{Day 3: Lovely Laundry}

A few elements I would use to make my laundry room prettier...

1. This colorful rug would be perfect in front of the washer & dryer; I would also purchase the same print in a smaller size for the area between the two doors. Even though it means the pattern will be going in the opposite direction, it's best to keep the same pattern. Especially since I have plans to introduce more color and pattern elsewhere in this space. 

The runner is 2'3 x 7'6 and smaller rug is 1'9 by 3'9. Both are from Home Decorator's Collection and would ship free until 10/22. The total cost for BOTH rugs then is only $68. Partly because of the material, which is a synthetic suitable for outdoor use. Perfect for a laundry room!

2. On the window, I would hang a fabric shade with this fun pattern from Fabric.com. It's a small window so I don't think I would need more than a yard--unless I decided to make a few pillows for the bench. It costs $7.48 per yard. I think it coordinates nicely with the rug and the kids' art.

3. I would add a counter to the top of the washer & dryer. I'm quite sure that I saw a marble one (imitation, for sure!) at IKEA the last time I was there. It's not available on the website, but I did find this plain jane white substitute for only $39.

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 4. I am enamored with this photo of a laundry room from Southern Living. I think it would be pretty easy to replicate the "legs" underneath the counter and would make the whole thing look custom-made. It also leads me to wonder about paint...

5. Besides painting the walls, we can change the look of our laundry room/mudroom by painting the cabinets above the washer & dryer and paint the steel door to the garage. Sherwin Williams is running a 40% off promo right now so this might be a good time to make some changes!

Jones Design Company

Choosing the right color tends to stump me, though. I don't want anything too colorful since we've already got loads of color with the rug, window treatment, and kids' art. I love the white used in the mudroom above, but I know that we're going to get scuff marks and I don't relish the idea of lots of touch-ups. (I do really love the beadboard they've used on the lower part of the wall here, though. Brilliant!)

The Mindful Nest

Another fun idea to copy would be this chalkboard wall. It would be awesome for leaving little notes to each other. I also like that they have so much other color going on in their room.

  

6. To light it up, I would switch out the contractor-grade light fixtures we currently have with something new. There are two in the space currently--one near the washer and dryer and the other between the two doors. 

For the light near the washer & dryer, I want something more practical and utilitarian so I can see what I'm doing as I pre-treat, fold, and iron our clothes.

CB2 Firefly Pendant

This cute pendant from CB2 would be the right mix of whimsy and function. It costs $199.

For the space between the doors, though, I propose installing a crystal chandelier for some bling.

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There is a wonderful looking little florist/coffee shop/candy store near our house (in a purple building, no less) that has a few of these hanging from the ceiling. I gush over them all the time and the owner told me a secret. They're from Home Depot; and so is my little beauty above. Best of all: it costs only $99.97. 

I think the curvy lines echo nicely the patterns and swirls in the rug and window treatment, and why not make the laundry room/mudroom pretty? I'm going to be spending at least another 12 years in this room washing leotards and baseball jerseys--and I couldn't be happier about it!

Do you think that laundry rooms and/or mudrooms are the next big thing to renovate (like kitchens and bathrooms were in the last decade)? I definitely think I sense a trend toward it. Let me know in the comments section what you think!