Hello again!! Just short of 2 years later, my den is finally finished and looks pretty much like how I've envisaged it. Few months ago, I was extremely lucky to meet this carpenter who is really good and doesn't mind building my 'designs' :)) and we got to work. After finishing the hall and main bedroom (http://www.houzz.co.uk/projects/723044/hall / [https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/colour-for-unit-top-dsvw-vd~2977620[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/colour-for-unit-top-dsvw-vd~2977620)) we finally started on my den. As you'll notice, in planning the space, I've used a mixture of your ideas above: it has a secret door, a (folding) desk, it's a bit of an art gallery and has a few other surprises! The initial plan had to be altered to accommodate my new hobby :)). Almost one year ago, I had this mad idea to start painting (on) glass and then to make silly clay figurines, so I adapted the space to suit my pursuits (like the slightly tilted shelves for paints, peg board for scissors, top shelf for expo, etc). Plus, you can't really tell which of the panels are in fact secrets doors!! As for the rest, I bought a rubber mat to protect the oak floor and I'm using a trolley for the rest of the materials, so it can easily be moved out the way in case we need access to the back. Carpenter insisted on the LEDs, I'm not that keen on them. So, ignoring the arty-farty clutter, what do you think of my space?

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments and input, it was great to see so many of you get involved! The competition is now closed, and any winners should have received an email from us confirming their prize so get checking. Happy New Year and here's to the next one!

Laundry rooms have grown and grown in popularity in the last few years. Why? Because they're a surprisingly easy-to-achieve but lovely concept to bring into our homes, much like boot rooms. A utility room can quite easily be re branded into becoming a laundry room. A porch way can be reconfigured and renamed a boot room. Laundry rooms are where the washing machine and tumble dryer live. They're where the ironing board sleeps and the clothes airer spends its days. They're the room where we can hide away cleaning products, a vacuum and all other chore-related bits and bobs, tucked away from the rest of our home. Out of sight, out of mind. Just the way we like it. Here's how to make the most of yours. Call for order Like with any room in your home, the layout and the furniture inside your laundry room needs to make sense. Instead of working with what you have, it's a good idea to take a step back and to think about what you need and then go from there. Do you have your washing machine and tumble dryer side by side? If so, a cabinet that can stack them is a wise investment, freeing up a chunk of floor space. Do you have a vacuum cleaner, mop and ironing board propped up against a wall or stood in a corner? Items like these not only cause clutter but they just get in the way. Cabinets that can hold a number of household items like these can become saviors, in which everything fits snugly and securely. Think sink If you're reworking a space to turn it into a laundry room, a sink isn't a must, but it's certainly a nice-to-have. A deep Belfast sink is ideal. Delicate items that need hand-washing can then be done in the confines of your laundry room, leaving them to soak for as long as you wish without causing any inconvenience. Place another storage cabinet or two next to your sink to give yourself a bit of work surface space too. You'll be surprised how much you'll use it once it's there. Having a sink installed isn't necessarily a costly project, especially if your laundry room is close to your kitchen so the plumbing work just needs extending. As always, get a few recommended plumbers to visit your home to provide a quote. Wall art It's all too easy to neglect wall space. We're drawn to floors and to think about what we can put on those to fill and use the space efficiently. But our walls can create storage opportunities that look as good as they act. Peg rails are a space from which cotton peg bags can be hung, linen spritz bottles, and even a bunch of fresh lavender. And our airing rail is an unobtrusive piece that can be mounted between wall cabinets or used alone to construct an indoor washing line where crisp white shirts can air on hangers. The beauty of baskets Baskets make life more organised and more attractive. You can use them within cabinets to store like-things together so that you don't need to empty the entire contents to find the one thing that you're searching for. You can use them to unload the washing machine, tipping clothes into them to rest while you peg them out. And why not relocate your laundry basket here too? That way, it saves you having to haul armfuls down the stairs, because there's always that one sock that escapes, and that you notice when you've already pressed the start button. Make it special Even though a laundry room is a room for chores, it can also be a rather peaceful place. There's something quite therapeutic about washing. It's about renewing and refreshing. Plus, everything smells so beautifully light and airy when it's freshly laundered. So make sure you fill your laundry room with the nicest possible cleaning products so that they're a pleasure to use. Invest in ironing water, be sure to never run out of your favorite scented fabric conditioner (Dayelsford is our favorite), and choose a herbal hand scrub and rich hand cream to thank your hands when their hard work is all done, and quite possibly dusted too.

Can anybody advise/offer comments on the below: We are looking to add a utility room to our ground floor (soon to be extended) off the main hallway. What dimensions are ideal for a utility room with a washer and dryer, sink and some storage cabinets? The utility room would also be the place that I would store all my cleaning items (liquids, mop, bucket etc) and the household hoover too. Any ideas for wall/shelf storage for these items? Thanks.