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    Home » Home Decorating » Laundry Room

    Published: Nov 14, 2020 · Modified: Mar 12, 2022 by Rachel

    Laundry Room Makeover: Custom Cabinets and Shelves (How To)

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
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    Add storage space to your laundry room with this affordable makeover. Learn how to install cabinets and shelves yourself in the laundry room to store detergents, cleaning supplies and other laundry room items.

    Collage of before and after laundry room cabinet installation with post title.
    Contents show
    1 Options for Cabinets and Shelving
    2 Installation Materials
    3 How To Install Cabinets
    3.1 Step One: Measure and Mark the Wall
    3.2 Step 2: Put Up A Ledger Board (Recommended, Not Required)
    3.3 Step 3: Hanging Multiple Laundry Room Cabinets
    3.4 Step 4: Mount the laundry wall cabinets
    3.5 Step 5: How to Fix Wall Gaps
    4 Adding Laundry Room Shelves
    5 Caulking for Built-Ins
    6 FAQs
    7 DIY Laundry Room Makeover

    Whether you have a small laundry closet or a dark basement, installing cabinets and shelves increases the function and storage space. Closed cabinets add a sleek style while open shelving is convenient and can increase your workspace. Including a mix of storage types helps you maximize space while being a breath of fresh air in an otherwise utilitarian space.

    Laundry room cabinets boost function in your washer-dryer space. Providing streamlined organization and a polished look, they can make laundry-day tasks feel like less of a chore. Design smart laundry room storage with these helpful tips.

    We often get questions about our design builds, especially because we do everything ourselves. Today, I thought I would take your though our design process, step-by-step of how to install cabinets in a laundry room, and answer many of the questions we have received about this affordable makeover.

    Options for Cabinets and Shelving

    Let’s start with the “Before”: This is the condition in which we purchased the house.

    Basic white laundry room with white appliances with simple rack shelf with laundry supplies.

    We have a small laundry closet which I put shelves in before this. This space is so small that I am literally standing inside that tiny 2×2 closet to get this photo.

    I’m not sure if there is any organizational item that I hate more than cheap wire shelving. Stuff falls off or tips over, it often bows from weight, and it is very unattractive. The absolute worst is that these builder grade wire shelves never utilize the space well.

    This makeover utilizes stock cabinets you can find at a big box home improvement store. We used a 30-inch cabinet, but standard widths for double hanging cabinets include 24, 30, 33, 36, and 48 inches. Single cabinets are usually 12 or 18 inches wide.

    Installation Materials

    Cabinets:

    • Cabinets
    • Stud Finder (Optional)
    • Laser Level (Optional)
    • Tape Measure
    • A straight board to use as a ledger
    • Wood shims
    • Padded Clamps
    • Level
    • Ladder
    • Drill and Bits for screws
    • 2 ½ inch Cabinet Screws
    • Filler Bar if a gap exists between the wall and the cabinets

    Shelves:

    • Shelving material – we used Melamine shelves and cut them to size
    • Screws and Nails
    • Caulk (Optional)

    How To Install Cabinets

    The great thing is that cabinet installation isn’t really any harder than putting up shelves. You will need some help lifting the cabinets up onto a wall, but the process is fairly simple.

    Step One: Measure and Mark the Wall

    Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs. The wall studs are crucial to properly support the weight of the cabinets.

    Measure the height and width of the cabinets and mark their placement on the wall. I recommend having at least two studs to bear the weight of a larger or multiple cabinets.

    Draw a level horizontal line across the wall where the bottom of the cabinet will sit. The line should be a true level. On this line, mark the studs so you can see the marks when the cabinet is hung.

    ***Note: Pay careful attention to the position of all electrical wiring and plumbing.

    Step 2: Put Up A Ledger Board (Recommended, Not Required)

    A ledger board can make it easier to hang a cabinet level. Basically, it is just a board that the cabinet sits on while you level and attach it to the wall. Screw the board into marked studs and level for the cabinet to sit on.

    Process of hanging wall cabinets using a ledger board and a level.
    We hung a ledger board for shelves in a closet. The cabinet/shelf sits on top of this board to help hold the weight temporarily while you make sure the cabinet is level and plumb.

    The benefit of a ledger board is that you have something to support the weight of the cabinet and is level. If hanging cabinets by yourself (which I don’t recommend), or if the weight is a lot to handle, a ledger board is essential.

