Laundry Room Update On A Budget – Using What You Have

Laundry room update on a budget? The cost of this project was under $20.00. How did I do that? Let’s get started. I want to show you how I saved money by using what I had on hand and still got the look I was going for.

This laundry room is long and narrow. 20 feet long and 7 feet wide. To start with, the space is not very big.

This space was the back of the garage in the 1950’s when the house was built. We are not sure when the additions to the  house were made but there have been several changes to the original structure. The original garage was changed to a washroom and family room. The family room is 400 square feet. That will be the last room to get a makeover. And I am guessing that will be several months down the road.

The color is 70’s color but hubby actually chose those colors in 2008, harvest gold and avocado green. At that time, we worked at the prison and there was a carpentry class at the unit. That has absolutely nothing to do with the color choice. It has to do with the cabinet doors. We supplied the lumber and the inmates built our cabinet doors. 16 of them!!!

Step 1: Paint the Walls

What color?

Because the laundry room is just off of the kitchen, I decided to use the same light gray paint for the walls: Kelly Moore “Mud Pots”. There was enough of that paint left from the Kitchen Renovation. That saved almost $30.00.

Baby bird and his lady have been hard at work on my many painting projects. It helps them and it helps me. And, of course, it has taken longer than we thought. But this project hasn’t cost more than we thought.

Side note: The bathroom demo and remodel is going on at the same time. It is also taking longer than we thought. And it IS costing more than we thought. But it is coming along. Did you notice that the bathroom is the same color as the laundry room? The tile is from way back there in the last century. The walls were re-textured and painted in 2008 to look old world or Tuscan.

Step 2: Remove the Cabinet Doors.

Removing the doors make it so much faster and easier.

They started off painting the cabinet doors with them hanging in place. It was way too awkward and messy. I had them number the doors on the top so they would go back to their original spots.

Step 3: Remove the Hinges and Handles.

I did not want to buy new hardware. I used the ones that I already had.

By not buying new hardware that saved around $150.00. Rust-oleum Hammered Silver was used to spray the hinges and handles. The hinges work fine because I didn’t spray them too heavily.

And I already had that paint in my stash of STUFF. If you are buying it, it is around $7.00.

It works better if you paint the back side of the hinges and then the front just in case it sticks in the over-spray. Don’t lose the screws!

Step 4: Paint the Screws to Match

This looks so much nicer, especially if you are using what you already have instead of buying new.

Floral foam is a great way to control the screws to paint them. I just poked them in place and gave them a little coat of spray being careful not to get too much into the screw holes. Viola!

Step 5: Reattach the Hinges and Handles to the Doors

Attach the hinges to the doors first. Then, add the handles.

It’s easier this way. Lay them on a table or workbench and you will have the support or resistance to make that job much simpler. A battery powered screwdriver helps, too. Make sure the paint is dry. 24 hours is good. 48 hours is better.

The paint for the cabinets is a not quite white and not quite gray, semi-gloss interior latex.

We are so close to being finished. Just a few more finishing touches.

Step 7: Re-hang the Doors

The hinges were already on and the doors were numbered.

Guitar Man stepped in or stepped up and put the doors back on. He is tall but still needs to use a step ladder for this. There are three full-size doors that are hiding an OH-SO-CLUTTERED mess of STUFF! But, that is for another time and another post.

I have talked before about the fact that old house projects and sin are a lot alike.

1. It takes you further than you wanted to go
2. Keeps you longer than you wanted to stay
3. Costs you much more than you thought it would

This morning I was chatting with the Demo Dude and told him, “I have been thinking about the sin and construction thing. If that is true then the opposite has to be true also.”

As I thought about the negative I knew I also needed to think about the positive. After all, we are still in the “Think Differently” Bible Study.

Yeshua said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

ABUNDANTLY: exceeding some number or measure or rank or need (Strong’s Concordance Greek definition)

1. over and above, more than is necessary, superadded
2. exceeding abundantly, supremely
3. something further, more, much more than all, more plainly

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20

My conclusion: Old house remodeling and walking with Him –

1. Takes you further than you ever dreamed possible!!!
2. Teaches you so much along the way, in the process!!!
3. The rewards are so much more than we could ever imagine!!!

Please, come back to see the reveal in a few days (at least, I hope it’s just a few days).

’til next time,

Nathalie