Reader reno: A budget laundry makeover for $1300

According to interior stylist Katy Thomas, the laundry is often the last room people consider when it comes to home renovations. So when the mother of three gave her own laundry a facelift, she wanted to create a space that flowed seamlessly from the rest of her minimalist Scandi-style home.

WATCH: Tara Dennis gives a small laundry a brand new look

Around the chaos of work and homeschooling her three little girls, she was able to take her laundry from an ordinary, everyday room to one of the most stylish spots in the house.

Better Homes and Gardens Online chatted with Katy about her home laundry makeover.

Renovated laundry with timber bench, plant and photographs

What inspired your renovation?

It was definitely in need of an update! I wanted to design a space that I loved to be in. I love flicking through magazines and searching Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration.

Have you done any renovations before?

Yes, we love a reno project. We renovated our home in Melbourne and we’re slowly renovating our home by the beach. It’s what I love doing - I love helping people transform their homes and creating spaces they love to be in.

What kind of look were you after?

So often laundries are an afterthought, so I wanted to have some fun with this space. I wanted the laundry to seamlessly fit in with the rest of our home which meant lots of natural timbers, Easycraft VJ panelling and a white and soft grey colour palette.

What was the biggest challenge?

Trying to do it around the kids!

The process

Created a moodboard of ideas and inspiration.
Put together a Bunnings wishlist to determine the overall product costs up front.
Pulled out the old laundry, painted the walls.
Picked up all of the products from Bunnings and assembled them.
Dropped the new products into the new laundry space.
Changed the handles on the cupboards. We had two drill holes to fill, so decided to make the handles a feature.

Timber shelves and decorations in laundry room

How long did it take you?

It took about a week in between homeschooling, work, and having all 3 kids at home! A few late nights putting together flat-pack cupboards and painting, but it was well worth it for the end result.

How much did you roughly spend?

All of the products came from Bunnings and cost just under $1,300.

Custom made cupboards and benchtops can cost a fortune, so I looked for alternative ways to create a beautiful space with a smaller budget.

Budget Breakdown

Bedford flat-pack off the shelf moisture-resistant laundry cupboards (they start at $107 each)
Black round handles: Small $5/large $8 each
Tasmanian oak timber: $79 for our bench and also for our shelves $29 each
Easycraft VJ panels: $32 each panel for our splashback and painted them with Dulux Aquanamel paint in ‘Highgate’ to make them durable for a small wet area
Black Mondella tapware: $106
Mondella round sink: $117