    The negative of using a ledger board is that you remove it after the cabinet is installed and have to patch and paint the holes you made.

    Step 3: Hanging Multiple Laundry Room Cabinets

    Man using a drill and clamps to attach wall cabinets together.

    If hanging multiple cabinets, screw 2 or 3 cabinets together before attaching them on the wall. To do this, clamp the cabinets together how you want them to match up and secure with screws where the cabinets meet.

    ***Pro Tip: It is extremely important to pre-drill holes to hang them. It is much more difficult to drill and hold the cabinet, plus you risk splitting the wood of the cabinet. You don’t have to predrill the walls, just the cabinets themselves.

    Step 4: Mount the laundry wall cabinets

    Installed cabinet and shelves in laundry room with decorative baskets and yellow flowers above washer and dryer.
    Install

    Lift the cabinets onto the ledger board and check for plumb and level. Shim the cabinets if necessary to make them level front to back.

    Once you have shimmed for plumb and level, secure the cabinets into the wall at the studs.

    Step 5: How to Fix Wall Gaps

    If a gap exists between wall and the last cabinet, use a filler bar (supplied by the manufacturer) to enclose the gap. Before securing the last cabinet, measure, mark, cut and secure this piece to the side of the last cabinet.

    After all the cabinets are in place, attach the doors and hardware. Remove the ledger board and patch and paint the wall if necessary.

    Adding Laundry Room Shelves

    You can also add shelves very easily on the sides of the cabinets or between them. There are lots of ideas here from using floating shelves to a hanging bar for drying clothes.

    White shelf next to soft gray wall with 3 decorative yellow hooks in laundry room.

    In our laundry room, the open shelves on either side make the room feel a little bigger and give options for a decorative touch. The shelves are supported by a small piece of trim. All of the shelves were cut from some melamine sheets for shelving.

    Washer and Dryer on a platform with white storage console between them for easily organizing laundry supplies.

    The shelf above the washer and dryer is also added using this method and a center support. This smaller shelf is great since it hides cords and gives a cleaner look. It easily comes out in case we need to work behind the washer and dryer.

    Caulking for Built-Ins

    Caulking around the edges where the wall meets the shelving is optional. While it does give a more built-in appearance, but it won’t add anything to the structure or rigidity of the cabinetry. Always caulk before painting or use clear caulk. We have more tips in our post on caulking baseboards here.

    FAQs

    How to Organize Laundry Room Cabinets?

    Add items you reach for most on lower shelves. We also have lot more ideas included in our post on Small laundry room organization ideas here.

    Where to buy laundry room cabinets?

    You can purchase stock cabinets at a big home improvement store like Home Depot. Another option is a local installer or a kitchen cabinet specialty store. Custom cabinets can also be ordered at both locations

    How deep are laundry room cabinets?

    Base cabinets are 24 inches deep, not including any countertop overhang. Hanging Wall cabinets are usually 12 or 15 inches deep.

    What size are laundry room cabinets?

    The size of your cabinets depends on how much wall space you have to work with. Stock widths for double hanging cabinets include 24, 30, 33, 36, and 48 inches. Single cabinets are usually 12 or 18 inches wide.

    How do you attach the molding to the top of the laundry room cabinet?

    I have shared how I added the trim at the top of the cabinet here in a post. It’s a relatively simple project and the detail give the room a much more polished look.

    Can you use kitchen cabinets for laundry room?

    Yes, generally kitchen cabinets are the same as those used in laundry rooms. The application is just a different room.

    DIY Laundry Room Makeover

    In our laundry room makeover, I was mostly focused on adding storage and a lot more function than decorating. Of course, I added a few items to both increase my happiness level while facing the laundry task and make things a little easier to work with.

    Closeup of a laundry room wall stencil that reads loads and loads of fun.

    I created my own stencil with a Cricut machine and painted it on the wall.

    Laundry Room Makeover with cabinet and shelves for storage above the washer and dryer.

    Sources for our Affordable Laundry Room Makeover:

    Cabinet and trim molding – $120
    Shelves – $40
    Organizer between washer and dryer – $56 (LOVE THIS!)
    Platform – free (scrap wood)
    Baskets – $26
    Paint – free (leftover from my son’s room and the kitchen)
    Accessories  and artwork – $35 (most are either made by me or re-purposed from around the house)

    Total – $277 !!!

