Still Undecided On How To Use This Space (Plus, The Details I Obsess Over)
I am so excited about how my walk-in closet is coming together. I had to leave the house for about three hours yesterday, so I didn’t get quite as much painting done as I had hoped. But I did get some painting and more caulking done. And I have a full, uninterrupted workday ahead of me, so my goal is to get all of the cabinets on the right side painted, and then maybe even get the wallpaper up in the center cabinet section!
In the meantime, I’ve been thinking about the spaces above the washer and dryer. It’s very normal for me not to have all of the details of a project worked out when I start a project. Usually, the details just kind of work themselves out as I begin the work. But at this point, I’m pretty far along on this project, and I still don’t have the details worked out on what I want to do above the washer and dryer.
I’ve gone through several idea. You’ll remember that my original plan was to build cabinets above both of them. That’s what I showed in this mockup from a while back.
But I ruled that out pretty early on because the washer and dryer cabinets stick out pretty far, and with me being so short, I’d have to have a pretty tall ladder to be able to reach over the washer and dryer cabinets and into any cabinets that are up there.
Here’s a visual of just how tall the washer and dryer cabinets are. I’m only five feet tall, so the countertops on those cabinets literally come to the top part of my upper arm. (Please excuse my unbrushed hair and paint-covered shirt. 😀 )
My reach on this countertop is about to the front of the shallower closet cabinets.
If I really stretch and reach back as far as I can, my fingertips are still about 10-12 inches from the back wall.
So my latest plan that I came up with several weeks ago was to put a pulley-style drying rack above the washer. I’ve found some on Amazon, and the pulley system is attached to the ceiling with something like a rope attached to a side wall that would allow me to lower and raise the drying rack. But again, in order for that to be useful to me, it would have to be installed towards the front of the washer cabinet rather than be tucked into the area beside the shallower shelf unit next to it.
The more I think about it, the more I don’t like that idea because (1) in order to use the pulley drying rack, I’d have to lower the rack so low that it would practically be sitting on top of the washer countertop for me to place things on it, and (2) y’all know how obsessed I am about symmetry, and having a drying rack hung so that I could actually reach it would make it visible from the entrance of the room, which would not only throw off the symmetry around the window, but it would just look ugly in front of that wallpapered wall. But really, just from a practical standpoint, I can’t imagine it being that useful to me with me being so short.
I thought about putting open shelves above the washer and dryer, but I’m right back to the same problem. If I’m having to reach over and up, I can only reach so far as the front of the shelf unit next to it. So anything I store on those shelves would either be things that I almost never use (in which case, why even have them?), or they would be merely decorative.
I’m telling you, being only five feet tall is a real pain sometimes. 😀 I know being tall sometimes presents its own set of problems (like finding pants that are long enough), but there are times I wish I could swap my short girl problems for tall girl problems. 😀
So I’m kind of feeling stuck in planning this area. I thought the solution would have presented itself by this point, but it hasn’t. And unless someone has a great idea for me, I think I’m just going to make or buy some pretty artwork to hang above the washer and dryer and leave it at that.
Or I could put up some very shallow shelves that would serve a decorative purpose only, kind of like the shelves I have in the breakfast room.
And then I could add some colorful artwork to those shelves. But I really don’t see these areas being of any practical use to me at all.
And I’m not really sad about it, to be honest. This closet already has more storage than I’ve ever had in my entire life. And I still have an island to build, which will have loads of drawers in it. I’ll have more storage than I’ll know what to do with.
And as far as hanging clothes to dry, I think I’ll have plenty of room in this section of the closet…
That section is pretty much my “overflow” section. The other two hanging sections have specific purposes. The center one is for shirts (one bar for short sleeve, one bar for long sleeve), and the section on the right is for pants and dresses.
And I intentionally put the one for pants and dresses on the right side rather than having it on the left side up against the cabinet flanking the doorway. So I could use the “overflow” section for hanging wet clothes to dry. They’ll be right out of the washer, so it’s not like they’ll be dripping wet.
