How to plan the perfect utility room

Utility rooms are almost always at the top of clients’ wish lists, and we can understand why. They’re fantastic spaces, where clutter and noisy appliances (like washing machines and dryers) can be housed, away from more public areas. And of course this means you don’t need to make space for them in the kitchen. They can be particularly hard to plan and design well, though, the challenge being that they are often on the smaller side. Sometimes a utility room can be sparse and simple, but other times the downstairs loo is accessed via the utility, so aesthetics really do matter, adding another heap of decisions. 

We suggest you start by considering a utility’s purpose: Is it purely a laundry, will you want to dry clothes in there? Is it a laundry and boot room? Or will it need to be a boot room and larder, because you need more storage for food? Is it behind the kitchen or is situated at the family entrance to the house? 

There are so many things to think about when planning your utility room, so we’ve collated a checklist of points to consider before you go ahead. We hope they help…

Cabinetry and worktops

Consider types of cabinetry: this may be an opportunity to spend less on cabinetry (and worktops), but be aware that if you choose cheaper options, bespoke ones may not be available.  Look at the kitchen worktops you already have, do they give you enough space - do you need more in the utility?

Colour and aesthetics

Think carefully about colour - might this be an opportunity to be bold? 

Do discuss lighting as part of your utility, especially if there are no external windows. Think about what you will use it for and where the lights should go as a result. 

What about your sink/tap options? 

• Belfast?

• Stainless steel?

• Spray tap?

And if cleaning muddy sports kit/boots, consider easily-cleaned surfaces and flooring. When choosing flooring, we’d advise going for material that is:

• Durable

• Easily maintained

• Dark/patterned to conceal dirt

• Suitable to use with underfloor heating (if relevant)

The dark porcelain floor and granite worktop are highly practical as well as attractive.

Practicalities

In terms of design considerations, you will need to think whether you want integrated or freestanding appliances. The former look smarter but add to the cost and tend to have a smaller capacity.

Is there an external door? If so, beware of the mud that will come in that door. Position the ‘boot room’ aspect nearer to it, and the ‘laundry’ aspect nearer the rest of the house.

External extraction is a legal requirement so make sure you add it to your checklist of things to discuss with your designer/builder. 

Count your sockets – why not include one in the broom cupboard to charge vacuum/tools etc?

If you’re installing a sink, but won’t use it much, oak is a wonderful option for a surface. If you are using the sink a lot, laminate works well but you’ll need to choose a top-mounted, rather than undermounted sink. 

Laundry

Are you designing a classic laundry? If so, these are things you should really consider:

• Washing machine

• Tumble dryer (very few are integrated due to safety)

• Combi-washer/dryer if the space is tight?

• Stacked machines vs side-by-side 

• Ventilation

• Drying racks/Sheila (pulley) maids

• Radiator/electric on timer or ”summer” hot water circuit

• Ironing board (and the storage for it)

• Laundry baskets

Additional appliances and storage

Do you need more space for kitchen bits? If so, think about extra appliances in your utility:

• Microwave

• Second dishwasher

• Second (drinks?) fridge

• Second freezer

Do you need more storage space for:

• Dry goods

• Hoover/brooms/mops need tall units

• Sports kit/children’s PE kit?

Space for:

• Bins

• Recycling?

Coats and boots

If you’re planning a cloak room style utility, you’ll need to think about wall space for hooks etc. Consider:

• Hooks for coats, dog leads etc.

• Shelves/baskets (buy the baskets and then design the space?)

• Benches

  • Lift up lid

  • Open shelves/baskets

• Shoe/boot racks

Plant room:

Housing mechanical and electrical equipment neatly, tucked away but accessible for maintenance can be tricky to plan. If your utility needs to house building services, consider what will need to go in there:

• Boiler/hot water cylinder?

• Underfloor heating manifold?

• Water softener?

• Consumer unit (fuse board)?

• Phone line/data services?

• Green energy control systems?

Pets

If you have pets and they’ll be spending time or sleeping in the utility room, have a think about provision for:

• Dog bed

• Dog wash (hot tap outside?!)

• Pet food storage

• Food/water bowls

• Separate washing machine?

• Hooks for leads

• Storage for other accessories

• Cat flap!

Interested in finding out more? Contact us for more information on how we can help you create a beautiful and practical utility room.