Whenever I go on the fancy schmancy tours of homes, there’s one room that impresses me more than the rest – the decorated laundry room. It is the epitome of domestic bliss. And so it always becomes my fantasy future, that someday I too will have a laundry room worthy of decorating.
Someday. Someday when I have a home that is larger, grander.
Last week I visited family, including my dad, whose wife is the most gifted decorator I have ever known. Their house is neither large nor grand, yet so warm and inviting that you just want to curl up and stay a while. And yes, the laundry room is decorated. Actually, come to think of it, I don’t know how decorated it really is. What I noticed was the lamp, because that one detail makes such a difference. It’s so nice to be greeted by what one friend calls a ‘little puddle of light’.
I didn’t need to wait until I had a larger laundry room, a grander home. In fact, I used to have a huge laundry room that sat fluorescently lit and white walled for years. My plain laundry room had been bugging me for some time but I hadn’t done anything about it. But now I was inspired (not to mention out of excuses) so I set to work making my lovely little closet a more pleasant place.
First, it had to be clean. I ironed everything on the rod (including the linens that had sat there since Thanksgiving). I scrubbed and reorganized, making a place for everything, and even finding a spot to add corner shelving on the side of the pantry. (Yes, it’s a laundry room AND a pantry!) I made full use of the space behind the door with a handy gadget that mounts to the wall and now holds my ironing board and iron.
I hung pictures that were collecting dust in the closet on the wall behind the rod. I’m hoping these will inspire me to keep up with the ironing, which will hang on the rod, obscuring the view until it’s done.
Finally, I found a little lamp – also in the closet. I added a tray, and to keep it from collecting clutter I put a picture frame and my little angel bust. Now instead of being a holding area for stuff I’m just procrastinating taking action on, the laundry room is part of my home that I can enjoy. Instead of having to close the door when people come over, it has become an the extension of my kitchen. And because it has a window, it’s an extra source of light. And then there’s that little puddle left by the cozy lamp. That makes me smile.
Beware, the lamp light is addictive. And men don’t always understand. I ran the washer and dryer the other day and closed the door to block the sound. But I didn’t turn out the lamp. When my husband asked why it was on, I shrugged.
Just to greet me when I open the door.
Go, be inspired. Inspired yourself. And most of all, if something is bugging you, change it!
The other day my daughter was searching through the dryer for socks and couldn’t find a match for the one she wanted. “I’ll look in the Sock Finder,” she said. Apparently that’s what she’s dubbed the little plastic box where I keep lonely socks until I finally have the stomach to toss them out. (Because the day after you do, some sweet faced child shows up with the match that he found in the Lego box.)
I know a lot of people have a place for single socks, but I didn’t realize some people actually abandon the whole matching process altogether, opting instead for a big ole basket-o-socks. I’m not sure my laundry room is large enough for that. Is it that hard to match socks? Maybe other families have more socks than we do.
What’s your sock issue?
