5 unique utility room ideas
Great for shutting away the washing machine and keeping all your cleaning stuff out of sight, utility rooms are quickly becoming a must-have for many homeowners. To help you get the most out of this space, Good Homes takes a look at some smart utility room ideas…
1. Sleek shelving
If you’re lacking precious cupboard space, then modular shelving is the perfect solution. But there are two things you need to consider when fitting modular shelves: ‘Firstly, make sure your shelving is deep and tall enough to store your belongings, but narrow enough that it doesn’t compromise your precious square-footage,’ says Peter Erlandsson, co-owner of String Furniture. ‘Also, use a mix of open shelving and cabinet styles to create a display unit that is flexible enough to hide the things you don’t want on show.’
Photo: String Shelving
2. Flamboyant but functional flooring
Super hard-wearing and easy to clean, vinyl flooring is a functional and affordable choice for any utility room. Perfect for a small space that’s mostly filled with storage, we recommend going for a retro patterned style of vinyl to bring a bit of colour and decoration to the room, like the Lincoln Belmont from Lifestyle Flooring, shown below.
Photo: Lifestyle Flooring
3. Dog-friendly additions
Swap lugging your four-legged pal up a flight of stairs for simply bathing him or her in your utility room instead. Dogs are members of the family – so make sure they feel like it by giving them their own special space, like the utility room dog-bed cubby shown in the Cembroke Kitchen Collection by Daval Furniture, below.
Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval Furniture, adds: ‘With approximately 45% of UK households now owning a pet, it makes sense to accommodate this furry friend from the outset. With this in mind, consider incorporating custom designed options like integrated dog beds, showers, and dedicated storage space at the early stages of design.’
Photo: Daval Furniture
4. Install a deep Belfast sink
Set under the work surface and able to hold a lot of water, these sinks are perfect for practical everyday tasks like soaking stains out of clothes, and cleaning muddy shoes and boots. Plus, with their deep, rectangular form, and farmhouse-style, they’re just as fashionable as they are functional.
Photo: Magnet
5. Build fitted storage for bulky bits
Not got much room to work with? Focus on creating dedicated space for storing bulky utility items like vacuum cleaners, mops, and ironing boards, so they’re not cluttering up your space.
Sinead Trainor, Kitchen Category Manager at LochAnna Kitchens, adds: ‘There are so many clever storage solutions available on the market which utilise small spaces and allow you to hide your clutter away in an efficient manner. Our 600mm lifestyle larders are available in different design layouts and sizes, while our narrow utility areas are also a perfect solution for those wanting to hide away their washing machine and dryer.’
Photo: LochAnna Kitchens