Anyway, unless someone has a brilliant idea of how I can use that space practically, I think I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s just going to be pretty space rather than useful space.
Another detail I’m trying to work out in my mind is the wallpaper. I mentioned above that I’m hoping to have the center section of the cabinets wallpapered by the end of the day today, or tomorrow at the latest. And now I’m wondering about the pattern. So here’s my question.
The wallpaper has a very definite 27″ vertical repeat. Does the pattern on the wallpaper in the cabinet section need to line up perfectly (or as perfectly as possible) with the wallpaper pattern on the back wall? If it’s hung a bit lower in the cabinet section so that the pattern doesn’t line up perfectly with the back wall, will that look off? Will it look like a mistake?
It will make a difference in how much wallpaper is required, and I’ll have to figure out if I have enough wallpaper if it needs to be hung in both areas at the exact same height so that the patterns line up exactly.
And also, should I wallpaper the side of these cabinets so that the wallpaper looks more balanced when looking at these areas straight on? Or should I just keep the wallpaper to the wall areas, and paint the side of the cabinet and leave it at that? I kind of think that would look lopsided.
*Sigh* These are the details that I stress over and obsess about. It always helps me to make these decisions if I can see examples of it done both ways, but so far, I haven’t been able to find any examples to help me decide.
More About My Walk-In Closet/Laundry Room
see all walk-in closet/laundry
room diy projects
read all walk-in closet/laundry
room blog posts
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Is it too late in the game to add a wall sconce to the areas above the washer and dryer? They definitely seem like just decorative zones with how much of a pain it would be to regularly access them, but like you said, plenty of storage elsewhere 🙂
As for the wallpaper repeat, could photoshop the pattern onto the walls in the photo that shows both of them, so you can see how the repeat would look if it was placed differently?
Similar to Lyra, my mind also went to lighting above the washer and dryer… but BIG pendants hanging from the ceiling. Something that really helps fill that space and looks pretty.
Oh, I had never even thought about pretty pendant lights! I LOVE that idea!
Really pretty big pendant lights are a great idea!! While I’m sure that area is pretty bright with the window, adding lights to those corners right over the laundry area is really functional too!
In a similar vein, if it was my house, I’d probably do big disco balls (not lit) – I love the way the light reflects off of disco balls. It’s what I have above my tub, so two would be ever better. However, I don’t think that’s your vibe 🙂 but beautiful pendant lights totally is!
Kristi – I don’t think the wallpaper pattern has to match between the jewelry/coset section and the back wall. I do think you should wallpaper the outside of the closet cabinet simply for your own symmetry loving sanity. 🙂
The wallpaper inside the cabinet, I think, should just be chosen for how it looks there. It will have a mirror over it, so pattern won’t be so obvious. I vote no wallpaper on side of cabinets, would look little like not part of all cabinets. Third, I’m voting for artwork over washers dryer.
My DIL has wall sconces in her nursery that are battery operated. No wiring necessary.
I would not worry about shelves above the washer dryer. If you cannot reach for supplies you will not be able to reach to dust. With so much fabric and the dryer in the room dust will accumulate quickly. As for the paint vs wall paper on the wooden side. I think that the fact that it is wood is enough of a change to leave it painted. As for the matching the wall paper seams. Your eye will search out the mismatched seam every time. You will know it is there and look for it automatically. Keep your lovely closet as a happy place and match the seams. Your future self will thank you.
Sheila F.
Let the wallpaper shine. Sometimes a wall just needs to be a wall. Dont force it if its not going to practical for you. I think if you get close to the match of the wallpaper the eye wont notice since its separated by they cabinet.
If you install closed cabinets over the washer and dryer, you could use a pull down system. I know they are expensive, but you would have access to the cabinet and a place to store the not attractive items for a laundry room. Something like this would make use of the space.
