Laundry & pantry!! Help!!

Question

As I'm finishing up my kitchen I am now ready to work on my laundry/pantry. I have a lot of cabinet space in the kitchen to wear I don't have to use the pantry for food but I actually would like to. I have to get rid of the wallpaper, and the flooring immediately! My fiancé bought me a beautiful brand new washer and dryer and I want to make the laundry room look as good as the machines. Any suggestions on colors ideas I am open to anything but this will be a lot of DIY because my fiancé really doesn't want to add this to the remodel budget!!

Nancy at Craft Your Happiness · Answer

Oh wow! You could transform that into a little oasis that you would LOVE going into to do laundry. I'd hit Pinterest for ideas. That's where I get ALL my inspiration. Here is a link I found on there that shows several different makeovers that are pretty nice! http://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/08/home-sweet-home-budget-great-laundry-rooms/

Debi53 · Answer

You are so fortunate to have such a great space. You can paint over wallpaper, but removing it is not hard just time consuming (unless it is glued to unpainted sheetrock). I would paint it a color that coordinates with your kitchen--not necessarily the same color, but one of your accent colors. This is an area to have fun with. Wash your louvered doors (& all wood) with tsp & then spray paint the doors--use spray primer first. If you do the doors first, you can spray them in place & then do your walls, flloor, & trim. Your overspray from the doors will be covered up by the rest of your paint. Paint all the wood white like your other door. It looks like you have room to put up a hanging rod across from your hutch. Install a long shelf with a rod below it. This can be a DIY project or you can purchase a closet shelf/rod at Lowe's. Our Peaceful Planet is right, hit Pinterest & Houzz for great ideas.

Colleen · Answer

Would not reccomend painting over wallpaper. Take the time to do it right and remove the paper and glue as much as possible. After removeing a lot of walpaper in my time, I would never hang walpaper. As for your new washer and dryer, if they don't come with a stand, then build one, your back will thank you ( those few inches off the floor will do wonders for your back. If your tall then you'll like the upper cabinets, if not, then remove them and decorate. You have a great space to work with. Keep us posted as to what you do.

Linda Z. · Answer

I would definitely NOT paint over wallpaper. I had it  done professionally  it and it didn't turn out well. I'd recommend easy access for your ironing board. I use decorative jars on our counters for detergent pods, etc. I have a retractable close line hidden in a cupboard. Plenty of cupboard space for storage.  We put a lot of effort into our LR and 37 years later I still love it. Sara Richardson did a beautiful LR on HGTV. We spend a lot of time doing laundry. that room should be as beautiful as the rest of our homes.

Vicki · Answer

use warm water in a spray bottle with some dish liquid,this helps water stay on wall.spray wall .wait 1/2 hour spray again...paper shud just fall off..if not spray 3rd time...wots the sayn...do it once do it right...

Janis Gibson · Answer

I found a lot of laundry room ideas on Pinterest that I've saved. When we build our new place (downsizing) I want to make that 'necessary' room as nice and useful as possible. IMO I'd have open shelving as it just makes me keep things nicer looking vs just jamming stuff in. I'd have a folding step stool hung on the wall out of the way to get stuff down (I'm short!). A counter installed over your appliances or a flat surface laid atop at least to fold on. Perhaps color coded bins for each family member to carry their folded items to their rooms? A beautiful 'chandelier' of some sort to just make it pretty and a unique feature. Doesn't have to be new - go to a thrift store and restore a discard. As far as color, I'd pick a 'pop of color' complementary from a nearby room to carry into your laundry. It (your laundry room) will be unique and fun! Good luck and post pics!

Victoria Kern · Answer

1)Remove Wallpaper, 2)Paint.get rid of that big hutch thing and downsize to a metal shelf for panty items(organize with Bins from dollar store). 3)Add some Floating shelves  on wall for decor to spruce up room.

Gail · Answer

As per everyone else's suggestion, strip the wallpaper.  I don't see any windows so keep it bright.  I don't think you NEED to get rid of the Hutch.  Redo it in a shabby chic white and the bifold door in white. Take two drawers out of the Hutch and install a pull out table to fold clothes.  You can either tile or install laminate flooring right over what's down there. I've redone my kitchen cabinets in white by priming them with something like Bullsey eand then painting.  That way you don't have to sand anything. So you can do that with either the cabinets, Hutch or both. It sounds like a lot, but it's pretty inexpensive and easy, except for the flooring and you can get some very cheaply if you look.

