Décor bohème: Simple Ideas for stylish living - Laundry Room Sneak Peek
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurexCrystalFresh #CollectiveBias
Lately the STYLE category of Oui We is becoming as much about the bohemian style we're applying to our home, as it is wardrobe and personal style. It's been a total treat to be in our house, and to take the time to really design a space that feels so us. I mentioned in the progress report post that we'd be having the house photographed, and that deadline is creeping up. And, real talk: like just about every other woman I know that moves into a new home (and plenty of guys too) I've been a bit pinterest board crazy... crazy to the point of having one of my brilliant interns specifically calling out that we needed to add a new category over there: "Décor Bohème" of all the things that I was saving.
With that said, as I spend hours upon hours scrolling those boards gaining inspiration to finish up each room it's also worth mentioning that I'm most definitely not your typical DIY gal - I'm up for an occasional project, however, I'm as up for hiring the right help when it's necessary.
As I started preparing to organize our laundry room, I came across 3 questions:
1. Is the space so small it will only accommodate laundry and associated supplies?
2. Is there enough storage to include cleaning and utility items as well as laundry?
3. Does the room also serve as a mudroom?
Our laundry room can barely even be called that, it truly is a mudroom leading out to our backyard - it's the space for all of our gardening and outdoor tools and equipment, our cleaning supplies, and where extra paint cans and renovation supplies live (so yes to #2 and #3 above). Right now it's also home to the piles of boxes from packages Ben and I get - those boxes seem to hibernate there until we finally break them down and remove them. If I do this right it should be where our mail, pocket change and all those little things that can so easily pile up get collected and sorted through in an organized fashion.
Also, since Ben and I both travel so much, when we return home, there's literally that pile of packages (before they're opened), our Sunday paper and our mail all on the dining room table. That kinda makes me crazy. I'd rather have a place in the laundry room where things can live until their dealt with. Another thing that makes me crazy? All the laundry supplies that were piling up in every little corner of our laundry / mudroom room.
I probably should have taken a before picture of this little nook, but in reality it was freaking awful, and I was like nope, no one will ever be allowed to see this.
Here's what I did, and some budget notes too.
1. Clean, Declutter and Actually Get Through the Laundry
It seems obvious, I know. But the reality is in our laundry room we had several 1/2 used bottles of detergents, lots of samples stashed in multiple drawers and then a basket of items that required special laundering that I just hadn't dealt with. I strung a little twine in the window and added clothes pins so those little unmentionables that I never seem to deal with could be quickly hand washed and hung to dry. Before doing anything else I washed everything so we didn't have a back log.
2. Create Simple Homes for All of the Supplies
I poured all the remaining detergents into a few glass mason jars. I also gathered up mending supplies, and all the pocket change that was kind of lying all around and gave those things a jar too. We already had a ton of jars from a coffee shop that I go to that sells their ice coffee that way, so, so far, budget impact: net zero.
Next up, I took a drive to the recycling center, got rid of all those plastic bottles, and the many empty cardboard shipping boxes and just getting rid of all of that stuff made a big difference.
On my drive to the recycling center I decided to make a pit stop at my local bargain center. I picked up a shelf that I could easily install (we had none at all in this room), a few wire baskets and the little LED "OK" sign that I found in a clearance bin.
I hung the shelf (cost $12), the sign (cost $16) and put the samples and the remaining things that didn't have a home in one of the wire baskets, I brought a plant from our porch in for a touch of green and this little section was feeling good. I love the color of the Purex Crystals (I picked up mine at Kroger by the way and there's more detail on the product at the end of this post) - I think they look so pretty in the jars (no more plastic bottle eye sores)!
Plus when I did that remaining laundry I was pretty blown away by how fresh it all smelled.
I snipped a little corner of the label from each detergent and taped it to the back of each jar so I'd know what product was in each jar. I tied a little decorative bead I'd received on a gift box around the jars to dress them up a bit and voila, we're looking pretty fancy huh?!
3. Making the Mudroom Tidy
So if you're facing the laundry cove (maybe that's what we should call it) directly behind is the area that was collecting, well everything. This is the true mudroom space. To tidy things up just a bit more I hung a clip board and a simple pin board on the wall. Wedding announcements, bills that need to be paid or just little keepsakes can go here. I have some iron patches that I need to get to so I hung those up too.
I added a few more wire baskets (these were $2 / each) to toss in the things that get used all the time, and then directly out of view I added a few simple hooks for tools and cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, etc).
That's pretty much it you guys. That's the sneak peek, and I know it may seem small but for us this room feels so much better. Even our little cat Chicken was thrilled that the mudroom bench was hers again. She climbed immediately into the window to bird watch, and I swear she esp'd me a "good job lady." 😺
Want to learn more about Purex Crystals?
A great scent at an awesome price they provide 12 Weeks of Freshness. I choose the following aromas, one from the classic collection and one from the NEW Botanicals, with no dyes.
Purex Crystals, available at Kroger
Fresh Spring Waters: Freshen your wardrobe with the shimmering light of Fresh Spring Waters to brighten your everyday.
Warm Sandalwood & Vanilla: Bring the finishing touch on your laundry with a blend of Warm Sandalwood & Vanilla. The natral mineral based formula, without dyes and with essential oils, delivers long lasting freshness.
I can't wait to share more of what's happening in our home! As always thanks for following along!
Wanderfully yours,
Andi
