Saturday, October 30, 2010

Making a Pleasant Chore out of a Mundane Task

You know that dreaded day! The day you have to do the laundry/clean the house/de-hazard the fridge! I hate that day!! (and many times it's DAYS with an S). I know I am not alone in that boat. We both know we'd rather be out shopping or lazying around in our pajamas doing nothing but stuffing our faces with bon bons watching Oprah {HA!!! like that's ever going to happen, right?}

Well over the past few months as I silently cursed reflected upon such dreaded chores, I came to a conclusion: Make lemonade out of lemons! Hello!! Why not turn my most dreaded chore-LAUNDRY-into something semi pleasurable (read: bearable). So I thought about all the gorgeous laundry rooms I have seen in decorating mags and blogs and set out to make mine look just like theirs. Well, let's just say it's still a work in progress :(
Except today I decided to finish up the first half. I used a few things around the house. My intention was to make it as fresh and pretty as a spring day :)
I don't have any before pics, but trust me you DON'T want to see them ;)
I started by matching the blue in the little rug for the paint. I bought the little rug at Bed, Bath and Beyond and took it to the Home Depot for them to match it.
I love the way it softens and brightens up the room. The blue in person is much brighter than in the pic.{It used to have a hideous yellow in there BLECH!!}
Here's the reveal of the first half of the room. Now, before you go getting all jealous, this is NOT the way it looks all week people! At the beginning of the week the dirty clothes are piling up and the garment rack is in here. At the end of the week when I am getting ready to iron and fold, the garment rack goes into my study where I finish up the job {keep reading}.

                                                   My laundry area :)

                                         A little shelf I bought at Hob Lob and painted to make
                                          it look old and weathered.

    I am really saving up to get me one of them fancy washers, you know the kind   where a whole week's load of dirty laundry fits ;) Then I'll really be rollin'!! The second half of the laundry room will have to wait. It involves covering up the pet crates, tons of cleaning supplies and dog food bags. I will reveal that, hopefully, by the end of the year soon.

So now that you've seen my humble laundry room, here are some gorgeous laundry rooms to REALLY inspire you:


This is a combination mud room/laundry room. I love the glass doors on those cabinets and the sleekness of it all.

This shows you how to make the most out of a small space. Note the snazzy little rug and the
gift wrapping station. Functionality and style. Swoon!!

And I just LOVE the cool, calm color palette in this one. PLUS a door to the outside!

Why can't we all live inside a decorating magazine??-
So what to do you ask? Well I decided to set up my own little slice of laundry heaven. Right in my study.
Every Friday night, I start washing clothes (and with 3 guys in my family there are a LOT of clothes to wash!) so that by Saturday morning I can start my newly found routine of folding, separating and ironing!
I set up my fold up ironing board on one of my study doors. I keep my iron hidden behind an antique cupboard and I bought a collapsible garment rack that I bring in there to hang my freshly ironed clothes on.



I set up in my "laundry workshop" and put on a Netflix instant streaming movie to watch on the computer monitor. I informed my family that I am NOT to be bothered while I am in there IRONING and they pretty much have obliged me with that little request. My hubby, Sergio, usually brings me in some snacks to tide me over (isn't he a KEEPER??) and away I go.
I also use this on some of the clothes my boys wear around the house or are too casual to iron.
The rest of the clothes, I iron. The key is to get a good iron with steaming action. This makes all the difference in how fast your task will take. So I stand and iron and watch my movie every Saturday morning. After all the clothes have been folded and divided up by kid they are called in to my "laundry sanctuary" to pick up their stuff and put it away. I have to admit, I kind of look forward to this time alone - even if I am doing the dreaded laundry.

*images from greatinteriordesign.com

Linking this up to the following:
Met Monday at Between Naps on The Porch
November 15 Metamorphosis Monday
Paint Party-Less than perfect life of bliss
http://www.delightfulorder.blogspot.com/
Organize With Sandy
Thrifty 101
http://typeadecorating.blogspot.com/
Thrifty Decor Chick

Would you like to comment?

  1. Your laundry room looks great! I love that you have a sink in your laundry room. Very cool!

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  2. Ahhh your laundry room looks great! I have recently moved into my first home with my boyfriend and trying to find ways to turn our house into a home! I am soooo thankful for your blog! You have given me so many great ideas! Thanks x

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  3. Laundry room is beautiful, but what is this "ironing" you speak of?!?!? Blech! HATE ironing.

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  4. My boys go thru soo many clothes that I would never catch up if I waited till Friday night. I usually do a load or two every other day but now am getting good with a load a day! Love the color of your laundry room! It is soo peaceful!

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  5. It looks great! Thanks for the reminder about matching paint from other objects! Thanks for linking to my party!

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  6. Thanks for sharing over at the paint party! Your laundry room looks so clean and fresh!!

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  7. That paint color wakes you up! No snoozing on wash duty... makes them room feel airy!

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  8. Thanks for linking to Delightful Order! I use the wrinkle release DAILY. Love that stuff.
    DaNita

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  9. Thanks so much for stopping by Organizing Mission link party! You did some really cute things in your laundry room. I am with you on the dream laundry room. I would love one too! Mine is also small....
    Please stop back again!

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  10. I'm your newest linky follower from TDC-stop by for a visit!

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