundry was done, but since that NEVER happens, you'll get to see the best of real life. :)

$30 LAUNDRY ROOM MAKEOVER

Paint Color: Walmart's Color Place Spiced Paprika (Semi-Gloss)

Stain Color: Minwax Dark Walnut

(For more information on the Pins I found my inspiration from check out my Laundry Room Makeover Board on Pinterest)

My laundry room not only is the place where all the dirty clothes are supposed to end up, it also serves as the diaper changing station and closet for the little baby clothes. Along with all the other cleaning supplies, vacuum, etc. Some day after diapers, and babies sleeping in our room, I will love turn that space into my craft and sewing station but for now it is filled with diapers, wipes, and lots of little socks! As you can see it was all white and completely uninspired. I had previously organized the baby items in the cabinets using wipes boxes and it made a huge difference in the ease of finding what I happen to be searching for at the time.

I will have to note that I did not enjoy the Walmart paint, although this was my first time using a semi-gloss on a large scale, I believe the quality was lacking, but for this space it worked out even though a higher quality paint would have made this project go a little faster. However, I do LOVE the color and even without anything else it makes the space.

  

My favorite change (besides the color) is the new light fixture. I absolutely despise fluorescent lighting and the big rectangle blaring light was awful! Not only was it just plain ugly, it would flicker and strobe and half the time not come on at all. So I went to our local Habitat for Humanity Restore and found "new" fixture that happened to be an exact match to the one in our entry way for only $5! Complete with working blubs! The change made me so happy I cried (literally; these pregnant hormones are hard to control!)

This LAUNDRY sign is one of the Pinterest inspired portions of my makeover. I made it from a scrap piece of wood we had laying around and I printed the letters on paper and transferred the image to the wood, then used my Drimel to engrave it. I painted the letters with black craft paint and stained it with Minwax Black Walnut.

The three bins are diaper boxes (Size 5 Parent's Choice) I covered in fabric that I also found at the Restore for less than $1 a yard.

I also found this solid wood sign at the Restore for $1 (it has some quote about sailing engraved on the reverse side)  I loved the shape and it was the perfect size to make my 'Check Your Pockets' sign. All I had to do was transfer the image using the same process I used for my laundry sign and this time since the font was smaller I decided not to engrave it but just used a black Sharpie to darken the transfer and then brushed a coat of stain over it all to freshen it up.  

 

Of all my Pinterest finds I think this sign defines my life with laundry the best! I saw this quote and knew it was perfect for our laundry room. It took me a while to decide on the art work to accompany it but I found these super cute vintage prints and loved the bright colors.  The hanging rack was a garage sale find from last summer that was waiting to find it's perfect home. I stained it to match the rest of the wood items throughout the space.

 Overall I am so pleased with how it turned out. Remember it only takes a few bucks and a little motivation to brighten the most humdrum areas in your life! 

Until Next Time, 

Sonja