Updated Laundry Mud Room

It’s been a while since I’ve chatted about our laundry mud room, 2012 to be exact. I maybe mentioned I added shelving, or a pink rug, but that wasn’t a big deal.  I left the laundry room for what it was, but the more I realized our friends entered through the mudroom – the more I realize it’s a high traffic area that deserves some love – it’s like our VIP entrance.

It’s still a spot that should feel warm, inviting, and a welcome space.

Here are a few updates we did to the space this summer, I am so excited to reveal it because the new fan is what really ties in the entire space!

Update Ceiling Fan

Mint Hugger fan from Build.com (c/o) also comes in black

Always wanted to update the basic white fan that’s been up since we moved in with this adorable mint fan. I replaced all the fans in the house when I first moved in, except that one because it was the laundry room.

Our laundry room is only 8 feet tall so ceiling clearance was important – like for mattresses or large furniture. We have large deliveries that must come through the laundry room because it won’t pivot through the front since I added a gate. So that’s why there wasn’t a gate…. my bad. Old house problems.

Guess what? Benjamin and I installed it ourselves. Whenever we do a crazy hard task where you want to almost scream at your partner I always think of Amazing Race and if we were on it and how we’d have to compose ourselves and our temper on screen, haha! Sometimes I have to get my mind there when I’m so angry (not at my husband) but more at the challenge itself – screwing upside down is not easy! But, the fact that we did it means you and your partner can too.

It came with an Edison lightbulb but I changed it out since the bulb was too warm for my liking. The other side of the blades is darker so you can switch it up and it comes with a remote for speeds and turning the fan on and off, so fancy!

Removable Wallpaper

With more eyeballs seeing this room, and really our dearest, I wanted to make it prettier, so wallpaper was also on the list. Removable, like my tiny closet makeover. I went to the same gal on Etsy, Livettes Wallpaper because I loved the quality and her customer service. I found her lattice or as I would call, cane print wallpaper.

I’m pretty thrilled with it! I am now a wallpaper expert – but don’t call me to install yours. I don’t love doing it that much. *wink*

Above are my gardening books. I organize books by color – I don’t keep many books but really home decor, entertaining and gardening. The rest I often donate once I read them and I find myself always referencing my gardening books every season so they are kept in our laundry room – this custom made just for my books which makes me so happy!

Artwork + Styling Shelves

I removed everything – off the shelves and the artwork because I felt like it wasn’t flowing. What stayed was the rug and I love the color pop! I then slowly but up the rest of my colors around it – mint, soft blue, and pink and found this adorable Cactus Garden print on Minted.

Cactus Garden in brass frame 16×20 via Minted (c/o)

I moved the mirror from our living room and brought in in here and the basket from Anthro holds all my sunglasses so I can grab a pair when I head out the door. I had to narrow some down and though it was hard I knew I had to!

Mirror: Wisteria / Shelf: Anthropologie / Basket: Anthropologie / Hooks: Anthropologie (old, similar, and here) Cactus candle: Anthropologie

Oh yes no one can really beat Anthro when it comes to unique home decor. It’s my go-to and I know it’s worth every penny!

Cactus Decoration Set of 3 IKEA / White ceramic cactus: Anthropologie (on sale)

My girlfriend Amber who flips homes and owns vacation rentals – you’ve seen her guest post on this blog. She had these ceramic cactus at her latest vacation rental and I went nutso over them so I sucked up my IKEA anxiety and drove down to the store and bought them!

Custom Cabinets

Our old water heater started leaking – badly. It was almost flooding the laundry room and only baking sheet pans were small enough to fit under the leak – that makes for inability to sleep long before having to empty it out! Kinda felt like I had a newborn haha. OK I know it doesn’t compare mamas. Anyway, with my sleep all broken up to make sure we didn’t flood our laundry room, we replaced it with a tankless water heater. We don’t want to talk about how much it cost because we’re embarrassed and we know we overspent – but I think the cost included the day of replacement emergency.

Moving on, it was not pretty to look at and we decided to build another cabinet to hide it and also why not add a spot for my garden boots to be displayed! Dennis our handyman who built the other cabinets came to our rescue and created a good match!

This custom cabinet also ties in with our custom shoe drop off area – hang heels and put your flats here. Or just kick them off by the shoes since it’s more than likely our own shoes are taking up all the space! There’s more in my closet and in those cabinets, trust me!

One day when the time is right to expand, the window will be a glass door going outside. I cannot wait. But meanwhile, this update in design will hold me over for the next year or so.

A few extras behind the wall

So peek at this – the laundry room wasn’t an addition so I’m not quite sure why it looks this way. Maybe there was a wall at one point with a separate door they opened up. We added to the top some cabinet doors instead of the open air with baskets. I just thought closing it would be cleaner and the basket thing wasn’t working – it looked messy for that space and I also couldn’t find the right one!

Either way it’s fine, we work with it and we are able to use that wall for cabinetry and a few hidden extras – like putting our laundry in this area. I use the CleverMade pop up laundry baskets you have seen it before on my blog when I did a giveaway.

We also use the black and blue typical laundry bins because it’s practical – visually it’s easy for already sorting dark and light clothing.

I store the Clever Made crates on the side for when we walk out the door and know we have a need for them.

This is behind the “wall” and you can see I have an automatic mounted spray that occasionally goes off every few hours to refreshen the space (this was when we used to have bunnies in this area) and a hook for any ironing or whatever else I just need to hang up. I find it practical to put the un-pretty stuff where you can’t see it when you walk in.  Most of our guests have no idea what’s really behind the wall.

Here’s a wall mounted clothing rack I found on Amazon for $15. I use it while I iron.

Full length mirror

Because shoes are dropped off here and my home is the meeting spot for lots of outings, pairs of shoes come in and we ask for feedback on what to wear for the evening. I figured a full-length mirror – stuck on the back of the wall with command velcro strips was good enough! The $6 light weight framed mirror I picked up from our mini Target which just opened down the street. This brass one for over the door is really pretty too.

I have an update about this corner. The deep freezer is on its way out – I think it has died (I am secretly happy about this). I thought at one time we needed it but I think we started hoarding too much and if we get a new one, we’ll put it elsewhere like maybe my photo studio (behind a curtain) or if we build a garage. But excited this corner will be more open!

Seating Area

You might be familiar with this little corner. We had Dennis restrain the cabinets to make them a little darker and I added a pillow from a client of mine – Adornlee. I photographed a bit of her products for her Amazon store.

It started with a new ceiling light and wallpaper – then went into new cabinets, restain and a new theme almost, it’s like I have a new laundry room! What do you think?

See the last update here/before photos.

Resources

• Mint Hugger fan from Build.com also comes in black (c/o)
• Cactus Garden in brass frame 16×20 via Minted (c/o)
• Home Sweet Home Pillow 
• CleverMade rose print pop up laundry baskets
• Cactus Decoration Set of 3 IKEA
• White ceramic cactus: Anthropologie (on sale)
• Removable wallpaper on Etsy
• Mirror: Wisteria
• Shelf: Anthropologie
• Basket: Anthropologie
• Hooks: Anthropologie (old, similar, and here)
• Cactus candle: Anthropologie