My laundry room still needs a wall to separate it from the soon-to-be-master-bedroom, it needs tile on the floor, and it needs a ceiling. BUT since I do not know when all that will happen due to time and money flow, I decided to at least make one wall cute for now. Maybe when canning season is over I will have the time and energy to focus on the rest :)
Here is what it looked like after I added the gray stained wood planks:
And here it is with the shelf!

If you notice in the first picture you can see the outlets and water lines. I didn't want to see them but I needed them to be accessible so I came up with a plan. I got a 1x10 board and cut it to the length I needed. I bought a 6-foot board and trimmed it to about 5 feet. Then I added molding to the edges (except the back edge of course). I used what I had on hand which was crown molding, but casing or molding that has a flat back would probably have been easier. I wanted the molding to hang down past the board for two reasons. One was so it looked thicker. The second reason was to hide the hinge. What hinge you ask???
I added some wood slats to a thin piece of plywood. They were the same tongue and groove boards I used on the walls. Then I took a 4-foot piano hinge and attached it to it. Then I attached the wood slats (that were connected by the plywood) to the bottom of the shelf. So the wood slats hang down from the shelf but can be lifted up (thanks to the long hinge) to expose the electrical outlets and water lines if needed.
I hung the shelf using 4 metal brackets. They stuck out from the wall 6 inches so the piano hinge had to be attached 6 inches from the back of the shelf to allow room for the brackets. If you look closely it is obvious that there is a panel of wood slats that sticks out farther than the wall. But it looks much better than seeing large electrical outlets, brackets, and water lines.
I had fun adding decor to the shelf!
Fresh flowers are a must :)
This metal box is something my mom found. It currently hold the dryer sheets.
The wood bowl is from Target. It holds all the "treasures" I find in pockets like change, small toys, rocks, worms ... I am the mom of four little boys, you know!
This basket from Create-ology is awesome. It came with another one that is slightly smaller too. But this large one is perfect for clean folded laundry ready to be taken care of.
I can't wait to finish the rest of the space. Right now I am considering this color scheme for the whole room. Gray, white, light green, coral/melon, and maybe a little yellow.

You will also like:
IT looks soooo good Stacy ! You're amazing!
Hi Stacy
love all your ideas....and more than that YOUR SPIRIT !!
thanks for connecting today. lotsa luv!!
Nothing less than genius. I have a situation very similar and this just might be the solution. You really are amazing!!
Hi Stacy - I'm totally obsessed with laundry room reveals. Not doing laundry mind you. Just looking at pretty reveals. I love yours! One of these days I'll find the time to re-do mine. Hugs, Holly
Wow, I'm loving those gray wood plans! Can't wait to see it all come together:)
I love your clever fixes. It looks so nice, doing laundry would almost be a pleasure and not a chore. Love the decorative touches, and, lol, the bowl for treasures.
Awesome!! I have been wondering how to hide my laundry wires and such. I think your idea is fabulous, but I'm still lost on how exactly you it. Can you send me more pictures if you have them. Is it 2 pieces made into one? Do you have to take off the shelf to expose the wires and water cutoff?
This is so beautiful already. I love the hinged shelf solution as I've been mulling over doing my laundry and wasn't sure what to do there!
Love it!
Love it!! All the little details are great, i want to get one of those baskets!
It's so pretty!! Maybe I need to update my laundry room so I will actually do laundry haha :)
-Bonnie @ Revolutionaries
http://www.revolutionariesblog.com
Wow! Stacy, this turned out absolutely wonderful! The plank wall really set the tone and using a piano hinge for that shelf is genius! I am in a similar dilemma with my laundry room in regards to putting a shelf above the washer and dryer. Fantastic makeover and love the colors you plan on adding in.
SO cute. Love the brilliant fix for hiding the cords and etc... SO smart. That stuff is really unsightly.
Love the vibe and feel of the room, it's looking uber ka-ute!!
It is great! So creative and refreshing! You do amazing work!!!
That is coming along so good, I love the shelves and all the vintage details in there. ~ Lisa
I am jealous! Looking at the pictures help me feel a little more motivated to finish the actual laundry piled in my hallway today though, lol.
Oh my goodness! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I wish my laundry room had a window. Great job!
looks amazing!!!
LUV these pictures and colors and ideas!!! and luv your blog!!
Gorgeous job. How genius that shelf is! Totally dig the dryer sheet box.
Love the shelf-great solution to an eyesore!
Very creative!!!
Love the wooden planks! Telling the hubby to put it on our must do list!
Love the feel of this room. Can you provide a link to Create-ology....I googled it and can't seem to find it :(
http://www.create-ologie.com/collections Here you go!
I love it! And that box for the dryer sheets ~ genius! =)
Stacy,
Looks Great! Clean and fresh.
I have an unrelated question. The steps and walkway you painted a couple of years ago...how did the Behr concrete paint hold-up?
I'm getting ready to do mine.
Thanks,
Kathy
I love the jar of clothes pins.. it's adds just the perfect touch of wood. I certainly wouldn't mind doing a load or two of laundry in here!
Looks great! Can't wait to see what the rest looks like, you just have an amazing way of pulling everything together so perfectly!
Hi!
Love your blog, love the laundry room! Wondering where you found the delightful jar you have the clothespins in? It reminds me of a jar my grandmother had.
Thanks!
That clothespin jar gave me a great idea. I'm still trying to "rehome" items since I moved and one of them is a glass jar that looks like it once held penny candy. It's an ideal solution! Thanks.
It looks so beautiful! I love the shelf. I'm in need of something similar in my living room. Thanks for sharing this idea. :)
Looks really nice! And I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who still has a top-loading washing machine. :^)
This looks awesome and your hinge idea was brilliant! I love how you show your rooms in progress - it makes me feel better knowing other people don't do whole room makeovers in a weekend either! Still working on our dining room that I started last November! ;)
It's just so gorgeous! I am so in love with those grey planks. I think it was really creative to do something other than white!
Warmly, Michelle
This is how a laundry room should look! You nailed it! I love!
laura
House Envy
Just came across your blog while looking for laundry room fix up ideas. Your laundry room looks great! Nothing better than doing laundry in a pretty place!
Fabulous job! I love what you did here.
Love the Laundry Room Ideas. I just need a larger Laundry Room. lol Somehow when you think of additions, you don't always think Hmmmmmm! I think I'll enlarge my laundry room! I think Deck, Patio, Sliding Glass Door, more electrical outlets. My house is so tiny, whatever I do, has to be size appropriate.
I love your Blog. Thanks.
I love your lundary room makeover. I especially love your shelf over the washer and dryer.
Awesome!! I have been wondering how to hide my laundry wires and such. I think your idea is fabulous, but I’m still lost on how exactly you it. Can you send me more pictures if you have them.