They Had One Wire Shelf Above the Washer and Dryer, so They Built This Instead
One wire shelf provided almost all the storage in this laundry room, leaving a large wall above the washer, dryer, and utility sink unused. Rather than replace the appliances or change the room’s footprint, the makeover focused on turning those blank walls into storage and work space.
Right Up My Alley creator Tracy Laverty and her husband searched Re-Store, Craigslist, and stores for cabinets that matched the dimensions and budget they had in mind. Nothing worked, so they built their own, using scrap wood from previous projects along with some new lumber. Two wall cabinets, open shelves, and a folding counter eventually filled the space where the wire shelf once hung.
Across the room, another empty wall became an extension of the small mudroom outside the laundry area. Horizontal boards, hooks, art, a reused chandelier, baskets, and a skirt around the utility sink brought new functions into a room that had started with little more than two machines, one shelf, and a washtub.
One Wire Shelf Left Most of the Wall Empty
Before the project, the washer and dryer sat side by side with their tops serving as extra surface space for detergent, an iron, and other laundry supplies. A wire shelf mounted high on the right wall held several fabric bins, but most of the tall room had no storage at all.
Opposite the machines, an ironing board leaned against the wall while a full-length mirror rested behind the washer. Beige walls, a flush-mount ceiling light, and a narrow runner completed a room that had plenty of open space but few places designed for specific tasks.
Utility Sink Had Exposed Storage Underneath
A deep utility sink occupied the end of the appliance wall, with exposed legs and plumbing underneath. The wire shelf continued above it rather than providing enclosed storage near the sink.
The sink itself stayed through the makeover, but its surroundings changed. Instead of replacing a useful fixture, the project later concealed its open base and incorporated it into the new cabinet wall.
Removing the Shelf Exposed How Much Wall Space Was Available
Once the room was cleared, the scale of the unused wall became easier to see. Washer and dryer occupied only the lower portion of one side, leaving enough height for cabinets and shelving without moving either appliance.
The makeover also kept the existing tile floor and baseboards, directing the work toward the walls, storage, lighting, and surfaces rather than rebuilding the room from the floor up.
Horizontal Boards Turned a Blank Wall Into Storage
Thin horizontal boards went onto the wall opposite the appliances, stopping above the baseboard and covering most of the lower wall. Small gaps between the boards create horizontal lines without requiring the entire wall to be rebuilt.
After primer and paint, a narrow trim ledge caps the boards and five black hooks run across the upper section. The laundry room sits beside the family’s small hallway mudroom, so this wall adds another place for bags, coats, and the gear used by their four daughters.
Five Hooks Made the Wall Work Like a Mudroom
Finished boards cover the lower portion of the wall while the hooks sit high enough to leave room for bags and clothing below. Artwork rests along the narrow ledge above, keeping decoration separate from the hanging area.
Instead of installing another cabinet on this side, the project leaves floor space open for a woven hamper. That keeps the narrow path between the wall and appliances clear while adding storage where there had been none.
Cabinets and a Counter Filled the Appliance Wall
Two white cabinets now sit above the washer, dryer, and utility sink, with a long counter spanning the tops of the appliances. What had been an exposed pair of machines becomes a folding station without requiring extra floor space.
The cabinets were built after the couple could not find ready-made options that fit their dimensions and budget. Scrap wood from previous projects supplied part of the material, with additional lumber purchased where needed.
Open Shelves Filled the Space Between the Cabinets
Instead of extending cabinet doors across the entire wall, two open shelves bridge the gap between the enclosed units. Baskets occupy the upper shelf, while botanical prints and green containers sit below.
A black rail beneath the lower shelf provides another function without taking counter space. Wooden hangers can move along the rail for shirts and other pieces that need to hang after washing.
Old Dining Room Chandelier Moved Into the Laundry Room
The ceiling fixture was replaced with a chandelier the family already owned. It had originally hung in the dining room before being removed, then received paint and strands of wood beads for its new location.
Reusing the fixture adds a detail that has little connection to a standard utility-room light, while the exposed bulbs bring light across the windowless room.
Washer and Dryer Gained a Full Folding Surface
The finished counter stretches across both front-loading machines, creating one uninterrupted surface for sorting and folding laundry. Its depth follows the appliance tops, turning space that already existed into a work area rather than adding another piece of furniture.
Cabinets and shelves remain above the counter, keeping storage on the same wall while leaving the center of the narrow room open. The utility sink stays beside the dryer, now covered at the front with a floral fabric skirt that hides the pipes and open space underneath.
Hooks Extended Storage Toward the Door
From the doorway, the board wall shows how much function was added without reducing the walkway. Five hooks can hold bags and clothing, while a second pair beneath framed art provides a dedicated place for the ironing board.
Art hangs from a black rail near the ceiling using wooden pants hangers, bringing the same black and natural-wood combination seen in the hooks, baskets, and hanger rail across the room.
Sink Skirt Hid the Pipes Without Replacing the Washtub
The original utility sink remains beside the dryer, but floral fabric now wraps its exposed front. Rather than building another cabinet around the washtub, the skirt conceals the plumbing while preserving access underneath.
That fabric also introduces color into a room dominated by white cabinetry, pale walls, gray appliances, black hardware, and the striped runner.
Built-In Storage Came From Wood They Already Had
Viewed closer, the finished appliance wall combines closed cabinets with open storage instead of treating every inch the same way. Large items can disappear behind the cabinet doors, baskets occupy the highest shelf, and smaller pieces remain accessible on the shelf below.
The folding counter, two cabinets, and shelves were built for this wall rather than selected from a standard laundry set. That choice allowed the storage to fit around the existing washer, dryer, sink, and available wall width.
One Shelf Became Storage on Both Sides of the Room
The before-and-after view shows how little of the original room needed to move for the transformation to work. Washer, dryer, utility sink, tile floor, and doorway remain in their original positions, while storage expands across both walls.
One wire shelf gave way to cabinets, open shelves, a folding counter, hanging rail, board wall, hooks, baskets, and dedicated ironing-board storage. Does the folding counter or the wall of hooks make better use of the space that was already there?