Article Line Long1
Design

My First Time Installing Wallpaper! Spoonflower’s “Prepasted” Paper FTW (Introducing Our Sweet Laundry Closet)

Like many design projects before this one, this laundry closet was super boring and yet kinda daunting to fix so it fell down the priority list in life, with no guilt. I knew that eventually I wanted wallpaper in here, I dreamed of a fun pattern and color that delighted you when you opened the doors. I ordered a ton of samples from Spoonflower (their inventory is incredible), but what I didn’t know was that I could install their “prepasted” wallpaper myself. AND NOW IT’S ALL I WANT TO USE IN MY HOME!! It was SO easy, not scary, was so fast, and needed only a few very basic tools. My team blocked off three days for this project (to shoot the content, too) and it took under 6 hours. Sold.

Where Is This Laundry Closet?

The laundry closet is on the landing of the second floor near both kids’ rooms and the guest room (seen above when we first moved in, Oscar shaming me for this basic rug). We have a larger mudroom with a smaller capacity washer/dryer downstairs, but this is where the bulk of the laundry gets done (it gets thrown in the guestroom where we tackle it all on Sundays.). It was pretty basic, with the cutest vintage doors, but the inside was super boring which made it a perfect place for me to do something fun (and do it myself, a very low-risk space).

Spoonflower has an incredible inventory of wallpaper patterns and colors, many customizable. They’ve even got an inspiration page just for laundry rooms. They work with thousands of artists who design patterns of every style and every color. You can also choose between traditional unpasted, prepasted (what we did and I’m never going back), peel-and-stick, or metallic paper (which we used in my niece’s closet). Plus, all their patterns come as fabrics as well if you want to go full ‘Garden State’ and match your curtains to the walls. Everything we ordered got here within 2 weeks and I was pleased as punch.

Wallpaper

The install was so easy, they created a video that shows you how to install prepasted wallpaper here and we produced a reel here with some basics (but their video has a great step-by-step). Essentially, the glue is already on the back and you use a basic spray bottle with water to activate it. Then you book it on a table (fold over the sides), wait 5 minutes, and hang it vertically (starting from the top and, of course, being mindful of repeats). You use a squeegee to get the bubbles out and wipe off any excess glue or water with a rag or sponge. The paper is so forgiving and easy to take off and reposition. There are a ton of tips to think about which they have outlined, but trust me that it was so much easier than predicted. We made a reel about it here.

Again, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to do it ourselves (the hardest part was taking out the washer and dryer). I even thought about buying the same yardage in fabric and figuring out how to cover the fronts of the washer and dryer (which I quickly decided was a totally unnecessary and wrong idea).

Wallpaper | Washer + Dryer | Switchplates | Laundry Basket (vintage) | Rug (similar) | Vintage Door Paint Color

I know that our washer/dryer look a bit old school/dated and that’s because they are not fancy or designer. Welcome to our Speed Queen, aka the incredibly basic, efficient, high capacity, industrial strength, durable, and never breaks down washer/dryer machine. And yes, top loading FTW. If anyone has a genius (but not super extensive or expensive) way to make the dryer vent look better let me know. It doesn’t bother me enough to think about it but sure, I’d rather it not be in my pretty shots 🙂

Shelves Paint Color | Rope Trim | Wood Brackets | Baskets (vintage)

I designed the shelves pretty simply and yet they turned out so dang cute! I went to Aurora to find vintage brackets or some reclaimed antique wood trim but came up empty. I then went to Home Depot and found these adorable brackets and rope trim piece. As you can see it’s a basic design – so Dave, our wonderful handyman, installed a support piece of wood around the sides and back along with three brackets per shelf. They are 24″ deep since the closet itself is so deep and we need to easily reach the detergent. The first shelf houses laundry stuff (detergent, lint bin, missing sock basket, dryer sheets, etc) while the top shelf is for linens that we don’t need to access very often.

Rechargable Lamp | Wood Lazy Susan | Glass Container | Metal Container (similar) | Waffle Towels | Striped Towels (similar)

I love how the rope trim on the front of the shelves talks to the squiggles in the wallpaper pattern. Dave painted the shelves and brackets Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams which is a light blue/green/gray that matches the lighter tones in the wallpaper. I couldn’t be happier.

We all agreed that the old-school vibe of the washer/dryers combined with the vintage vibe of the wallpaper feels strangely appropriate and works in this older home so well. This closet now has so much charm and it took 2 days!

While I didn’t personally build and install the shelves, Dave claims that it’s totally DIY-able – not a super high-skilled task, but shout out to Dave for doing it so perfectly. Someday I fantasize about not being so busy and can learn how to do things like this myself, but right now I so appreciate talented folks to help so I can do the things that only I can do.

