I can't get any more real than showing you a picture of the ugliest laundry room on the planet.
Can you call it a laundry room when it's in your garage?
Yeah. I didn't think so.
Well, this is it, friends.
This is where I do approximately seven loads of laundry every single week.
This is the ugly truth of my laundry room.
and the truth hurts.
This is the ugly truth of my laundry room.
and the truth hurts.
Now, do you understand why I post pictures of laundry rooms every chance I get?
Disclaimer: We do not own this home. It's a parsonage.
Love the house. Hate the Laundry room.
One of my goals this year is to make it look as cute as it can possibly be
for a laundry room in a garage.
I have no idea when this project will be complete, but I pinky swear promise to show you pictures when it is!
I have no idea when this project will be complete, but I pinky swear promise to show you pictures when it is!
Some of my ideas are:
*putting my laundry detergent in glass containers and glass jars.
*putting some cute fabric across the front of the washing machine and dryer using something like velcro.
*putting all of our stuff that is stored in those plastic containers up in some nicer ones that match.
*painting the whole interior of the garage...this should help tremendously!
And, just because I dream of a pretty laundry room again one day, I'll leave you with some laundry love.
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| I'm thinking a skirt like this around my machines will help disguise the ugly machines |
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| I'm thinking some baskets will add some texture to my drab space! |
Source: here
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| Love the idea of storing some of my supplies in glass jars... |
Source: Here
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| love the apothecary jars with clothes pins. |
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| love the unconventional shelving.... |
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| these machines are ugly like mine...love the curtain look on a tension rod..easy sliding...totally might do this. |
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| love the open shelving for towels.... |
Oh it never ends does it...as soon as the lst gets short...it gets long again! Can't wait to see what you do...gald you are going first, then I can just copy.
ReplyDeleteUm Tara, my laundry room is uglier. It is in the dark and scary basement. Ew.
ReplyDeleteI have an award for you today :)
-Rene
Compared to mine, yours is a castle. Seriously! You don't have to look at dead bugs caught behind the clear plastic, covering the insulation. Or dare I say the the mildew on some of that insulation. Makes my skin crawl. I need a re-do too. Can't wait to see yours.
ReplyDeleteAre you not even allowed to put a fresh coat of paint on the wall? Seems like if it were neutral the church wouldn't mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll figure something out...I don't have a laundry room either...more of a closet in my apartment where the washer and dryer are...then it goes into the living room for folding and such :p
Biz
these inspiration laundry rooms are not ever fair! like really, who has laundry rooms like that?! i'm sure you'll come up with something beautiful for your space...sometimes a coat of paint makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteThose were great inspiration rooms. Some pretty containers and a skirt should really do the trick. It's in your garage, so don't go crazy;)
ReplyDeletemy laundry room isn't very pretty either. I've thought about working on it but it's hidden in the closet so I'm not very motivated. i should email you my favorite laundry photo. It kills me!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved that laundry room with the dollhouse shelf! I have that page torn out and in a binder. I am sure you can pretty it up. My garage gets so dusty, so I am not sure about the glass jars. I do love the look though. Can't wait to see the results!
ReplyDeleteYou can SO make it pretty! I have a 'laundry room' in the kitchen and it is basically a recess in the kitchen that the washer and dryer BARELY fit into. I put a pretty 40's tablecloth on rings and hung it on a shower curtain rod to cover the shelves. (Any longer, and it would be in the way of getting to the garage AND the fridge) And I have all my laundry supplies in pretty jars. And I painted it a color that complements the kitchen, you know, since I can't hide it. It doesn't even have doors on it!
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is as pretty as it can be, makes me almost happy, and is no longer the HORRIBLE eye sore it tried to be!
You can do this so easy! Can't wait to see pictures!
I want that enormous laundry room with the three machines in a row...mine is about the size of a postage stamp :(
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're doing this. I need some inspiration! My laundry "room" is actually a closet, located between the back door (to the garage) and the 1/2 bath downstairs. It's in the back of the kitchen, and when I do laundry, there's no getting around it... clothes have to go on the kitchen floor. I HATE IT.
ReplyDeleteI need a better system or something. So yeah, looking forward to this room redo. :)
Now this could be a wonderful challenge! I can't wait to see what you do with it.
