Laundry makeover: clean and fresh

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This laundry is also an entrance way to the owner’s home, and was looking a bit worse for wear and unwelcoming. We brightened it up with a few clever touches.

Before
Timber veneer panels lined the walls and cupboards in the original laundry, making the space look both dated and dark. The washer and dryer were simply stacked alongside the bench, and the space felt unwelcoming.

Six steps to a bright and fresh new laundry
Our laundry makeover looks amazing, yet was surprisingly easy to achieve.

1. The first thing to go was the timber panelling. Because of the age of the glue on the wall, each sheet was easily removed using a pry bar.

2. Dampness in the room had caused the MDF cupboard doors to decay, but the carcasses, door hinges and drawers were in good shape. White laminate panels of the same size were made (for around $250) to replace the drawer fronts, cupboard doors and the panel alongside the washer and dryer. The old hinges were re-fitted, and new handles were added.

3. The small strip of tiles above the sink was removed and a smart-looking piece of white-float glass (around $300) was glued against the wall. A diagram showing tap outlets was drawn up so that the glaziers could cut out holes to fit over the pipes; great care had to be taken when re-fitting the bodies of the taps.

4. The walls were sanded back to remove any rough patches then a sealer undercoat was applied, prior to the whole room being painted in Aalto Colour Semi Gloss Acrylic in Gallery White.

5. To enclose the washer and dryer, a floor-to-ceiling strip panel was installed, and a shelf was added to store the laundry basket. To further neaten up the space and conceal appliances, a simple Ikea roller blind was attached to the side.

6. A new stainless steel shelf was fitted and the bench-top was cleaned with White Knight Tile and Laminate Cleaner before being coated with White Knight Tile and Laminate Primer and a lick of White Knight Laminate Paint.

Making space
A good laundry, or laundry corner, should be well thought out to maximise what is often a small space.

• Not all of us have the luxury of a self-contained laundry, and may need to squeeze washing machines and dryers into bathroom or hallway corners and niches. In these circumstances, blinds or curtains are an inexpensive way to hide appliances from sight.
• Alternatively, you could consider getting a cupboard custom-made for your appliances or, if space is really at a premium, investing in a unit that combines a washer and dryer in one.
• If you’re starting afresh with a laundry design, consider the location of your washer and dryer – ideally they should be next to or on top of one another, enabling clothes to easily be transferred.
• Consider investing in a front-loading washer, as this will mean you can mount your dryer directly above, saving on space.
• It’s also handy to install a drying rack close to your washer, so that clothes that can’t go in the dryer can be quickly hung out.

Styling: Alexia Biggs. Photography: Scott Hawkins