Utility room ideas to make life a whole lot easier

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The Cotes Mill Utility Room by deVOL, deVOL Kitchens deVOL Kitchens Cuisine rustique
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US and European homeowners have been ahead of the curve for quite a while now, in terms of including a specific space in their home to complete tiresome laundry tasks and at last, the UK is catching up! It makes sense too, as a properly organised utility room can reasonably be expected to make household chores a lot simpler and more streamlined, while also adding a whole new level of practicality and even value to a home, up to 5%, if experts are to be believed. 

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with simply including washing machines in the kitchen, a far better practice is to keep them separate from all the food preparation and when a small, otherwise impractical room could be easily repurposed as a state of the art and self-contained laundry space, it seems silly not to do so.

This guide has been created to offer some valuable inspiration as to the benefits and potential styles of a new utility room and will have even the most unwilling domestic gods and goddesses calling their interior designers to create something similar for them.

Utility room storage ideas can be VERY stylish.

The Cotes Mill Utility Room by deVOL deVOL Kitchens Cuisine rustique

Many people labour under the misconception that a room designed specifically for housework and chores cannot also be a style haven, but that is simply not true. In fact, a utility room can be every inch the most charming and beautiful display of bespoke cabinetry and innovative storage, if exemplar design standards are adhered to.

Take this amazing space as an example of an eye-catching room worth showing off to guests. The dramatic dark wood cabinets presumably match those in an interconnecting kitchen and offer a wealth of practical storage and organisation potential. With a glossy white marble countertop in place as well, which is perfect for folding clean laundry on, the overall finish is utterly surprising and special.

​Small utility room ideas.

Not every home has a gargantuan spare room to take advantage of, which is why compact utility room ideas are such a blessing. Consider busy family homes, with a growing number of inhabitants and it becomes clear that a tiny and awkward space might be the only viable location for a utility set-up, which is why compact furnishing styles need to be considered.

Essentially, all that's really needed is space for the washing machine and tumble dryer (though eco homes will negate the latter), a hanging rail and possibly a small sink. With these items in place, any room, regardless of how small, can become a fully functioning utility space, away from the hustle and bustle of the more sociable areas. When it comes to small utility room ideas, UK homes really are great recipients, as they always seem to have a random little pantry to repurpose.

​When it comes to utility room ideas, layout is key.

Utility room ideas are so varied and different that it can be hard to choose between all the various options but one thing remains the same in every one; the fact that getting the layout right is absolutely vital. After all, it's no good simply making space for everything, if, when it comes to actually using the room, the equivalent of a marathon needs to be walked during every load of washing and ironing.

A good rule of thumb is to have a drying rack directly above the washing machine, as when a cycle has finished, clothes can be hung up straight away. This will allow for less creases to deal with later. Add a counter top close by as well and folding will be a doddle too. If a sink is installed, try to place it in front of a window, as a little vitamin D will certainly make things feel like less of a chore and more of an excuse to take a few minutes to reset and relax.

Utility room design ideas can be all-encompassing.

Some of the most covetable utility rooms in the world are those that have been specifically designed to offer a one-stop solution to all of the household cleaning and washing duties. Take this one as a prime example of what we mean.

Not only is there a large washing machine with a decent load capacity in place, shelves for storing detergent have also been included, alongside separate laundry baskets for lights and darks and even a drying rail. Taking the time to make space for the vacuum cleaner and all relevant attachments was a stroke of genius too, as this has become a fantastically organised and compact little area. It's clear to see that a whole room didn't need to be dedicated to thus utility set-up, as a simple spare wall would have done!

Narrow utility room ideas.

PROJEKT WNĘTRZA W WARSZAWIE / 3, PASS architekci PASS architekci Salle de bain industrielle

In the case of super narrow spaces, they can be easily converted into a utility come bathroom, as it can often be simpler to combine plumbing endeavours into a singular system. It's not uncommon for UK homes to add extra functionality to tiny water closets and a utility installation makes perfect sense. There will already be a sink and a water supply in place, after all.

A small countertop, added to a washing machine, a few wall shelves and some handy storage boxes are all that's needed, if this terrific design is anything to go by and the fresh laundry smell would certainly be a welcome addition to any bathroom. This particular project is wonderfully inspiration for traditional UK terrace houses, as they can all accommodate a room of this size, off the kitchen.

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