Crack is still whack. I couldn’t resist that Whitney Houston-inspired one-liner, even though we’ve used it before. This time the joke refers to a long crack running across the laundry room ceiling. Here’s the before:
And the much cleaner after:
During inspection we had that crack evaluated and were relieved to learn it wasn’t a foundation issue—just normal settling. It turned out to be an easy fix with paintable white caulk. Important tip: use paintable caulk so the repair blends seamlessly with the ceiling paint. We used a standard paintable window and door caulk rather than spackle because spackle can shrink and fall out of narrow cracks over time, while caulk tends to stay put. The repair process was simple:
- Squeezed a line of caulk into the crack
- Smoothed the caulk with my finger to remove excess
- Wiped it with a wet rag for a smoother finish
- Allowed it to dry fully (I waited about 48 hours)
- Touched it up with leftover wall and ceiling paint
If you’re wondering whether you can handle a similar repair, you can. It only takes patience and a steady hand—plus a chair if you’re on the short side and need a little lift while the baby naps and the dog gives you a suspicious look the whole time.
My mom recently caulked her bathroom on her own too—after calling me from the hardware store to compare caulk guns. Proud daughter moment.
Now that the crack is solved, we’re ready to move forward with a laundry room makeover. It’s a tiny space—about 3.5′ x 8’—and we plan to tackle it one project at a time to improve both function and appearance. Here’s what it looked like when we moved in:
After some early updates—new front-loading appliances, removing shutters, frosting the side door for privacy, and taking down shelves behind the door—the space already feels better:
Planned updates include small, focused projects that will add storage and polish. Our current to-do list:
- Paint the brown quarter-round baseboard pieces glossy white
- Repair and repaint dinged trim in semi-gloss white
- Paint the walls (we’ll share color choices soon)
- Install adjustable built-in shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer and dryer—unstacking isn’t an option because the room is only 3.5′ wide
- Replace hinges and knobs on the upper cabinets
- Install a new light fixture or DIY a custom one
- Add a window treatment, possibly handmade
- Create functional storage near the door for shoes, the dog’s leash, and everyday items
- Hang art to brighten the room and obscure the metal fuse box
Long-term we’d love to remove the vinyl tile to see if original hardwood floors exist underneath and, if so, refinish them—hopefully extending into the kitchen. That’s a bigger project because the kitchen cabinets sit on top of the current flooring, so it’s something for the distant future. For now we’ll focus on adding practical storage and making the room look fresh and welcoming.
Do you have laundry room projects going on? Any favorite storage solutions, colors, or art ideas for small laundry spaces? We’re collecting inspiration as we go.
Psst—In case you’re curious, we’ve previously hidden a large electrical box and improved other laundry closets at our old house; those solutions gave us ideas for this room too.