Small Utility Room with Panelled Walls Ideas and Designs

As multifunctional living becomes a necessity, the bootility has emerged as a sought-after feature in the home. Understandably, not all homes have the capacity for a separate utility and boot room. However, with clever planning and tactful design, even the smallest spaces can house a thoughtful combination of the two.

jack and jill laundry room

We Build Green Inc.

We are sincerely concerned about our customers and prevent the need for them to shop at different locations. We offer several designs and colors for fixtures and hardware from which you can select the best ones that suit the overall theme of your home. Our team will respect your preferences and give you options to choose, whether you want a traditional or contemporary design.

Warm & Comfortable Whole Home Remodel

Saltwater Kitchen & Bath Studio

One word - awkward. This room has 2 angled walls and needed to hold a freezer, washer & dryer plus storage and dog space/crate. We stacked the washer & dryer and used open shelving with baskets to help the space feel less crowded. The glass entry door with the decal adds a touch of fun!

Nt Adelaide

Qbic Living

Natural materials, clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic are all defining features of this custom solid timber Laundry.
Design ideas for a small scandi l-shaped utility room in Adelaide with a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, limestone flooring, a side by side washer and dryer, white worktops and panelled walls.

Craftsman Restoration Project in Park Hills Heights

Restoration Ryann

This mudroom was yellow and dingy with obviously laminate faux wood flooring. In addition to the structural shoring up we did on this 1913 property, we added Montauk blue slate flooring (reads somewhere between green, blue, and gray) as well as painted bead board and pegs in two custom colors from Farrow & Ball and Behr. Instantly turned the space from sterile to inviting.

1920's Bungalow Renovation

Milieu: Architecture + Design

Design ideas for a small classic utility room in Auckland with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, light hardwood flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, exposed beams and panelled walls.

Casa Dolce Casa - ristrutturazione completa

Maria Antonietta Giulii

Design ideas for a small single-wall utility room in Milan with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, porcelain flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floors and panelled walls.

Rose Valley Mudroom

Sharp and Grey Interiors

A bright and welcoming Mudroom with custom cabinetry, millwork, and herringbone slate floors paired with brass and black accents and a warm wood farmhouse door.

Modern Farmhouse Spec Home

Todd Creative Design

Photo of a small contemporary galley separated utility room in Chicago with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white walls, concrete flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, grey worktops and panelled walls.

Classic Bootility Room

Tom Howley

The beauty of bespoke is that you can tailor a space to your lifestyle needs, even creating cosy nooks for your beloved pets. This multifunctional bootility includes a comfortable area where four-legged friends can relax and sleep after a long country walk, a dedicated food station and hooks for leads or collars.

Rose Valley Mudroom

Sharp and Grey Interiors

A bright and welcoming Mudroom with custom cabinetry, millwork, and herringbone slate floors paired with brass and black accents and a warm wood farmhouse door.

Weerona House

Demardi.

A butler's pantry with the most gorgeous joinery and clever storage solutions all with a view.
Photo of a small modern galley separated utility room in Melbourne with a built-in sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, white walls, light hardwood flooring, brown floors, white worktops, a drop ceiling and panelled walls.

1920's Bungalow Renovation

Milieu: Architecture + Design

Photo of a small classic utility room in Auckland with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white walls, light hardwood flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, exposed beams and panelled walls.

Warm & Comfortable Whole Home Remodel

Saltwater Kitchen & Bath Studio

Loads of color

OTW Interiors

Back hall where laundry room and mud room collide. Client typically uses this ledge to keep keys and items she needs to grab on the way to the garage. She wanted it to be a beautiful spot to make her smile every time she came home!

SP+3 - Ristrutturazione completa a Milano

Maria Antonietta Giulii

Small contemporary galley separated utility room in Milan with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, porcelain flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floors and panelled walls.

Kitchen walk-in pantry off Laundry
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall separated utility room in Melbourne with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, multi-coloured splashback, porcelain splashback, white walls, porcelain flooring, an integrated washer and dryer, multi-coloured floors, brown worktops, a drop ceiling and panelled walls.

Ventura Collection | Sandbar Hickory | South Dakota

Hallmark Floors

Sandbar Hickory Hardwood- The Ventura Hardwood Flooring Collection is contemporary and designed to look gently aged and weathered, while still being durable and stain resistant. Hallmark’s 2mm slice-cut style, combined with a wire brushed texture applied by hand, offers a truly natural look for contemporary living.

