We’ve spent the last few weeks giving our narrow laundry room a long-overdue makeover, and it’s finally starting to feel like the space we always believed it could be. What used to be a cramped, overlooked corner of the house is now a bright, functional room that makes laundry feel far less like a chore.
The space has an odd little history. Built in the 1960s as a tiny utility porch, it was later enclosed and converted into a laundry room. When we bought the house in 2017, we painted the walls and put down peel-and-stick tile and called it “good enough.” Years later, it still felt like a missed opportunity.
After giving the layout some serious thought and sketching out a narrow laundry room plan, everything started to click. Removing the oddly placed cabinets and rearranging the storage unlocked the room’s potential. The result is a more efficient, attractive laundry room layout that makes the most of every inch.
It’s almost hard to believe this is the same room.
Maximizing Every Inch
We demoed the room down to the studs and, instead of traditional drywall, installed beadboard panels. That choice gave us a few extra inches and saved the time and mess of drywall mudding. The beadboard also adds classic character that suits the vintage-inspired look we were aiming for.
To make the new layout work we relocated plumbing and electrical—an investment that ran a few thousand dollars. One positive outcome: our outdated electrical panel was replaced with a sleek white panel with a clear window. Tucking a small potted tree in front of it helps it blend into the room while keeping it accessible and safe.
From that point on, we handled the bulk of this narrow laundry room makeover ourselves, embracing DIY solutions and smart storage choices.
Now we have:
- Five wall cabinets
- One floor-to-ceiling cabinet
- Three lower cabinets
- A butcher block countertop
That’s more storage than we’ve ever had in this space, and it’s already making a difference. I plan to add a removable countertop over the front-loading washer and dryer so we can fold clothes easily while keeping hookups accessible when needed.
After researching reliable machines, we opted for a front-loading washer and dryer pair that ranked highly with consumer reviewers. I wasn’t sure I wanted to switch back to front-loaders, but the performance and efficiency won me over.
We also added a recessed folding ironing board cabinet and a wall-mounted drying rack to expand the room’s functionality without sacrificing storage.
Next on the list: building a sliding broom cupboard and creating a slim nook for a folding footstool so we can easily reach the upper cabinets. Small details like that make a big difference in a narrow laundry room layout.
The IKEA Cabinet Solution
For cabinetry we chose IKEA Sektion units with Bodbyn off-white doors. To prevent the room from feeling closed in, I selected glass-front upper cabinets. The glass reflects light and visually expands the narrow space, creating an airy, open feel.
One lower door was out of stock during installation, so I temporarily hung a ticking stripe café curtain as a cabinet skirt. The casual, vintage charm grew on me, and I’m seriously considering keeping it as a design element rather than replacing it.
Flooring That Lasts
We installed luxury vinyl plank flooring in an Olympia Oak finish. It’s waterproof and scratch-resistant—ideal for a busy laundry room that needs to withstand spills, pet splashes, and heavy foot traffic.
LVP remains one of our favorite DIY projects because it’s straightforward to install and gives a durable, attractive surface that stands up to everyday life. Our dog can splash her water bowl, and the floor still looks great.
Finishing Touches Still to Come
The room isn’t 100% finished. I’m planning to hang some laundry-themed art and am considering gathered fabric behind the glass cabinet doors to add a pop of color and a vintage vibe while hiding stored items. Even so, the transformation so far has been dramatic.
What used to be a catchall for clutter is now a hardworking laundry room layout that actually makes me want to keep up with laundry—well, almost.
Sources
Items used in this laundry room include IKEA Sektion cabinets with Bodbyn off-white doors, glass-front uppers, a butcher block countertop, luxury vinyl plank flooring in Olympia Oak, a wall-mounted drying rack, an inset folding ironing board cabinet, a ticking stripe café curtain used as a cabinet skirt, cabinet hardware in brass finishes, a compact potted indoor tree, and practical accessories like laundry baskets, detergent jars, and a small lamp.
Catch Up on Our Laundry Room Progress
If you’ve missed the earlier updates, there are posts documenting our planning process, space-saving ideas, and how we used the space between wall studs for extra storage. The project has been a step-by-step evolution from a cramped utility space to a functional, stylish room.
This makeover has come a long way, and I can’t wait to share the final reveal soon.
