The laundry room looked like this a couple of weeks ago.
There is still a bit of work to be done before I show you the finished room, but it’s looking much better now that the back door has been replaced. It’s been painted a beautiful robin’s egg blue too!
I picked up a couple of matching accessories when I was at IKEA last weekend. I don’t remember where I picked up that little geometric mug, but isn’t it cute? It’s more orange than the red washer and dryer, but close enough.
Now I’ll need something to put in those pots. Any recommendations for houseplants that survive neglect?
122 comments
Kari
I’ve been trying to find the paint color you used for the door but haven’t been successful. Can you tell me what it is?
Making it Lovely
I color-matched Benjamin Moore paint to Martha Stewart’s “Sparkling Brook.” There’s a guide to all of the sources here.
Kirstin
I am the absolute worst with plants. (I once killed a cactus.) But my spider plant seems to be thriving, against all odds. Peace lilies are also very hardy. I had one for several years that I routinely killed (when I forgot to water or went away) and resurrected. Unfortunately, when I moved to another city and left it in the car overnight, that finally did it in. I’ve also seen stores on Etsy that sell succulents (e.g., http://www.etsy.com/shop/SucculentsGalore)–supposedly some of the easiest plants to grow. Good luck! :)
Your basement is looking beautiful!
Kate
Love the door! That’s the same shade I’m thinking of painting our laundry room door! Please, please, please tell me more about that sink! PLEASE!!
Amelia
Spider plants are super hardy. I left one in a moving box for 3 weeks and it lived. If you neglect them, they just don’t grow as fast, so if you do pay attention to them, you might have to trim them fairly often to keep them from getting too big.
Erin
Love it! That bright red and soft (but kinda mint) blue are the colors I used in my dressing room, so fun and fresh!
Lizzie
Hi Nicole,
I am loving the basement reno. It’s looking incredible *of course I had high expectations*. Ironically we bought the same floor tile for our bathroom remodel, I love it!
I have an off-topic question…could you recommend a beginners sewing machine? I am trying to convince my hubby to get me the Project Runway edition Brother
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-PC-420-Limited-Project-Machine/dp/B000XE3FGO/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1MJ5DQR5CS75C&colid=1J2BMER5VLQUE
However the $400 price tag is a tad much for someone who just recently mastered sewing on a button. I’d love a machine with embroidery *I am obsessed with monogramming my daughters clothes*.
Merci!
Making it Lovely
I don’t know much about different sewing machine models. Mine is a very basic Kenmore model (probably intended for children, as it comes in pastel colors!).
Down Comforter
Looks Like a whole new laundry room! the the blue and red together!
casapinka
It’s going to be beautiful and the little orangey-red and white face is great. Lucky you!!
Dianna
what a great color choice for the door! it looks fantastic. what about succulents? my favorites because of the modern look & because everything else dies on me.
Carol
Sanseveria (aka snake plant)
Cait
My new favorite (and easy to care for) houseplant is Jade – also some succulents would look adorable.
LOVE that blue door – what a difference a little paint makes.
JeanMarie
Since it is a laundry room, something casual like rooting a sweet potato for a vine would be fun and easy
whatever DeeDee Wants
It looks great. I love it!
Tammy
someone mentioned “zamiouculas” FYI -it is poisonous if injested……. i know you have cats, don’t know if they frequent the basement but thought i would mention it.
also, am i seeing things or does the door match the color of your sewing machine? too cute. love the blue with the red in here!
Laurie G.
jade plant
Eye charts
Just lovely! I was also just at Ikea over the weekend and picked up those same accessories. I could not resist.
Kat
Succulents for sure! They are super cute and I have the worst luck with plants, but these guys survive my black thumb! Home Depot has tons of varieties and they are very cheap. The spikey, aloe type ones are the most resilient.
Maureen
Love the laundry room. As for the plants, I suggest pothos, philodendron and peace lily also called spathiphyllum. I have two green thumbs, but those are the plants I give to my friends who do not have green thumbs. If you are not a plant person, aloe, succulents, jade are easy to over water and ivy often gets bugs. Good luck! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Natalie
I can tell that room has got potential.. and i love the great red colour of the machines (:
Lauryn
rosemary!! likes to be hot and pretty dry, in other words: neglected. and a bonus, its smells great.
Beth
Jade plants. Any of them really, they take a long time to grow so you won’t have to repot all the time and you can pretty much ignore them 29 days a month. Water them really good every few weeks and they are fine.
With all that great sunshine a cloche over a plant would also be an option, that way you really wouldn’t have to even water it!
