Say Goodbye To The Eyesore Of Washing Machine Hookups With A Simple DIY Solution

Laundry rooms are meant to be functional spaces in the home, but there's no reason that they have to be unsightly. If you are trying to reimagine your laundry space as a room that can be as thoughtfully curated as the rest of your home, there are many steps you can take to that end. If you've already taken measures such as painting the walls, adding shelving above your washer and dryer, and perhaps adding attractive hardware to cabinet doors, it's possible that you're still left with one eyesore: your washer and dryer hookups. Fortunately, you don't need to just live with them in plain sight, nor do you have to embark on a fine woodworking project to conceal them. The solution is surprisingly easy and uses just a towel rail and a tea towel.

In order to hide your ugly washing machine hookups, position a towel bar right above the hookup alcove, then fold some plain tea towels and drape them attractively over the towel bar so that they completely cover the hookups themselves. Then, you could take the genius towel bar home hack a step further by giving a layered visual to the finished product: instead of simply choosing a normal single-rod towel rack, opt for a double-rod rack. While the rod in the back is busy hiding the hookups, the one in the front is left open for hooks that are then filled with all sorts of lovely accent accessories you might need in the laundry room, like a wooden laundry brush or a small basket that holds clothespins. 

If you're feeling inspired by this before-and-after laundry room makeover and want to upgrade your laundry room, you are in luck. For starters, you'll need to find a towel bar that works for your space. Remember to select one that is wider than the hookup alcove, or else you'll risk it peeking through when viewed from the side. You will also want to consider the design of the rack; choose one with elements that will work with the rest of your space, such as a complementary type of metal to hardware already in the room. Follow the installation instructions for your towel rack, but before drilling, it is imperative to use a wall sensor device to locate any hidden electric wires behind the hookups.

Once you've carefully installed your towel rack, you can have some fun decorating and accessorizing it. Starting with the towels, choose some that are neutral enough to blend into your laundry room decor. For a truly charming and versatile option that won't ever go out of style, consider some 100% linen tea towels, which have antibacterial properties; this is a benefit since they won't need to be changed often to stay clean. As far as any hooks for the rack go, choosing S-hooks is likely the most practical option. Accessorize as you see fit with decorative and functional laundry room items — just keep the items within the weight capacity of the towel rack.