A DIY lover has given her drab laundry room makeover with green beadboard and handy storage

The wooden paneling, rug and decor accessories make it the kind of space you'd happily hang out in

laundry room with cupboard and shelving
(Image credit: @rusticrosehomestead)

Laundry rooms are often neglected corners of our homes, lacking in natural light. But a functional room dedicated to clothes washing that we don't hate being in is a huge advantage - both in terms of property desirability and our own happiness.

Planning and designing a utility room of your own? Take inspiration from this DIY lover's creation.

before

laundry room before makeover

(Image credit: @rusticrosehomestead)

Mariah from @rustichomestead tells us that when she and her family first moved in, the laundry room was the one room she absolutely hated. 'It was so ugly, plain, and boring. It had no personality at all,' says Mariah. Hardly conducive to getting lots of laundry done.

Understandably, the utility room wasn't the number one priority in their new home, and they tackled their children's bathroom and gave their porch a makeover first.

laundry room before makeover

(Image credit: @rusticrosehomestead)

When the time came to give the laundry room a makeover, Mariah had a rough idea of what she wanted. 'I knew I wanted beadboard all the way around, I knew I wanted floating shelves, and I knew I wanted it full of wood tones, green, gold, and blacks,' she says. 

She was planning to use peel and stick tiles on the wall behind the shelving, but halfway through had a change of heart and opted for a white faux brick wall instead.

laundry room with washer, cupboards and open shelving

(Image credit: @rusticrosehomestead)

You can never have too much storage in your home, and this is 100% the case for a laundry room. Mariah found a bookshelf with glass doors which she refinished with hessian fabric. She now uses it to keep her best cleaning products, rags, and other household items neatly stored out of sight.

'I totally transformed this room on a budget, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome,' she tells us. Her DIY laundry cart, which you'll be able to spot between her washer and dryer, is made of off-cuts of wood, and keeps plastic bottles of detergent tidy.

laundry room with beadboard and open shelving

(Image credit: @rusticrosehomestead)

We love the Persian-style rug and open shelving, and the beadboard makes the space feel taller. Eyeing up that lovely green paint? It's Rosemary by @sherwinwilliams.

If you're tight on space, there are loads of small laundry room ideas to consider, including tucking your washer and dryer under your stairs or behind some wardrobe doors.

Mariah has brought her vision to life, creating a calming space that would definitely motivate us to reach the bottom of our overflowing laundry baskets.

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.