Erika
LOVE the door! And the accessories are perfect! Philodendrons are great house plants; nearly impossible to kill. Jade plants are easy to care for too.
samsonizzle
Before I moved I had something that I loved and it grew and grew even with my neglect. Couldn’t remember the name of it but someone else mentioned an arrowhead plant and that is what it looked like. I too had an aloe vera plant that thrived, almost to the point where I’d call it not an easy maintenance plant because I soon had the feeling I should re-pot it into something bigger (though I never did and it still did wonderfully, but look up aloe vera “pups” if you’re so inclined, I think you can basically split the new sprouts and have a second plant). Both of these were the only plants I could keep alive in my surrounded-by-trees German apartment, and they thrived in the bathroom with a privacy-glass window, so not a lot of light I would think. I watered them rarely, but I think they loved the humidity of the bathroom. I would assume the laundry room would be the same. Oh, and the most maintenance I did on the arrowhead plant was to remove the spent leaves/stems every week or three to keep it looking fresh. Wouldn’t need to do that necessarily as eventually those spent stems shrivel away to nothing and get pretty well hidden among the new growth, but perhaps it might help to keep it growing in nice and full. Personally I just found it kind of satisfying. Had to feel like I was in some way responsible for those great plants!
Shannon (8foot6)
I just bought several plants from ikea/walmart that are supposed to be hearty! (They all require the soil to dry out in between watering – since I often forget to water my plants, this is perfect for our home!)
The ZiZi from ikea is probably my favorite
Here are some pics!
http://8foot6.blogspot.com/2011/03/plant-tour.html
carrie
A peace plant survives neglect! I water it maybe once a week. When the petals start to wilt, I swear, you put water in and less than a hour later they are all perked up again! Plus, I love the idea of a “peace plant”.
annie
I have been unable to kill a plant that I have called Mother-in-law’s Tongue. Some little ones would be cute.
Rebecca
I don’t know if you need art for the laundry room, but this would be super cute:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/28307764/8-days-a-week-in-blue?image_id=81647201
brooke
i found these on etsy last night:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64379521/rustic-wood-flowers-set-of-twelve
no need to water!
Courtney
Pothos, definitely. Actually Ivy is great too. Just have to keep the Ivy moist so that painted pot would work well. Just throw a glass or two of water in it every week and it will grow like crazy. The pothos only needs a glass of water every week or week and a half. They will grow like crazy. Good luck!
Katie | GoodLife Eats
I agree with the person who mentioned Pothos being easy. I have gone a week + without watering mine and it always comes back, plus when it gets too long you can cut the vines off and place them in a vase of water and they will get roots which then after a while you can plant in the original pot to make it fuller or plant as new starts in a different pot.
It looks so pretty – I love the blue door, it definitely brightens things up.
WES
African Violets are difficult to take care of they need a lot of light and if they are in a basement window it will probably be too cold for them most of the year.
I have to get on the succulent bandwagon, a jade plant doesn’t like to get too cold so a basement window might not be a great option. Aloe and hens and chicks are great if you neglect them. As are snake plants (mother in law tongue.
Here is an article about plants that also help clean the air that I read yesterday. Many seem to be pretty hardy and like neglect. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11069/1130755-55.stm
Beth@Just{Heart}It
I once read a quote by Steve Bender, who said, “Impatiens are so popular because they’re so easy. Fail with these, and your only option is plastic.” :-)
Kirsten
Succulents. Seriously. I can’t keep anything alive but these. And they look so nice and structural, too. You could do a variety of different kinds, if you liked. I think that would be nice.
Beck's Chic Life
Like some others said Succulents (jade, aloe, hens and chicks) thrive on neglect. Cacti too.
talyon10
hi i love your blog so much everything so beautiful i wish i could be your friend…
Alex
Not sure about the plants, but what’s with the molding? Why is it so far from the door?
Diana Smith
i LOVE the blue! Beautiful color!
Janel
My arrowhead plant has somehow survived in my house during the past nine years. Proof that you can’t kill these things: I just got through twelve weeks of morning sickness. My plants live on a windowsill above my sink. I didn’t do the dishes for those twelve weeks, which means I didn’t water the plants. My arrowhead is still kicking. It has to stay away from the kids, though, because the sap is poisonous, but if it’s up on the windowsill in a laundry room, I’m sure you’re safe. African violets are way too sensitive to bother with. Here’s a link describing the plant: http://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/arrowhead-plant.html
Emmmylizzzy
Airplants!
Gaelyn
I believe the orange-red cup was from curiosity shoppe ( I have some too). Its looking awesome!
