Transitional-Style IKEA Laundry Room Cleans Up Nicely

How IKEA AXSTAD cabinets turned a water-damaged basement into a dynamic laundry room and closet space

In This article

• How to remodel your basement into an IKEA laundry room
• Using IKEA AXSTAD cabinets for a clean, transitional design theme
• Creating storage solutions with IKEA cabinets for designs with limited space

If you’re an IKEA customer facing the unexpected and need to remodel part of your home, let’s say the laundry room, it can be daunting. And if you aren’t sure where to start in the IKEA remodeling process, it can seem that much harder.

This is the challenge which faced Alison from Evanston, IL who recently worked with IKD designer Meyer to repair and update her water-damaged basement and turn it into a clean and transitional-style IKD laundry room, as well as featuring a new IKEA closet design.

“We had sustained and fixed some water damage in our foundation. Once that was remedied, we had the opportunity to repair and improve the basement space. Part of that was improving the overall usability of the laundry space and building in a significant closet and storage space.”

Alison had three specific design wishes for her IKEA laundry room and IKEA closet, including: significant storage space; the ability to hide things like a laundry basket; and to work around existing limitations like the low ceiling, windows and the uneven hallway dimensions. With Meyer’s design assistance, she combined IKEA’s SEKTION modular framework with IKEA AXSTAD upper, tall and base cabinets in matte white with a white cabinet frame finish, complemented by 5-1/2″ silver IKEA GRIBBOL handles and IKEA MAXIMERA drawers, as well as an IKEA FÖRBÄTTRA cover panel in matte white which was used as a 1″(H) toe kick. Two tall IKEA AXSTAD cabinets in white are featured on the other side of the drawers as well. The tall cabinets and upper cabinet alignment runs 72″(H) combined with an 11″(H) soffit to maximize the 83″ tall ceiling. The white cabinets are balanced out by 1-1/2″ thick IKEA KARLBY countertops in walnut veneer, as well as a 25″(W)x19″(D) IKEA HAVSEN apron front sink in white, and dark hardwood flooring. Other IKEA items include an IKEA LILLIVIKEN sink strainer with stopper, an IKEA LILLIVIKEN lid, an IKEA FIXA countertop support fixture and a SEKTION suspension rail galvanized. She also opted to keep her existing Whirlpool washer and dryer.

The price for the IKEA products in this laundry room was $2,475 along with an IKEA Extra Items list total of $1,959 for a grand total of $4,434. The IKEA closet was accomplished for a price of $2,832 and an IKEA Extra Items list total of $888.99 for a cost of $3,720.99. In total, Alison’s IKEA laundry room and closet design was completed for $8,154.99, within her original budget.

“My favorite part of our IKEA laundry room and closet project is the significant increase in functionality and organization. Everything can be put away and there is more than ample space to keep things organized,” she says.

Let’s take a look at how Alison’s IKEA laundry room and closet came together!

Informed Design Decisions

Alison knew conceptually what type of IKEA laundry room she wanted, but was unsure what steps were needed to accomplish it. She was especially struggling to select the correct-sized IKEA cabinets and quickly realized she needed professional design assistance.

“We had hired a contractor/carpenter who was open to installing ‘whatever we wanted’ but didn’t offer design or consultative services as part of the agreement. When I first went to the IKEA Web site, I was quickly overwhelmed by all the options. And when I found IKD online, it felt like the missing piece between working with the carpenter/installer and the IKEA store” Alison explains.

She especially liked having the design support, which allowed her to send photos and measurements to IKD and receive working designs for her IKEA laundry room sent back. Another key to the project was her contractor/carpenter had significant experience installing IKEA cabinets. “Having a skilled IKEA installer was a great benefit because the basement walls are not exactly 90 degrees and the basement floors tend to slant. I also loved that the final project came with a pre-loaded IKEA cart and a shopping list that I could just click and order.” This was really important because the nearest IKEA is almost an hour from Alison’s home, so working with IKD cut down on her constantly going back and forth to IKEA.

Expected Challenges

Alison knew that the limited and uneven measurements of her existing basement would pose a unique challenge to her laundry room design.

“For both the laundry room and closet, it was about trying to get the most out of a limited space. For the closet, the ceiling height is only about 80 inches, but we still wanted some room for hanging clothes. For the laundry room, we were working around the existing washer/dryer, pipes, vents and pumps.”

For example, the area by the IKEA HAVSEN apron front sink features IKEA AXSTAD matte white base cabinets custom cut to 10″(W)x24″(D)x30″(H). Meanwhile a small counter was designed on either side of the washer/dryer, custom cut to 10″(W)x24″(D)x30″(H) as well — ideal for placing bottles of detergent when not being used or to fold freshly laundered items.

“Having a small counter and cabinet on either side of the washer/dryer is super helpful. It’s great to have the detergent on the counter, at easy reach. Plus the cabinets on either side have pull-out shelves, so I can easily grab things like dryer sheets, Oxyclean, bleach etc. while managing multiple loads of laundry,” she concludes.

IKEA Closet

The closet project had a “separate but related” budget to the laundry room, it also offers its own unique complement to the overall large remodel she and her husband undertook for their basement.

“One half of the basement is a pantry and laundry space, the other half is a workout space and bathroom. The closet is designed to be in the hallway between the workout space and bathroom entrance. Since we added the bathroom in our basement, my husband uses it as his primary bathroom. He often works out and then showers. Having the ability to create a closet down there made it much more practical for him to shower and get ready with all of his belongings in the same space,” she describes.

For her IKEA closet, Alison worked with IKD designer Merari and again selected IKEA AXSTAD tall cabinets and IKEA MAXIMERA drawers in matte white; paired with IKEA GRIBBOL 5-1/2″ brass handles, an IKEA FÖRBÄTTRA cover panel in matte white used for a toe kick and IKEA UTRUSTA connection hardware for the cabinet doors. Merari designed a closet that created significant storage options along the nearly 10′-1/2″ hallway, including multiple cubbies for shoes and boots and other seasonal items. She also managed to stay mindful of the existing limitations like the low ceiling and uneven hallway dimensions.

For example, on the side of the closet with the IKEA MAXIMERA drawers, Merari created a 2′-1/2″ custom platform measuring 30″(W)x24″(D)x55″(H). This included one IKEA MAXIMERA drawer cut to 30″(W)x24″(D) and also featuring an IKEA UTRUSTA connecting rail for fronts.

Alison concludes: “We love how well everything fits with both the needs we had and the space available. For both the IKEA closet and the IKEA laundry room, we were able to really look at our stuff and then consider what kind of storage would make sense for shoes, hanging clothes, integrating a drawer for a laundry basket, etc.”

Winning Formula

Alison’s successful IKEA laundry room and IKEA closet design was an enjoyable journey — one that other IKEA remodelers should look forward to.

“I really liked connecting with [IKD design coordinator] Florence and the other designers. I connected to real people and not some kind of bot. When I emailed questions, or when they emailed me, I was able to explain things and share follow-up details knowing the same person was reading and following along, it wasn’t just being passed through a ticket system,” she says.

Alison also says that her experience gave her the opportunity to “leverage the knowledge of both the IKD team and our contractor/carpenter. We were able to share reviews/information back and forth which shaped the final design.”

Remember, if the unexpected happens with your home — and even if you’re a first-time IKEA remodeler — you don’t need to worry about the unknowns of the IKEA remodeling process. Our design team at IKD is here to guide you through the IKEA cabinet selection process — whether it’s for your laundry room, closet or kitchen and bath. If you’re ready to begin, so are we. Let’s get started!