When I last shared an update on my laundry room progress, it was summer. Time has flown, and with autumn I finally turned my attention indoors to simplify, decorate and nest. This laundry room makeover isn’t complicated or extensive — it’s been a slow, intentional process. For more than five years this room sat at the bottom of the to-do list, even though we use it every day. It was long overdue for a little attention.
Earlier this year I set home goals to organize and refresh several areas. I didn’t accomplish everything I imagined, but I made meaningful progress in many rooms. Life gets busy and priorities shift — new work projects and book commitments changed my schedule — so I accepted that some projects would take longer and scaled back expectations where necessary.
This laundry room was one of two remaining rooms with an unappealing color, so freshening it up felt like a real victory. I considered updating the master bath and closet too, but those will wait until next year since they’ll likely require more time and expense.
I enjoy working on this small room. It’s compact for a true laundry room, but that made the project simpler — it didn’t need a major overhaul. Although I once imagined subway tile and a new sink, practicality won out and I chose a straightforward refresh. Simple changes can have a big impact, and I’m happy with the result so far.
Previously we painted the walls and cabinets white to create a calm, cohesive color palette in the small space. More recently we replaced the harsh fluorescent light with a charming green lantern and added a roll-up fabric shade to introduce pattern and soften the window. Those updates transformed the feel of the room and made it more welcoming.
Aside from those changes, we tackled a major cleaning session — our sink looked much better after a thorough scrub — and that felt like a real accomplishment. I’ll share more about the cleaning process in a future update.
Along with improving the room’s appearance, I focused on simplifying how it functions. A folding counter wasn’t necessary for our needs — the space is too tight and we don’t fold laundry in the room. Instead we carry clothes out to hang and fold elsewhere. Because our washer and dryer aren’t on pedestals, there was useful surface space on top of them. We added two baskets: one for delicate or special-care items and one for cleaning rags. The baskets add texture and keep things organized without crowding the room.
I love the simplicity of this room and how it’s coming together. This isn’t an overnight makeover, but I celebrate each step toward a cleaner, tidier, more streamlined and attractive space. I’ll share more photos and organization ideas in December, and then a fuller organization update after the new year.
What are you thankful for this week? I’m really thankful to have my first-ever pretty laundry room!