Walking up the stairs and seeing this sweetness makes me so happy! And I was so surprised and delighted that both kids and Brian love the wallpaper (like they mentioned it to me even before I asked them which isn’t typical!) It’s just so stinking cute. That laundry closet wasn’t like this crazy eyesore because I could shut the doors, but every time I opened them they were full of garbage – just a pile of socks, lint, wrappers, change, etc. on top of the dryer. And in the span of 2 days, it was transformed to be so cute.

I can’t say enough great things about Spoonflower’s prepasted wallpaper patterns, let alone this adorably perfect folk art pattern by artist Melissa Johnson Design. I wish I hadn’t already ordered the wallpaper for the kids’ bath or our bathroom – I don’t trust my skills to do normal unpasted wallpaper myself, but from now on I’m pretty much a professional wallpaper installer when it comes to Spoonflower’s prepasted. AND it’s so much easier to remove as the glue is less permanent. So for rooms (like kids’ rooms), it’s especially perfect if you aren’t sure that your daughter, for instance, is going to love butterflies and flowers when she is a teenager on her walls. Prepasted Spoonflower wallpaper for the win. Thanks so much, Spoonflower for partnering with me on this laundry closet. What a nice way to start the year:)

*Photos by Kaitlin Green

0 0 votes
Article Rating

WANT MORE OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM?

Never miss a single post and get a little something extra on Saturdays.

53 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nik
24 days ago

I love it Emily – charming, functional and very, very pretty!
I too am a fan of a basic, hard-working washer and dryer set. Simple is great. You don’t need a washer to connect to WiFi or make you a latte.

Stephanie
24 days ago

First time commenting and doing it because YES! to these basic washers and dyers. They are workhorses for farming families or anyone with multiple pets. I will take a simple top loader everyday of the week because it can handle washing rugs, pillows, endless jeans and all other animal soiled items. Thank you for showcasing a simpler version of something when I’m sure you have the resources to go all out designer.

Stephanie
23 days ago
Reply to  Stephanie

I would take a simple top loader too except I live in 800 sq ft with a tiny closet for my stackables. Some of us don’t have the luxury of rooms for laundry.

Elizabeth Tripp
23 days ago
Reply to  Stephanie

GE makes a nice smaller stackable where the bottom is a top loader. I only have room for a laundry closet stacker and that is what I plan to get! Best of both worlds!

Sunny
22 days ago
Reply to  Stephanie

haha she’s got the fancier W/D in the downstairs laundry room where it’s visible!

Katherine
24 days ago

This looks awesome! And very cool to have an option that sounds less intimidating than peel and stick even. I think you really should go full Garden State and cover the fronts of the machines in the same pattern. It would be hilarious and awesome.

Brenda
24 days ago

I love it!!!

JenPNW
24 days ago

Thank you so much for this post! The previous owner of our 1970s ranch had installed a geometric metallic peel-and-stick wallpaper for the laundry nook (the space is very similar to Emily’s except unfortunately we don’t have doors that close it off). She might have been going for some type of Hollywood Regency vibe but it doesn’t fit with a 1970s house; I’ve hated that wallpaper from the day we moved in and it hasn’t aged well (edges look raggedy and the whole thing rather cheap). And since the space is always visible (no room for doors or even pocket doors), this might be the year I finally remove it. Going to check out the Spoonflower options.

L
24 days ago

To hide the dryer vent, could you purchase the matching fabric and make a simple sleeve for the vent so it “disappears” into the wallpaper?

Lynsy
23 days ago
Reply to  L

As long as a fabric sleeve wouldn’t cause a fire hazard, which would be my worry. It’s odd placing for a dryer vent. Was that the only option?

Sara
23 days ago
Reply to  L

Should have checked the comments first before commenting! I had the exact same idea, might blend it out nicely!

Christina
23 days ago
Reply to  L

I came here to say the same thing! A loose fabric sleeve would take 5 minutes for someone to sew (or you can use iron-on seam tape), and it wouldn’t affect the functionality/safety at all. It would blend in and add a fun touch of “Garden State.” 🙂

Ellen @ohcondo.mycondo
23 days ago
Reply to  L

I think just spray painting it green would suffice.

Tarynkay
23 days ago

I agree on painting it. I would be concerned about a potential fire hazard with a fabric sleeve as the dryer vent does get hot. Maybe call the fire marshal and ask first if you are considering the fabric sleeve idea.

I love the Speed Queens!

Jeanne Antha
24 days ago

This looks great, so cheerful. You were brave to pick something with a definite ‘stripe’ for your first try. Getting corners straight isn’t all that easy, good job.

