Project Laundry Room
If you remember, I decided to take a crack at the 28 Day Organization Challenge. I joined a bit late, but I was somehow able to accomplish it! Here are the very embarrassing before photos of our laundry room:
The room had become a HUGE catch-all space. Storage items always seemed to find there way into the space, as did some other things that didn’t belong. If it’s hard to tell what is in the before photos, here is a quick break down. First, a workout bike took up a bunch of space. This actually belongs in the room when it’s not in use in the adjacent family room. Second, items that actually belong in the kitchen that are hanging out until our kitchen is done. Third, a desk and table that never get used. And that big brown thing? It’s our broken foot board from our master bedroom.
Here are the afters:
I decided to go with the flow… this room seemed to want to be a storage space, so why fight it? I purchased two shelves, and put everything on them. Luckily I already had a few fabric cubes and two fun bags that could store loose items. The top shelves are now holding all the things that will return to the kitchen. The white wicker chest of drawers in the corner keeps linens inside.
The second shot shows the wall where the bike can now easily come in and out of the room. And now that there is a place to store extra laundry supplies, the chest of drawers near the washer has a much neater top.
The desk, table, and the foot board have been moved to the basement where the long term storage is. The foot board will be re-purposed when we rebuild our bed frame which is why we are holding on to it. My husband wanted to keep the other two items because he has a future use for them (or so he promises, lol). It’s amazing the difference this transformation makes! With more space and no clutter to contend with, I may actually find myself wanting to do laundry! 
Edit: I just saw a post that said we need to answer these questions for the Organization Challenge (there are prizes as stake)! So here we go, though this is mostly covered above, I want to make sure I don’t disqualify myself.
1. What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and were you able to overcome it? The hardest part was figuring out what to do with the space. It had been so many things, and kept getting cluttered. We have had many ideas for the space in the past as well, but I overcame the challenge by giving in. I decided to just go with the flow and let it be a storage space, since that is what ended up happening all the time anyway.
2. Tell us what kind of changes/habits you have put into place in order for your area/room to maintain its new order? Now that I have actual places to store items, being able to put things away and keep it in order is going to be easy. The main problem before was everything ended up on the floor, or piled on one table. Now everything has a place to be.
3. What did you do with the “stuff” you were able to purge out of your newly organized space? What could be donated went to a local charity. The bigger items were taken to our basement for long term storage, and future use. The bike, which was taking up most of the space, comes in and out of the room when not in use in the adjacent family room.
4. What creative storage solutions were you able to introduce in order to create additional space as well as establish some limits and boundaries? I purchased two storage shelves, and everything else were things we already had. I was lucky enough to have two fabric cubes, and two fun totes to use as storage. The cubes hold painting supplies and soap making molds. One tote holds gift bags, while the other holds more crafting items. The chest of drawers in the corner holds extra linens, while the one next to the laundry holds household items like hammers, as well as laundry related items.
5. Why do you think you should win this challenge? It was a big challenge, with a lot to do. Though I would love to win, I feel like I have won already just by getting this space done!
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Themocracy
Really well done. I agree, we all need storage. The key is just making the storage work. And you did that!
Thanks Molly!
You did a great job on this room.
Thank you Rana, it was a lot to do!
I love this. I actually had a dream that I walked in to our laundry room and my husband had cleaned it out and organized it and I actually wept from joy! I agree–whether you win the contest or not, you have a space a professional would envy. Congratulations!
Oh, I’m so jealous! I wish my laundry room looked like that. Then I might feel like doing laundry…maybe.
This looks great! I love your wicker pieces.
You did a great job! And what a nice size laundry room.
That is one HUGE laundry room! You did a fantastic job. Good for you!
Nice work! I love that you can see like things together on the shelves. Good luck!
What a great space, it’s like adding a new room to your house, great job!