Turning an Old Headboard Into Shelves in This Laundry Room Was My Grandma’s Genius Idea

Whenever I enter a new space, my mind goes into overdrive, gathering inspiration and envisioning changes. But there is one particular area I’ve always wanted to get my hands on: my mom’s laundry room, purely for the challenge it brings. Everything in there is competing for attention; there’s a toilet, a still-working microwave from 40 years ago, a fridge covering an unused back door, and a washing machine. 

I (delusionally) gave myself 10 days to complete this renovation. While my incredible mom was speaking at the World Health Organization in Switzerland, I took over her home with a tight hour-by-hour schedule that I thought would see our timings align. But unfortunately, what I didn’t consider was life. My rock-star 98-year-old grandfather was assisting in the initial stages, but on day eight, he had a stroke. It was tools down for some weeks. 

As he recovered, a turn of events saw Project Laundry become a family and friends affair. Even with the help, there were still some bumps, like when I flooded the place after drilling into a water pipe. But eventually, we got there, and it’s all the more special now that my grandpa’s been able to see it in person. 

Paint Directly Over Wall Tiles

The pink tile just had to go, and with limited time and budget, I turned to paint. When painting tile, don’t skip the preparation, as it will affect the final result and longevity. I used TSP (trisodium phosphate) to wash the surface before lightly going over it with a 180-grit sanding block. There are kits on the market, but a painting expert recommended using a boat-grade product that won’t rust or get moldy around moisture. The first coat of primer had me worried (as it looked incredibly blotchy and left a pale pink hue), but thankfully I trusted the process, and after the two coats of paint went up, the space was immediately transformed. 

DIY Doors for an Easy Custom Look 

I’m a big fan of IKEA’s kitchen base cabinets and have used them for various projects. It’s the doors where I like to get creative. I kept it simple this time around by making Shaker-style doors out of plywood sheets and MDF trim. But simple still has its complications. All was good until I realized my ½-inch plywood was not thick enough to cover the hinges, so I ended up having to add another layer of backing (from MDF scraps) to thicken it up. 

Repurpose Your IKEA Cubes 

Chances are you or someone you know has cube storage. After moving the refrigerator into the corner closest to the door, I stacked two of the boxy Kallax shelving units to create upper cabinetry. To make them look legitimate, I customized the doors, this time with a slatted wood design. I started with four sheets of ¾-inch-thick MDF (I learned from my previous mistake) and used a table saw to cut the thin strips of wood. From there, each strip was glued and nailed to the front with a constant space between each piece. Unfortunately, the result wasn’t dead even, so the slats don’t line up perfectly. Another regret of mine was not adding a backing to the cubes before installing them. Peel-and-stick wallpaper, anyone? 

Turn Old Furniture Into Floating Shelves 

Repurposing was at the forefront of Project Laundry, so when my grandmother suggested recycling wood from a headboard I’d made when I was 15, I was in. My grandpa and I had the best day breaking it all down to the studs before taking those pieces to build the framework for the floating shelves. But as I drilled the final hole in the wall, a small disaster struck: I hit a water pipe. Thankfully, the plumber was able to come quickly and patch it up, and all that remained was adding 3-millimeter-thick plywood sheets to the frame and applying a light stain. 

Don’t Overstuff Your New Space

Before I build anything, I like to ensure there’s room for growth. If you fill it up right away, and with no organizational plans, before you know it, it’ll be just another space to store whatever. With my label maker in hand, the base cabinets became a spot for home-cleaning supplies, while the top cubes felt perfect for bakeware and other lesser-used cooking items. Most important, both spaces have open and empty areas for future growth, and even though my mom didn’t get that 10-day HGTV-like reveal, she gained a super-functional multipurpose room that she loves.