How to Transform the area under a utility sink in a laundry room into a pretty hidden storage place.
Would you like to find a place in your home to create hidden storage that has easy access? Or would you like to add some “pretty” to a plain piece of furniture or area in your home without having to do a major remodel or installation? How about a way to disguise an ugly laundry sink in your home.
Todays post will help you do this in an easy way. Even if you don’t own a sewing machine.
I accomplished both of these – created hidden storage and added a bit of pretty when I made a fabric skirt for the functional, but plain utility sink in my mudroom.
The same style of skirt can be made to hide open cabinet shelves, a doorway, a vanity, any table… you can even make an easy-to-hang window valance or curtain this way.
I posted about the sink skirt before and how I made a skirt to go around the bottom of the sink as a way to hide the cat litter box, but keeping it accessible for the cat. The old skirt was faded and I as I updated the room’s colors and decor I made a new sink skirt to do double duty – hide stuff and make the sink look better.
I also bought the fabric in another color to make a skirt for my daughter’s vanity. She just started a new job in a new town and has a wonderful bright and spacious apartment. I went to visit her over the weekend to help her add some decor to her bedroom.
To save money, I joined and seamed the fabric for the vanity skirt horizontally. Other than that the steps to make each skirt are the same.
The pattern runs vertically on the sink skirt. I pleated each of the skirts. I had more fabric for the sink, so there are more pleats. If pleats are not your thing, the fabric can be gathered or simply wrapped around the edge of the sink or table and attached with Velcro.
Utility Sink: Before
I used to keep the cat litter box hidden under the sink, but we moved it upstairs about a year ago. As you can see Trax still likes to hang out under the sink. He thinks we don’t know he is there and then he pounces out to play when we walk by. He loves closed-in spaces. When he is not playing hide and seek, we store bulk packages of pantry items like paper towels under the sink.
I attached the skirt to the outside of the sink using sticky-back Velcro. It makes it very easy to attach the skirt to any surface. I used my sewing machine to make the skirt, but you can also make it the no-sew way with fabric glue or fusible adhesive and an iron.
The decorative wood piece on the front of the tub: I bought at Home Depot.
Click here to see it—> Decorative Birch Accent Molding. More ornamental accent onlays here and here.
I painted the decorative accent molding to match the tub and attached it with wood glue. I used caulk around it to make it look like it was molded to the tub.
How to Make a Sink or Table Skirt
To make the no-sew version of this skirt– follow the *NoSew directions at the end of the tutorial.
supplies needed:
- Fabric
- Sticky-Back or Sew-On Velcro
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Tacky glue or any fast acting glue
- Thread
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Tape measure
- Iron and ironing board
- *NoSew – fabric glue and or Heat N’ Bond Fabric Adhesive
How To determine fabric yardage for sink skirt:
For height: Measure from the sink bottom or tabletop edge to the floor, add 2 inches to the measurement to create a finished top edge and bottom hem.
For width: Measure width of item or around item, add 2 inches for hems/finished edges. If you plan to pleat or gather the fabric, double the measurement. If you want the skirt to look very full, triple the width measurement.
If you need to seam fabric together to make one long piece of continuous fabric, add 2 more inches to allow for joining fabric together.
Important – Before cutting fabric: If your fabric has a pattern on it, make sure to line the pattern up on each section of fabric that will be joined or seamed together.
If you plan on washing the skirt when it gets dirty – Wash fabric and dry before making the skirt to allow for shrinkage.
1. Cut fabric out to height and width needed. Seam together cut sections of fabric to create skirt width needed.
2. Pin edges of seam together then sew the edges together. Repeat for each seam needed to create one long width that will go around the item you are skirting.
3. Press seams open.
4. To create the top and bottom hems. Fold the top unfinished edge of fabric over 1/2-inch and press, Fold over another 1/2- inch and press again.
5. Place pins along edge. Repeat the process for bottom edge and both side edges of the fabric.
6. Sew along the pinned edges to create a finished edge/hem.
7. To create pleats: Starting from one end of the top edge of the skirt – tuck back 1-1/2” of fabric to make first pleat. Place a pin in to hold. Repeat the process all along fabric edge.
8. Pin or glue one side of Velcro to the back side of the top pleated edge. If using sticky back Velcro – I would add more glue or sew it just to make sure the Velcro stays attached.
9. Attach the other side of Velcro to the edge of the tub bottom or tabletop edge. Use tacky glue to make sure the Velcro is attached well. If using hot glue – use only a thin line of it. If you use too much the Velcro will not be flush with the surface.
I made the skirt in two pieces so there is an opening in the front for easy storage access.
Line up both sides of the Velcro and run your hand over it so that the skirt attaches.
No Sew Directions: How To Make Sink or Table Skirt
Follow the steps above, but where it calls for sewing, place a line of fabric glue or fusible adhesive.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the label of the product you are using for drying time. I also use an iron to help with adhesion.
When pleating – fabric glue is easier to use. Apply a dab between each fold of the pleat. As shown below:
When pinning, keep the pin to the side of the glue or use clothespins to hold each pleat in place. When glue is dry – the pins will not be glued into the pleats.
Use sticky back Velcro to attach.
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Susan says
What a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing. I can’t wait to do this in my laundry room so I can hide my paper shredder.
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Susan – That will be perfect…maybe some day someone will design a nice looking paper shredder. :-)
Myrtle Quinlan says
This “skirt” is a quite clever idea. I need some extra storage space and this is a very cute and convenient option. I’m showing it to my mother, I’m sure she’ll love it. Thank you for sharing!
Kim says
I am looking for skirting ideas for my bathroom sink. It is small and oval shaped and that’s how i came across your blog. The ideas are giving me the confidence to do things “myself” (diy). Can you say if the same process as above will apply to oval and round sinks/face basins. Thank you.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Kim – The sink skirt will work perfectly on an oval or round sink basin. It will look great.
Tina Matteson says
I love this tip and your kitty is adorable. I have two just like him… they love enclosed spaces too.
I have put skirts on desks and tables in order to create some storage space in my 100-year old house that is sadly lacking in closet space! It also adds some prettiness to a room!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
Thanks for sharing this beautiful project. I’m going to attempt to do this for my laundry room in the next few weeks.
Lise says
Beautiful! Good choice of fabric!
Sheryll & Critters. says
Yes, I love that fabric and thanks for posting the tutorial.
And there is that cutest little Trax. I have been missing his cute self. My Shaymus says to tell him meow. The others are snoozing so they can drive me nuts when I go to bed. I need to go wake them all up….. lol.
Diane Henkler says
Hi Sheryll – Oh that Trax… He is in big trouble. Last night when we were not looking he got up on the counter and ate all the meatballs out of a pot of sauce. We could not figure out where they had gone, until we saw a bit of pasta sauce on him.
Mandy Cat says
Those felonious felines — they think they’re so clever but then they go and leave behind a crucial piece of evidence. (Like sauce on the whiskers.)
Jennifer Davenport says
This is a fabulous idea! I am going to share it on my Facebook page today! Gorgeous choice of fabric too! :)
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Jennifer. I have bought the fabric in every color it comes in so far. I used pink in my studioffice and about a year ago posted about pillows I made using it in turquoise for my older daughters apt. I buy it when it is on sale which makes it a great deal all around :)
Lisa @ Sweet Tea N' Salty Air says
So very cute! nice idea we all need extra storage space.
Kellee says
Oh my gosh Diane that skirt is cute! And so is the kitty :) This is exactly the project I’ve been looking for as I have an identical utility sink on my back porch. Thank you so much for posting this.