Aimee
23 days ago

Idea for the dryer/vent tubing: This is very “Garden State” but you could order the wallpaper print in fabric and sew a sleeve for the tubing. I would put snaps or velcro on either edge so it wraps around it and maybe just a small piece of mounting tape would keep the fabric attached to the tubing where it meets the wall? It might look a little silly and the patterns definitely wouldn’t match up, but there is something sort of fun and granny about that to me. Hey, you asked for suggestions! Other option: do nothing. it’s not a crime to see a dryer vent 🙂

Christina
23 days ago
Reply to  Aimee

I commented about making a sleeve too, but I didn’t think of using snaps or velcro. That’s a great idea! Using stick-on velcro would make this a no-sew project and make the sleeve super easy to remove when it’s time to clean out the vent.

Julie S
23 days ago

I saw your Speed Queens immediately and was a teensy bit jealous 🙂 Someday!
Cutest laundry closet – I loooove the shelf details and that everything is cute yet first and foremost functional. Wild how the wallpaper looks dark green in the nook, yet duck egg blue in the better-lit sample square you are holding up. Also, you make me feel like I could do wallpaper – if I can ever sneak it by my husband who saw me cursing for weeks as I removed 80s wallpaper from our previous house and banned it forever from our lives! Hasty man.

Gary
22 days ago
Reply to  Julie S

You should tell your husband that most wallpapers now even traditional ones are quite strippable and very easy to remove we always use heavy duty clear strippable adhesive most wallpapers are designed to be easily removed from the wall these days I suggest you try to talk to your husband about that.

SGL
23 days ago

For your dryer vent hose: spray paint it green! All you’re looking for is something that will lend it blend into the background just a big more than the silver does.

SGL
23 days ago
Reply to  SGL

Woops! A *bit more. 🙂

Sara
23 days ago

Get a yard or two of the matching fabric and make a quick “sleeve” to cover the vent tube. You could machine attache a zipper and then zip it around the vent up the back after hemming the top and bottom or you could simply hand tack it and rotate it around so the stitches are up the back of the tube. I’d probably make it longer than needed so it scrunched and intentionally looked like it wasn’t trying to line up, but would still blend in and would give that English look you might have been attracted to when thinking about skirting the machines! Probably easiest to sew vs use a zipper if you do want the gathered look unless you increased the diameter a bit. Might take a little trial and error but I think it would be quite doable with even very basic sewing skills! I don’t think that the tube heats up enough for it to be a fire hazard, but maybe ask your local electrician or whomever installed your dryer for you just to be sure…

Elizabeth Sims @calafiahomedesign
23 days ago

What about a cute scrunchie sleeve for the vent made of matching fabric? Love this pretty nook.

Lisa
23 days ago

What about curtains in front of the pretty shelves? You would see that beautiful soft print when the cool vintage doors are closed, bonus points for partially hiding the vent.

SGL
23 days ago
Reply to  Lisa

This is a great idea, and to build on it: how about putting small tension rods along the back of the closet, each one braced between a side wall of the closet and a center bracket. Then, get fabric to match the wallpaper and make curtains. This way, you can adjust how far forward / back the curtains are, so that they cover the dryer vent hose but don’t obscure the washer and dryer controls.

Kelly
23 days ago

Love this! I also love my simple top loading washer and simple dryer. I actually sold my high end front loader and matching dryer and replaced it with the simpler version. It works so much better!

Annie
23 days ago

They make flat dryer vents that hug the wall. Think the thing you might use as a channel to hide extension cords.

I bet you could wrap it in the paper or at least paint it to blend in…

Tina
23 days ago

Perhaps use some of the wallpaper on a lightweight piece of wood wide enough to cover the dryer hose. May need to paint it first so that you will have some slippage to get paper at correct angle. Be sure to wrap around sides and wedge it in so that the pattern is plumb the the stripe.

monica
23 days ago
Reply to  Tina

Came here to suggest this (just build a basic cover with wood for it and wallpaper the wood) and also to ask why the vent was not put lower on the wall when construction was being done????!!!!

Samantha Deitch
23 days ago

Super cute; I love seeing these sweet updates throughout the farmhouse.

Um, on a different note… I’m a longtime reader and I’m feeling a little weird about the radio silence Re: the election/inauguration? Maybe I missed it. Emily used to engage in these topics with clarity and curiosity and a strong moral compass. I TOTALLY get it if you all just need a long break; it’s a lot. But can we get some kind of acknowledgement? A wink? A smoke signal? Something?!?

Beth
23 days ago

I agree. It’s so strange to look at the news and see how rapidly the character of this country is changing, but life just seems to be carrying on as if nothing has changed.

