Hello!
As I look ahead to projects I’d like to accomplish this year, the laundry room is definitely on the list (as is the laundry, for that matter – always). This is one room in our house that hasn’t been painted (say what?!), although I did add board and batten in there, and a piece of furniture for storage from Ballard Outlet. But the overall colors aren’t my favorite, and honestly, the reason I haven’t made big changes, is because I like the window treatment. Silly, yes? (Disclaimer: the walls look much brighter in this photo than they are in person).
The yellow walls weren’t my color choice, but again, they go with the window treatment, and I haven’t made this room a priority. Until now.
I have been crushing on navy in so many ways lately, and have always loved it, quite frankly. I have incorporated navy in my powder room, using Gentleman’s Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a great indigo blue.
I love it in furniture form as well – navy is such a classic color, kind of like a good pair of blue jeans – super versatile, and they go with anything. Remember this indigo blue desk makeover?
Then, I added touches of navy in my kids’ Jack and Jill bathroom – a great accent color that plays beautifully with other colors.
Now I’m really having a navy craving for my laundry room. I’m just debating on how I want to use it. There are a few options that I’m contemplating right now, and I’d love to hear what you think.
Option 1: Navy Cabinets
I love rooms like this one, where you have such a crisp contrast between the navy cabinets and the white counters. However, I have neither of those things currently. The floors are going to stay, but I might be able to do something about the countertop. We’ll see. Either way, I still think I can pull off the navy in here. I just don’t know if I want to do it with the cabinets.
This laundry room from Studio McGee is perfection in my mind. As is just about everything I see over there. I absolutely love the high contrast look in this space – so clean, so classic.
I think if I go with navy cabinets, I’m going to have to lighten things up with the counters – it just works. And I love the contrast.
And there’s something to be said about the navy + brass perfection is achieved in matching the color and finish together. It’s just stunning.
Option 2: Two-Toned Cabinets
While I have painted some two toned client kitchens, I haven’t done any two toned looks in my own home. I love the two-toned look, because you get the best of both worlds, but I need to think about it a bit more before I can commit. Too trendy? I’m not sure. These examples are certainly convincing.
I love the mix of navy, white and the wood tones in here. There’s just something about mixing navy and wood tones that just makes me happy.
Again with the navy and wood mix – this time with the floors. This is what makes me think that I can make the navy work in the laundry room. Even though we don’t have wood tones in there (yet), I think the warm colors in our floors will work.
Option 3: White Cabinets, Navy Walls
There is always the “safe” option of going with white cabinets and incorporating navy in the wall color like you see here at The Lilypad Cottage. Still crisp, still pretty.
I know this one reads more gray/black, but the descriptions on this space say that it’s navy. Either way, you get the vibe I’m talking about here. Again, the appeal of the continuous countertop.
I know that this is a bathroom, but it’s just too pretty not to share, and it still makes a case for navy walls, never mind that stunning tile design!
Option 4: No Upper Cabinets
Then there is always the option of having just lower cabinets, with shelving as an alternative to cabinets. While I love how it looks here, I don’t think that it’s a practical option for me. My upper cabinets serve a purpose, and I don’t think I could give them up just yet.
Here’s another laundry room with shelving instead of upper cabinets. Again, I love the look, I just don’t think it will function the way that I want. But I love that navy washer and dryer! That’s a whole different situation since I have top loaders and not front loaders. I really like the idea of ONE countertop that covers the entire area in a uniform way, making room for more folding space (or alternatively, more space for me to pile up laundry that no one puts away.). But I really like my washer and dryer, and more importantly, they work (knock wood). So I can’t justify buying new ones right now, nor do I even know that I want front loaders – I’ve heard mixed reviews about them. I’m open to hearing your thoughts on the matter as well.
So these are the options that I have on the table. What do you think? I love all of them for different reasons – what’s not to like, right? I’m kind of leaning towards having some navy cabinets in there in some form, just not sure how. I might have to spray some sample doors so I can get a feel for what it would look like.
