The Laundry Room

March 18, 2021

The Laundry Room

I’ve been admiring farmhouse-style laundry rooms on Pinterest for months, and the idea of creating one in miniature had been quietly living on my project wish list for just as long. When I finally decided it was time, I knew exactly what kind of space I wanted to build. Cozy, practical, a little rustic, and filled with thoughtful details that make even the most utilitarian room feel warm and inviting.

After gathering plenty of inspiration images, I got to work designing the mini laundry room of my dreams. While the roombox itself came with beautifully cut wood floors, I knew I wanted a classic tile look for this space. I opted for a printed tile pattern for the floor and a clean white brick pattern for the walls, choosing different paper finishes to give each surface its own subtle texture. That small contrast made a big difference in bringing the room to life.

Once the floors and walls were in place, I added baseboards and a quarter round in the corner to give the room a more finished, realistic feel. With the foundation complete, it was time to tackle the heart of the space: the washer and dryer. I started with a standard wooden set, but straight out of the box they felt a little flat. To elevate them, I modified the control panels with printed references inspired by real-life appliances, then added multiple coats of UV resin to create that smooth, glossy finish you see on actual machines. They’re not flawless, but they’re a huge improvement and feel much more believable in scale.

Before diving into the smaller decorative details, I installed the major functional elements. That included the lighting, the counters, and the sink. From there, I cut, stained, and painted wood to create custom countertops, including an L-shaped counter in the corner and a built-in enclosure for the washer and dryer. I also added shelving above the counter and sink, which gave me the perfect place to display both practical items and decorative touches.

With the structure complete, I moved on to some of the more personality-driven pieces. I modified an ironing board to suit the farmhouse aesthetic by repainting the legs and recovering the board with black-and-white checkered fabric. The rolling laundry hamper was inspired by similar real-life versions I’d saved for reference. I built it from chipboard, batting, and fabric, added a sewn liner, and finished it off with handmade casters. Once it was filled with “dirty laundry,” it instantly felt right at home.

One of the most challenging and rewarding elements of the entire project was the lighting. I was determined to create working farmhouse-style sconces, even though I knew they would be tricky. After a lot of experimenting and trial and error, I finally landed on a solution using small LED components and repurposed materials, all finished in satin black. Seeing them light up for the first time was incredibly satisfying, and they ended up being one of my favorite features in the room.

From there, I focused on all the small details that make the space feel lived in. I designed and created labels for jars and cleaning products, from dryer balls to scent boosters. Inspired by real-life detergent dispensers, I recreated them in miniature using glass jars fitted with spigots and filled with tinted resin. Even the scrub brush was handmade, using simple materials to mimic wood and bristles. Honestly, I wish my real laundry room looked this organized.

Decorating the space was a joy, and I leaned into elements that felt calm and fresh. Eucalyptus felt like a perfect fit for a farmhouse laundry room, so I added it as a decorative accent. I also made rolled and folded towels using baby washcloths, which scale better than traditional terry cloth, and displayed them neatly next to the washer alongside a simple “Wash, Dry, Fold” sign.

One of my favorite handmade accents is a small grapevine wreath with a paper magnolia flower and cotton bolls, paired with a pitcher of cotton tucked onto a shelf. Simple solutions popped up throughout the build, too. A wood disc and painted toothpick became a paper towel holder, while a sponge was easily recreated with felt and foam.

A last-minute addition, inspired by a real-life photo, was the spare change jar. After all, what laundry room doesn’t end up collecting loose coins? I made the jar from resin and sculpted tiny coins from polymer clay, finishing them with metallic powders for a realistic sheen.

The laundry basket filled with unfolded clothes was another fun detail. I used fabric scraps soaked in water, scrunched and arranged just enough to look messy, then let them dry in place. The result feels perfectly believable. Since I don’t sew very often, I also opted for a no-sew method to create folded shirts for display, which worked beautifully.

In one final burst of inspiration, I decided to make a small decorative wall shelf inspired by an old washboard. Using simple craft materials and layered textures, it came together easily and became the perfect spot to display an antique-style flat iron.

And, of course, no scene of mine ever feels complete without an animal. I tucked a small dog bed under the countertop and added a food bowl and bag nearby. He looks pretty content curled up there, don’t you think?

As always, a huge thank-you to my husband, Tom, for helping me photograph this project. I hope you enjoyed this look inside my farmhouse laundry roombox as much as I enjoyed creating it.

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