- Utility Room
Utility Room Ideas and Designs
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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning an utility room renovation or are building a designer utility room from scratch, Houzz has 77,194 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Susannah Acland Interiors and Lewis Alderson & Co.. Look through utility room photos in different colours and styles and when you find an utility room design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful utility room ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Marc Wilson
This is an example of a contemporary utility room in London.
Position and how many plug sockets - jennyscott100
After moving into their home three years ago, Mr and Mrs C left their kitchen to last as part of their home renovations. “We knew of Ream from the large showroom on the Gillingham Business Park and we had seen the Vans in our area.” says Mrs C. “We’ve moved twice already and each time our kitchen renovation has been questionable. We hoped we would be third time lucky? This time we opted for the whole kitchen renovation including the kitchen flooring, lighting and installation.”
The Ream showroom in Gillingham is bright and inviting. It is a large space, as it took us over one hour to browse round all the displays. Meeting Lara at the showroom before hand, helped to put our ideas of want we wanted with Lara’s design expertise. From the initial kitchen consultation, Lara then came to measure our existing kitchen. Lara, Ream’s Kitchen Designer, was able to design Mr and Mrs C’s kitchen which came to life on the 3D software Ream uses for kitchen design.
When it came to selecting the kitchen, Lara is an expert, she was thorough and an incredibly knowledgeable kitchen designer. We were never rushed in our decision; she listened to what we wanted. It was refreshing as our experience of other companies was not so pleasant. Ream has a very good range to choose from which brought our kitchen to life. The kitchen design had ingenious with clever storage ideas which ensured our kitchen was better organised. We were surprised with how much storage was possible especially as before I had only one drawer and a huge fridge freezer which reduced our worktop space.
The installation was quick too. The team were considerate of our needs and asked if they had permission to park on our driveway. There was no dust or mess to come back to each evening and the rubbish was all collected too. Within two weeks the kitchen was complete. Reams customer service was prompt and outstanding. When things did go wrong, Ream was quick to rectify and communicate with us what was going on. One was the delivery of three doors which were drilled wrong and the other was the extractor. Emma, Ream’s Project Coordinator apologised and updated us on what was happening through calls and emails.
“It’s the best kitchen we have ever had!” Mr & Mrs C say, we are so happy with it.
Draw between washer and dryer for detergents - fionass
Design ideas for a small traditional single-wall utility room in Other with granite worktops, grey walls, limestone flooring, a side by side washer and dryer, black worktops, beaded cabinets and grey cabinets.
Like the tongue and groove behind the coats and the wood bench seat. - susannahaclandinteriors
Bespoke, Secret utility room! Doors hide a sink, water softener and the washing machine & tumble dryer!
Chris Kemp
Design ideas for a small country single-wall laundry cupboard in Kent with a built-in sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz worktops, white walls, limestone flooring and a stacked washer and dryer.
The achievable fantasy: a utility room in a cupboard
With the help of a savvy architect, tuned in to spotting space around your home that could be made to work much harder, you could well have room for a utility cupboard in a bathroom, on a landing, in an airing cupboard, or under the stairs.
This arrangement of two relatively small cupboards side by side holds a washing machine, tumble dryer, water softener, sink and storage for laundry and cleaning products. Holes in the doors mean they can b - jo_horwood
Tall storage cupboards with laundry baskets, space for hoover & ironing board & cleaning equipment. Bespoke hand-made cabinetry. Paint colours by Lewis Alderson
Iron/board/broom/wash basket hidden and stored - webuser_413154511
Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped utility room in London with flat-panel cabinets, white walls, medium hardwood flooring, a side by side washer and dryer and white cabinets.
Laundry. Machines at 90 degrees - tim_neil20
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Inspiration for a classic laundry cupboard in London.
Opengewerkt materiaal voor kastdeuren voor vriezer en wasmachine - bert_en_anja
This is an example of a small utility room in London with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, composite countertops, white walls, light hardwood flooring and a concealed washer and dryer.
this room could double as a small bathroom - dsfarquhar
Contemporary separated utility room in Oxfordshire with an integrated sink, a stacked washer and dryer, stainless steel worktops and grey worktops.
hanging rail above sink and drainer - robyn_filep
Design ideas for a classic utility room in Hampshire with white cabinets.
Not quite sure how this laundry bin works. - joybutsan
Inspiration for a country utility room in Wiltshire with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, granite worktops, travertine flooring and a concealed washer and dryer.
Farmhouse sink and cupboard doors with slats - webuser_661622001
Gary Quigg
Photo of a traditional separated utility room in Belfast with open cabinets, beige walls, a side by side washer and dryer and grey floors.
Shelves - Use as airing cupboard too - croyle
Photo of a country l-shaped utility room in Wiltshire with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, beige walls, grey floors and beige worktops.
Utility room! But without wood countertops, presumably? - elizabeth_robar
This is an example of an expansive traditional utility room in London.
Neutral, clear of clutter, everything away - kate_meds
A laundry room can be so much more than a purely utilitarian space, carrying on the same design ethos as the kitchen and other rooms in the project this utility is about functionality and beauty. Accessed via the children’s playroom, the laundry room leads directly out onto the garden and has a run of cabinetry that houses a Miele washing machine and tumble dryer, with a tall cabinet at the end for laundry, ironing board etc and a large butler sink and Perrin & Rowe tap at the centre.
Photo Credit: Paul Craig
Classic utility room in Other.
the dog! it's cuteness make the kitchen more homely - kasamjo
Utility Cabinet - Photo: Nick Smith
Photo of a traditional laundry cupboard in London.
All of it. Storage boxes named. - andrea_lee5492301
The area for the gas and electric meters has been transformed into a functional utility space.
Photo of a medium sized modern single-wall separated utility room in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite worktops, white walls, concrete flooring and a side by side washer and dryer.
NB looks weird having only suspended cupboards - pke432