Utility room ideas
If there’s one thing that every home needs, it’s a utility room. It’s the quietly confident, unsung hero that keeps our homes clean and clutter-free. And it seems more and more of us are embracing them in our homes, with searches for “utility room ideas” up by twenty per cent compared to last year.
Utility room storage ideas
Need some advice on organising your laundry room? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Utility rooms are often small, cramped spaces, so it’s important that we’re as clever as we can be with our storage solutions.
Make use of your vertical space with wall-mounted storage. Install wall hooks to hang up bulky coats, or other awkward items, such as your ironing board or vacuum cleaner. If you’ve got spare wall space, put up some shelves – you can use them to store laundry detergent, washing tablets, or even glassware and crockery that you can’t find space for in the kitchen. You could also install a pegboard or magnetic knife rack to keep your tools organised and within easy reach.
A foldable clothes airer will be your best friend – you can open it up as and when you need it, and neatly tuck it away once your clothes are dry. Talking of foldable items, use a folding laundry basket to store dirty clothes, this will help you to save even more valuable floor space when it’s not in use. Narrow shoe cabinets with drop-down doors are a fantastic way of keeping all your shoes tucked out of the way without taking up loads of space.
Choose a deep and durable sink
The utility room is normally where you keep all your dirty clothes and shoes, mucky bikes and other bits and bots. You’ll need a sink that is versatile and durable. One day you’ll be using it to scrub the mud off your boots, the next you’ll be bathing your cocker spaniel after a walk in the park. A deep sink will let you rinse any cumbersome items without much struggle, and it’s great for soaking lots of clothes at one time. Make sure you choose a sink that can withstand heavy use. The best sink material for a utility room is ceramic or composite quartz as they’re durable and don’t require much maintenance. Have a look at our guide to choosing a sink for tips on what to consider when buying a sink for your utility room.
Stack appliances to save on floor space
If you haven’t got enough floor space for your washer and dryer to sit side by side, why not stack one on top of the other? You’ll free up more space on the floor for other items such as your laundry basket or ironing board. Want to make your utility feel even more spacious? Consider hiding your appliances behind bespoke cabinetry. Choose sleek cabinets with a gloss finish – they’ll make your room appear bigger as the reflective surface will bounce light around the room.
Utility room paint colours
Have you got a small utility room? We suggest painting your walls a light colour to open your space up and make it appear bigger. Greys, beiges, creams, and pale pinks all look wonderful in a laundry room. Use dark accents such as a black sink or light fixtures to give the room more depth and definition. Or if you prefer deeper shades, navy blue or olive green will certainly bring some drama to your space. Your utility room may be separate from your kitchen, but it still sees its fair share of mucky splashes, so make sure you use durable, scrubbable paint. And remember, paint isn’t the only way of adding colour.