    Check Out Our New Laundry Room Makeover and Organization Here.

    Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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    Laundry Room Organization Ideas

    • Small laundry room decorating idea with white cabinets, floral wallpaper, and teal accents.
      Laundry Room Organization
    • Laundry Closet Makeover - Turning a broom closet into a functional space to stack laundry in baskets
      Laundry Closet Makeover
    • Cabinet with Trim added and title overlay,
      Update Your Cabinets
    • Organized linen closet with white towels and grey bins on wire shelves.
      Linen Closet Organization
    « Bacon Mushroom Risotto
    Useful Small Laundry Room Organization Ideas »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marita Chambers says

      June 13, 2022 at 10:16 am

      I love this Makeover and my Laundry space is identical to this . I have gotten at least two Quotes from companies that will install the cabinets and the shelves and just wondering is $1500.00 too much for Materials and Labor for this Makeover ?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        June 13, 2022 at 7:35 pm

        That seems high to me and I live in one of the more expensive areas of the country, but there are many factors like whether they have to move the washer and dryer out the way. Another big factor is how much the cabinet cost is. Cabinets can range from $120-400 each or more. I priced them a few months ago and decided to build our own set because they wanted almost $2800 just for 4 base cabinets with nicer doors. It may take two people to lift the cabinet up, but the full job takes less than four hours for professionals.

        Reply
      • Marita Chambers says

        June 16, 2022 at 5:42 am

        I agree with you , so I decided to get another quote and the gentleman said for installing the one cabinet with all four shelves including Labor and material would be $900.00.It’s always good to get several quotes because people will try and take advantage of you if you allow them.

        Reply
        • Rachel says

          June 17, 2022 at 8:48 pm

          I am so glad it worked out for you! Yes, it is always a good idea to get multiple quotes.

    2. Sharon says

      March 07, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      The between the washer/dryer drawers are now $120 🙁

      Reply
    3. Tina says

      July 10, 2021 at 8:07 pm

      Please tell me where you purchased that stencil! I love it! Perfect & not too wordy!

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        July 12, 2021 at 10:22 pm

        I actually made the stencil myself with a craft cutter machine, like a Cricut. I can’t remember where I had seen it unfortunately. There are some super cute ones on Etsy though so I would look there.

        Reply
    4. Mary L Amber says

      February 01, 2020 at 11:20 am

      I love it! Great job! Just wondering how you pull your washer and drying (especially) to clean behind them. I know most people don’t, but I pull mine out at least every few months to clean the dust and mop.
      Mary

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        February 10, 2020 at 1:09 am

        Great question! To be honest, it is such a small space that it is very difficult to get behind there and the shelf on top seems to help a lot with keeping the dust out from behind. However, I would say that it has gotten pulled out every 4-5 months for various reasons. To be honest, me and my husband just manhandle them or I get my son to pull out the drawers that sit between them and have him clean out the area. Wish I could be of more help.

        Reply
        • Mary says

          February 10, 2020 at 10:39 am

          👍🏻 No worries.
          Just curious what “ you” do. Thx

    5. David says

      January 25, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      I am late to the party, but great job! My question is how did you nail the molding to the cabinet, when the stock cabinet doors end very close to the top of the cabinet (maybe 3/8 to 1/2 inch space)?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        January 26, 2020 at 5:42 pm

        I shared how I added the trim at the top of the cabinet here in a post. It’s a pretty easy project and made the cabinet look so much better.

        Reply
    6. Christy says

      December 12, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      It looks awesome. I am working on my laundry room now. I painted it a soft yellow and just put up similar cabinets. I was thinking about added the shelves on the side. You’ve given me direction on how to do that. I also like the shelf above the washer/dryer. My space just fits them side by side so I have not room in between for the drawers like you have. I’m planning to put up another shelf on the opposite wall. Thanks for the ideas!

      Reply
    7. Susan says

      October 05, 2018 at 8:40 pm

      Hi there!
      Can you please tell me what type of laundry detergent containers you use and where you place them in your laundry room?? Are they in the center console or stored in the cabinet?? Just wondering for ease of reaching/pouring, etc.

