Our freshly painted laundry room feels bright and cheerful—so much so that it makes me want to sing and dance. I started by repainting all the trim with an off-the-shelf Olympic No-VOC semi-gloss white and painted the brown quarter round near the baseboards so it would blend with the trim. I applied three thin coats of Olympic No-VOC (no primer), the same method I used successfully in the living room a few months back. For the walls, we chose the leftover paint from the adjoining kitchen to brighten the space and visually connect the two rooms, since you can see the kitchen from the laundry room side door.
Because the laundry room is small, we didn’t want a different color to interrupt the flow or make it feel smaller. We may add a subtle stencil or another paint treatment later if we want more personality, but once we add window treatments, a new light fixture, and storage and art, we might skip it to avoid overwhelming the space. For now, we’re holding off on any stripes or stencils.
The color is Sesame 381 by Benjamin Moore, color-matched to Olympic No-VOC semi-gloss. Our laundry room gets some natural light via a door and a window that face the carport, so the artichoke-like grellow (green + yellow) reads a touch brighter and slightly more yellow than it does in the kitchen. The result is incredibly cheerful.
- It’s a bit brighter in this space.
- It reads a little more yellow than in the kitchen.
- It’s delightfully cheerful.
Who doesn’t love a happy laundry nook? As soon as I started cutting in, I knew the color would wake up the whole room.
When we moved in, the space looked dated and muted. Now it has a lively splash of color and a few other updates that we’ve made along the way. One practical change: we placed a thick piece of plywood under the stacked appliances to stabilize them, which can help their longevity. I painted the board white so it’ll blend in when we add shelving on that side.
Some photos make the paint look more neon or “booger-ish” than it is in real life. In person it’s not neon and definitely not unpleasant—more like liquid sunshine. We felt confident choosing a bold color here for a few reasons:
- We’ll add plenty of white shelving to tone the color down, along with the white washer and dryer.
- The window, glass door, and an open doorway to the kitchen break up the color and bring in light.
- When we install wood flooring, the overall look will feel even more subdued and balanced.
That metallic fuse box cover was an eyesore before. We simply rolled on a few thin, even coats of paint right over it—no primer. We used the same trick in our last house and it held up well for years. Metal takes thin coats of paint nicely, so apply several thin layers rather than thick, gloopy ones. Also, open and close the box between coats to make sure the hinge isn’t getting gummed up with paint. Thin, even coats are key.
Total spent for this phase of the makeover: practically $0, since we used leftover trim and wall paint from the kitchen. We did pick up a pack of rollers for about $8. We still plan to add a lot of function and style—shelving, art, a new light fixture—so that painted fuse box won’t be the final focal point. We’ll share updates as we make them.
Current to-do list:
Paint the odd brown quarter round near the baseboards glossy whiteRedo all the dinged-up trim in semi-gloss whitePaint the walls- Replace the dryer hose with a safer all-metal one
- Add adjustable built-in shelving in the nook next to the stacked washer and dryer (the room is only 3.5′ wide, so we can’t unstack)
- Replace hinges and knobs on the upper cabinetry
- Install a new light fixture—maybe DIY a small chandelier
- Add a window treatment, possibly homemade
- Add functional storage near the door for shoes, a pet leash, etc.
- Hang art to keep the room cheerful and visually disguise the fuse box
The crisp white trim looks great paired with the warm greeny-gold walls—this photo captures the color accurately. It’s a little lighter in person but definitely has that yellow-with-a-hint-of-green tone, like an artichoke heart.
Suddenly I actually feel like doing laundry. Weird.
P.S. Thanks for the sweet comments about my haircut recently. You were all very kind—maybe too kind. Stylists really do have a way of making hair look unbeatable, and I appreciate the compliments even if I’ll never replicate the look at home. Seriously though, thank you.