The Basement Refresh Reveal Part 2

Yesterday we showed you what our workout space looks like now.  Quite a change from what we've been used to all of these years and it's so nice to have the dungeon feel gone.  But that was only one side of the basement, then we were left with the laundry side and basically vast piles of crap that had no home.

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We didn't take before pics because this was part of that whole "scope creep" we talked about a few weeks ago.  This is what it looks like at its worst.

That was in the middle of some cleaning from shelves but the only difference is we usually had a walkway on the right to get to the washer and dryer in the back left corner and a huge 2'x2' DVD cabinet that was taking up way more space than we wanted it to just to the left of where the fan is in that pic.  It was a constant source of stress and wasted space, not serving us for 23 years.  That area always seemed to be a catch-all for everything, and enough was enough.

I tend to take over the dining room table for art/smaller DIY projects, and after a month of eating on what available table space there is, it can get frustrating for both of us.  I stumbled upon this IKEA hack for a craft table and got a wonderful, awful idea.

We could put down some peel and stick tile on that side, get a new, flatter DVD cabinet and have room for this craft table that we could use for my projects, if he got a model car or we wanted the space to finally put together that 1000 piece puzzle we bought in Stowe that took up all of the previous Christmas.  The Mr was on board, and so our new functional side of the basement was born.

Quite a few things happened.  Our full-sized ironing board used to be in front of the curtained shelves, and it was always a pain in the butt to walk around.  Not only that, but the second half of it was often a catch-all for random towels and odds and ends that neither of us put away.  So I decided if we only used the equivalent of a mini ironing board anyway, we could get one and put it on top of an IKEA Kallax and free up that space and get more storage in the process.  Score!  But more on that in a minute.  The curtains cover the visual clutter of the shelves.

You can see when they're open that it's a lot more busy to the eyes and we still have full access to everything.  It's nice to have an organized out of sight, out of mind thing while it's in my peripheral whilst working out.

Here's how that craft table turned out.

Unfortunately, I ordered the seat cushions before picking the tile pattern, but whatcha gonna do?  The Mr and I both have a saddle stool I ordered from Kohls that are plus size approved.  (Up to 300 lbs.)  They slide nicely under there, so they take up zero space.

Here's the space underneath.

Actually, here's a better view before the floor was finished...

(My new sewing machine will go in that bottom space.)

I got a Kallax drawer insert for the one spot it would fit and mocha water hyacinth baskets for other spots with a few spots open for random stuff.  The stuff I had barely takes up 1/4 of it so Hobby Lobby here I come!

We had a 23-year-old wire laundry center that was a wobbly mess.

Here's the laundry center the Mr built for me.  It's kind of a horrible pic, but you get the idea.

This one will hold a lot more and looks WAY better.

Here is that ironing center and a look at the pattern on the floor tiles.

It amazes me in 2019 that we don't have better peel and stick options.  The pattern looks more intense in pictures than it does in person though, I don't know why that is.  I'll be doing a separate post with tips if you're considering doing some on a poured concrete floor.

We've got a surge strip to plug in the iron and the task light that I installed over the craft table, but the arrangement works perfectly for our needs.   We even found a collapsible laundry basket at Home Depot that fits perfectly beside it!

The storage unit has four Kallax door inserts.  I replaced the knobs on them to bigger copper pulls from Target because the ones that came with them were teeny tiny.  I've got all of our laundry detergents, water refill bottles for the iron, vacuum soap for the steam cleaner and stuff that was basically strewn about all tucked away in here.

I'm thrilled with the space even if the tile pattern wouldn't be my first choice and can't wait to put the area to good use!  I've gotta get cracking on that sewing machine to teach myself how to sew since I have the space for one now.  I see lots of doggie collar covers for practice in my future!

I can't believe it's done!  I still have to pinch myself sometimes and my heart no longer races when Home Depot commercials come on.  I'm sure that'll change in 6 months.

The Mr cowers in fear.

Wanna shop our reno?  

Below are links to items used.  (Some are affiliate links and some aren't.)

IKEA Kallax Shelf Unit (for craft table)
IKEA Kallax Insert with Drawers  (for craft table)
IKEA Linnmon Table Top (for craft table)
IKEA Olov Adjustable Table Legs  (for craft table)
Mocha Water Hyacinth Baskets
White Counter Saddle Stools
Saddle Stool Covers (hopefully I can learn to make my own and change 'em out!)

IKEA Kallax Shelf Unit (for laundry storage)
IKEA Kallax Insert with Door (for laundry storage)
Target Copper Cabinet Knobs (for laundry storage)
Furniture Legs (for laundry storage)
Collapsible Laundry Basket

Mini Ironing Board with extra pad per reviews
Floor Pops Medina White and Grey Tiles
DVD Rack (holds up to 450)
Blackout Curtain Rods
Semi Sheer Tab Top Curtain (Ecru)
Pole Wrap


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