As much as we love our new built-in shelves in the laundry room, they interfered with our previous ironing board storage system — the one that clanged every time the washer spun. Clearly the ironing board needed a new home. We briefly considered building a cubby inside the built-ins, but wanted to keep maximum space for baskets and bins. We also thought about stashing it in a closet elsewhere, but it felt like it belonged in the laundry room — just not looking worn-out and ugly.
Those dark streaks on the old cover? They were residue from Sherry’s frequently used no-sew hem tape. An earlier, more fun cover was ripped beyond repair too. Sherry considered sewing a new cover out of guilt, but after browsing Etsy for inspiration she fell for a handmade cover with fabric she couldn’t find locally. Twenty-four dollars later we had a much nicer-looking ironing board that she’s now proud to display. I even get some husband points for letting her choose pink — it actually looks great against the grellow walls.
Leaning it against the wall wasn’t an acceptable storage solution. We wanted to hang it. We toyed with a pulley system so it could fold out for in-room ironing, but the laundry room is very narrow, so we decided to hang it on the wall for storage and keep it removable when we need to iron in a more spacious room. The wall opposite the door was ideal; it also helped cover two painted-over fuse boxes.
Instead of buying a typical ironing-board hook with an iron slot (we didn’t want to display our plain iron or risk bumping into it), we repurposed two jumbo coat hooks from Lowe’s. We installed them with long wood screws into studs to ensure a strong, safe hold and to avoid wiring near the fuse box.
The hooks fit the board’s wide bar and passed the all-important TWT (The Wife Test). We did debate which direction to hang the board: Sherry preferred it pointing up, while I preferred the opposite. Ultimately we placed it so it covered the fuse box, and also positioned it far enough from the appliances to avoid being banged when the washer or dryer door opens.
While working on this, we also updated the cabinet doors we inherited. The off-white doors clashed with the fresh white trim and had boring hardware, so we removed the doors, knobs, and hinges and prepped them for paint. After a coat of no-VOC primer and two thin coats of white semi-gloss paint, we swapped out the old eyeball knobs and brass hinges for pink glass knobs and brushed nickel hinges. The new knobs were inexpensive and on sale, and the updated hardware instantly modernized the cabinets.
With primer and paint dry and the new hardware installed, the cabinets were back in service within a couple of days. It’s a small change, but those little tweaks can make a big difference. Sherry says the pink knobs remind her of pink champagne — fancy, even if she’s never actually had any. Behind the doors sits typical junk: a drill, paint supplies, seldom-used laundry items, bungee cords, and some saws.
Here’s our updated laundry room to-do list:
- Get a new light fixture — maybe DIY a small chandelier
- Add a window treatment (still debating if it will crowd the space)
- Add functional storage near the door for shoes, Burger’s leash, etc.
- Hang art to keep the room cheerful
We’re still undecided about a window treatment since the window doesn’t present a privacy issue and it sits close to the built-ins. We plan to pick a light fixture first, then make the call on window coverings.
What about you? Any small projects on your weekend to-do list like swapping hardware, a coat of paint, or finally organizing a junk cabinet? Has anyone fallen a little too hard for an ironing board cover? If you’ve got tips or recent wins, we’d love to hear them.
Psst — We announced this week’s giveaway winner this week. And to jog your memory, so far we’ve replaced the washer and dryer, removed shutters and shelves, frosted the door, filled ceiling cracks, painted the room, and added built-ins.