I finally got the first room done in my new condo, and it’s the laundry room! No surprise, as I often make a mess with cooking and have to wipe up lots of spills (welcome to the life of a food blogger and YouTuber).
Welcome To My New Laundry Room
I can’t believe I’ve been in my new condo five months as of this week. It’s been a whirlwind past few months and I feel like I’m sooo far behind on decorating my space (at least according to the calendar in my brain). If you follow my social media, you know I’ve had six trips already this year (it’s been bonkers!), which meant I didn’t even unbox most things until this past month.
But, I’m finally coming up for air. And with that, the first room is done – woohoo! Or at least done enough for now. I may go back and paint the walls or add wallpaper in the future, but I wanted to wait until the rest of the condo comes together first. Thus, I’ve kept things simple, modern, minimalist, and clean, but with lots of plants! If you know me, you know I love my plant babies.
The Washer and Dryer
Given that my life and work revolves around food, it’s probably no surprise that I often make a mess in the kitchen. And somehow, that mess often ends up down the front of me (it’s a talent I tell ya). So my first order of business was getting a large and powerful washer and dryer. I polled the community of Downshifters on Instagram, and by a landslide you guys recommended LG Electronics.
And now, after four months of use, I couldn’t be happier with them! It’s a small thing, but the intelligent pairing of cycles between the two machines is wonderful. And I love the cheery, upbeat music that plays after my drying cycle is complete. But most importantly, they do a fab job of washing and drying my clothes (priority number one, right?!). So if you’re in the market for a washer and drying, I can definitely recommend this setup:
- Washer: The large 5.0 cu. ft. capacity means I can do large loads without stuffing it too full. And I’m obsessed with the automatic dispenser, which means I can do 18 loads before having to add more detergent. That’s months of laundry!
- Dryer: I got the 7.4 cu. ft matching gas dryer (though it comes in electric as well). I love the black steel color on both machines, which contrasts with the white cabinets.
Watch the installation of my washer and dryer here:
Laundry Room Ideas and Organization
After the washer and dryer, I knew I needed a few things for organization and decor. And of course several plants! Here’s what I got:
- Wall Drying Rack: This is great for air drying delicates, sweaters, dresses, etc. And I love that it folds right up against the wall when not in use!
- Artwork: Given the cool grey tones of the room I wanted to warm things up with a gold frame that “popped” and matched the wood tray on the counter. This budget floral artwork was perfect!
- Glass Detergent Bottle: I decided to keep the detergent on the counter for decor. So I transferred the detergent from it’s not-so-pretty plastic container into this glass container.
- Detergent: I always use a “free and clear” detergent, either Tide or Seventh Generation.
- Stain Remover Bottle: I also transferred the stain remover from it’s plastic container and put it into this amber glass spray bottle.
- Stain Remover: I use a standard supermarket brand, as I’ve found more natural options are not as good at getting out stains. But if you’ve found one you love, let me know in the comments!
- Bamboo Scrub Brush: When I do get stains, I’ll spritz the stain remover on the clothing item and gently rub it with this scrub brush.
- Glass Container for Dryer Balls: This glass container is the perfect size for storing the extra set of dryer balls I keep on the counter.
- Dryer Balls: I have not used dryer sheets in over seven years! I love these non-toxic 100% organic wool dryer balls. And of course, I always get these ones from New Zealand (the motherland).
- Bottle Labels: I saw someone on Instagram use these waterproof labels and I thought they were so cute! I got mine on Etsy, but afterwards I found similar ones on Amazon.
- Woven Tray: I knew I wanted to add some wood tones to warm up the room, and this tray was perfect. Here’s a similar one on Amazon.
- Faux Aloe Plant: I had this little faux aloe plant in my apartment, and it adds a touch of green in an otherwise fairly dark corner. I also love this faux jade plant as another option.
- ZZ Plant: This is a real plant that I got from a local nursery, and it came pre-potted in that black pot. I love ZZ plants as they’re fairly no-fuss and do well in low-light conditions. I have a much larger one in my new office, which used to be in my old bedroom.
- Hand Vac: This small hand vac is perfect for vaccuming up small things when you don’t want to break out a larger vaccum. Love the sage green color too!
- Hanging Planters: If these hanging planters look familiar, it’s because they’re from my old bedroom. I did however plant new baby pothos plants in them. And I know they’ll thrive in front of that window! My old planters are no longer available, but I do love this one, this one, and this one.
- Gold Chain: The chain that came with my planters wasn’t long enough for my tall ceilings, so I bought extra chain to lengthen it. I got my MacGyvering skills from my mom!
- Ceiling Hooks: Make sure to get sturdy drywall hooks if you’re drilling into drywall. Water in the planters can add a bit of weight, though I’ve never had any issues with these.
It feels so good to finally get one room done! I might be on a roll now, so stay tuned for more decorating and organizing fun in the future. The next room will likely be a toss-up between my bedroom and the guest bedroom (aka mom’s room!).