ReplyDelete~Chris
It will look great I'm sure (even if it is in the garage!)
ReplyDeleteI love all your inspiration photos, oh my! I will tell you that I think you have some competion in the 'ugly laundry room' contest though! My is horrendous and it acutally make me feel a little better that I am not the only one. ;)
ReplyDeleteblessings,
melody
However ugly it may be I must say you have it very nicely organized. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks exactly like my garage laundry area at our old home. I can't tell you how excited I was when we found our new home and I now have a good size laundry room. My husband thinks I am crazy because I have been trying to decide on paint colors and how to decorate it! They don't understand how much time we spend in there we need it to look beautiful :)
ReplyDeleteI get it Tara! The problem with laundry rooms/areas/closets is that we spend so.much.time in them.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing a picture in Cottage Living magazine a few years ago (*sniff sniff* I miss you, CL!) I decided to go a more "drastic" route with my laundry room. It has no window, so I brightened it up with the perfect shade of tangerine (yes, hubby thought I was nuts!) and accented it with aqua/turquoise -- including a chandelier. It has a beachy/vintage vibe. Which is fine, since we live 3 miles from the beach!
Though you won't find that color elsewhere in my home, the style definitely blends in. The key is finding a shade of paint that is not "neon". It took a bit of trial and error.
My point: Make it a cheerful place to be. I think your ideas are great....you could do a lot with that space pretty inexpensively!
Amy
Oh yes, girl.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, LOVE that you shared your *real* space. Totally inspired to share my fUGLY bathroom...someday...!!
I'm thinking IKEA can help with some inexpensive fabric covers and some fabulous clear bottles to put your things in!!
Hugs ~ xoxo
I just found your blog, and have to say I'm loving going through your posts! Beautiful photos and ideas.
ReplyDeleteI, too, hate my laundry "area". It's a little closet off of my kitchen - and I'm a renter, so I'm limited as to how to spruce it up. But I love seeing all of the inspiration photos, and getting little ideas for decorating it!
i too have a laundry room in the garage. i too dream of changing it. love the pics. can't wait to see what you come up with.
ReplyDeleteI do laundry in the basement of our laundry room (free!). It is cement and so ugly. So far all I have done is put in a better light. But when it warms up . . . I might be stealing some of your great ideas here. I am finally getting used to the fact that I have to go out in the cold to get there.
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Glenda
Don't despair! it´s not as hopeless as it may seem. You already have a lot of great, affordable ideas to start with. Paint or a nice sheet hung against the wall could do the trick. We'll be waiting for the progress photos.
ReplyDeleteOh, you have the same washer and dryer I have. and I'm not just trying to be funny. :) We don't own this house either and I hate that the laundry is right in the door way when you walk into the house from garage. Why would anyone build a house like that?!
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures and your ideas. My husband totally doesn't get why I like to decorate my laundry room but I'm glad to see I'm not alone.
ReplyDeletei feel your pain! i have a stacked WD in a closet, so there isn't much prettiness to look at! I love the pics you've found...can't wait to see how you transform it.
ReplyDeletea girl can dream...and did you see those curtain thingies at Morning T's...I think that is where I saw it this morning...that would look so cute around a washer and dryer. I thought of it when I read your post. I can't wait to see what you come up with either. It will be Tara...and it will be good:)
ReplyDeletexo lots
I look at my laundry room also and wonder what can I do. You have given me some inspiration. Where are the big jars from? I love that idea.
ReplyDeleteYou will make it great! I love all of the inspirational pics. I didn't realize you are in Orlando...we moved from there a few years ago. I was just out for the extravaganza in Mt Dora two weeks ago, and of course stopped by the Winter Park Farmers Market. Good luck with the "laundry room" can't wait to see it when you're finished.
ReplyDeleteShawNa
I have to admit those apothecary jars are absolutely adorable! I think I will have to find a way to make that happen! I have a stackable washer and dryer in my downstairs bathroom, we built this house when I was 20 and none the wiser to how much laundry I would actually need to store and organize, otherwise I would never have half of a bathroom and half of a laundry.....one less toilet to clean also wouldn't that had been nice.
