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5 Ways to Incorporate a Utility Room Upstairs
Take a look at these smart ideas for moving your laundry equipment out of the kitchen
Haven’t got space for a laundry area in your kitchen? Upstairs utility rooms are having a moment on Houzz. We’ve noticed more than a few clever utility cupboards and laundry room ideas in our Houzz Tours that squeeze practicality and purpose out of upstairs landings and bathrooms. Take a look at these ideas to be inspired.
More in this series: Find out the practicalities of relocating your machine in How to Move Your Washing Machine Out of the Kitchen
More in this series: Find out the practicalities of relocating your machine in How to Move Your Washing Machine Out of the Kitchen
With two sets of doors opening out onto the same small landing, the space could have felt cramped, but installing a stable door (one that opens in two halves) on the laundry cupboard has helped it feel as open as possible.
The family’s laundry now goes from bedroom to washing machine without having to be brought downstairs.
Take a tour of this full home renovation.
The family’s laundry now goes from bedroom to washing machine without having to be brought downstairs.
Take a tour of this full home renovation.
2. Transform an alcove
Think you haven’t got space for a cupboard on your landing? Perhaps you have. It took plenty of creative vision to see the potential in this small alcove at the top of a flight of stairs, but designer Amy Hunt has transformed the tiny space into a working utility area.
After spotting the existing unused cupboard, Amy realised there was just enough space for the depth of a washing machine with some storage next to it. After checking with a builder that it would be possible, she moved the machine out of the kitchen, where it had been previously, and created a micro laundry area on the landing instead.
Think you haven’t got space for a cupboard on your landing? Perhaps you have. It took plenty of creative vision to see the potential in this small alcove at the top of a flight of stairs, but designer Amy Hunt has transformed the tiny space into a working utility area.
After spotting the existing unused cupboard, Amy realised there was just enough space for the depth of a washing machine with some storage next to it. After checking with a builder that it would be possible, she moved the machine out of the kitchen, where it had been previously, and created a micro laundry area on the landing instead.
With the door closed, you would never know this was such a hardworking space.
Moving the washing machine upstairs had the added benefit of freeing up enough floor space to fit another cupboard into the compact kitchen downstairs, providing much-needed extra storage.
Easily find and hire architects and interior designers on Houzz.
Moving the washing machine upstairs had the added benefit of freeing up enough floor space to fit another cupboard into the compact kitchen downstairs, providing much-needed extra storage.
Easily find and hire architects and interior designers on Houzz.
3. Utilise a large bathroom
If you’re lucky enough to have space in your bathroom to squeeze in a utility cupboard, this can be the perfect spot for hiding bulky machines and utility equipment.
In this home redesign by Trevor Brown Architects, the designers fitted a clever utility area behind a wall of sliding doors in the bathroom. The doors open to reveal a washing machine and tumble dryer, and storage for numerous utility items.
On the other side of the cupboard, there’s even more storage for linens and bulky items.
If you’re lucky enough to have space in your bathroom to squeeze in a utility cupboard, this can be the perfect spot for hiding bulky machines and utility equipment.
In this home redesign by Trevor Brown Architects, the designers fitted a clever utility area behind a wall of sliding doors in the bathroom. The doors open to reveal a washing machine and tumble dryer, and storage for numerous utility items.
On the other side of the cupboard, there’s even more storage for linens and bulky items.
“We were a little restricted with space in the kitchen, so we made the most of the extra inches in the bathroom,” Trevor says. “The cupboard is well ventilated, the noise of the machines doesn’t disturb the living spaces, and it’s a lot easier to do the laundry upstairs where clothes are stored.”
And when the cupboard doors are closed, order is restored.
See more of this Victorian home.
And when the cupboard doors are closed, order is restored.
See more of this Victorian home.
4. Hide your utility area behind a feature wall
As part of the complete redesign of this Victorian apartment, architect Daniel Rees of Rees Architects made the decision to move all of the utility equipment out of the kitchen and up to the first floor.
This allowed for a calm, uncluttered kitchen design and also meant the noise of the machines didn’t dominate the open-plan kitchen and living space downstairs.
“Before, the washing machine was in the kitchen, but a separate room means it’s not making lots of noise when the owners are watching TV or have friends round for dinner,” he says.
As part of the complete redesign of this Victorian apartment, architect Daniel Rees of Rees Architects made the decision to move all of the utility equipment out of the kitchen and up to the first floor.
This allowed for a calm, uncluttered kitchen design and also meant the noise of the machines didn’t dominate the open-plan kitchen and living space downstairs.
“Before, the washing machine was in the kitchen, but a separate room means it’s not making lots of noise when the owners are watching TV or have friends round for dinner,” he says.
He created a new utility cupboard at the top of the stairs to house the washing machine, tumble dryer and boiler, and tucked everything away behind floor-to-ceiling doors. But although the utility room is hidden, it’s not without it’s own personality, as Daniel conceived it as an eye-catching dusky pink box.
“The doors are flush, so it’s almost frameless, but you can see it’s something different,” he says. The doors simply press open, so the effect is streamlined.
Explore the whole of this Victorian apartment.
“The doors are flush, so it’s almost frameless, but you can see it’s something different,” he says. The doors simply press open, so the effect is streamlined.
Explore the whole of this Victorian apartment.
5. Move the entire room upstairs
If you have the space, creating a dedicated laundry room on the same floor as your bedrooms and dressing areas would be a real luxury.
This home renovation by Trevor Brown Architects features a full utility room upstairs on the same floor as the master bedroom, bathroom and dressing room, a decision the designer, Trevor Brown, sees as deeply practical.
“Generally, if we can, we’ll ask clients to consider putting the laundry area where the bedrooms are,” he says. “There’s also enough room in here for an ironing board.”
If you have the space, creating a dedicated laundry room on the same floor as your bedrooms and dressing areas would be a real luxury.
This home renovation by Trevor Brown Architects features a full utility room upstairs on the same floor as the master bedroom, bathroom and dressing room, a decision the designer, Trevor Brown, sees as deeply practical.
“Generally, if we can, we’ll ask clients to consider putting the laundry area where the bedrooms are,” he says. “There’s also enough room in here for an ironing board.”
The laundry room is on the same floor as this dream dressing room, so any worn clothes can be moved from the laundry bin to the laundry room then back to the wardrobe again without any trips up and down the stairs.
Browse the rest of this home renovation.
Tell us…
Do you have an upstairs utility area, or would you like one? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Browse the rest of this home renovation.
Tell us…
Do you have an upstairs utility area, or would you like one? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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An upstairs landing can provide a surprisingly good place for a utility cupboard, as shown in this clever design by Go Sugimoto of Carbon. The homeowner had the idea of taking some space from the bathroom in order to make room for a utility cupboard that could house a washing machine and tumble dryer.
To make this happen, the bathroom wall was moved back to carve out enough room for a boiler cupboard and a cabinet for stacking the washing machine and dryer next to it.