That’s a great idea, but yikes! That’s expensive! The Rev-a-Shelf brand is $570 on Amazon. I can’t see myself paying that much for something like that.
Well, you have the skills. What about this
I think Kristi might still be too short to reach it to lower it.
You can usually find them way cheaper or knock off ones on wayfair or ebay.
I thought the same thing as C about the wall pull down system. You could use the hook of a cane to grab it. Then you’d have to have a place to store it, which could go on the overflow rod. But maybe that’s more trouble than simply using the overflow rod? You’ll be the best judge of most of these questions. I wouldn’t need to wallpaper the sides, but I don’t require as much symmetry as you. If you pursue art in lieu of storage over the washer and dryer, I would hang one large piece of art vs. display shelves due to the expected lint generation. I can’t imagine needing to dust multiple small frames and display items all the time.
#1 I am thinking rather than artwork, what about hanging matching mirrors over the appliances? This would help to bounce light into the room more, and would not compete with the wallpaper. (I think art will be too complicated to coordinate with the wallpaper.) #2 I would paint the side of the shelving rather than paper it, as it is still part of the cabinet structure, not a “wall.” #3 If you really “need” a drying rack, I would mount rods like your jewelry rods above the appliances (one on each) at the forward part of the closet shelving, across to the window wall. They would not be that obvious, but would serve well to use for drip drying.
Forgot! #4 The wallpaper should be the same at the ceiling on all planes, or your eye will notice!
It may be a bit tricky, but I would definitely line up with the wallpaper design on the back wall with the wallpaper in the center section of your cabinetry. I wouldn’t feel a need to have anything over the washer and dryer. You’ll have the pretty wallpaper there and artwork over that may be a distraction and frames need dusting. I would not wallpaper the side of the cabinetry – that’s part of the cabinetry and not a wall.
If you put decorative shelves above the washer and dryer, wouldn’t they be a pain to clean? Maybe once you get the wallpaper hung that will be enough pattern and color.
It would definitely be a pain. I’d probably only do it once every couple of months. Or never. 😀
I personally would face out shelves like the rest of the room has. You will need storage for laundry detergent, etc. You could put them on the bottom shelf sitting right on top of the washer and dryer, and use the additional shelves for pretty little things. It looks great! I love following your work. Your energy, building skills and design are amazing!
This isn’t 100% on topic, but since you mentioned hanging clothes to dry in one of the sections of the closet, what about clothes that you have to lay flat to dry, like sweaters that need to be reblocked? Do you have a plan for those? Will there be some sort of smooth, waterproof top on the washer or dryer cabinet to lay things flat while they are drying? If not, perhaps consider incorporating a drying rack — it could lay flat to the cabinet and pull out on drawer glides when you need to use it so it is inconspicuous.
She could use the top of the island for that.
I’m another that immediately thought of a pull down system but like the idea of pendant lights if you don’t need more storage. As for the wall paper. You obviously need to match the paper where it’s seam to seam but where there’s cabinets inbetween I can’t see as an exact match is necessary. Above your jewellery storage you will be covering a lot of the paper with a mirror so the eye is unlikely to be drawn to any minor mismatch between that and the washer/dryer areas.
My sister installed one of these: https://www.amazon.com/ZdwCyl-Retractable-Collapsible-Tri-Fold-Bathroom/dp/B095CT7BFG
She’s also short but love this because she can load up the hangers with the arm swung out to be accessible, then just use a hanger to push it over the machine for the clothes to dry – the best of both worlds! Hers is white which blends in best with her laundry room.
That is a great idea. I am going to look into it for myself. Thanks
This is really cool! Just ordered one. Thanks for sharing!
My situation: a laundry closet/nook adjacent to the bottom of stairs at an entrypoint in the kitchen. That becomes a drop zone. I ‘ve given up on pretty. I’m going for not a drop zone and easy to keep neat. So above mine I have blank shelf brackets. The are 32″ apart. It magically was the perfect width to hold a stack of chunky handled baskets off the floor. I’ve removed the doors the doors that would then block the stairs, even bifold.
