I have a confession to make...I've got a thing about staging Laundry Rooms. The Kitchen may be the "heart of the home" but many hours are spent each week in the laundry room. And THAT makes this room a very important space to feature when selling your home.
Many times when I am consulting with homeowners and we get close to the laundry area, they'll ask if I want to see it because after all, it's only the laundry room. In their minds, it's that space that's a catch-all for dirty clothes, shoes, coats, 5 cases of water bottles, dog food and old paint cans. Oh yes! I tell my clients, I DEFINETLY want to see what's behind that door.
The Laundry Room needs some attention and staging too. This is one space you don't want to forget about! The biggest issue is getting rid of everything that is not needed so the room can breathe and look spacious. Yes...that means you have to get rid of the 20 pairs of shoes on the shoe rack behind the door, the dog food has to find a new home and you're going to have to store all that water neatly in the garage.
(Image: Hampton Designs)
Here's a few Staging Tips that can help you transform your laundry room into a fabulous space that buyer's will love:
- DECLUTTER: Get everything out that you don't need. The only thing that should be in there is the stuff you need to do laundry...(detergent, softener, etc.) Now is not the time to buy the HUGE 50 gallon jug of detergent. I'll tell you why in a minute.
- CLEAN LIKE CRAZY: Wipe down that washer and dryer from top to bottom. Push it back against the wall if needed. I've seen a lot of washer and dryers pushed out with all those hoses showing. Tuck the hoses in while you're at it. Think NEAT and ORGANIZED.
- PAINT. Most laundry rooms need a fresh coat of paint and a different color. For some reason, I see alot of sponge painting in these spaces. Probably because it was a "safe" room to try your hand at the technique years ago. I'm speaking from personal experience here and mine looked just dreadful! Trust me, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way.
- STAGE: Canvas Bins and Baskets make a HUGE DIFFERENCE visually when used to store all those detergents. Buyers do not want to see all those bottles that look like clutter anyways. It looks so much more organized and fresh staged with these pretty bins or baskets. This is why you don't want to hit Cosco for the jumbo size detergents. I want you to hide it in the bins.
- KEEP UP THE LAUNDRY: Not letting the laundry get out of hand during selling can be a challenge. We lead busy lives. Doing a load a day keeps you on top of the process. Buyers should NEVER see dirty clothes in piles, in a basket, anywhere. Ever. The same goes for clean laundry. It should not be sitting out on the counter or top of the dryer waiting to be put away or hanging around. Buyers don't want to see your laundry. They want to see the space. Show them an organized room they can emotionally connect to. Not how much work laundry can be.
- HANGERS & CLOTHES BASKETS: Yes...we need them to do laundry but during showings, they should not be anywhere in sight. Storing all those extra hangers on the clothes rack is not an option either. Throw them in one of the bins/baskets or if you are lucky to have a closet in your laundry room, store them there.
- HIDE IT: And one last mention here. If you have a last minute showing or you are just REALLY behind on laundry because you didn't listen to my "one load a day" advice, make sure you get it out of sight and HIDE those baskets. When I sold our house a few years back, I would actually take those baskets of dirty laundry and hide them on the garage shelves during a last minute showing. (They were concealed well and no one ever knew!) I have also been known to take it with me in the car. Hiding it in the actual washer or dryer is good too. For those that have always kept your laundry up, stop laughing. The rest of you know what I'm talking about and it's a great strategy to use.
Here's a few examples of past clients that followed my advice and created FABULOUS Laundry Rooms:
Ready to prepare your home for the Spring selling season? We're ready to help you and look forward to your call!
Happy Staging!
Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President. Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.
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Those laundry rooms look like actual living space. Very nicely done. If I could only have one so nice. Great appeal to buyers.
O.K. I'm going to do mine next week. Now, where to hide the detergent, softener and bleach???
I love Martha.
Katie: I know....I'd LOVE a huge room like the one pictured! Laundry would actually be fun, right?
Lenn: Hi! I love Martha too! Just get some of those bins and baskets to hide all the laundry stuff in if you don't have a cabinet. Works great!
Great photos. If my laundry room looked like that, I might actually get some laundry done!
