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How To Plan A Utility Room

When researching how to plan a utility room, location, layout, and lifestyle are just some factors that homeowners should understand to create an ergonomic laundry interior. To shed light on the renovation process, we have enlisted the help of award-winning interior blogger, Mel Boyden, who has been upgrading her 1970s property in Shoreham-By-Sea. She has recently revamped her small space with an extension that hides noisy machines and mess, leaving the kitchen-diner ready for entertaining. Using her newfound experience, Mel shows how families can create a functional and stylish set-up that will make everyday life easier.

Understand your needs

Lifestyle

Set yourself up for success by scrutinising your weekly schedule to understand what household chores can be relocated to a new utility area.

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Lifestyle

Utility rooms are the secret to a smooth-running home as they keep mess, clutter, and noise out of our day-to-day lives. To ensure the design is right first time, consider your lifestyle to understand what is needed from the space. We love to entertain and found that our refrigerator was always full, so a second device for extra party snacks and tipples was a must-have in our utility. I also wanted more storage for decorating supplies.
Budget

Build a clear picture of project costs by establishing a budget. This will allocate money to the right areas and will prevent overspending.

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Budget

Understanding what is wanted from a utility will make it easier to identify where you can cut costs or splurge on must-have products. For me, it was essential to create a design that looked as stylish as our cooking area, so I set aside a good portion of the budget on statement cabinetry. Our house also has the sea on its doorstep, making beach days frequent, so I invested in hardwearing features that would make it simple to wash towels and swimwear.

Size

Size matters when it comes to a utility, as it will determine how a room is used. A good assessment makes it clear whether that bulky dryer or boot rack will fit.

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Size

The minimum area for a utility cupboard is around 15 square feet. This allows for a washing machine and a dryer with shelving above, depending on the model dimensions. If a layout is going to be multi-functional, then consider an extension to create a set-up that suits your needs. By extending our cooking zone, we were able to increase the floorplan of our utility room too. Knocking through to the double garage and reclaiming the space for our utility meant we have more room for laundry, shoes, and an inflatable beach toy, or two.
Location

Position the utility near a cooking space or garden to create an inconspicuous area that is easy get up and running – saving time and money during installation.

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Location

Location is a crucial factor in any renovation, as it has a major impact on how ergonomic a room is. It is best to choose a utility space near the cooking area, because the same plumbing can be used to connect laundry devices. Having direct access to the garden is also useful when drying clothes outdoors. Our utility is at the back of the house, nestled between the kitchen-diner and downstairs washroom. The door leads out onto the rear lawn, which means we can walk straight in from the beach, hang up our bags, and throw all the wet items into the sink without getting living zones dirty.

Pick your products

Colour

Add both personality and practicality when picking a colour for the utility. The right shade will breathe new life into a space while being easy to maintain.

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Colour

Colour is a huge passion of mine, so I wanted to pick a bold shade to express my interior style. I chose dark, navy units because they have a striking look that easily hides a multitude of sins, ensuring I am not scrambling for a mop and bucket every time the kids or pets run through. Conventional hues in a utility room, such as white or cream, can require regular maintenance – an important consideration for any busy home. If your heart is set on a pale palette, try using these tones on wall cabinetry instead to keep cleaning to a minimum.

Explore blue fitted kitchens
- Worktops
  
  Create a space that will stand up to the demands of daily life by picking a hardwearing counter in solid stone.
  
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  Worktops
  
  Like a culinary area, the counters in a utility need to be durable, because they see just as much action from daily chores, like laundry, ironing, and pet grooming. Selecting a hardwearing material, such as solid stone, ensures the surface will last for many years to come. I opted for the same marble-effect quartz as my cooking space to create continuity between the two rooms. It is also scratch and stain-resistant, which is great for storing my decorating tools during projects.
  
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- Handles
  
  Choose trend-led accessories, like brass handgrips, in stylish hues and finishes for an instant upgrade to a utility.
  
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  Handles
  
  Handles are an easy way to add fashion-forward details, especially when paired with the right finishes. I picked brass knobs, which have a classic, round shape that transcends trends. The warm tone pops against the dark cabinetry for an opulent feel, while the brushed exterior adds texture for extra visual interest.
  
  Explore brass cabinet knobs

- Cabinetry
  
  Pick styles that will suit the main purpose of the utility room to make the space ergonomic and functional.
  
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  Cabinetry
  
  When choosing cupboards, the trick is to build a foundation based upon how the room is used. If you want to organise spare crockery or stock up on essentials, then larders are a must-have. For us, the utility was going to be used for storage space, which meant adding towers to house all our cleaning equipment, mops, and brooms. My top tip for planning cabinetry is to squeeze in as many units as possible for a layout that can accommodate the growing needs of a home.
  
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- Sinks
  
  Ensure the utility works smoothly by including functional features, like sinks, for a layout fit for daily tasks.
  
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  Sinks
  
  Practical products, such as sinks, are a bit like the cogs in a machine – they quietly and unobtrusively do the hard work to keep a utility area working seamlessly. They provide a place to clean mucky shoes or wash decorating tools without dirtying other areas of the home. I selected a large bowl design to make it easy to rinse sandy bathing suits. Having an option with a draining board was also a must, as it makes it simple to dry off wet swimming gear.
  
  Explore kitchen sinks
Appliances

Stash noisy equipment or secondary devices in a utility area to ensure the main living space is tranquil and clutter-free.

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Appliances

A utility is a brilliant way to get larger household machines, such as dryers, out of the culinary zone, to keep mess hidden. We wanted more seating in our cooking and dining space, so we stored our second refrigerator in the utility. I would recommend my Lamona model, which is exclusive to Howdens. It offers plenty of storage for party supplies and comes with an extended guarantee, giving confidence it is built to last.

Explore Lamona fridge freezers

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Get experts on board

Experienced designers

Get expert advice from professional designers to ensure a space is customised to individual needs.

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Experienced Designers

Having worked with Howdens on our cooking room renovation, I knew I wanted to use them again for my utility project. Their designers know how to maximise space and they are clued up on the latest trends, ensuring the scheme turns out looking its best. I love symmetry, so my designer helped me pick products that would offer ample storage while creating a modern aesthetic. Having a 3D CAD plan was also handy, as it let me visualise the layout better. This meant I could make few crucial tweaks that would prevent complications during installation.
Trade professionals

Create a high-quality finish and ensure a utility lasts for years to come by getting a tradesperson on board.

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Trade professionals

My long-term vision for the utility room is that it will eventually cater for holidaymakers staying in our annexe. This meant the all the furniture had to be installed to a professional standard and be built to last. Howdens know that getting an experienced tradesperson is essential for this, which is why they require one to purchase their products. We found a fitter online and they made the process much smoother. Knowing we had someone with the right skills gave us confidence that the space would stand the test of time.