Makeover Cheater Laundry Room

After painting, Hubby and I added a simple ceiling mounted curtain track. I love the track but it came with some brackets that I didn’t like so we just drilled right through the track so it sits flush: http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.ca/2014/05/an-attracktive-laundry-room-solution.html

My Mom and I worked on the curtains together and devised our plan of action as a team. We could have attached the clips to the back of the curtain, but we didn’t want the curtain to drag across the ceiling or rub against the track. We figured that if seeing the track and the clips bothers us, we can simply add a small, modern “valence” of sorts but I’ve actually preferred the convenience of this because every now and then the hooks do come off the track and it’s easier this way to reach them and pop them back in. Plus, in a photo like this you notice these things but day to day I don’t notice anything on the ceiling.
The gathers help the curtains drape nicely and they’re very easy to open and close – no fussing with them to get them to drape evenly, they just fall perfectly when the curtain is moved.

An invisible, hand sewn hem keeps it looking neat and they just touch the floor. I try to keep the floors clean in here because it sees a lot of foot traffic. When I wash the floors I just rest the curtains on the washer and dryer momentarily. So far, these curtains haven’t gotten dirty – just a little dust that a lint roller easily removed. I did pre-wash and shrink them, so they can easily be laundered once it gets to that point. Picking a cream and turquoise fabric, as opposed to white, likely helps disguise any dirt too (shhh, don’t tell my grandma that I pick fabrics so they’ll hide dirt – she’ll be mortified).

Of course, in my dreams I’d love new appliances, so new storage cabinets, a new laundry basin. Mine came with the house and are all at least 13 years old (the washer and dryer might be older), but they’re in good condition and will serve us well while we save up. At least this way, they’re out of sight when I need them to be and I can pretend that there is a gloriously modern laundry room behind the curtain:

My Mom and I also made my dog a matching quilt because we had bought extra fabric (not certain how much it would shrink in the washer and dryer).

Because this is “her room” also, my dog was deeply suspicious of the changes at first. Happily, she’s never been tempted to chew the curtains or peer behind them when she’s left alone.

Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post! GO