January 19, 2021

Laundry Room Makeover | DIY Shelves and Storage

168 Shares

I have been wanting/ needing to upgrade our laundry room since the day we moved in. It has quite a bit of storage space in it, but it was not being utilized. Seriously, the one plastic shelf over the washer and dryer was just not cutting it. So much storage real estate was not being used sooooo the laundry room makeover commenced and now our laundry room is able to store our dog items, cleaning supplies, linens, laundry supplies, and clothes that need to be hung to dry. This project was fairly simple and completed in one afternoon. In total we spent less than $150!

All items I used for this Laundry Room Makeover are linked. If you click a link and purchase the item I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Supplies you will need:

Spackle Kit
Dry Wall Anchors – this pack comes with the long screws
Wood screws – Flat Head Phillips #7 x ½ inch. We bought 3, 8 packs
Wood Stain – I used the color Golden Oak as I wanted lighter shelves in the laundry closet.
Black Spray Paint – hands down my favorite product for changing hardware colors
Top Coat Spray Paint
Shelf Brackets – We used 5 in total. 3 for the top shelf and 2 for the middle shelf.
Corner Braces – We used 3 in total for the bottom shelf. This shelf is much narrower than the other 2 so one 5 inch brace worked just fine. We also used these for our shelves in the bathroom.
Flat Washers
Black Steel Pip Connector
Black Iron Floor Flange
Black Iron Cap
1X18X48 Laminated Pine
1X18X72 Laminated Pine
1X6-8ft Common Board
Latex gloves
Drill
Old Sock or Cloth

I chose this layout for our Laundry Room Makeover because I needed more shelves for storage, but still needed somewhere to hang my delicate clothes that I do not place in the dryer. I also wanted a small shelf at arms reach for laundry supplies we use regularly. I recommend if you are wanting to upgrade your laundry space to write down what you wish you had and then sketch it out.

How to build your own shelves and storage in your laundry space

First, take down the old shelf!

We did this the day before installing the new shelves. You will want to spackle the holes that remain, wait for it to dry, then sand the excess away, and paint over any needed touch ups. This Spackle Kit is my favorite because it comes with everything you will need no matter how large the holes! It also goes on pink, and once it turns white you know it is ready to be sanded and then painted. Make sure to wear something you do not mind getting dusty.

Next, measure out your space to ensure the boards will fit.

These are the 3 boards we picked up from the Home Depot.

TIP: The Home Depot can also cut your boards to the appropriate length that you tell them to so make sure to measure your space before heading to the store! If you prefer to cut the shelves yourself I recommend this Chordless Saw.

Spray all Hardware Black

I wanted my accent color to be black so all hardware, including screws and washers were spray painted black with this Black Satin Spray Paint. Apply thin coats and the paint should be dry and ready to be installed in 30 minutes.

Stain Wood Shelves (that are cut to your measurements)

I chose Golden Oak stain as I wanted my boards to remain a light color. NOTE: These types of boards absorb a lot of stain to the darker stain you chose the MUCH darker the wood shelf will be. Make sure to put on gloves to protect your hands and then place an old sock over the glove. This is a simple and cheaper way to stain. In no time the stained shelves will be dry and can be installed!

Installing the Brackets

For my top and middle shelves I used these 10 inch Brackets in the color black. For the small shelf directly above the washer and dryer I used these 5 inch Corner Braces in zinc. To make them black I used my tried and true Rustoleum Spray Paint in Black Satin finish. You can finish this with this top coat, if you desire.

NOTE: The outer brackets are installed 6 inches inward from the ends of the shelves, and the top shelf has an extra support bracket placed directly in the middle.

Make sure when you are installed these brackets that you use these Drywall Anchors! They hold up to 75 pounds and anchor the shelves safely into the wall.

Installing the Wooden Shelves

Now that the Brackets are in place, screw the wood shelves to the brackets. The brackets come with predrilled holes so you know where to drill the screws into the shelf. Use wood screws that are Flat Head Phillips #7 x ½ inch. We bought three 8 packs.

Creating and Installing the Hanging Rod

We made our middle shelf only span half way across the wall so that I could have a space to still hang my clothes to dry. You will need these 3 pieces to create the rod:

I spray painted all three of these pieces the same color as the Corner Braces, Screws, and Washers mentioned above. TIP: Spray these before you begin to stain.

Make sure to use your anchors for this hanging rod, as well.

Voila! Our Laundry Room Makeover project complete and much more functional than before! All items used for organization, as pictured, are linked.