Last week, I posted a few photos of  laundry rooms, like this completely amazing and beautiful one that I’m still drooling over.

Dutch Door Laundry Room
{via Pinterest}

 

Subconsciously, I think I had laundry on the brain.  Maybe it was because I had gotten behind on the laundry and with two little kids, you know how quickly that can add up!  After doing what seemed like 2,174, 567 loads of wash and folding another 5,346,554, I realized that part of the reason I hate doing laundry so much is because my laundry room just isn’t organized according to how I work and live.

Funny Laundry Quote

 

I don’t have actually have a laundry room, it’s more of a narrow walkway between the garage and the family room with space for the washer and dryer, plus a couple of cabinets.   It has no natural light and is a very dark room, even with the light on, and because it’s a walkway, I can’t keep anything on the floor.  As such, I won’t be able to decorate and style it as I would if I had an actual room, but there are still some updates that can be done to make it more functional and beautiful.

To start, I love the idea of using clear jars to hold laundry soap, don’t you?  It is both practical and decorative.

Jar for Laundry Soap
{DIY Laundry Detergent via Hickory Trail}

 

But the problem for me is that I don’t use powdered detergent, I use liquid.  So I have one of those giant detergent tubs balanced at the edge of my washer so that I can just pull out the soap tray of my front loader and dispense directly into the machine.  I just realized, though, that instead of using the soap container as the dispenser, I could use a drink dispenser!  It serves the same purpose but is so much prettier!

TIDBITS-&-TWINE-Laundry-Room-Soap-Dispenser

 

I also have one of those hideously ugly exhaust fan/light combos in my laundry room – you know, the white plastic kind with the louvered vents that are found in bathrooms.  But did you know that you can buy decorative ones?!  Granted, most of the ones I found look like the dreaded boob light {why, lighting designers, why?!}, but this one from Hunter is quite beautiful.

Hunter Bathroom Fan Light
{via LE-COMPAS}

 

I don’t have space to store full-sized laundry baskets in my laundry room, but a couple of these on top of the washer and dryer would be nice to hold the random pieces of laundry that my kids sometimes toss in.  I like this style because unlike many wicker baskets that shed {see post here}, this one won’t and if it gets dirty or wet, I could just wash the liner.

wIRE BASKET
{source unknown}

 

I might even have just enough wall space to accommodate some hanging baskets, which would be nice so that I could assign each member of the family a basket to store the random things I find in pockets.

Pottery Barn Hanging Wall Baskets
{via Pottery Barn}

 

I also tend to toss my car keys onto the dryer as I walk through the door from the garage.  I recently lost them, though, and my only guess is that they must have fallen off into the garbage can below and been taken out with the trash.  $160 later to purchase a new set and I’ve decided that I need to find a new place for them!  I realize any hook would work, but I think these are particularly cute.

keyholehook
{via Real Simple}

 

I’d also love to have a countertop over my washer and dryer so that I’d have a little more storage space and so that things don’t fall behind {or fall off into the garbage!}.  I need to take some measurements but I’m hoping that this idea from Chrystie at I Love to Gossip will work for me.

counter-top

 

For even more storage, I might consider using the back of the door like Melaine at My Sweet Savannah did.  Isn’t this clever?!

laundry room door storage

 

And since the room is so dark and void of architectural detail, I’d love to update the walls with either wainscoting or subway tiles just to brighten it a bit and add some interest. Above all, I really need to declutter the space so that it doesn’t feel even smaller than it actually is.

 

So, maybe with a few updates I will actually enjoy doing the laundry!  Oh, who am I kidding, I’ll still dislike it but at least I’ll like the room better!

 

Do you have a laundry room decorating idea that you love?  Please share it with me!
Tidbits&Twine - Signature

 

 

 

 

 

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17 Comments

  1. I read your blog and get much better benefits for your tips . there are many several coupons opportunities , one of the best platform is huge saving store for serve great amount of coupons . waiting for your response about that.

  2. I have had the spigots on two drink dispensers fail and the resultant mess in my laundry room was indescribable. The machines had to be pulled out from under the counter because the soap went everywhere!

  3. Cindy Martin says:

    I just found this and love the ideas I recently purchased a drink container and have the same problem as above. Its too thick to come out. Can you say where you got yours?

    1. Cindy I have the same problem with liquid detergent too thick. Solution?

  4. Janie Foster says:

    For the drink containers for liquid soap, how do you keep the lid from rusting inside?

  5. I put my laundry soap in a drink dispenser but it won’t come out-I’m guessing it’s to thick. Do you have this problem?

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Heather – Sorry for the delay in responding! No, I haven’t had this issue with mine…

  6. I din’t have a laundry room but if I have one, I think I’ll steel some of yours ideas. Great little place.

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      I’m glad you enjoyed some of the ideas! :)

  7. We, too, ahve a TEENY laundry room, if you want to call it a ROOM. There is ONLY room for the washer and dryer. Plus the door opens INTO the room so it is a juggle to get IN and get anything behind the door. We got front loaders with the stands that provide enough storage for laundry soap etc. The we put 3 cabinets above; the one in the middle is straight across and the 2 on the ends are angled so that I can raeach them! We are going to replace the door with 2 cafe like doors that open OUT! I will do a post about it too. YOu have some great ideas.

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Pinky – I started laughing when I read your comment because I forgot to mention that my door opens INTO the room as well, so I can totally identify with your description! :) Love the idea of the angled cabinets and the cafe doors. Can’t wait to read your post to see how it all turns out.

  8. Kim,
    I don’t have to search on-line for ideas anymore! Everything I could possibly want is here on your blog!
    Thanks for your inspiration!

    Janet

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Janet – You are so sweet! I’m glad you’re finding inspiration here!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Kris – Your laundry room is gorgeous…and so big! What a beautiful job you’ve done!

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