42 Reader Space: Laundry Room Love Affair!

OK Dudes and Dudettes... You know I rarely play favorites.  And I have seen a lot of makeovers in my time.  Like, a lot.  And I have to say, this one ranks super duper high on my list of ohmygoshicantbelievemyeyes makeovers.  The before and after photos are jaw dropping, but what really gets me is the final budget.  I think that is why I am so over the moon obsessed with this laundry room transformation.  Kelly, from the blog View Along the Way, used a total of $157 smackaroos to create an absolutely priceless space, thanks to a little elbow grease and oodles of creativity.

Here she is now to share all the details on how she made a laundry room to lust after!

What is the main function of your space?

"Laundering our unmentionables."

Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?

"An oldie but a goodie: designate a place for everything.  But especially in a space like a laundry room that exists only for function, keep everything in a spot that's comfortable and accessible.  I keep the laundry detergent right over the washing machine, and I'm on the tall side so it's within easy reach for me.  Stuff I use less often, like my iron {*ahem* #iliveinyogapants}, stays on the top shelf.  Everything that's not cute stays hidden behind those cabinet doors."

What items did you find were essential when organizing the space, and why?

"One thing that's been virtually lifesaving is my drying rack.  My baby girl wears cloth diapers, so we used to have to haul out a free-standing drying rack every few days and put it back when the diapers were dry.  Except we rarely actually put it back, so it just got in the way and gave me one more excuse to put off doing another load of laundry." 

What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?

"I stenciled the back wall with a peacock stencil and iridescent paint.  Totally not functional, but it makes me happy, so that counts for something.  My husband made the fancy geometric light fixture, which we ended up loving so much that we're starting to wonder if we should move it to one of our main living spaces where we can see it more often!"

What items did you DIY to stay on budget?

"We DIY'd everything!  The floors were a yellowed, old linoleum, and to save a few bucks, we decided to take a chance and try painting them in chunky horizontal stripes.  I'm so glad we did because it worked so much better than I expected.  They still look perfect, without a scratch to be found.  The cabinet came from a yard sale, and we built the shelves out of scrap wood in our garage.  {Which, by the way, could really use your expertise, Jen!}"  

How has this space impacted your life for the better?

"Not once since we did this room makeover have I ever fallen behind on laundry.  Okay, that's not true at all.  But when I DO finally get around to catching up on it?  It's a hundred times more enjoyable!  We used to just have one wire shelf on the back wall so our laundry products were overflowing and falling off the shelf, and I could never find what I was looking for.  Now everything is within reach and I know where to find it.  Before, no matter how much I scrubbed I could never get that floor to look clean, so it always felt like an uncomfortable space to be washing our clothes.  Now it's a happy space, and the extra organization means I spend less time doing chores and more time hangin' with my kiddos."

Let's take a moment to glance at that absolutely awesomepants laundry room before and after....

Oh boy, where do I begin.  Why do IHeart this space so much?  Hmmmmm.... do you have a few hours for me to explain the reasons?

• She painted the floor.  Wait.  One more time.  She painted the floor!  Totally resourceful and to make it even better, she painted the floor with stripes that make a huge impact!  Heck yes.
• She also stenciled a focal wall.  A girl after my own heart, I am a focal wall addict.  
• She only spent $157 to make her room look like a million bucks.  Enough said.
• She found storage from a thrift sale.  Talk about poppin' tags!  And then she DIY'd shelves out of scrap wood.  Looking at it, you would never know that the entire setup wasn't a high-end custom install. 
• She really thought about placement when storing away her laundry room gear.  Frequently used items within reach, less used items up higher.  No worries Kelly, #ilovemesomeyogapantstoo
• That wall mounted drying rack is such a smart way to utilize the small space.  No more tripping over the rack on the floor.  
• High fives for tucking the non-pretty necessities behind doors and keeping the good lookin' stuff on display.  
• Who wouldn't want to do laundry in that space?  I am sure she definitely whistles while she works!

Stunning right?  You can find even more eye candy and specific details about the laundry room transformation over on Kelly's blog here.  And what is even more exciting is that she is also sharing some exciting news and details over on BHG's Style Spotter's blog.  Wahoo!

This makeover story got me wondering, what's the best $157 you have ever spent?

ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!