Are you craving navy like I am? I have added touches of navy throughout much of my home in some form. It always keeps me coming back! My friend Painting Yoda friend Cyndy at The Creativity Exchange has some great navy paint color ideas too.
Have a great day!
Jenny
23 Comments
laurie zivkovich
January 9, 2017 at 7:15 amHi Jenny-
I have recently “talked” to you about Advance Paint, baseball and college. I am having new white kitchen cabinets made and our kitchen goes right into the family room. I painted both of those rooms “French Beret” by Benjamin Moore and everyone who has seen it talks more about the paint than the kitchen! It is a dark navy/charcoal and I think it is stunning. I will try and send a picture so you can see it. Check out the color and see what you think.
Jenny
January 9, 2017 at 7:23 amI would love to see it Laurie! It sounds stunning – glad to hear that I’m not the only one with a big crush on navy. 🙂 And I think our boys live in a parallel universe when it comes to our baseball conversation!
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country
January 9, 2017 at 8:02 amI am a huge navy fan – in my home and my wardrobe. Our master bedroom and my office both have navy accessories but I still haven’t painted a room navy…but I want to! I am thinking either my kids’ bathroom or my dining room. Anyway, regarding your laundry room, I LOVE the thought of navy cabinets! It looks like you have a ton of light in there and your floor is light, so I think it would look beautiful! You gave some gorgeous examples and those ones with the gold hardware are incredible! Can’t wait to see what you decide. Your cabinet makeovers are always so inspiring. Have fun with this project!
Shelley
Jenny
January 9, 2017 at 8:36 amI love navy in my wardrobe too Shelley! I’m just drawn to it overall – even my bridesmaid’s dresses were navy – 22 years ago! I’m thinking about stepping out of my comfort zone and trying the navy cabinets – they’re just so sharp. Worst case, I repaint them, right? I’ll try some sample doors first to see how they look. 🙂
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country
January 10, 2017 at 7:15 pmMy bridesmaids’ dresses were navy too!…19 years ago!
Jenny
January 10, 2017 at 9:02 pmGreat minds, Shelly. We’re trendsetters like that, aren’t we? 😉
Mary Pat Simmons
January 9, 2017 at 8:03 amHi Jenny,
I’ve always loved navy too! 28 years ago, when I bought my first condo in Centerville, I painted the lower half of the walls in the foyer and kitchen navy. Just recently I painted my dining room navy! It has white wainscoting and wood floors I think it works well. I’d share a picture with you but don’t know how to add to this post!
I love following your blog and all your projects! You do beautiful work!
Regards,
MP
Jenny
January 9, 2017 at 8:33 amI would love to see it Mary Pat! Feel free to email it to me at [email protected]. The white wainscoting, with the navy and hardwood floors sound beautiful! So glad to hear from you – hope you’re doing well!
AliJ
January 9, 2017 at 12:19 pmHonestly I like the navy walls option. I feel like after a period of time you’d get tired of navy cabinets. I did our powder room in Hale Navy and LOVE it! It feels so rich and added gold accents. I then used General Finishes to darken our oak vanity – I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it.
Tara
January 9, 2017 at 1:46 pmEven if two toned cabinets are “too trendy”, you are handy enough to change it in a few years if need be. I’d love to have a laundry room that size since ours isn’t much bigger than a closet. I love navy and am considering painting our master bedroom in some shade of it. We have a giant skylight that is half in our bathroom, half in our bedroom and it’s too bright some nights for sleeping well. While I’d love to be going with Quiet Moments, Sea Salt or something along those lines, they reflect too much light. Looking forward to seeing what you decide!