We go into so many homes that the laundry room seems like it was forgotten. Nice Post.
Teresa:
I think Martha would approve of those laundry rooms. And, you just gave me some great ideas.
Teresa, the first photo Laundry Room it to die for; doesn't everyone serve up thier detergent in glass Apothecary Jars?
If my laundry room was only big enough to stage :-)
DO most houses really have laundry rooms that size? The size of most that I see are merely closets or walk thrus.
Teresa,
Lovely reminder to us all about that oft overlooked area! None of those beautiful photos, however, inspire me to iron - a 4 letter word.
Great post Teresa! Laundry rooms DO always seem to be the forgotten room in a home yet are one of the most used! Great staging tips - I am off to Costco today!
Great pictures and great inspiration! My laundry definitely needs a make over. This coming week end would be a great time to hit it.
Also, I have several sellers that need help!! Thanks for all the ideas.
Congrats on the Feature, Teresa! Thanks for reminding us all that laundry rooms are yet another opportunity to sell potential buyers on a lifestyle! Happy Staging - Julie
Now this truly is a first, staging a laundry room. I may be a guy but I want that first staged picture to be mine.
ROTFL @ Mary (#7): "Doesn't everyone serve up their detergent in glass apothecary jars?" Now that is too funny. Great suggestions, though, Teresa. You've inspired me to brighten my laundry room. Right now it's got every stager's nightmare: bad lighting! -- Tanya in Montreal
Teresa,
Ok, you got me here. I never really thought about "staging" the laundry room the same way as the rest of the house. Neat and clean, yet, but staged, No.
Great ideas and wonderful detailed post. Martha would be proud.
All the best, Michelle
Nicely done and yes laundry rooms seem to be very messy. My only gripe is those ugly tubs but I know that's not your problem.
Teresa, this is fabulous! The state of the utility room really says volumes about the home in my opinion. Who wants to see an unwashed pile of laundry or all those assorted hangars and the worst, a mis-matched washer, dryer. I am bookmarking this.
*Sigh*
Adding clean up laundry room to my "to-do list." Now if I can just get all my hubby's tools out of there, I'll be one step ahead of the game!
On a serious note, this is FABULOUS! I just wish I could wave a magic wand. :o)
I love this post. Most people, me included, have a cluttered laundry room! Even when everything else is organized, my laundry room catches the clutter.
I'm going to take your advice and work on mine even, and I re-blogging for my clients.
Thank You!
Very great advice for all....I had never really thought of the importance of the laundry room...but you are spot on! Congrats on your feature!!!!
What a great idea--laundry room as selling point! Almost every laundry room needs a good scrub. Mine needs an overhaul!
LOVE the photos. I actually never gave a laundry room a second thought when giving staging tips to sellers. Now I will pay closer attention!
Teresa, I love this blog. I can't wait to get to work in my laundry room. Those pictures look so good and you're right, I spend a lot of time in there. I should be able to enjoy it.
I'm a big fan of staging laundry rooms, too, for the same reasons you have mentioned. There's typically sooo much clutter and junk, and they usually aren't the cleanest rooms in the home. They really do need some attention. I find the biggest problem is people just don't get why. They usually look at me like I have 3 heads when I tell them what they should do!
I agree. A clean laundry room is a very powerful thing. It tells about how the home was really loved OR abused. I love a beautiful, organized, functional laundry room. Thanks for the tips!
If only there were more homes worried about the laundry rooms. Unfortunately, so many people are showing their homes without any concern for clutter. I see at least a few homes each week with piles of dirty laundry out in the open.
Great Post! I now exactly what you mean about the sponge painting in the laundry room. When we bought our first house, this is the first room I experimented with... and painted it Fuschia just because I could ;P
I don't know about you, but I Never get to the end of the laundry. But when you're selling, it really helps to have an attractive laundry bin with a LID.
Cheers, Bernice
Good article! I am currently facing a home that is a bachelor pad and the bath/laundry room needs some help. I will definitely take your ideas and run with them!
I so agree. There is a model home in Pfulgerville, Texas with a laundry room "to die for". Gorgeous cabnetry, big and bright with a window over the sink; no apothacary jars but containers equally attractive. I tell my buyers I could live in the laundry room and patio alone. Makes laundry a delight!
