Room Inspiration

Utility Room Ideas

From embracing bold tones to ensuring equipment is highly functional - these utility room ideas offer smart and inventive ways to design a practical laundry room. Whether you use this area for household chores or want it to double up as a place for gardening, this utility room inspiration covers tips on saving time and money, while making sure your utility room makeover looks as good as the rest of your home.

1. Add spring to your clean

There are so many activities we would prefer to do than laundry and cleaning up, so adopting a colourful hue can make a utility more inviting and get you motivated for household chores. @ingleborough_renovation has used a bright blue colour, using our Fairford collection, to create a space that reawakens the senses and adds the vibrance of spring to re-energise their room.

See blue kitchen doors

2. Go high shine and sanitary

From soap suds to sodden socks and unsavoury spills – a utility can become messy quickly, especially when in the throes of a full cleaning spree. Take the hard work out of keeping this area neat and tidy by adding glossy fronts, like @oldandtired_to_chicandinspired. This high-shine exterior is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth, making it simple to keep hygienic.

See gloss kitchen doors

3. Invest in inky tones

Utilities see their fair share of dirt when completing laundry or other household jobs, whether that is school uniforms to footie kits. @thehale_project has the right idea by choosing dark cabinetry for their design. Hiding a multitude of sins, these dark fronts will show fewer marks and scuffs making them a smart utility room idea that is low maintenance for busy family homes.

See black kitchen doors

4. Wash like a pro

A cleaning area is an essential feature within a utility, as it provides a place to work out stubborn laundry stains, water house plants, or even wash small pets. To make light work of these homely duties, why not upgrade to a spray tap, like @ourspringfieldhome. These nifty devices have a pull-out hose that can target water where it is needed most, helping to achieve a thorough clean – just like the professionals.

See pull-out kitchen taps

5. Sink into the deep

A deep-set bowl is a great addition to a laundry area as its added depth will accommodate more cumbersome items, such as sports equipment and gardening tools. Ceramic models, like that seen in @firststepontheladder’s home, often have larger capacities, which will prevent spills when washing up. Ceramic is also a hygienic choice as it is non-porous, which prevents germs from taking hold.

See ceramic kitchen sinks

6. Disguise plumbed goods

Utility areas are often a place where boilers, water pumps, and other plumbing features are found, which can interrupt the wider design of a room. We love this utility room storage idea from @us_by_square_inch. Using tower units to tuck plumbed items out of sight, they have created valuable storing areas for small household equipment, like steam cleaners and irons.

See tower storage

7. Switch to robust surfaces

Often packed full of cleaning products, utilities store many detergents that can be abrasive to some materials, especially for counters that are made from laminate and wood. Why not follow Lisa’s lead by switching to quartz for your work surfaces. Heat, stain, and scratch-resistant, these counters will make your utility hardwearing, so it will stand up to daily duties with ease.

See quartz worktops

8. Place machines in pairs

For busy family homes or those with regular laundry loads, we recommend placing large equipment side by side. This smart utility room idea will ensure no sock gets left behind, making it easier to transfer wet and dry clothing from drum to drum. It will also create an ergonomic design that makes a laundry routine more efficient, saving valuable time for other activities.

See laundry appliances

9. Protect your walls

Whether it is washing your delicates, repotting a houseplant, or grooming pets, investing in wall protection will prevent regular touch-ups to paintwork further down the line. We like what @maiainteriors has done with their place. They have used decorative panels to create a tongue-and-groove feature behind their counter space, while also protecting the walls from the common spills that come with cleaning.

See wall panelling

10. Illuminate your area

When winter is upon us, our utility rooms become a hub of humming machines as the need for cleaning and drying clothes inside becomes essential. With the darker nights, why not shed light on laundry loads by planning strategically placed lighting above counters. @thehawkes_victorianrenovation has used downlighters to illuminate their work area, providing a great spot for folding clothes that is well lit.

See kitchen lighting