So the short wall side you don’t see from the entry. I placed a wall control panel and have some flexible laundry storage. The opposite short wall I have a hanging bar- That ended up too high to be useful, so it holds a single hanging bag that holds delicates bags/containment. I do love my partially hidden storage because it has all I need to start a load on it & put back to not leave stuff out.
On that- I’d go light and not permanent on decorating and styling details for you until you settle in. Those two tops are going to become drop zones where stuff collects. Maybe just get two identical pretty baskets/boxes you hide essentials in, and prevent a shove-and-go-collection you can’t reach without a step stool.
I haven’t read through the comments to see if anyone else had this idea, but I was thinking you could frame some of the wallpaper as art and use those above the cabinets.
You could put some medium-large baskets on top of the washer & dryer for stuff like laundry detergent, etc. (the not so pretty stuff required to do laundry).
I would only paper the outside wall. I would paint behind the cabinets with the wall color and paint the outside of the built-ins with the cabinet color. I like your idea of some kind of art on the painted wall. I don’t think it is necessary for the wallpaper in the center section to align with the outside wall. There is a lot of stuff between them, and you want the center wallpaper to look like it’s a picture framed by the cabinets.
Agree with this recomendation. Also leave the top empty, I have shelves over mine and it’s a great place for long term storage of stuff (extra rags, pet towels etc) but not regularly accessed at all. Build out everything else, start using it, and see what happens to those flat areas. When you wash other than clothing (towels, sheets, rugs etc), that flat area might become more useful than you think.
In the closet industry we use a Wardrobe Lift for this very reason- it’s a hanging bar for clothes that pivots as you pull down towards you. The center pull arm is extendable, made for people of all heights and ranges of mobility. Any google search will find one, we get ours from rev-a-shelf and Hafele
I would do closed storage over the W/D, the same depth of the shelves beside it, all the way from ceiling to top of the W/D. I realize you wouldn’t use this storage much since it would be difficult to reach, but it could be used for holiday or seasonal items. Then you would still have surface above W/D and wouldn’t have to worry about items getting pushed too far back to reach. Art/decor would be pretty but not necessary since the wallpaper is such a statement.
Have you considered a pulleymaid system? They are used on Scotland and the UK and are so practical and attractive. They are easily diy’d.
These are also called a ceiling mounted clothes drying rack airer. I envision this mounted on the ceiling centered on your window.
No wallpaper on cabinets. Wallpaper only on window wall – treat it as an accent wall in your room. As far as back walls above washer and dryer, it will be a place where it gets accessed only infrequently so storage of some type (cabinet or baskets), but for things that are not heavy, or use for display. My mind is blank on what that could be though LOL
Oh, and top of wallpaper should match across all surfaces even though the walls are not next to each other. Your eye will notice.
I, too, love symmetry (and hung wallpaper professionally) but I don’t think your eye is going to see things on the same plane easily. The W/D tops don’t line up with the jewelry top and even the ceiling will not line up due to the closet construction. With so much distraction, I don’t think it will matter but you should probably do a mockup before you make your decision.
I’d put shallow shelved cupboards, about 12-15″ deep, above your washer and dryer, with the fronts lined up with the fronts of the machines. I’d either leave the space behind as dead, or find an alternative way to access it for long term storage – maybe have the cupboards swing out on hidden hinges? Or could you get at the spaces from the other sides of the walls?
I have a weird, mishapen, shallow alcove in one bedroom. I put a standard IKEA Pax wardrobe in front but mounted it on five castors so that it can be slid out to get into the alcove. I keep leftover paint there, for touch ups.
What about hanging plants above washer and dryer, or shelves to hold some nice houseplants?
I would store empty suitcases there. Out of the way, and you can reach the bottom of them so it isn’t a problem getting them out.
