Laundry Room Ironing Board Storage and Cabinet Refresh
We love the new built-in shelves in our laundry room, but they interfered with the old ironing board storage system — the one that clanged every time the washer spun. It was time to find a new home for the ironing board that would keep it out of the way and looking presentable.
We briefly considered building a little cubby into the built-ins, but wanted to keep the shelf space wide for baskets, bins, and bowls. Shoving the board into another closet felt wrong too — it belonged in the laundry room, just not looking battered and sad.
The dark streaks on the cover turned out to be residue from no-sew hem tape — a casualty of regular use. An old fun cover was also ruined. Sherry thought about sewing a new cover, but after a browse on Etsy she found a handmade cover she loved and bought it. For about $24 we had a fresh, attractive cover that she’s excited to show off (and promised not to ruin).
Even I admit the pink cover looks great against the grellow walls. We wanted a storage solution that held the board up and out of the way, while keeping it removable for ironing in a larger room if needed.
We considered a pulley or ceiling mount, but the laundry room is narrow, so we decided to hang the board on the wall opposite the door. That wall also hid some eyesores — namely the painted-over fuse boxes — so hanging the ironing board there would both store it and disguise the box.
Instead of buying a hook-and-iron caddy (most include an iron holder we didn’t want), we repurposed two jumbo coat hooks from Lowe’s (about $6 each) and mounted them with long wood screws into studs for a strong, secure hold well away from any wiring around the fuse box.
The hooks fit the wide ironing board bar perfectly and passed the TWT (The Wife Test). We debated whether to hang the board pointed up or down — Sherry liked the up orientation, I preferred it the other way — but ultimately we chose the orientation that worked best for our space.
We positioned the board slightly away from the appliances so it didn’t get in the way when opening the washer door, and so it still covers the fuse box. If we ever switch the direction our dryer door opens, it will remain out of the “bang” zone.
At the same time we updated the ironing board, we also refreshed the upper cabinet doors. The cabinets we inherited were off-white and clashed with the crisp white trim. The old hardware was basic, so we removed doors, knobs, and hinges and prepped everything for paint.
We swapped out the white eyeball knobs and brass hinges for small pink glass knobs and brushed nickel hinges. The pink knobs were an affordable find at Hobby Lobby during a sale, and the brushed nickel hinges came from Home Depot. Paired together they update the look and add a fun, polished touch.
Before installing the new hardware, we primed with Kilz no-VOC primer and applied two thin coats of white semi-gloss paint (Olympic Premium No-VOC Base 2). With paint and new hardware installed, the cabinets looked brighter and cleaner in just a day or two.
The makeover is modest, but small changes can have a big impact: fresh paint, new knobs, and a neatly hung ironing board turned a cramped, cluttered corner into a more functional and attractive space. Sherry jokes that the pink knobs remind her of pink champagne — fancy, even if she hasn’t actually had any.
The cabinet interior holds typical utility items: a drill, paint and supplies, occasional laundry products, bungee cords, and saws — practical storage for the home workshop and laundry needs.
Updated laundry room to-do list:
Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy whiteRedo all the dinged-up trim (also in semi-gloss white)Paint the wallsReplace our dryer hose with a safer all-metal oneAdd adjustable built-in shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer & dryerPrime & paint the upper cabinetryReplace the hinges and knobs on those upper cabinetsHang the ironing board to obscure the fuse box- Get a new light fixture — maybe DIY a small chandelier
- Add a window treatment (still deciding)
- Add functional storage near the door for shoes, the dog’s leash, etc.
- Hang some art to keep the room cheerful
We’re still debating window treatments: the window doesn’t present a privacy issue and a shade might crowd the area, so we’ll pick a light fixture first and decide after. Meanwhile, small updates like new cabinet hardware and a simple wall hook solution made the laundry room feel much more organized and pleasant.
Psst—This week’s giveaway winner has been announced. Also, for a recap of our laundry room progress: we’ve replaced the washer and dryer, removed shutters and cluttered shelves, frosted the door, repaired ceiling cracks, painted the room, and added built-ins.