Oh and I agree, succulents all the way.
rhiannon
succulents!
Cathy
You may have covered this before… but what is the best way to paint a door? Spray paint? What finish. It looks gorgeous!
Your Mother
Uncle Ray can give you an offshoot of his spider plants – he has many. My cat always eats them though. And Aloe vera is very easy to grow.
kaelva
I have an aloe plant that actually thrives when I ignore it.. I used to attempt to take care of it but then I ignored it and now it’s making babies and is all kinds of happy.
JenWoodhouse.com
I’ve always loved that color combo (red/aqua) and I second the succulents suggestion, as well as other air plants like tillandsia. so easy!
Ali
Succulents are so easy to take care of! They are also unique and hardy!
Love the color choice of the blue door! So Lovely!
You use color so brilliantly!
~ Ali
mk
love love love! that blue almost makes doing laundry enjoyable!
Heidi S
A agree about the aloe plant. I have several that I water once a month or so. Also I have a jade tree that is equally easy to take care of. You could also try a spider plant. Easy to grow, cheap and it is also suppose to be excellent at improving air quality.
Alana
Oh— re: plants, try “Mother-in-law’s tongue”. Very sculptural, too.
Alana
Hahah! I have that sewing machine. I love it. So cute.
Jean
I second (or is it third, now?) the recommendation of aloe vera plants as next to impossible to kill.
I love, love, love the blue door. It’s so pretty and unexpected.
Ingrid Hames
ZZ plant. It survives neglect the best, in fact it does not like it when you take care of it… The room is very cute so far, love it! :)
Holly G
Love the Robins Egg Blue! So spring-like!
kim
aloe vera – defintely. from one tiny plant 10 years ago, I now have aloe coming out my ears – and it thrives on neglect! and for bonus points, you can break off a piece and rub it on a burn, or excema, or dry skin!
jenn
zamiouculas. i got it from ikea, i water it like once every 4 months and its barely in any sunlight. its a trooper. or cacti. you water them once in a blue moon.
Kris Mays
I can’t seem to kill my Aloe Vera plant.
Kathryn
My mother always called it a peace lily. I’m not sure what the technical term is. It’s not particularly pretty or interesting, but it’s a great plant to have since it practically tells you when to water it (only when it looks a little droopy, no more than that) and it perks up in a matter of minutes.
Ashley
Ivy is very forgiving
Ash
The only thing I’ve never killed (and I have a black thumb) is a succulent. It doesn’t need much water and I’ve kept it alive for over a year!
Martina
Pretty! Succulents and cactuses. Or is it cacti?
Monique
Go to the Garfield Park Conservatory and get thyself a succulent!
Audrie
Love how the door looks! My favourite paint colour :) And I agree with the pothos vote for easy plants… or cacti? Or soft succulents?
kristen f davis
it looks so good! i have a blue door, too. :)
Dina
The only plants that I’ve ever had that were **easy** to take care of were begonias!
Jaimie
Pothos are nearly impossible to kill. I have five. Everything else has pretty much died :( Any philodendron should survive well also (they’ll start looking a little sad and wilty to let you know they need watering, as will the pothos).
Kim @ Life Analytical
Try snack plants, pathos, African violets(as long as you don’t get their leaves wet), and any kind of dracaena.
Rebecca @ beautiful square feet
A couple of people have already suggested this, but I’d go with Aloe Vera. I bought one from IKEA 4 years ago and it’s thriving. It’s in my bathroom, so I guess it likes the humidity in there, but I only water it when I remember (which isn’t often).
If you do decide to go with this plant, here’s a tip – a Spanish friend of mine told me an Aloe Vera needs repotting when its longest spike is double the size of the pot it is in. I’ve followed her advice and as I said, mine’s doing well!
Can’t wait to see what the whole room looks like (or the whole basement for that matter)!
amie
I think i just died a little seeing this.
it’s so pretty
Nikki Kelly
My favorite succulent is called string of pearls. Eventually they spill lovely strings of green pearls over the sides of the container. They even flower now and then.
brandi
If your window has no direct sunlight, I would suggest orchids (phalaenopsis) they actually thrive on neglect and come in so many gorgeous colours. They bloom for months at a time and are very low maintenance.
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife
I’m pretty sure it’s already been said many many times, but succulents. I just love the little guys.
Love the robin’s egg blue! Cannot wait to see the entire room!
Laura
I don’t know about a specific type of plant, but I’ve found that plants from Ikea (speaking of) tend to survive a ridiculous amount of neglect (because they’ve been having to survive in a warehouse?), versus my fancy garden store plants which were so highly cared for that I can never match up, and usually wither under my care.