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        October 07, 2018 at 10:16 pm

        For me, I use Norwex Laundry Detergent, which comes in small bags. If you aren’t familiar with Norwex, you can learn about it here and why I use this detergent. Since they are just small bags, I just put them in the baskets on either side of the cabinet. When I used larger detergent bottles, I fit them in the cabinet. The kind with a spout on the side (you press a button and it pours) fit perfectly with the door closed and I could slide them out a bit to put into a detergent cup. However, I did have some problems when they leaked so I left a microfiber rag underneath them to catch any drips.

        Reply
    8. Judi says

      September 01, 2018 at 10:55 pm

      Rachel, what an amazing job! I have the same before laundry room and can’t reach anything! We just bought the 36” wide cabinet and the shelving to start our project. We’re problems finding the crown moulding trim on the top of the cabinet. Could you tell me where you found?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        September 04, 2018 at 6:25 am

        Thank you so much. I usually purchase my moldings and such from Lowe’s or Home Depot. Sometimes crown molding is a combination of more than one molding (like in our bathroom here). That’s generally the cheapest option, however there are often local places that can either make specific molding if you are trying to match or online sources, such as newmoldings.com or crown-molding.com I hope that helps!

        Reply
    9. Michelle says

      September 01, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your makeover! Totally stealing your “chalkboard” sign idea for our kids! I’ve not done their laundry for several years and have struggled with getting them to use the “equipment” correctly!

      How did you husband get the Washer/Dryer to be the same height? The fronts look to be the same. .

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        September 04, 2018 at 7:19 am

        Hi Michelle, thank you for your kind words. In our washer/dryer, there are little feet on the bottom that can raise or lower the appliances, but ours are pretty similar in height. I also have both the washer and dryer on a platform that we built out of scrap boards.

        Reply
    10. Mary Elizabeth Thompson says

      June 27, 2017 at 10:49 am

      I LOVE what you did to your laundry room. I desperately need to find some organizing drawers to put between my washer and dryer. Where did you find those?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        June 27, 2017 at 4:05 pm

        Hi Mary! On a whim, I started redesigning the website a week ago, and you have stumbled on one of things I need to fix unfortunately. The drawer organizer I purchased is linked to in the post under supplies or costs, however, the links are indistinguishable from plain text. (Gah!) Anyways, I purchased the drawer set on sale here on amazon. (here on amazon is linked if that doesn’t look right). I think it does still go on sale occasionally. Thank you for letting me know because I didn’t realize that was happening!

        Reply
    11. Beverly says

      May 17, 2017 at 12:38 pm

      Great job you did with the laundry room organization! Could you tell me what size two-door cabinet you used? Thanks again for the ideas.

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        May 17, 2017 at 9:37 pm

        Hi Beverly! Thank you so much. The stock cabinet we purchased was 30 inches wide but I believe they vary from 28-36 inches.

        Reply
    12. Katie says

      August 21, 2016 at 11:08 am

      Hi! I really like the shelves you used. Where did you get them? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        August 21, 2016 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks! We actually sort of made them. You can buy long boards at home depot/Lowe’s in various widths that have laminate on them. They are usually found in the closet organization section. You can cut them with a circular saw or a table saw, or I believe the staff can cut them to size for you. The shelves are just sitting on trim that is attached to the wall and takes the weight. Good luck on your project!

        Reply
    13. Emily says

      March 17, 2016 at 8:36 am

      This turned out amazing! I love the pops of yellow and all of the added storage and function!

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        March 18, 2016 at 1:00 am

        Thank you so much! It is so much better and a happier place to be.

        Reply
    14. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

      March 17, 2016 at 6:32 am

      Cutest laundry room EVER! I absolutely love this, Rachel! You are so creative and your decorations are just perfect. I think I would be in my laundry room ALL the time if this was mine! I’m definitely remembering this for when I need a makeover (we’re currently house hunting right now, so this will come in handy)!

      Reply
    15. Erlene says

      March 15, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      That looks amazing. We have a super tiny laundry room too and always wondered how a cabinet would look in there. I also loved your cost breakdown.

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        March 18, 2016 at 1:07 am

        Thank you so much, Erlene! You could actually get a cabinet much cheaper off of Craigslist or a thrift shop. I looked at our local Habitat Restore but they didn’t have anything that would work with our 9 foot ceilings.

        Reply

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