Welcome back to Week 4-5 of my laundry room makeover for the One Room Challenge!
The timeline is tight, and honestly, I haven’t had as much time for progress photos this week as I’d like. So instead of a typical progress update, I thought I’d walk you through exactly how I’m using my SPACES method to plan this refresh.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or overwhelmed when working on a home project, this process will simplify the entire design and organizing process.
Several of my clients have shared that this framework helped them get their families on board with their home projects… simply because they could communicate their vision clearly and confidently. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
Here’s the SPACES framework for my laundry room makeover…
S- Simplify
Before I declutter, buy anything, or pick up a paintbrush, I ask myself three questions:
How do I want this room to look, function, and feel?
Look
I want a calm, coastal-inspired space with some texture from woven baskets and pattern on the walls. The old flooring has to go. It always looks dirty no matter how much I clean it, which drives me crazy. I’m replacing it with light oak flooring that feels fresh and practical.
The popcorn ceiling? Gone. The dated curtains? Also gone. I’ll replace them with simple linen curtains that let in plenty of natural light. And instead of that builder-grade wire shelf, I’m installing a wood floating shelf with soft lighting underneath to create a more polished, layered look.
So many laundry rooms are purely functional, or become a catch-all room with zero personality. You know the kind- dark basement space, cobwebs in the corner- basically a setting for a horror movie. Yeah… we’re going for the opposite of that.
Function
I need practical storage for things that could spill (bleach, stain remover, vinegar, etc.). My solution is coming together in the “Create a Plan” step.
I also need my family to actually be able to find things when they need them. Light bulbs. Batteries. The stuff people always ask you about right when you sit down to relax or work on something? Or is that just at my house?
I want hooks on the back of the door for the broom and mop, and a wall-mounted drying rack that folds away when I’m not using it.
Feel
Calm. Clean. Organized. That’s it. It won’t be extremely minimalist though. While I can appreciate minimalism, I prefer every room in my home to feel cozy and welcoming (without the clutter).
P- Purge
This room wasn’t too cluttered to begin with, thankfully. I recycled some old cleaner bottles, took down the wire shelf and some sad curtains, and called it good.
Even small purges like this make such a difference. The room already feels lighter.
A- Assess What’s Left
Once everything was cleared out, I could actually see what needed to be updated or replaced.
Here’s what made the list:
- Curtains and curtain rod
- Light fixture
- Wire shelf
- Flooring
- Trash can (or at least give it a serious update)
- Vent covers, door hinges, and knobs
- Fresh paint for the ceiling, trim, and walls
I’m also considering replacing our laundry baskets. They’re functional, but I’d love something more neutral with a bit of texture.
C- Create a Plan
This is where I take all those ideas floating around in my head and actually make them concrete.
I am going to prime and paint the walls, trim, and doors to freshen everything up.
I’ll decant my detergent and scent beads into glass jars and store my wool dryer balls in a decorative bowl. We need multiple laundry baskets (because one family, many opinions about sorting).
Extra lightbulbs, batteries, the iron, steamer, and cleaning supplies will go in a rolling cart and on the new shelving. Since I’m worried about spills, I’m putting liner baskets inside the woven baskets.
And yes, that wall-mounted drying rack officially made the cut. It will be perfect for delicates and small laundry loads.
E- Effortlessly Elevate
This is the fun part. The finishing touches that make rooms feel “done”.
I’ll add some art, a plant, a candle, and softer lighting. I’m also upgrading the vent covers, hinges, curtain rod, and doorknobs.
If I have time, I’d love to find a wooden broom and metal dustpan to replace what we have now. (I recognize this isn’t a big deal for some people, but I prefer things that I use often to be pretty… or at least not be something that makes me side eye it everyday!)
S- Schedule Routines
Laundry never seems to end. But a good system makes it manageable. I’m not a “do laundry every day” person. I know some people swear by it, but I prefer to batch my laundry days.
Here’s my routine:
Mondays: All bedding (ours and the dog’s), bathroom and kitchen towels, sofa blankets
Wednesdays: All clothing
Fridays: Quick laundry room reset. I wipe down the machines, empty trash, restock supplies, sweep and mop. It only takes about 10 minutes.
I also put seasonal laundry tasks on my calendar (curtains, shower curtains and liners, that kind of thing). Because if it’s not scheduled, it’s not happening. At least not at my house.
By the way, the laundry room reset was one of those things that I used to put off. Then I timed how long it took me to do it… 7 minutes.
If you’ve been putting off a task, I encourage you to go do it and time yourself. If it takes less than 10-15 minutes, you can turn on some music or a podcast and feel accomplished for finally knocking it off your to-do list!
This works for me and my schedule. If you don’t already have a laundry routine, try some different ideas out. See what sticks and works for you.
That’s my six-step SPACES method for any room refresh.
It stops overwhelm and helps me actually finish what I start. But even if something pops up – you get sick, go on vacation, whatever- you can always hop right back into your plan after a break since you know exactly where you left off and what to do next.
I hope walking through my laundry room makeover gives you ideas for your own space. Even small changes can make a huge difference in how your home feels.
If you’d love some guidance creating your own six-step plan, check out the Home Bliss Planner in the Organized Oasis Shop. It’s a great way to get clear on your goals, priorities, and next steps.
And stick around… I’ll update this post in six months to show you how everything’s holding up in real life. Because let’s be honest, the real test is whether something actually works long-term.
Thanks for following along with this One Room Challenge transformation!
Want to catch up on the previous laundry room updates? Here’s week 1, week 2, and week 3.
