Doing the laundry is not necessarily the most exciting chore. But since we all need to spend some time doing this, it’s worth it to make your laundry room a pretty place to be in. English cottage–fashion laundry rooms are full of the vintage touches, casual organizational methods and exquisite, light colours that so many people crave at a laundry space.
Turn your laundry room into an enchanting and adorable space with a couple of simple tricks. Even in the event you don’t have the luxury of a complete room — perhaps just a cupboard or an area near your washing machine which you are able to dedicate — do not worry, ordinary cottages do not have big, spacious rooms, anyhow.
Try some of those sweet ideas taken from beautiful English cottage-style laundry rooms.
1. Pick up secondhand finds. Don’t be concerned about everything matching perfectly. English cottage style is about mismatched, shabby chic.
Locate a worktable for folding laundry on at a local flea market. Sand it down and spruce it up with some paint — soft greens, baby powder or blues pinks always match this style well.
An old metal sink is excellent for this look, and such sinks are often nice and deep — excellent for hand washing items of clothing. Big white ceramic farmhouse sinks are a wonderful nod toward nation style too.
Add some personal touches such as a cute little vintage picture (a personal photograph or some needlepoint art would look fantastic ); a green plant or a little vase of flowers would include something fresh. This vintage enthusiast adds character, and the little lamp provides accent lighting and provides the space a homely feel.
2. Use glass jars for storage. Glass jars are a terrific way to store items like pegs, fabric softener sheets or powdered detergent. The clear glass makes it effortless to identify what you’re looking for and creates a nice, uniform look. Mix up the shapes and dimensions to add a little character.
It is possible to try sealed glass jars such as these, mason jars, canning jars or old-fashioned sweet jars using screw-on lids.
HARDROCK CONSTRUCTION
3. Collect wicker baskets. Wicker baskets are a terrific staple for a rustic look and supply endless storage chances.
If you are opting for cohesive rather than accumulated, arrange baskets of the exact same size on shelving. If your space (or style) is bit more higgledy-piggledy, purchase varying dimensions and slot them in where there is a gap.
You can purchase oversize baskets and display them by hanging them from the wall or the ceiling with metal hooks. Down them to use for freshly painted sheets or as an extra laundry basket.
ReStyle Group Interiors
4. Label, label, label. The secret to good organization is labeling things so they are easy to spot, which is easy, considering that there are so many different creative strategies to tag your items. Try some of them:
Blackboard paint and scatter on glass jars.Homemade tags from cardtied on with twine. Back the card at pretty wrapping paper or scraps of mismatched old wallpaper.Special jar labels written on with vibrant Sharpies. Categorize different items with distinct colors.Transfer letters from the favorite craft store.Labels made using a good ol’ P-touch label maker (you can usually find one in the regional office supply store).
5. Make cloth skirts. For a real English cottage look, try a candy cloth skirt instead of classic cupboard doors. You can easily make one yourself using old cloth remnants. Look for a small floral print or plain cloth in soft, washed-out colours. Hem the edges by stitching them using iron-on hemming tape. You will have to do a little sewing to make a loop at the peak of the cloth to thread through a piece of washing layer or metal curtain line. Then fasten your drape into the panels on either side of the opening.
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6. Hunt down old industrial items. Reuse old farm or industrial items to add an aged rustic end to your laundry room.
Utilize as shelving for sheets, to store jars of laundry detergent and clothespins, or to display a collection — for example old milk jugs, mason jars or vintage linens.
You can leave your find in the first metal end (rust adds character) or purchase one of many available colours of paint spray paint. Make sure you purchase a metal primer too.
More industrial-style accessories
Savvy Interiors
7. Add a Dutch door. If you’ve got the option, a Dutch door (in which the upper and the bottom portion of the door operate separately) can include a distinctly English cabin feel. Additionally, it keeps children and pets out of a workspace while still letting light and air in.
Paint the door sharp white or pick up among those beautiful chalky colours by English paint company Farrow & Ball. Try Pale Powder 204, Vert de Terre 234 or Hound Lemon 2. The Dead Flat end is excellent for a matte, vintage look.
The Shabby Nest
8. Carve out a coat tree. When you’ve got an underused corner or a cupboard, you can take the door away and use it as a convenient location for coats and shoes. To truly give it that English cottage style, add beadboard paneling (painted in soft pastels) into the walls or some vintage floral wallpaper. A chair cushion in pretty florals or soft stripes is the perfect location for sitting if you are taking off your shoes.
9. Dry clothing the old-fashioned way. Now I am not asking you to give up your trusty tumble dryer anytime soon, so don’t worry. However, the English are well known for a love of hanging their laundry out the old-fashioned way — especially outside to find that fresh-air odor.
You might not be prepared to go whole hog, but it will still make sense for the laundry space to get someplace to air dry clothing like delicates or wools. Try out this smart idea of having a pastel painted ladder from the ceiling.