So much fun to read all these comments and that it's gotten you inspired! Most laundry rooms I see around here in Cincinnati are small...usually stuck between the garage and kitchen. Prime area to become a serious clutter problem!
When we moved into our home about 6 years ago, the laundry room was the typical between the garage/kitchen but it had been redone with cabinetry and folding counter over the front loaders. This worked well for awhile but I wanted it completely out of the way. My wonderful handy hubby converted part of our master walk in closet into a laundry area upstairs. I LOVE it! However, it is not as "pretty" but I'm hoping to work on that this year. Now I don't think I'll be displaying my detergent in Apothecary jars (LOL!), but I'm just as happy that when laundry gets out of control...I've got a GREAT place to hide it all!
Thank you for the advice - it's true, no one ever thinks of staging the laundry room. In fact, it's probably where a lot of people "hide" their stuff from other rooms!
Great tips here Teresa and I love your "after" photos of laundry rooms waiting to impress buyers. I too advise my clients to tidy up the laundry room, make sure the lighting is good, etc.
You know, I work with a lot of young buyers of condos and cooperatives. The newer buildings have laundry in the units, but the older and (and more affordable) buildings often lack that perk and buyers are consigned to "common laundry." For many - this is the kiss of death. Now, most of these laundry facilities are decent, nice, but utilitarian. I wonder how it would be if we could show buyers a really outstanding common laundry? It might take the sting out of not having it in the unit. Personally, I like common laundry space because you can spread out to fold things etc.
They certainly look great when they are clean and there are no clothes and dirties laying around. Don't they?
Very nicely done, I am going to have to have a look at my laundry room. They do sometime end up as storage rooms!
Teresa...love your take on this. The laundry room has always been a hot spot for me when I listed homes. There's nothing worse than taking the husband out to the garage and having to trip over piles of dirty laundry to get to it.
When they do paint the laundry room it should be something cheery (and I don't mean neon yellow) since that's where so much time is spent. Lord knows...I spend more time there than I want to.
Love your post. I plan to reblog it to my public blog.
What a terrific post! Of course, I'm as guilty as anyone else of cluttering up my laundry room. Between the hampers, the dog food, mops, brooms and more cleaning supplies than I'll ever use....well, it could be awhile before I present an "after" photo :)
Teresa, I had a good laugh about hiding the dirty laundry. I did it in the past not because I was selling my house, but because we were having a party and forgot to do the laundry--I hid them baskets in the trunk of my car. lol
I love the way you staged the laundry -- neat, clean, and a pleasant surprise. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome job, Teresa! Almost makes me want to DO laundry. No - did I just say that?
Love this post - will re-blog, thank you!
Hi Teresa! I absolutely LOVE that laundry room that looks like a kitchen--and I WANT one too! Great ideas and I have to say that laundry room would definitely SELL a house!
Beautiful presentation and congratulations on that little gold star!
Wow, I might start wanting to do the laundry...On second thought, the room is beautiful but I'll pass. Great job!
Teresa,
What a wonderful post. Staging is about "drawing the Buyers in" so that they want to live in a particular house. There are so many opportunities to engage the Buyer. Thank you for reminding us that even a laundry room can be a "wow"
Excellent advice and photo examples Teresa! Great message when selling - all rooms in the home are important!
Wow, makes a huge difference. We have our washer and dryer in the garage. Most of the time you don't even know it is there because of the clutter. Goos thing we aren't selling. I would like one of the ones you showcased. :)
Hi Lee: Thanks for stopping by. When we're living life, we aren't thinking about the laundry and the catch all area it becomes. Many times when selling, homeowners STILL don't think about it but that laundry room is sooooo important to feature!!
Just the other day, I was in a house consulting and they had their dog cage, food and other junk just piled in there blocking the great built in cabinets in the laundry room. I cringed! By the time I left it looked sooooo much better and the dog cage was getting relocated so hopefully the laundry room will SHINE now. ;-) You never know if a potential buyer is looking for a great laundry room as one of the important features on their personal list. Don't discount the little things like this...it can be the difference between getting it sold NOW or sitting on the market losing money for 6 more months.