The laundry room is finally finished!
We owe a big thanks to Lesley for inspiring us to carve out this dedicated laundry room — it feels like it was always part of the house. The new glass door at the end of the formerly dark hallway floods the space with light and completely transformed the feel of this area.
When we last checked in the room felt almost finished, but that final 10% made a huge difference. We started by installing the filler, baseboard, toe kick, and crown molding that we had planned for when the cabinets went in to close up the visible gaps. Next came the door casing, baseboards, and a new doorknob that matches the rest of the house. Finally, we added under-cabinet lighting — and threw a small celebration for it.
The under-cabinet lights are my new favorite addition. They’re currently plugged in behind the washer (you can spot the small white cord trailing down 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 we walk in. These lights were a bit of an impulse buy when we ordered the cabinets, and they were absolutely worth it. A reader pointed out that the lights make it easier to spot stains and pre-treat items before washing, which sold me. Impulse buys aren’t always winners, but under-cabinet lights? Do it.
Even when the under-cabinet lights are off the room stays bright thanks to the overhead fixture, though someday we’d love to add a skylight or a solar tube for even more natural light.
Once trims, fillers, and lighting were in place, we moved on to styling and organizing — my favorite part. The room now holds practical items like a drying rack, ironing board, art, a three-bin laundry sorter, and baskets for small essentials. Everything was arranged to be both functional and tidy: a basket for lost socks (currently hosting a few of Clara’s), a small dish for coins and pocket loot, and the everyday detergent kept within easy reach on the shelf.
We used a mint-green caddy to store lint rollers and dryer balls, and a matching mint trash can sits on the counter for lint and tiny bits that come out of pockets. A faux succulent adds a touch of greenery without the upkeep.
Opposite the washer we installed a pull-out drying rack, which has been a game changer. Previously we laid items over a daybed or windowsill to air dry, so having a dedicated fold-away drying solution that extends two feet for hanging or draping clothes is so convenient. We considered a few options before choosing this style for its solid reviews and capacity — it gives plenty of real estate for hanging delicates and sweaters and folds flat against the wall when not in use.
Under the drying rack we placed a three-bin sorter that keeps laundry separated and organized. We debated several ironing board storage solutions but landed on keeping a full-sized board hung on two strong wall hooks so it’s out of the way yet portable when needed. We hung it on the wall behind the door (not on the door itself to avoid rattling), and added a small doorstop so the hooks aren’t hit when the door closes.
For decor we framed pages from a favorite photography book to bring calm, cohesive artwork into the space. The wood-tone frames coordinate nicely with the shelf, counter, and baskets. On the opposite wall we added a cheerful “Bee Kind” wood canvas and an old embroidered handkerchief that felt perfectly at home in a laundry room. A small framed print clipped to a wooden hanger adds to the laundry-themed display, and we plan to hang Clara’s artwork in the future.
Cabinet hardware choices came down to a few contenders, but we went with simple octagon pulls from Lowe’s for their weight and clean look. We mixed two metals in the room intentionally — polished chrome for some elements and oil-rubbed bronze for others — to create visual interest while keeping the finishes cohesive. The oil-rubbed bronze doorknob helps bridge the mix between the chrome details on the appliances and the darker accents around the room.
The ceiling light is a flush-mount fixture from our collection, and we replaced a cooler bulb with a warmer LED to bring out the warm tones in the shelf, frames, and baskets, making the space feel less stark and more inviting.
John modeled the finished room for a moment — you might almost believe he enjoys doing laundry now.
Budget breakdown:
- 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 door for the hallway + framing and hanging two doors: $297
- Trim, crown, baseboard and door casings for both doors + two new doorknobs: $268
- Function/organization items (baskets, sorter, drying rack, hooks, etc.): $112
- Finishing touches (overhead light, cabinet hardware, frames, etc.): $176
- TOTAL: $4,192
We’d love to invite a realtor to estimate how much value this renovation added to the house when combined with our other recent projects.
Our favorite functional updates are the laundry sorter, the drying rack, the cabinet and drawer storage, and the added counter and shelf space. The upgrades that most elevated the room’s look are the tile backsplash, under-cabinet lights, crown molding, and soft-close doors and drawers — all great considerations if you’re upgrading a laundry zone.
Here’s a quick before-and-after. Remember when this was just the laundry corner when we moved in?
So. Much. Better.
Thanks for following along on this renovation. Creating a brand-new laundry room out of a previously unused space is one of our favorite transformations — practical, beautiful, and surprisingly joyful.
