Steal This Look: The Clean White Laundry Room
Don’t judge me by what I’m about to tell you, but when I painted my apartment white last winter, I just slopped the paint over existing dirt and dust. It felt criminal, but the act was a genuine two-for-one: a painting and spring cleaning combo. (I should also tell you that my apartment already had 20-plus layers of paint, no doubt lead- and VOC-ridden, and I’m pretty sure other slapdash painters before me had allowed their own dirt to fossilize in the walls.)
I know it’s been said before, but it’s so true: A fresh coat of white paint does wonders for a room. Take this European laundry room; entirely white, it has affordable, customized storage solutions and an overall design that’s accessible and replicable. Here are all the key elements needed to re-create the clean-slate look.
Above: White walls and polished concrete floors serve as the backdrop for the all-white laundry room. Photograph via Living in Designland.
The Basics
Above: Ikea’s Sektion Base Cabinet, $183, is part of the new Sektion series of kitchen cabinet components, which includes overhead shelving that can be used for creating a companion wall-hung setup. Ikea’s in-store advisers can help you devise a customized plan for your space.
Above: The Vola KV1 Single-Handled Faucet with a double swivel spout is $1,224 directly through Vola. For more can’t-go-wrong faucet options, see our 10 Easy Pieces post: Editors’ Favorite Kitchen Faucets.
Above: The Miele European Standard Capacity Washer can be stacked or placed side by side (as shown). It’s available only in white; $1,999.97. It partners with the Miele Decor Electric Condenser Dryer, which offers 3.9 cubic feet of ventless drying, flat controls, and a cabinet door panel; $1,999.97, both at Karl’s Appliance. For more options, see our post Little Giants: Compact Washers and Dryers.
Above: The Drake Cord Hung Pendant Lamp is available in a variety of shade colors and customizable features (wire cage, wattage, cord color), starting at $109 from Barn Light Electric.
Above: A smart solution for finishing a basic folding table? Paint it white. The Flash Furniture’s Rectangular Wood Folding Table is 60 inches long and 30 inches wide; $119.99 at Amazon.
The Accessories
Above: The White Ceramic Soap Dish is $13 from the White Company in London. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Best White Soap Dishes.
Above: The Sac à Linge Canvas is a white-painted canvas laundry bag that I own and love. The white paint gives the laundry bag more structure than your average canvas bag and there’s a removable cotton lining; €69 ($78 USD) from Lili’s in France.
Above: Uchino’s Citron Gauze Towels range from $15 to $110 at ABC Carpet & Home.
Above: A longstanding Remodelista favorite, Ikea’s Sockerärt Vase is made of enameled steel and can be used as a pitcher or vase; $9.99 for the six-inch-tall size, $14.99 for the 12-inch size.
Above: Cotton Rope Baskets handmade by Mary Marie Knits on Etsy; $48 for the small, $78 for the medium, and $118 for the large.
Above: The Heritage Hill Glass Jar with Lid works well for storing powdered laundry detergent or clothespins; $12.95 from Crate & Barrel.
Above: Ikea’s Fräjen Bath Towel is a good budget choice for stocking up. Made of a waffle-weave cotton, it comes with a convenient hanging twill tab; $5.99 each. For more ideas, visit our post 10 Easy Pieces: Basic White Bath Towels.
Looking to create a laundry room in a tight space? See 10 Clever Laundry Rooms, Space-Saving Edition. And for more laundry inspiration, see Steal This Look: Tiny Utility Closet (Sink Included).
N.B.: This post is an update; the original ran on January 7, 2014, as part of our New Beginnings issue.
