Learn how easy it is to give your washer and dryer a makeover with contact paper, making it a beautiful focal point in your laundry space!

A few years ago, we moved into a space where, for the first time, we needed to bring our own washer and dryer. Coincidentally, my amazing mother-in-law had just upgraded her set and we were able to take the old ones off her hands! While the machines are in great working order, they are on the older side, which means there was some rust forming and paint chipping from daily use. While that’s totally a cosmetic thing and no big deal, I wanted to one, cover the surfaces to prevent further wear and tear, and two, make them look better. To some it’s no big deal, but for me as a stay-at-home/work-at-home mom, I see the same spaces over and over again. After a while, minor things become a bit of an eye sore and something that I’m motivated to change.

One solution I considered was to re-paint my washing machine and dryer, however that seemed like a big task given we don’t have a garage or really a big enough outdoor space in our rental to take on such a big task. I’m all for a good paint job to upgrade something, but that wasn’t an option for this project. So, I went back to the drawing board and finally decided to cover our machines with peel and stick wallpaper or contact paper. I found a few tutorials online, but not many, so this was a bit of trial and error, but I’m so in love with the results and I can’t wait to share them with you. Come along with me as I show you how I upgraded my small laundry room with a small and inexpensive project that cost less than $20!

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FAQs

Should I use contact paper or peel and stick wallpaper to cover my washer and dryer?

You can use either in this project. I chose peel and stick wallpaper because I liked the patterns that were available. I find that contact paper is very limited in the patterns and looks that exist. If you’re looking for something basic or super affordable, then I’d suggest checking out your local Dollar Tree for the cheapest contact paper. Wal-Mart and Target also sell fairly inexpensive contact paper. I found my peel and stick wallpaper on Amazon for a pretty affordable price too, with enough leftover for another project.

Do I need to prep the surface of my washer and dryer before I cover them with contact paper?

It’s not necessary to sand the surface prior to applying contact paper, but you do want to make sure it’s nice and clean and free of dust and lint. I like to wipe the surfaces down, then clean with isopropyl alcohol to get the best adherence.

What special tools do I need for this project?

You really don’t need any special tools to apply contact paper or peel and stick wallpaper to your washer and dryer. I do find it helpful to have a sharp knife like a utility knife or exacto knife and a good pair of scissors.

VIDEO

This project was part of my DIY laundry room makeover where I completely transformed my laundry closet. For less than $100 and using a lot of items I already had on hand, I was able to make a huge impact on the look and feel of the space. Check out the video above for some laundry room inspiration!

REASONS TO MAKEOVER YOUR WASHER AND DRYER WITH CONTACT PAPER

Mask Dirt and Lint

It depends on the model of your dryer, but for me, the lint trap is right on top. That means whenever I pull it out, lint and dust get ALL OVER the top of my dryer. And because it’s white, it constantly looks dirty. No matter how often I clean it, it doesn’t take too long to just look bad. By adding wallpaper or contact paper, my dryer looks beautiful and clean, as opposed to dirty.

Cover Rust and Wear

Painting and refinishing your washer and dryer isn’t always an option, like in my case. And while there are still some spots that have a bit of chipped paint and rust, I was able to cover the majority of the wear with the peel and stick wallpaper and I’m so happy I did. It helps to prevent further damage from happening to the surface and make clean up a bit easier.

Aesthetic

Of course you can makeover your washer and dryer even if there’s no other reason other than for pure aesthetic. Using contact paper and peel and stick wallpaper allows you to change up the look of your laundry space any time you wish. I love the the look of my machines now they’ve got a little extra character, as crazy as that sounds!

HOW TO MAKEOVER A WASHER AND DRYER WITH CONTACT PAPER

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Tools You May Need:

Pins
Scissors
Pencil
Eraser
Scraper tool and exacto or utility knife
Clean cloth

Materials Needed:

Peel and stick wallpaper or contact paper
Tape
Isopropyl alcohol

Directions

Start by cleaning the surfaces of your washer and dryer you wish to cover with a good all-purpose cleaner, followed by isopropyl alcohol.

Lay your peel and stick wallpaper or contact paper on the first area that is to be covered. Cut the paper so there’s plenty of paper to work with.

Lay your contact paper over the surface and tape it down to keep it in place.

Using a pencil, carefully trace the area that needs to be covered. See notes for covering the door and lid.

Cut out the template you created with scissors, then place it back on the surface to ensure it fits well.

Start by peeling the backing off the top of the piece of paper and adhere it to the surface.

Use your hands or a flat edge tool to smooth it out.

Continue slowly pulling the backing off and smoothing the paper out. It helps to pull the contact paper down a bit as you’re sticking it down.

Erase any pencil marks, then continue onto any other surfaces you wish to cover.

Notes

When you’re covering the door or the lid, leave an extra inch all the way around so that you can wrap the paper around the sides of the door.
To remove any air bubbles, use a pin to poke a small hole in the bubble, then continue to smooth it out.
Some wallpaper isn’t wide enough to cover the door, lid and top of the washer completely, like in my case. You may need to cut two pieces to fully cover those surfaces.
To clean your newly covered washer and dryer, simply wipe down with a damp cloth.

Washer & Dryer Makeover with Contact Paper

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Estimated Cost: $8

Learn how easy it is to give your washer and dryer a makeover with contact paper, making it a beautiful focal point in your laundry space!

Materials

Peel and stick wall paper or contact paper
Tape
Isopropyl alcohol

Tools

Pins
Scissors
Pencil
Eraser
Scraper tool and exacto or utility knife
Clean cloth

Instructions

Start by cleaning the surfaces of your washer and dryer you wish to cover with a good all-purpose cleaner, followed by isopropyl alcohol.
Lay your peel and stick wallpaper or contact paper on the first area that is to be covered. Cut the paper so there's plenty of paper to work with.
Lay your contact paper over the surface and tape it down to keep it in place.
Using a pencil, carefully trace the area that needs to be covered. See notes for covering the door and lid.
Cut out the template you created with scissors, then place it back on the surface to ensure it fits well.
Start by peeling the backing off the top of the piece of paper and adhere it to the surface.
Use your hands or a flat edge tool to smooth it out.
Continue slowly pulling the backing off and smoothing the paper out. It helps to pull the contact paper down a bit as you're sticking it down.
Erase any pencil marks, then continue onto any other surfaces you wish to cover.

Notes

When you're covering the door or the lid, leave an extra inch all the way around so that you can wrap the paper around the sides of the door.

To remove any air bubbles, use a pin to poke a small hole in the bubble, then continue to smooth it out.
Some wall paper isn't wide enough to cover the door, lid and top of the washer completely, like in my case, so you may need to cut two pieces to fully cover those surfaces.
To clean your newly covered washer and dryer, simply wipe down with a damp cloth.

Looking for more easy makeover projects?

Looking for more easy DIY makeover ideas like this tutorial? Check these out:

Did you cover your washer and dryer? If you did, I’d really love to see it. Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreations of this tutorial!