After installing a new light fixture and adding shoe storage this week — and deciding to skip a window treatment for now, planning instead to frost the window when the carport is converted into a garage — we had one last item left on our big list: hang art to keep the room cheerful and add a place for Burger’s leash.
- Frost the side door for privacy — done
- Remove the narrow shelving that interfered with the door — done
- Remove old shutters that blocked light — done
- Replace inefficient stacked top-loaders with Energy Star front-loaders — done
- Caulk a crack in the ceiling — done
- Paint quarter round and redo dinged-up trim in semi-gloss white — done
- Paint the walls — done
- Replace dryer hose with a safer all-metal one — done
- Add adjustable built-in shelving next to the washer & dryer — done
- Prime and paint upper cabinetry and replace hardware — done
- Hang the ironing board over the fuse box — done
- Add functional storage for shoes near the door — done
- Create a new light fixture — done
- Window treatment — postponed (will frost when the carport is converted)
- Hang art and add storage for Burger’s leash — done
We debated what to put on the big blank wall next to the side door. Whatever we chose needed to sit flat enough to survive slamming doors, so bulky shelving was out. A few weeks earlier we had scored a $10 mirror at a neighborhood yard sale — the same stop where we picked up some twig & berry art. Picture us walking home with two heavy frames and a mirror while wrangling a stroller and a tiny chihuahua. That’s life on the renovation trail.
The mirror seemed perfect for the wall: it’s relatively flat, adds visual interest, and helps bounce light into the adjoining windowless kitchen. The only hitch was the mirror’s warning not to hang it from a wire, so the screw positions on the wall had to be precise. Here’s the simple method we used to transfer the exact hanging points from the mirror to the wall.
We tore a piece of paper in half and taped each half over the mirror’s hanging hardware so the paper stuck out past the edges — little paper “wings.” With the mirror held level and in place, we poked a hole through each paper wing where the screws needed to go. Then we pressed the paper to the wall, creating a perfect guide for drilling pilot holes.
Two people make this much easier: one holds the mirror steady while the other checks for level and placement. We had one person hold the mirror and another press the taped wings to the wall as the mirror was removed so the paper stayed exactly where it needed to be. After drilling pilot holes we installed heavy-duty anchors and screws, and the mirror hung perfectly on the first try — pleasantly surprising.
We considered painting the mirror frame — white, oil-rubbed bronze, or even the deep teal we used on the built-ins — but decided to live with the crackled gold finish for now. We’re learning to appreciate a mix of finishes and to let found pieces contribute to a collected, layered look. If stainless appliances end up in the kitchen, we might revisit the decision and give the frame a fresh coat then.
The mirror not only gives us a final check before leaving the house, it also reflects extra light into the kitchen and makes the small laundry space feel larger. To complete the wall, we hung two textured frames that previously lived in our office and filled them with family photos. A small hook holds a bowl for Burger’s leash, and a pink vase brings a pop of color that ties into the ironing-board cover.
Family photos in the laundry room feel right — a reminder that even functional spaces benefit from personal touches. My mom always had a photo collage in the laundry room when I was growing up, and I loved glancing at the pictures while doing chores. The top photo here is a family portrait from a recent beach trip, and the bottom is from a visit to a friend. The yellow tones in both images happen to work with the room’s palette, but we would have hung them anyway because they’re favorites.
With those final touches, we’re calling the laundry room complete — at least for now. Below is a concise budget summary of the updates we made over the last few weeks.
- New Energy Star front-load washer and dryer (net): $388 (originally $1,198; we sold the old set for $250)
- Window frosting film: $18
- Paint and caulk: $0 (already owned)
- Built-in shelving supplies: $74
- Ironing board cover: $24
- Ironing board hooks: $12
- Cabinet knobs: $8
- Shoe cabinets: $38
- Clothespin light fixture (DIY): $34
- Mirror (yard sale): $10
- Family photo prints: $1
- Frames: $0 (already owned)
- Iron hook: $0 (already owned)
- Laundry basket: $0 (already owned)
- Pink vase: $7
- Other accessories: $0 (already owned)
- Total: $624*
*If you need to buy supplies from scratch, add roughly $25 for caulk and a quart of paint, $25 for simple frames and accessories, $3 for a plastic laundry basket, and $5 for a small hook — bringing an estimated total to about $682.
This small room was a perfect reminder that thoughtful, inexpensive choices and a few DIY solutions can dramatically improve a tight, utilitarian space. We’re enjoying the finished laundry room — it’s brighter, more organized, and finally feels like part of the home. Have you tackled a laundry room refresh lately? We’d love to hear what worked for you.