Amanda Z.
I agree! I hauled an assortment of plants from Ikea in Chicago home to St. Louis about 4 years ago and not a single one has died. I’m lucky if I water them every two weeks.
Lauren
I’ll second that. I have a 6 month old and have found the plants we bought from Ikea have lived through 6 months of neglect. All the other houseplants have died. If they can survive the Ikea warehouse, they can probably make it in your lovely laundry room. (thank goodness the plants I chose for the baby room are from Ikea, there’d be something sad about dead plants in his room!)
Dashfield Vintage
Your laundry is going to look fantastic!! We just painted our bathroom egg shell blue with white trimmings and a black & white check floor. The colour blue is so beautiful and calming.
x
Maria
Definitely a succulent of some type. I LOVE my trumpet jades and water them maybe once a month if I don’t forget. They look green and lush always and would look super cute in those pail like pots :) I adore the robin’s egg blue, so fresh on a door!
steffanie
I love it! Nicole, what color blue is that? I’ve been having such a hard time finding the right shade and that could be it…
steffanie
Never mind- got it!
Renee
Love the painted door!! I think I will carry this idea into our own mudroom/laundry that we are about to renovate. Thanks for sharing.
Now I will put in another suggestion for cactus or “hens and chicks”.
Can’t wait for the big reveal.
Jenny
That’s the color of our front door! I love that shade of blue with deep red…one of my favorite combos. :)
Can’t wait to see the rest; it’s lookin’ great!
As for houseplants, maybe some small ferns?
ayleen
looove the blue and red.
i second succulents
and as for mother in law’s tongue, ummm i killed that, so i don’t recommend it.
cristina
urca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Laurie
I LOVE the red and blue together, it’s soooo pretty!!! I love ficus. I have lots of them in my house…they are my favorite, big and small!
jen {das sushi}
I’ve moved on to succulents. I’m pretty sure I can’t kill these.
Jen S.
The door looks great! What is the name of the robin’s egg blue paint?
Love it!
Jessica
Cactus! They are the only things I can keep alive…
Pink Velvet Bird
I’d try some mint in those wee pots. Smells good…and make tea (from some types) and easy to grow!
Danielle
Snake plants! They help the air as well!
Debbie
Your laundry room looks lovely! I can’t wait to see the entire room.
I have good luck with violets, and they would love sitting in your window. Pretty white ones would look nice I think. They just need to be watered when the soil gets dry and you need to pull out or cut the flowers when they wilt. Easy.
Sabrina
I second the ZZ suggestion….they do great even in low light, and I water mine like every 2 weeks (but it’s in low light). Even with that neglect it still looks great!
Kate
Love the blue door!
Rachel
I love aloe vera… and it has health benefits too. :)
amanda6
I love that pale blue with red. Just took a look at your “house tour.” I’m so impressed! You’ve done an amazingly beautiful job with your house. I love your eye for color and pattern. And your kids ate so cute too!
Marianna
hello!! great blue door!
in the pot you can put two cactus (the round ones) like this
http://holoweb.net/~liam/pictures/2004-05-pec/pages/cimg1140/
but you have to be carefull with the children
or you can put candle cactus like this
http://www.greenbeandirect.com/Product/0903118/Round-Cactus-Candle.aspx
i hope you like my ideas
Dana @ House*Tweaking
I second the ALOE plant! I have quite the black thumb and I’ve been able to keep mine alive for well over a year now. Just throw a couple of rocks in the bottom of the pot, top with soil and plant your aloe. Water LIGHTLY once a week.
Bonus: My kids love when I cut a stem off to open up and spread the aloe gel on their boo-boo’s and bug bites. Works great!
Robin
I saw that black side table and knew it was from IKEA. That table is on my wish list.
Jill
zz plant and sanseveria are both great plants. water once a week. neither shed like ferns or philodendron.
RLG
You are the queen of getting stuff done!
With little ones, no less. I’m in awe.
Everything looks amazing.
BTW, many thanks for the post on pinks.
I’m using BM Wild Aster for one of my girls.
xoxo
jbhat
I am terrible with plants, so will say just some more of the billy buttons. But aloe would look really good.
I cannot wait to see whole room.
jbhat
Erin
Succulents and/or philodendrons. The latter can live in just water.
jodi
so pretty!!
whitney
sigh. this is the most serene laundry space ever!
luuvely
aloe and ivy…i always remember my mother having aloe in our kitchen window…and i never remember her watering it like she did the others…
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