Budget laundry makeover

[Gillgirl]

A laundry renovation to create a more functional space completed by D.I.Y. novices for $2000, including materials and the services of a plumber and electrician.

• The project
• Before and after
• More laundry projects

The project

We have lived in our house for over 25 years and I’m afraid it took Covid lockdowns to get me up and running on this laundry renovation project I had always wanted to do. Our laundry room was just a dumping ground for everything to do with cleaning and there was nowhere to put anything away. Plus we had a large laundry sink that was never used and took up too much space.

 

 

We had a plumber come in who removed the sink and capped off the taps behind the wall, but left us with a drainage pipe for the washing machine. We put in a new wall and plastered it to achieve a smooth finish.

The benchtop is around $99 from Bunnings. We got the Bunnings team to cut it to the exact size for our space. To hold it up we bought 30mm wide timber pieces and screwed them along the back and sides of the walls and laid the benchtop on top of these timber pieces. It was such a good fit that we didn’t need to do anything else, although you could screw under the benchtop through the battens to secure, if needed. I oiled the benchtop about three times and left to dry, then applied wax.

The cost of the renovation, including materials, a plumber and electrician cost us around $2000. We are both seniors with no D.I.Y. experience but plenty of "can do". We're willing to try and, if necessary, change any mistakes – there were plenty, but we're happy with the result.

Before and after

More laundry projects

Find more inspiration and ideas for your space in our Top 10 most popular laundry renovation projects.

[Josie83]

Hi I really need an makeover for my laundry room . Looks so ugly and boring . 

[Remarka6le]

Hey @Josie83 , welcome to the Bunnings Workshop Community, it's great to have you here. You've come to the right place to get advice &
inspiration for your Laundry. If you start a discussion with details of the space with some photos for reference, you'll have some suggestions in no time  

[Jason]

@Josie83,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. We're so pleased to have you join us and look forward to reading all about your projects and plans. 

I would recommend you start with this terrific article from experienced member @Adam_W - How to plan a laundry renovation.

Once you've had a good read, please hit the Start a discussion button and share your goals for the project, some photos and a basic sketch of your room layout with dimensions. We would be more than happy to assist you to get the result you are looking for.

Looking forward to seeing how we can assist in your laundry transformation.

Jason

[Wendy-Rose]

This is the closest I have seen to what I’m trying to do in my laundry. Thank you for the inspiration and a bit more confidence that I might be able to do this. - Wend 

[Remarka6le]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop Community @Wendy-Rose, it's great to have you here! 

A project like this is certainly do-able, and you'll find many projects are easier to take on then you would realise. The community is here to support you, so if you have any questions regarding your future build, feel free to make a post  

[SausanJoey]

Hi,

I want to start doing Laundry renovations, I have not done any DIYs before. It will be my first reno project on my first home. Would you guys be able to help me where do i start and all the how to's?

Thanks guys

[Remarka6le]

Hey @SausanJoey , welcome to the Bunnings Workshop Community! 

As @Jason said above, there's a great article by @Adam_W on How to plan a laundry renovation, It has a fantastic list of everything you'd need. 

If you post your current Laundry along with some measurements and a rough idea of what you're after by using the "Start a Discussion" tab at the top of this page, members of this community can give some help design wise to help you out. To get started, I would:

- Look at your current space and visualise what you want

- Design your space for maximum functionality (Bench Space, Storage, Deep Sink, Dirty Clothes Storage, Washer/Dryer, Clothes Hanging...)

- Choose a style that matches the house, or the style you're wanting the house to be with future renovations. 

- Measure! You want to get Wall to Wall, Floor to Ceiling, calculate floor space (if re-tilling), the size of your Washing Machine & Dryer, size and location of doors / windows, waste / pipe positioning, electrical point locations). 

If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask, everyone is here to help  

[EricL]

Hello @SausanJoey

Allow me to welcome you as well to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's fantastic to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about renovating your laundry.

It's great that you've received excellent advice from @Remarka6le. Before you begin buying tools or materials and removing cabinetry, I recommend taking a moment to draw your plan on paper. What would you like your laundry to look like? Do you need new tiles, flooring and a laundry tub in a cabinet? 

Would it be possible for you to post a photo of your current laundry set-up and its measurements? this will allow our members to assess your laundry set-up. We can then make recommendations on the best possible layout. 

It might take you some time, but once you have a plan in place, you'll be able to research the information that you'll need to accomplish your laundry renovation. I suggest arming yourself with information by looking at the different laundry renovation projects that our community members have shared.   

We look forward to seeing the photos of your laundry.

Eric

[SausanJoey]

@Remarka6le @EricL 

Thank you so much guys, I do have an idea what i want my laundry to look like, with 4 kids (including my husband) a fully functioning laundry would be a dream!!

I'm happy to post photos of our current laundry as soon as we get the keys to the house and this space will be flooded with questions and queries from me. I am excited but scared at the same time because i really do't know what to expect. I really can't wait! and of course we are aiming for a low budget project.

We will be asking for what tools will we be needing, and what materials are best for laundry. Just on top of my head I would like to change everything, the tiles, have a deep sink, have a bench for me to iron and fold clothes. I have a dryer and a washing machine. with the 2 machines, the laundry is a bit too small for them to be stacked on top each other. I would like them to be both on the floor side to side so i can have more bench space. Also, a storage for the vacuums the mops and cleaning products. A smart storage is what we aim for as well.

I will put in the measurements and will ask you guys on what and how to measure. My questions will be very "beginner's" questions so please bare with me. 

Again, thanks guys for being very supportive from the start and I can't wait to begin this and share this upcoming journey with you guys.

Sausan