Laundry Room Progress

It's been awhile since I talked about my laundry room and it's really starting to come together.  This is my Ikea hack - I took two Lack end tables and stacked them.  I also removed the shelf from the bottom Lack table to allow storage for taller things like my HomeSense fabric baskets which I'm loving.  

I'm going for a  farmhouse-industrial style in here, so I used a wooden shelf and old  egg crates which I've had for years, to add some country. I found two very graphic black and white mats at HomeSense and used one on the floor and used one for a window covering.  (I just used velcro strips to attach it to the window). I needed something great on the window because it is the focal point in  this room, and it looks out onto my neighbour's brick wall.  It's also a very tall and narrow room so I needed to anchor it a bit with the black on the floor.   Now, when you walk in you don't see a brick wall or cheap tile anymore.  You see amazing graphics, which is very important when you're doing laundry! 

All of the tins, glass jars, lanterns, wicker baskets and the white garbage can came from Ikea. I'm using the tins for storage and eventually some will have plants in them - when it warms up.  Unfortunately, there is an electrical outlet right in the middle of the wall.   Visually, it's a bit of an eye sore and really bugs me, so I'll have to think of some way of covering it.  

I'm thinking about these pulls from Anthropologie on the cabinets.  (Anthropologie has lots of wonderful things - I'm just saying!!!) The cabinets are quite cheap so these pulls would make them look a lot better.  They would also add some black and white on the other side of the room and balance it out. Haven't quite decided yet on pulls.

Right now my first choice for a light is this Hektar black light from Ikea.   There are two sizes available and I think I would go for the bigger one. 

Love, love, love this look!!

I could also go for this light from Ikea but I think solid black would look better.  

I also love the industrial look of just an oversized light bulb hanging down like this one in my son's room.  (Yes that is stucco and one day it will come down).  

It's the Beacon light from Rona.

So that's the laundry room update.   Right now I'm working on my dining room drum shade trying to alter it.  I'll let you know if it works.

Laundry Room - Ikea Hack

I've been trying to decide what to do in my laundry room for the past six months.  It's been a bit of a "catch all" since we moved in.  Not only do we need this room for laundry purposes, but it also stores paint cans, gym bags, running shoes, cleats, gardening supplies, paper towels, etc. etc.  (Notice how I didn't mention that I need to store my iron.)  We painted the laundry room shortly after we moved in and had to replace the  side-by-side washer and dryer.  We purchased the Samsung front-load stackable washer and dryer, which I'm very happy with, but we have no counter space and no floor storage so it's been rather frustrating.  Not the best design for a family.

I've been looking online for some solutions and have been thinking about getting a small kitchen island or bookcase to fit in the space.  Ideally I want something with shelving for shoes, paint and gym bags and some surface space.  This rules out a bookcase so I've been searching kitchen islands.  I thought maybe something from Ikea like this for $199.99 might work, but it's too small and I don't want to spend that much money.

Then I came across this Ikea Lack COFFEE TABLE for $29.99!   That's right -a coffee table.  It actually is the exact length and width (30 3/4" x 30 3/4") that I need for the space.  It also has the shelving I need but obviously it isn't the right height.  So then I thought... "Wait a minute, what if I buy two and stack them?"






So here's some before and after pics  of what my new and improved laundry room looks like now for just $60.00.

                                   

I'm going to have to glue the two coffee tables together so they are more secure but for now they store everything perfectly.  There is so much room behind the shoes and the basket that I can store all my paint cans.  I left the bottom shelf open to store pretty laundry bags (purchased from HomeSense) and behind them I store the ugly gym bags.  So Cool!

If you have a kitchen or laundry room that needs more counter space and storage, for $60, I highly recommend doing this.  You could even buy four and make an island.

I think I'm going for a bit of a farmhouse look in this laundry room with baskets, a wooden shelf and a wooden countertop.  Here's a list of the things I still need to do:

1. Replace Light Fixture

2. Change Out Sink

3. Change Out Taps

4. Install Wooden Counter Top

5. Install Wooden Shelf

6. Change Out Door Handles
7. Install Backsplash.

Here's some small laundry room inspiration 

for you.

(I'm in love with these black doors.  Gorgeous!!)

Bijou & Boheme

Better Homes and Gardens

Chris Kauffman

Country Living

Home D-Zine

Home With Baxter

Young House Love

Jones Design Comany

 View Along the Way

Hope I've inspired you to think outside the box and repurpose something.  I'll keep you updated on the progress of this room.  Please let me know if any of you decide to do this or make an island.  I'd love to hear about it.

Gotta go do my laundry now...

Enjoy your weekend!!