I feel you on the short stuff!!! I’m 5’3″ and the cabinets above my front load washer and dryer are pretty useless. I do keep extra supplies in there, but not stuff I have to get often. I would paint above the washer/dryer area, put your little shelves up and put up pretty pictures. I would then wallpaper the back wall around the window. With it being on a different wall, I wouldn’t think the patterns would need to line up as much. Just my thoughts….
Hang a pretty plant (real or fake) from the ceiling in the spaces over the washer and dryer.
I immediately thought of a plant – maybe a fern. Plants always bring a natural feel to a room. It could easily be taken down every few months to mist/spray down the leaves due to any lint accumulation. Everything is looking wonderful.
Also 5’ here. I have tall cabinets in my laundry room that require a step stool, and still find them invaluable for so many things I want to keep, but don’t access often….. leftover fabric, sewing patterns & notions, seasonal decor, flower vases, extra planters, etc etc. It’s not like you to let useful space be wasted.
There is no need to perfectly match up the wallpaper repeat. Your beautiful mirror will take up much of that space; your eye will only see that it’s the same paper on the back wall.
You don’t have to have something hanging from every inch of wall space. Blank space lets your eye rest. If you wallpaper the outside of the cabinet wall beside the washer and dryer, then you will have to wallpaper the outside wall above the washer and dryer or it will look off. Just wallpaper the wall facing the fronts of the washer and dryer as you face it. Then be done with it. If you drench the room, the outside wall, the end if the cabinets, and all the window will be blue anyway, right? I don’t think anyone but you will be in your closet to check to see if paper behind the washer matches exactly with the paper in the open space with the mirror. But you knowing it, will bother you so you’d better match it across. Put pretty little/small matching mirrors over the washer and dryer. That would cheer up the area. And of course clean off the washer and dryer spaces. The look will be totally different.
You are amazing talented.
I am 5’9 in a house with 9 ft ceilings. I have 2 tools that are almost Velcroed to me:
1. A 4 ft long grabber/reacher tool with corrugated pads at the tips.
2. A clothes hanger reaching hook. The hook looks like the number 4 where the top point is open.
My clothes bars are 8 ft above the floor and a second bar about 30″ below that. This allows me space on the floor for storage, shoes, etc.
My W/D are both on pedestals which makes reaching over them a major PITA. My circuit panel is over the dryer. My solution was to pick up an old ski pole from a thrift store and use that to push the breakers on & off as needed.
There’s always a solution. BTW, my BFF is 4’11”. She’s like a spider monkey climbing around on things to do what she needs to do.
5′ here…I need the “4′ long grabber reacher thing” for the grocery store. It would beat racing to the kitchen serving utensil aisle, finding the longest handled thing I can reach, taking said item back to the aisle of the item I need that I can’t reach, knocking the item down with the long handled serving item, then returning the long handled serving item back where it came from.
Does the 4′ long grabber reacher thing have a name? Or is it one of those garbage picker upper things?
Leave the wall plain. There’s enough going on with the wallpaper. No need to cover everything single wall…and match that wallpaper or it will drive you crazy!
I really like hangers in easy reach from the dryer so I can hang up most things as I take them out. Mine were just on hooks on the wall in my last house. One for empty pants hangers, one for regular hangers and one for the freshly hung clothes before I take them back to the closet. You might consider something like that, maybe on the wall on either side of the window?
Having said that, I’m in favor of leaving the wallpapered walls blank for now and being guided by functional needs once you start using the space.
No wallpaper on the side of cabinets.
I would paint the wall the same color as the shelves and forget it. You really don’t want to do dusting over the washer and dryer. You will have a window covering, and that is enough action for the area.
