Elmer Jacobi
I had a shelf in there for awhile and I tried to make it useful by hanging some coat hooks and adding a chalk board. In reality, it was the dumping spot for anything in the house that we didn’t want to put away. In the last several months I’ve added built in shelves and a bench to give it a mud room vibe and also added lots of pretty beadboard and trim. I was planning on hanging some pretty art above the washer and dryer, but after actually doing laundry in here for a few months, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need more sorting and storage space.
I got out my tools and added a clothes rod and a shelf for additional storage. When I’m done, I can easily grab the entire rod of clothes on hangers and go put them all away at once.
I use to hate doing laundry because it was so hard to get it all put away, but now it’s much easier for me to stay on top of it. Here’s how I easily turned a blank wall into a clothes rod and storage shelf. I started by using Liquid Nails to attach some MDF planks to the wall (make sure they are level!). These triangle shaped ones are great for holding a wooden rod as well as supporting the weight of the hangers and the shelf on top.
I wanted them spaced as far apart as possible so the hangers would be able to slide up and down the entire rod without getting blocked by the brackets. From there I cut an 11″ wide piece of wood the appropriate length to fit and attached it on top of the rod brackets.
The MDF strips along the back and sides provide additional support. Plus the shelf on top will provide additional storage for seasonal items (like beach towels) and all my extra laundry baskets when they aren’t in use. Totally practical and functional and it really finishes off the space and makes it look complete.
And I think it’s safe to say that the laundry room is quickly becoming my favorite space in this house.
Truth is, I have never done crown moulding before, and I’ll admit, I’m a little bit scared. I’m sure once I just get in there and do it I’ll be amazed at how easy it was, but I’ve been putting it off because of the awkward corner angles.
