In many homes, the laundry room is an afterthought, sometimes labeled as a mere "utility room." But shouldn't a room in which you work week after week be just as welcoming and attractive as every other room in your home?
-- Use clear jars that let you see exactly how much detergent you have left.One solution: a set of shelves dedicated to storing clean folded laundry. Individual baskets make it easy to sort the clothes and linens, and each basket can be labeled with a manila name tag so that family members can quickly identify what belongs to them.Here, some ideas for planning storage and work areas that can help you make the most of your laundry room.Curb appealAnd test the sealant by pouring a glass of water onto a dry area of decking. If the water beads up, the existing finish is doing its job. If the boards soak up the water, you need to reseal.Tackle seasonal maintenance projects: Here are some house-care tasks to take care of this month:For more seasonal house-care tips, pick up a copy of "Country Living: Home Almanac" (Hearst Books, 2002).Add decorative woodwork: Brackets and other woodwork on great homes do more than just support the roof -- they place the house in its proper context. What would a Victorian be without its gingerbread trim work, or an Arts and Crafts house without its distinctive brackets?Check your deck: Examine your deck for winter damage such as warped boards and loose nails. Clean any grime or mildew with a scrub brush or a pressure washer.In case of spills, choose a flooring that is water resistant and easy to clean, such as vinyl or linoleum.Update columns: Whether round, square, fluted or smooth, columns make a grand statement. Replacing old, weathered ones is an excellent way to give your house a face-lift. Consider urethane structural columns, which resist decay, insect infestation and water damage. They come preprimed, ready for painting. One source: Style Solutions, www.stylesolutions.com.-- Set up long, open shelves to keep necessities within reach.Sorting the laundry: Baskets, hampers and chutes for collecting dirty laundry are common sights, but few people consider how the clean clothes, towels and bed linens should get back to their rightful rooms.Concealing storage: While it's useful to have your everyday supplies out in the open, it's also nice to be able to tuck clutter out of sight. Simple curtains of ticking fabric hung on a rod conceal under-sink storage with a casual, countrified look.-- Install a peg rail to hold hand towels, aprons, hangers at the ready.To add a flourish to your roofline, look to reproduction companies. One source: The Wood Factory, 936-825-7233.Modern polymer shutters are saturated with color, making them virtually maintenance-free. One source: Builders Edge, www.buildersedge.com.Curb appeal -- the not easily defined sum of architecture, decorative elements, color and other features that make homes attractive at first glance -- is something many people think about only when they're trying to sell a house. But even homeowners who aren't planning on moving should step back now and again to get an objective look at how the rest of the world sees their house.Here are some easy projects and simple spruce-ups designed to boost a home's curb appeal and value:Stash a laundry basket, trash can or spare bottles or boxes of laundry detergent -- but be mindful of curious children or pets.Replace shutters: Once purely functional, shutters today are an essential part of the look of American homes. They make windows appear bigger and more prominent, and they give you the opportunity to work another accent color into your trim.Easy accessibility maximizes efficiency:Wash windows: Wash your windows before the weather gets too hot (when soap can dry quickly, causing streaks). Remove storm windows; replace them with screens.You may want a small TV or radio to help pass the time while folding and ironing. And gardeners should keep in mind that, with a sink and wide counter at their disposal, a laundry room can easily double as a potting area.Setting up your work space: When you're sorting or folding laundry, nothing is more useful than a wide, flat, clean countertop - - except maybe an extra pair of hands. For an unbroken work surface, consider installing under-counter washer and dryer models.
For more seasonal house-care tips, pick up a copy of "Country Living: Home Almanac" (Hearst Books, 2002).
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