As a designer, Anita Yokota collects quite a bit of furniture and styling props that need storing, so the garage fills up before her annual summer garage sale. Finally, the designer decided to take the yearly clean-out one step further by not just decluttering but also organizing and decorating her would-be laundry room. The result is a beautiful, über-organized space full of laundry room garage ideas to steal for your own home. After examining the remarkable before and after, find a few of our favorite styling tips below. Then, to get even more of Yokota’s expert design advice, check out the living room she designed for the 2019 Real Simple Home.
Laundry Room Makeover
Before
Before the makeover, there wasn’t much of a laundry room to speak of. In fact, Yokota’s car was typically parked right in front of the washer and dryer, making the cramped space even tighter. With three kids, laundry was a part of the family’s daily routine, but the garage made this chore even more difficult.
After
After an epoxy floor makeover, wallpapering the walls, adding a countertop, and finishing it all with decorative accents, it’s hard to believe this is the same space. What was once a cold garage now looks like a cozy spot where you wouldn’t mind doing a couple of loads of laundry. To recreate this laundry room in your garage or small space, consider the following styling tips: To maintain the tidy look, Tokota has a recommendation: Edit often! “If you find things collecting dust, then perhaps it doesn’t belong on a shelf. Things that go on a shelf are items that you use at least weekly, bi-weekly at most,” she says.