Patti
January 9, 2017 at 2:28 pmJenny, I like navy, too! I really like navy cabinets with the bronze hardware. I believe you could cover your cornice board with a new fabric without much trouble. I look forward to seeing what you come up with –
Sharee
January 9, 2017 at 3:57 pmHave you thought of what color you’d paint the walls if you do navy cabinets? I think that might help you decide which option to do. I haven’t searched out white walls with white board and batten…its probably out there…but you usually see the board and batten painted white with a color on the wall above it. Navy is such a classic look either way…walls or cabinets…will be good. 🙂
Brenna@Domestic Charm
January 9, 2017 at 7:34 pmI am in love with Navy right now! I want to paint my office in Naval by Sherwin Williams but I’m a little afraid. And the two-toned cabinet look is my fave! I’ m trying to convince some clients/friends to do it in their kitchen. Wish me luck!
Mary Pat
January 10, 2017 at 1:31 pmHi Brenna – I used Naval by Sherwin Williams in my dining room this summer and love it! I was afraid it would be too dark but I think it works well. Good luck! Mary Pat
Jenny
January 10, 2017 at 9:01 pmI’m glad I’m not the only one Brenna! Naval is such a great color – it’s on my list of navy paint colors under consideration! What’s not to like with navy, right?
Ivory
January 9, 2017 at 8:33 pmI am sooo loving it all. Thank you so much
Julie
January 9, 2017 at 10:41 pmAfter being inspired by all of the kitchens you paint, we are in the process of painting the cabinets in a rental property we just bought a very dark grey/blue with white counters and white shiplap walls. I think navy cabinets would look amazing and I love the brass handles. Wood counters would also be super.
I have front loaders and would never go back to top loaders. They use less water and detergent, are gentler on your clothes and look nicer too 🙂 People sometimes complain they smell, but I leave the washer door open overnight after a load of laundry and close it in the morning and I’ve never had a problem. Not sure what other negative there is as they are super! Can’t wait to see what you do 🙂
Jenny
January 10, 2017 at 8:48 pmYour rental property sounds like a beauty Julie! I’d love to see it when you’re done! As for the washer/dryer debate, I think much of what I’ve heard has been around them leaving a mildew-y smell and that sort of thing. What kind of front loader do you have?
Debbie
January 10, 2017 at 9:53 amI like your window treatment as well but you do not have to be bound by the color. PAINT IT. Use the tutorials for painting upholstery – latex and fabric medium. I have done this with window treatments, upholstered headboard and vanity chair when color change is in the wind.
CT Granny
January 11, 2017 at 7:00 pmI’ve been doing “navy” for over 50 years but I’ve never painted a room navy or had any navy cabinets. As brave as I’ve gotten is navy mattress ticking wallpaper. I always felt that the basics should be neutral. I am also of the generation that didn’t do much changing out. Change only came when something broke or completely wore out.
Karen (from NoVa)
January 12, 2017 at 12:43 pmHappy 2017 Jenny!
I LOVE navy too! When we moved into our home at the end of 2012, I knew I wanted navy blue to be the “neutral” in our home, and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet! Like another commenter, it’s the basis of my wardrobe too.
My two cents – paint the bottom cabinets dark blue, but in a semi-gloss or eggshell so you can wipe laundry lint off of it, and paint the top cabinets your favorite white. Brass pulls would be gorgeous! I’m glad you’re inclined to keep your cabinets. I’m a “form & function” gal, so while I enjoy the pics of all the perfectly styled open shelving, I always think “what about all the lint”? 🙂
When we moved into our home, we bought a new washer and dryer set. Based on the mold and mildew issues I read about w/front loaders and repair forum research, we bought an “old school” heavy duty set and have been happy with them (mildew can be a problem in any washer, so I too keep my lid open after washing to keep it aired out). I love the look of the “modern” front loaders, but I like having less electronics to worry about when issues arise. I have a close friend that has front loaders, and she gets frustrated that she has to rewash her clothes sometimes b/c the water level is too low.
I’m looking forward to seeing this project come together!
Cheers!
Karen