Kimberly
23 days ago

This!!!

Lori
23 days ago

I kept waiting and was confused, as well. Thank you for flagging this!

Mo
23 days ago

so cute! I love the shelves, especially the rope trim. I wish I had such positive association with speed queens…. they populate the dank laundry rooms of every apartment building I’ve ever lived in and seem to be broken half the time. But maybe you can forgive them for not fully drying your towels when you don’t have to pay up $2 for the pleasure xD

Tarynkay
23 days ago
Reply to  Mo

The dank apartment basement dryers likely didn’t fully dry your towels because they were impacted with dryer lint. This is usually why a dryer isn’t fully drying. You have to clean out the whole vent every so often, not just the lint trap. My FIL recently almost replaced his dryer, but thankfully, his brother was visiting and made him try cleaning out the vent first. Now it’s good as new.

Ours (not a Speedqueen) was recently getting less effective after about 10 years and we took off the front panel and discovered that the inside of the machine had impacted lint. We cleaned it out and replaced some squeaky bearings and now it’s working perfectly again.

TLDR; dryer lint is not just a fire hazard, it also makes your dryer less effective, so clean it out.

Vany
22 days ago
Reply to  Tarynkay

This is a pet peeve of mine! Dryers do completely fill up with lint even when you diligently clean the lint trap every load. Why can’t appliance manufacturers design a dryer that either doesn’t do that or that is easy to open/disassemble and clean out without tools???

Linda
23 days ago

I made a curtain for mine to hide all that stuff that kind of looks like a backsplash. For yours I would get some matching material and maybe a tension rod to make something to cover at least that side.

Stephanie
23 days ago

This was such a great post! Very relatable. I will always use top-loaded washers, too.
Pre-pasted is the way to go, for sure. In fact, I had only ever used (and removed–ha!) pre-pasted until I started getting more into interior design and saw that people hired professional wallpaperers and couldn’t understand why. (Now I get it.) This is such a fun print. Beautiful work, team!

Mira
23 days ago

The wallpaper is such a lovely color and the print is interesting but not overwhelming. And the shelves are great too!

Gretchen
23 days ago

So cute! I’d love to see more of these small quick projects.

SARAH
23 days ago

How about buying a sample of green to paint the flue and shelves. Actually you prob need paint that is for a hot surface to be safe.

Carol
23 days ago

Is it possible to paint the dryer vent with a color that’s dominant in the wallpaper so it’s not so bright and shiny? Is there a paint that is used on radiators that can handle the heat from the dryer?

Shelly
23 days ago

Yay for spotlighting Spoonflower as there are many of us artists who post our designs there. You can literally find just about any design/color you want!

Wow I miss my top-loader. I think your set is pretty sexy for the “never break down” aspect. Top loading #ftw !! I love the laundry nook. <3

Vany
22 days ago
Reply to  Shelly

Can you link to your designs? I find the amount of selections and the search process on Spoonflower completely overwhelming.

Patti
23 days ago

I didn’t get my pick of papers but it looks fab nonetheless! Just ordered me some Spoonflower!

pm
23 days ago

I would install a rigid dryer vent and paint it green to match the wall paper. simple and effective. The fabric sleeves mentioned by others will attract lint, etc. and could be a fire hazard.

Leigh
23 days ago

My washer just broke and I asked the appliance repair guy who came to look at it what he recommended for longest lasting brands and he told me Speed Queen. I had never heard of it before then. You talking about yours is convincing me even more that’s what we need to get next. Thanks for the links!

JS
22 days ago
Reply to  Leigh

Upvote for Speed Queen. They’re amazing. Front loaders hold a lot, sure, but it is water and agitation that get clothes clean. And when you need to do extra long cycles and extra rinses to actually get clothes clean, all “efficiency ” claims for front loaders are bogus.

stacey
21 days ago

This looks so great!!! I would love to do these shelves in my laundry room. What type of wood and how thick of wood did you use for them?

Jenny
20 days ago

It is gorgeous and adorable. I love it. I haven’t hung wallpaper in 40 years. Thank you Emily for your recent posts on it. I love this gray print. You Rock It Girl every time.

Margaret
19 days ago

I feel like something like this would be doable with a little bit of creativity.

https://erinzubotdesign.com/diy-laundry-room-countertop-using-an-old-door/

I love the way this came out. Simple and joyful.

Bryn
17 days ago
Reply to  Margaret

But this washer is a top loader?

michelle
19 days ago

lint bin!? are people keeping their lint in cutie bins!? I’ve been walking my lint to a bigger trashcan, but maybe i need a smol one!