No wallpaper on sides of cabinets. That is part of closet/cabinets. Just paint like the rest. Wallpaper on back wall around window and above appliances is perfect. Try to line it up with side wallpaper or you will forever be irritated with it being just a tad off. Pendant lights above appliances sound wonderful. That’s my 2 cents worth. 😁😁
I am thinking you are way overthinking this. But I like just the back wall of the W/D wallpapered, not the side of the cabinets. I also love the shelves you have in your breakfast room above the TV and buffet with all the stuff you have on it. I have seen pull down clothes racks that are used to hang clothes high in your closet and you use a pole to bring it down, no pully from the ceiling type of thing. It is kind of on some sort of swivel thing. I know what I mean, but hard to explain. Maybe over the washer or dryer on top of the wallpaper, hang another mirror to reflect the light or those shelves like over the buffet. Possibly you could do that last after the rest is almost done to see how it actually looks and what you need or what would look best.
I’m all for more storage if it’s an option. Especially if you shop at warehouses like Sam’s or Costco, you could use upper cabinets for overflow / backup for items that don’t expire – like paper products, cleaning supplies, etc. Then access those spaces with your step ladder as needed, since it won’t be often. If you don’t think you need that – go for pretty!!
WHERE Will your mirrors go
Will Matt being sharing this closet
I’m only 5” 3’ and have your exact washer and dryer and I have cabinets above them and can only easily reach the bottom shelf. However I only need a small 3 step stool to access the other 2 shelves. I put some baskets on the second shelf and can just reach to pull them down and keep things in them that I don’t use every day but do need to access to fairly often. The top shelf is for things I only use infrequently.
Those extra 3″ mean the difference between being able to “just reach” the second shelf and not being able to reach it at all.
How about mirror above the laundry countertops – it would reflect the outdoors
from the window and the wall paper on the back wall…make it go cabinet-to-wall and countertop-to- ceiling – it’ll create an expanded space illusion! Not sure what lighting you have planned for enlightening your laundry area, but you have a number of options there for that…also, you could hang a lush fern or such that would be doubled in front of the mirrors…just keep it simple – it could be magical…
You can set your cabinets further forward. Frame out a fake back wall so they’re even with the front of your washer. You won’t know they’re shallow unless you open the doors. I saw someone do that with cabinets over a refrigerator and it makes sense. Then they could be even with the side panel so the machines look more built in.
Get you a large pretty basket to go on top of your dryer. On your washing machine do a pretty tray (I did the scallop rattan one from Serena & Lily) or you could do one of the lacquered ones, with glass canisters. I put dryer balls in my big one, Shout color catchers in the medium one and Downy beads in the small one for some color. I used a cute little Coton Colors cube for my dryer sheets. I also put a cornflower blue Kit Scalloped LED lamp from Ballards.
How about wallpapering just the window wall by the w/d. And, also the part of the w/d cabinets that face into the room. That way it’ll be a visual trick seeing that blend into the window wall.
This is brilliant
I absolutely would NOT do open shelving above the washer/dryer. This is going to be a naturally dusty room between the dryer and the clothes closet. Those shelves are going to be a nightmare to reach to clean.
Unless you’d like the storage cabinets for very occasionally needed things (seasonal items or the extra large crockpot you use only twice a year–I know you have the pantry, but you get my drift) then I’d go with artwork and leave it at that. And I do like the idea of something pretty hidden in those nooks to brighten your day as you do the laundry.
I think wallpaper on the walls, solely. Otherwise the wow value gets diluted, besides it being more balanced just adding it to the wall areas.
I also vote for pretty lighting over both washer and dryer. Would be gorgeous and “so Kristi”!
I’ll suggest lighting for those corners, task and ambient.
Mirrors are an idea, but still require dusting like pendants.
Art would likely clash with the wallpaper.
I remember seeing some accessible pull down options in one of the Make it Right episodes for a wheelchair bound client in an apartment kitchen. Metal inserts that held shelf contents and could be easily pulled down or pushed up for easy reach either by hand or a pole. The entire group of cabinets had those in a tiny galley kitchen.
I see from other commenters they are pricey, but check discount places, you have found bargains before.
Use one as an ironing/steaming area with the ironing pads from Amazon?
I can’t remember if you included an ironing/steaming area.