Compact laundry renovation with storage

[Skip75]

Our compact 2m x 1.6m laundry needed a major overhaul to create a more workable space and some storage, while updating the design to match the rest of our internal renovations. We had no bench space, nowhere to store laundry baskets and the washer and dryer were stacked in a corner. With minimal budget leftover from the larger renovation, the laundry had to be a DIY project, saving where we could. The only non-negotiable splurge item was a Carrara marble splashback, because we opted out of marble benchtops in the kitchen reno so compromised by having marble in the laundry.

Materials

Cabinets

Cabinetry hardware

Pocket door and French door hardware

Stainless laundry sink

Brushed nickel gooseneck mixer tap

Whiteboard

Iron-on whiteboard edging tape

MDF sheeting

Structural pine

Nails and screws

Steel square tubing (under bench support)

Heavy duty soft-close drawer sliders

Timber French door

Timber trim

High-strength glue

Stone benchtop offcut

Internal slider/cavity door

VJ panelling

Honed Carrara marble hexagonal tiles

Ceiling, wall and door paint

Tools

Drill

Impact driver

Dropsaw

Circular saw

Clamps

Spirit level and laser level

Square

Kreg pocket hole jig

Hammer/mallet

Shims

Chisel

Caulking gun

Painting equipment

Steps

Step 1

We stripped the laundry so we could start from scratch, removing the sink and cabinets, wall-mounted clothesline/hanging rail, internal laundry door and wall tiles (floor tiles were professionally removed during the broader house renovation).

Step 2

A plasterer repaired the walls damaged by the wall tile removal before we painted the ceiling and installed VJ panelling on the left wall (to continue the style we have in other areas of the house). A hinged internal laundry door previously covered this wall when open, so we replaced it with a cavity slider/pocket door to enable the wall to be exposed and turned into a feature wall, which made the space feel so much larger. The cavity door and floor tiles were installed by professionals during the larger renovation.

Step 3

We installed the upper and lower cabinets, making sure the width of the upper cabinet allowed enough space to also shelve our two existing laundry baskets. We constructed and mounted our whiteboard custom shelving using the pocket hole joinery method (and glue) to guarantee the shelving was solid. We then covered the front raw cut edges of the shelving using iron-on whiteboard laminate edging tape. 

The shelves had to be high enough to allow a clothes rail to be installed underneath that could hang a men's shirt without touching the benchtop. We then added an offcut piece of VJ panelling behind the rail to continue the feature from the opposite wall, and also built wall framing/supports using structural timber in readiness for the stone benchtop.

I wanted the benchtop to be as deep as possible so the appliances fit underneath without sticking out, and we managed to find an offcut piece that measured from the wall all the way to the door frame. Perfect! We used leftover whiteboard to frame out the washer and dryer under the benchtop for a neater finish and the framing also doubled as extra support underneath the benchtop, allowing us to cut out notches to fit thick steel support bars that ran the full length of the bench, to avoid future sagging of the stone.

Step 4

The benchtop was then installed by stonemasons and a plumber installed the sink and tap.

Step 5

We painted the walls a warm grey that matched the rest of the house and painted and installed a timber French door that would allow more natural light in. I constructed an under sink pull-out soft-close laundry hamper using a how-to tutorial I found online. The hamper is narrow in depth so it doesn't hit the plumbing when fully closed.

Step 6

Next was tiling the splashback. We struggled securing a tiler for this small job and I contemplated doing it myself but was not keen to work with marble. After a (very) long delay the tiling was finally done. We also finished the ENDLESS caulking (😩) and installed the ceiling shadow line piece, which was much more difficult than anticipated...

Step 7

All that remained were the small decorative touches then the project was complete!
The laundry is now easy to work within, we have an expansive bench space, more storage than we need and everything has a place. It’s amazing how much functionality can be achieved (with minimal budget) when repurposing even the smallest of spaces.

My little rustic farmhouse stool I sit on to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer

[JacobZ]

Hi @Skip75,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Thank you so much for sharing your laundry makeover journey. What a fantastic transformation! 

The Carrara marble splashback is a beautiful standout, and it's great to see how thoughtfully you approached every detail, from storage to framing and finishes. If I had a laundry like this, I think I'd actually enjoy doing my washing. 

You've done an amazing job reimagining a small area into something so practical and polished. Well done!

Jacob

[Skip75]

Thanks Jacob! You’re very kind

[Girlfromgoldie1]

wow where are the cabinets from? Bunnings?

[JacobZ]

Hi @Girlfromgoldie1,

Allow me to tag @Skip75 so they are notified of your question.

Hopefully, they will respond shortly.

Jacob

[Skip75]

Hi!

The cabinets are actually matt white ones from Ikea. We originally looked at the Kaboodle cabinets because they had a profile we liked (that was close to the design of our kitchen cabinets that we wanted to try and match), but we needed a taller upper cabinet as we wanted to go to the ceiling. Unfortunately the Kaboodle sizing didn’t fit. 

[EricL]

Hello @Skip75 

Thank you for that extra information about your laundry. Let me tag @Girlfromgoldie1 to make them aware of your recommendation.

Eric