Simple Laundry Room Makeover Ideas: Small Updates With Big Impact

Plus 4 Brown Outfit Ideas for Women Over 50

A laundry room makeover doesn’t require a full renovation. With a few strategic updates—smart storage, decorative prints, and better organization—you can transform a tired, chaotic space into one that feels intentional and even beautiful. Here’s exactly how I refreshed my laundry room in an afternoon, plus four outfits that lean into brown, the sleeper hit of my winter wardrobe.

It’s Never Too Late for a Little Update

One thing I’ve learned—both in style and in life—is this: It’s never too late and you’re never too old for a refresh.

Not your home. Not your wardrobe. Not your mindset.

A zhuzhed laundry room. A new sweater in a bold shade. A fresh haircut that makes you stand a little taller.

Women our age? We’re just getting started. And if a small update makes your day feel brighter, lighter, or simply more beautiful… that’s not vanity. That’s vitality.

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How to Give Your Laundry Room a Makeover (Without a Renovation)

The fastest way to refresh a laundry room is to paint, upgrade your containers, add intentional artwork, and create zones for everything. Here’s exactly what I did:

Start With Paint (The Biggest Transformation)

Before I touched anything else, I had the cabinets and built-in shelves painted Sherwin-Williams Smoke Gray—a soft blue-gray that reads sophisticated without feeling cold. I added new cabinet pulls, too. The walls got a fresh coat of Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, a warm white that keeps the room bright.

It completely changed the space. What once felt dated and builder-basic suddenly looked intentional and custom.

I also swapped out the old light fixture for a 6-Light Gold Semi Flush—a small upgrade that made the room feel brighter and more polished.

Beth’s Tip: If you’re only going to do one thing in your laundry room makeover, paint the cabinets. It’s the fastest way to make the space feel finished and designed.

Add Functional Wall Art That’s Actually Useful

I added a trio of minimalist laundry prints framed in matte black—clean, crisp, and surprisingly useful:

• Stain Removal Chart (a lifesaver)
• Laundry Symbols Guide (finally decoded)
• Laundry Room Open 24 Hours (because… it is)

They instantly gave the walls intention and personality.

Contain the Chaos With Pretty Storage

One of the best additions? A Nedura bamboo washer dryer countertop in dark walnut. It sits right on top of the machines, has curved edge rails so nothing rolls off, and anti-vibration pads underneath. Suddenly, I have a real surface to work with—and it looks beautiful.

On top of it, Half Gallon Storage Jar for OxyClean and Gallon Storage Jar for Tide, and specialty detergents, The Laundress Beauty Sleep and The Laundress Delicate Wash (my forever favorite), and a stain brush for clothes.

A drying rack is a MUST for me, and I had it painted to match the cabinets. And a beautiful ceramic lamp adds a nice glow at night.

Laundry Through the Years

In the 1920s, laundry meant a washboard and a strong back.

By the 1950s, it was pastel appliances and jingles promising ‘whiter whites.’

In the 1980s, we had power suits, shoulder pads, and dryer sheets.

Then came the early 2000s — scented beads, color-catching sheets, and enough detergent pods to launch a spaceship.

And now? It’s 2025 — sustainability is chic, machines are smarter than our phones, and style isn’t just what you wear — it’s how you care for it.

Here’s the thing — we spend so much time talking about what to wear and how to wear it… but we rarely talk about how to take care of what we already own.

Our clothes are an investment — not just in our wardrobes, but in ourselves.

When you care for them, they last longer, look better, and tell your story with a little more polish.

Organize Shelves by Category and Color

On the shelves above, a few laundry-care books (because I am obsessed with books) filled with stain hacks and fabric-care wisdom: The Folding Book, Laundry Hints & Tips, The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Clothes, and of course, the Queen of homekeeping always has a space on my shelf: Marth Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook. I popped a Sea & Dune reed diffuser on top of the books for long-lasting scent. Plus, the glass container can be used as a vase.

I placed an oversized apothecary jar for dryer balls (they once roamed freely like small, woolen escape artists) and linen-scented sachets. It looks elevated, smells wonderful, and keeps everything contained.

This was the biggest transformation. I reorganized everything so the shelves look cohesive instead of chaotic:

• Olive green storage bins 
• Half Gallon Storage Jar for OxyClean and Gallon Storage Jar for Tide
• Whitmore Dryer Balls for sheets and blankets
• Woold Dryer Balls for clothes
• Clear jars with labels for pods, scent boosters, and clothespins
• Sea & Dune reed diffuser
• Woven baskets for towels and cleaning cloths
• Bleach Pump Bottle
• A faux plant for a little life
• A bowl of striped dish towels
• The Laundress Beauty Sleep and The Laundress Delicate Wash detergent 
• Stain brush for clothes
• A few laundry-care books filled with stain hacks and fabric-care wisdom:
• The Folding Book
• Laundry Hints & Tips
• The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Clothes
• Washable Ruggable Area Rug in front of the washer and dryer

🎁 Holiday Gift Card Raffle — Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card

To celebrate the season — and to thank you for being here — I’m hosting a Holiday Gift Card Raffle!

