Before and After: An “Eyesore” Laundry Room Gets a Luxurious Yet Practical Redo
Even if you’re lucky enough to have a laundry room in your home, it’s probably not a place you hang out in any more than you have to. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with the decor in there — especially if it helps make the space more functional.
Designer Wandra Cain (@wcainteriors) has the perfect inspo project. Wandra started with a laundry room that was purely utilitarian: gray walls, beige tile floors, a few white cabinets, and exposed plumbing. That last piece is what irked her the most. “My main thing that I did not like was the plumbing being a big eyesore,” Wandra says.
Wandra decided to cover that up and give the whole laundry room an elevated new look as part of the Spring 2023 One Room Challenge. She completed her floor-to-ceiling redo in eight weeks.
The biggest change? Covering all that old gray paint with wallpaper in an elegant botanical print (it’s from Milton & King). Wandra complemented the luxurious wallpaper with a flooring update, choosing a Carrera marble-patterned vinyl tile from TrafficMaster. The material was easy to install and is easy to clean, too.
While the cabinets are the same, they have a fresh look thanks to new statement-making hardware that mimics the look of a tree branch. Wandra added even more storage in two places: the corner, where she tucked a tall cabinet, and in the form of a stylish new vanity to replace the old wall-mount sink.
To cover her least favorite eyesore, Wandra created a custom wood shelf for the space over her washer and dryer. It covers up the plumbing (but still leaves it accessible if needed) and serves as a spot to iron and fold laundry, too.
Wandra went all-in with the luxe finishing touches, which include a glam gold overhead light, artwork, and even an upholstered bench, with her total cost coming in at $3,000. It’s all part of her lesson that any space can be a beautiful one as long as it works for you. “Think about what is important to you and your family,” Wandra says. “It doesn’t have to be a big space to have a big style and functionality.”
This project was completed for the Spring 2022 One Room Challenge, in partnership with Apartment Therapy. See even more of the One Room Challenge before and afters here.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.