What is a Utility Room?

A utility room, also known as a laundry room, is a multifunctional space intended to house essential appliances such as washing machines, dryers and cleaning supplies. It serves as a practical place for doing household chores, allowing you to keep the mess and noise away from your main living spaces.

How big should a utility room be?

The size of your utility room depends on the available space and your specific needs. Ideally, it should be large enough to accommodate your washing machine, dryer and additional storage solutions. 

A compact utility cupboard for washing machine and dryer might suffice for smaller homes. However, larger residences could benefit from a more spacious utility room with ample storage and workspace.

How to plan your utility room

Power sockets

A huge part of planning a utility room is considering any available or additionally required plug sockets. Begin by checking that your utility room has sufficient power sockets to accommodate the various appliances you'll be using. Consider the placement of these sockets strategically, ensuring easy access for your washing machine, dryer and any other electrical devices you may need. If there aren’t sufficient power sockets, an electrician will need to be consulted for advice. 

Flooring

Choose durable and water-resistant flooring materials for your utility room, as it is likely to encounter spills. Tiles or vinyl flooring are excellent options that are easy to clean and maintain, providing a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is crucial to prevent humidity and odours from accumulating in the utility room. Install a ventilation system or consider adding a window to allow fresh air to circulate. This helps maintain a pleasant atmosphere and prevents the growth of mould or mildew.

Furniture

Integrate functional furniture into your utility room to enhance its efficiency. Deep wall cabinets in the laundry room can provide valuable storage space for cleaning supplies, detergents and other essentials.

Where to integrate the utility room if there is not a special room?

Sharing the bathroom 

If space is limited, consider incorporating the utility functions into your bathroom. Install a compact utility cupboard for the washing machine and dryer, ensuring that plumbing and electrical connections are properly integrated. This solution is especially practical for smaller homes where maximising space is essential.

Share the kitchen

Another option is to incorporate the utility room into the kitchen space. Stackable appliances or concealed cabinets can help maintain a cohesive look while providing the necessary functionality. This integration is convenient, especially if your kitchen already has plumbing connections.

For those grand renovations especially, laundry appliances normally found in the utility room can easily be factored into any kitchen extension with utility room plans to create a shared space.

When drawing out the extension kitchen and utility room floor plans, you can take the opportunity to establish separate zones for laundry along with dining and entertaining.

Where space permits, an open-plan kitchen with a utility room can increase the value of your property. This can be created by adding a stud wall to shield your appliances from view without completely closing the room off to retain that open-plan feel. 

Overall, having a larger utility room provides the maximum amount of space to sort, wash and fold your laundry. Even if the space happens to still be part of your kitchen! 

Under a sloping roof

Utilise unconventional spaces such as under a sloping roof to create a discreet yet functional utility area. Customisable cabinets can be designed to fit the unique dimensions of the space, ensuring that every inch is utilised efficiently.

Planning a utility room requires thoughtful consideration of space, functionality and aesthetics. Whether you have a dedicated utility room or need to integrate these functions into existing spaces, incorporating the right elements – from power sockets and flooring to ventilation and furniture – will result in a well-organised and efficient home. 

Implementing these utility room ideas will not only enhance the practicality of your space but also contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable living environment.