KatAych · Answer

Ditto to above. I would definitely paint the hutch you're using as a pantry. And here are a few ideas for the cabinets above the washer/dryer:
1) paint them
2) remove the doors, apply wallpaper/contact paper/paint to the back walls
3) remove them entirely
4) remove them and use open shelving or bookshelves instead

Linda Z. · Answer

I'd keep the doors on the closet. The closet is a great place to store bulky items out of sight E.G. the vacuum, ironing board, perhaps even a shelving unit for laundry baskets. I'd keep the hutch (great storage) and doors and paint them white. I'd position the Washer & Dryer alongside each other if possible, Neatness & organization are essential. Store like things together. Whatever you do make the room pretty & timeless. You will be spending a great deal of time in there for years We made a very pretty laundry room in our home 35 years ago. After all these years I still love it and never mind spending time in that room. Yes to striping the wallpaper, paint a light color that you love and hang a pretty light fixture. Have fun & good luck.

Karen Chalmers · Answer

Have you finished the laundry room update yet?...if not I would suggest... 
 1.)strip the wallpaper & paint light soft shade [re wallpaper if you find something you like ] 
 2.)paint the pantry hutch a light glossy grey or white & with something that will wipe down easy) 
 3.)The water heater shutter doors & trim all around the room white & the cupboards above the laundry machine & dryers also in a light grey 
 4.)move the vacuum to be stored beside the window...& from the window frame 
 add a drop down flat dry rack& hang bars across window area [so as only cover the window when somethin g is drying or hanging ] 
 5.)face washing machine same direction as dryer faces & place a metal narrow shelf (like kitchen rack) between & use for storage.. 
 my first choice for colours depends on what style of décor you like...but a lot of people do not like greys & blues for laundry [I do & since you have a window there it should look bright& light add inspirational plaque or sayings..in bright cheerful colours

Eroque022810 · Answer

Paint over wall paper just make sure to use good primer. The floor looks like it's in great condition I would leave it alone and paint cabinet over machine  medium grey  and the walls dove grey. I would ditch the hutch and buy metal shelving that you can find in target or any store just check weight each shelf can hold. I would get them in silver finish.  Replacing doors to utility room is easy and cheap, go with white. You are so fortunate to have the space, so make it your way.

Connie · Answer

I have started the laundry room remodel!! Thanks so much for your advice everyone. I kept putting it off, but the hot water heater busted and caused me to get new floors and my cousins came by and painted over the wallpaper and I love it.

Deanna Nassar · Answer

I might paint, it can be done over wallpaper. add small table for folding laundry, I like idea of baskets for each family member to pick up laundry. Even better are they old enough to do their own? small cabinet to store the vacuum, brooms, mops etc. in the corner next to window. Use cabinets for paper products storage. seldom used linens. If you see canned food or anything that you use a lot. Store on shelves until needed.

Irene Gronewald · Answer

i would remove wall paper paint walls i would paint floor with porch n floor paint and buy the 'paint fleck' ..and sprinkle that on floor giving it granite look...these colors can be any you choose...i would then paint cabinets and dresserthe same color as appliances or contrasting color....to say beige or grey..is so usual...but ..it is a laundry room...

Eroque022810 · Answer

Well I hope you can paint over the open one because I was going to suggest that you get read of it and just put in wire shelves.. since you don't need it now do in future. First measure the transfer that onto grateful paper and then decide what you want to keep in there and now with that window you need to keep the sun out of that room so that canned goods stay fresh. You may have to get white cabinets so that they have doors. Where ever those shutters are clean up to see if they lighten up a bit but if for window make sure you just put them back up.

Loretta · Answer

I like the idea of the white or cream color for the bi fold doors, to store the vacuum and shampooer, etc. is the hutch gone now? Not sure what is the current status, but love the work done so far! Roman shade for the window! Pretty light fixture as well. Table for foldifng clothes, wire shelving for laundry baskets or a cabinet for that and paper goods, etc. white or cream color. Some,cute home made signs that say something that will make you smile when you go in. The whole farmhouse rustic thing makes it easy to do yourself these days. Maybe you also add a 'towel bar' in the rustic style of pipes for hanging up clothes???? Can be any color as well. Easy to make. If you look at laundry room makeovers on this site, one woman with five kids made a fantastic room with drying racks for her daughters sweaters, that were like drawers, had an exhaust fan and everything!! Something for the future maybe, but it really was great!

Laundry & pantry!! Help!!

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Laundry & pantry!! Help!!

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