November’s prize:
✨ A $100 Amazon Gift Card ✨

How to enter:
Just leave a comment on today’s post and share what you loved about this post or what you love about SaaCA.
Boom — you’re entered!

Winner announced:
📅 December 1

I can’t wait to read your comments!

Install Hooks for Daily Drops

A stainless steel peg rack (similar here) now holds my quilted coat, a tartan fedora, Oscar’s leash, and whatever bag I drop the minute I walk in. Suddenly, the space looks curated instead of cluttered.

Upgrade the Pet Station Too

Since Oscar and Ollie basically live in the laundry room (it’s where they eat, drink, and supervise my folding), I upgraded their setup too.

Oscar now has a oneisall dog water fountain—filtered, circulating water that he actually drinks more of. Ollie got a LoeJan elevated cat food bowl, which is better for digestion and looks so much chicer than the old plastic dish. Underneath both stations? Neater Pet Brands pet mats that catch splashes and crumbs and wipe clean in seconds.

It’s a small thing, but having their corner look intentional instead of chaotic makes the whole room feel more pulled together.

5 Easy Laundry Room Updates With the Biggest Payoff

What’s the easiest way to start a laundry room makeover? Focus on these five updates that deliver the most visual impact for the least effort:

1. Upgrade your containers. If it’s sitting out, make it pretty. Clear jars, woven baskets, and matching bins instantly elevate the room.
   
2. Add artwork. Functional prints double as decor. Laundry symbols never looked so chic.
   
3. Use a lamp. Yes, a lamp in the laundry room. Warm light creates instant coziness.
   
4. Label everything. Future you will thank past you. Plus, it looks tidy.
   
5. Embrace scent. Sachets, quality detergent, or dryer sheets add sensory joy to a utilitarian space.

How to Wear Brown This Winter: 4 Outfit Ideas for Women Over 50

Brown is the sleeper hit of winter dressing. While black, gray, and navy dominate cold-weather wardrobes, brown brings warmth, richness, and quiet elegance to the mix. Here are four ways I’m wearing it this season:

Outfit 1: Elevated Athleisure in Soft Taupe

Soft taupe leggings + a white sweatshirt + white sneakers.

Beth’s Style Tip: Choose lighter browns—mushroom, taupe, mocha—for athleisure. They look luxe without trying.

Outfit 2: Chocolate Corduroy With Suede Boots

A chocolate corduroy shirtdress layered over a striped tee, paired with tall suede boots.

Beth’s Style Tip: If you’re going monochromatic in brown, mix textures. Corduroy + suede = instant depth.

Outfit 3: Cobalt + Cocoa (A Winter Power Combo)

A cobalt sweater with soft brown pants and navy loafers. Bright, cheerful, and winter-ready.

Beth’s Style Tip: Brown plays beautifully with bold colors—cobalt, red, emerald—when you want something fresh.

Outfit 4: Luxe Layers in Cocoa & Gray

This look is a masterclass in mixing textures while staying in the brown family. I paired a rich, cocoa-brown faux fur vest with a soft gray V-neck sweater layered over a crisp white shirt. The coated brown pants add just the right amount of edge, and suede booties keep things grounded and polished.

It’s cozy without being bulky, chic without being fussy—the perfect “running errands but looking expensive” outfit.

Beth’s Style Tip: When your outfit uses mostly neutrals, add interest through texture. Faux fur, coated denim, suede, wool—they create movement and depth without a single pattern in sight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Laundry Room Makeover FAQs

What’s the easiest place to start in a laundry room makeover?

Containers. Clear jars and matching bins make the biggest visual impact with the least effort.

Are open shelves realistic for a busy household?

Absolutely—if you organize by category and stick to a simple color palette for baskets and bins.

Do dryer balls really work?

Yes. They speed up drying time and reduce wrinkles. Plus, they look adorable in a jar.

How do you keep a laundry room from smelling musty?

A combination of quality detergent, linen sachets, and regularly wiping down the washer gasket.

How often should you declutter the laundry room?

Once a quarter—toss expired products, consolidate duplicates, and wipe everything down.

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A Gentle Reminder as We Head Into a New Week

If this laundry room glow-up taught me anything, it’s this: You’re never too old, and it’s never too late to update something in your life.

A room. A routine. A way of dressing. A way of thinking.

Small shifts open doors. Start where you are.