ReplyDeleteI love your title, "The Truth Hurts." So I'll be honest: I don't get the whole cute laundry room thing. I don't like doing laundry any more in a cute room than I do in a not so cute room. And if I'm going to spend money on decorating, I want more bang for my buck than what I'd get out of a hidden room. But that's just me being honest. :)
ReplyDeleteThat x-base table...way too good looking for a laundry room people!
Oh, and I've been to France and stayed in a number of houses. The laundry room was never cute! :)
Love and hugs,
Linsey
Your inspirational pictures had me falling out of my chair! Seriously anyone of them is on my wish list! I just know you are going to whip something fantastic up in your garage!!!
ReplyDeletexo,
LuLu
Ummmmmmmmmm, pretty much, when I decorate the laundry room, will be the day that I am a billionaire : ) I have lots more improvements that need to be made instead of the laundry room. Good luck to you though. Hope you can make your laundry room in your parsonage as pretty as can be : )
ReplyDeleteP.S. Hope my comment didn't come across as mean spirited in any way, Tara. I was laughing as I wrote, not smirking...promise! If you get inspired to freshen up your laundry nook, I hope you have fun with it. Maybe a s gin that makes you laugh or smile when you see it?
ReplyDeleteXo,
Linsey
Oh sweetie... there are parts and rooms in all of our houses which need work! I know whatever you do to spiff things up will be lovely as always.
ReplyDeleteMine is worse...in the basement of our old house...down rickety stairs...into a scary little corner. It's the pits, so I'm going to gather inspiration from you. K? LOVE your family rule signs too - oh my! What wonderful reminders displayed in such a beautiful way!! Have a fabulous weekend!! xo, Tessa
ReplyDeleteI loved looking at some of your inspiration photos, but seriously, the one with THREE washers - what the heck?! They may have a beautiful laundry room, but the fact that they need three washing machines is SCARY! How many people do you think live in that house?! No thanks - I'll keep my pitiful laundry room with only ONE machine, thankyouverymuch. :-)
ReplyDeleteI did spend last weekend reorganizing my laundry room and I'm so glad I did! Good luck with yours!
If anyone can make a garage laundry room pretty...it's YOU! Can't wait to see what your brilliant mind thinks up!! =)
ReplyDeleteI say go for it,soon! If the Lord sends you elsewhere, the next pastors wife will love you.
ReplyDeleteMaybe even a sign that says, "cleanliness is next to Godliness"?
I am thankful to have never had a garage laundry room! But I have to say there is something about your photo...it has character and made me smile. All we see on blogs are the pretty laundry rooms, so yours just feels 'real'. My laundry room is the last on the list to 'beautify', but because we bought our home new it is nice already...and as big as a small bedroom. I can't help but think of all the families in third world countries whom would consider it a dream just to live in my laundry room. I have to try and keep that perspective in order to 'keep trying' to lead a simple life, to give, to remain thankful always for what I have and NOT buy more than I need.
ReplyDeleteI know you will have your laundry area looking and feeling just the way you want...we do spend so much time doing laundry that it helps to have the space be pretty and cheerful. Even adding a basket of flowers can be enough...or a vintage glass canister with a rose patterned china cup for the scooper.
Having a clean, well-organized, cheerful spot to do one's laundry is a REAL blessing. No need for it to be in a large room with the latest machines and equipment. I know many, many people who would be happy to have a washer and dryer on the premises :) (Mine happen to be stackable - of necessity - and good organization of the closet in which they're located is essential.)
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you on this matter. My laundry closet is in the kitchen behind wobbly, broken doors. Looking forward to getting inspired by your laundry garage redo!
ReplyDeleteI love laundry rooms too and would love to spice up our basement laundry area...it's on the master To Do list :)
ReplyDeleteOh I can't thank you enough for posting these! We are designing our laundry room that has to double as a down stairs guest cloakroom (powder room) and I was rather stuck! The house is around 500 years old and a former farmhouse, so modern wouldn't do neither would too formal, however a mixture between rustic country cupboards and glamorous apothecary jars would most certainly work!!!! From the bottom of my heart (and laundry basket) thank you! Warmest wishes - Glenda xxx
ReplyDelete