Casa Dolce Casa - ristrutturazione completa

Maria Antonietta Giulii

Small single-wall utility room in Milan with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, porcelain flooring, a stacked washer and dryer, grey floors and panelled walls.

Small Utility Room with Panelled Walls Ideas and Designs

A well designed utility room can rise to become one of our favourite rooms in the house, boasting the accolade of existing solely to make our lives easier. Few of us are fans of chores such as washing, cleaning and ironing, but with a high-spec, well put together utility design they could be a breeze. For this reason, it makes sense to design an utility room to be as functional as possible, the very model of “everything in its place”, with carefully thought out utility room storage. That, however, doesn’t have to mean it can’t look nice – even super-utilitarian appliances like a washing machine, tumble dryer, laundry basket and recycling bin can be dressed up by their surroundings and made to look great as part of your utility design.

What do I need in my utility room?

Most utility rooms tend to be a small room just off the kitchen or hallway, so you are likely to be working with a compact space. Your main priority will involve planning utility room storage around your white goods. A utility room is usually intended primarily as a laundry room, so it makes sense to first install your plumbed items: the sink, washing machine and, if you have one, tumble dryer. If you run short of space and can’t afford to have a separate washer and dryer, then consider an integrated washer-dryer for your utility design. Built-in storage is a great idea in utility rooms to make best use of the available space, and you might want to also consider built in ironing boards, clothes airers and retractable washing lines. These items tend to be a bit cumbersome and are forever getting in the way, so designing special utility room storage for them or fixing them to a wall so they are easily folded away is an excellent space-saver and well worth the implementation. Free standing items such as laundry baskets and clothes hampers can be tucked neatly under specially designed worktops, and a selection of stacking plastic storage boxes, tins or wicker baskets can be used to help keep the room clutter free.

How do I decorate my utility room?

Decorating an utility room is the ultimate exercise in form meeting functionality. As it’s a room that, alas, invariably people spend a great deal of time in, you will want keep the utility room a calm and clean space. Utility room storage is essential for keeping this area tidy; attractively painted shelves and cupboards can be used to stow away all the bottles and boxes used for laundry and cleaning, as well as appliances such as vacuum cleaners and irons. An attractive country style utility design can be achieved by hanging bright or patterned curtains in front of wall mounted shelves – it will perk up the room and keep clutter hidden away. Floors should be hard-wearing and easy to clean (just think of those dirty boots traipsing in through the back door!) – to this end, stone, tile, laminate or vinyl flooring will be the most low-maintenance and durable. All in all, bear in mind that just because this is primarily a practical space doesn’t mean it needs to be dull – you can inject personality into your utility design in your choices of colour and decorative accessories. Consider quirky signage, blackboards for scribbling down shopping lists, and decorative bottles and boxes for stowing away household bits and bobs.

Do I need a sink in my utility room?

Utility room sinks are designed for those jobs that don’t quite belong in the kitchen – hand washing, dirty boots, watering indoor plants – and typically have a more industrial aesthetic than kitchen sinks. In fact, the iconic butler sink’s originally designated purpose was, as you might imagine, a sink for the butler, who was responsible for washing precious glassware and other items that required special attention and soaking. In case you’ve ever wondered, this is why butler sinks are so deep – for that matter, the only difference between butler sinks and Belfast sinks is the overflow built in to Belfast sinks which don’t feature in butler sinks. If the rustic charm of ceramic sinks appeal to you but your utility room would benefit a less substantial piece, French farmhouse sinks may be the perfect option; cast in French clay to produce a more refined finish, farmhouse sinks can be a thinner, more elegant alternative to their robust counterparts. As well as offering practicality, ceramic sinks make a beautiful statement centrepiece – utility rooms with a country or shabby chic feel will find the perfect complement to rustic wooden units with a butler or farmhouse sink. Smaller sinks are perfectly adequate if your utility room doesn’t demand as much from you, if you do the odd bit of rinsing instead of regularly being elbow-deep in heavy-duty washing. Stainless steel sinks are a practical choice that can withstand the bashing they will get in an utility room set up. Composite sinks are available in granite and quartz variations, both boasting superior durability and damage resistance; to boot, their smooth clean finish lends itself to an ultramodern style utility room. If you’re still unsure on your utility design, take a look through the hundreds of photos for some utility room ideas from professional designers and other homeowners. You might find a design theme or some utility room storage ideas that will inspire you for your utility room makeover.

United Kingdom

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