What things are a must for a utility room?

[cakelover2]

Hi

We are having an extension and will be creating a small utility room of 6ft 6 x 5ft 8. It is too small to fit in everything I?d like so I wanted to get some opinions of what's best to include.

What 2 things would you prefer in your utility room (in addition to a washing machine) if you didn?t have room for everything:

1. A sink
2. A tall cupboard for the hoover/mop and bucket etc
3. A tumble drier
4. A drying cabinet like this: PEKO ETS-650 Drying Cabinet

Is there anything else you'd love which I've not included in my list?

Also what are your opinions on washer/dryers? Are they worth it?

Thanks for your help :)

Washer/dryers are only useful in an emergency. I found it fine when I lived on my own would be impossible fore a family of 4. They generally have a smaller load capacity.

I would have a washing machine, drier and as many built in cupboards I could fit in.

My utility room is small but has a sink ( essential IMO, fab for handwashing, cleaning paintbrushes etc ), a washing machine ( we have never had a drier and I don't want one - have a great washing line outside and airers ), and lots of worktop space for stuff I don't want in the kitchen eg washing powder, kitchen roll etc and recycling bin.

Are you sure you can't fit all of your list into that sort of space, it isn't that small really IMO.

I would be with holly,

Surely the dryer could sit atop the washing machine? This would give you 600mm to put in a small sink in a unit/cupboard. There's a thread discussing it on mSE

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=450602

Wouldnt rate washer/dryer at all, had one before and never dried the clothes at all. We were in a flat with no garden so didnt have any other space.

A lockable door........

I have teeny utility (well compared to my last one) it is 1.5m long and 1m wide but I can only put stuff on one wall (the 1.5m wall) due to back door and a radiator.

So I have washing machine with tumble drier on top, 800w larder cupboard (small kitchen so use this to store baking stuff as well as washing powder etc)

I also have a wardrobe hanging rail from one end to the other on which I hang up anything that isn't being tumbled, and also have one of those multi pegged things that hold socks and other small items etc on washing lines.

I ripped out the sink that was in as we didn't really need it but if I could have one I would. The cupboard space was needed more.

Make sure that the electrics are run back to the consumer unit and have their own circuit as opposed to getting the extension connected to the existing electrics.A washing machine and tumble drier are the two heaviest loads you are likely to use in your home next to an immersion heater so its best that the extension should have its own power circuit which would free up your existing sockets and outlets.

A decent sized sink and drainer is a must IMO. Don't get a tiny little handbasin.

Great for soaking things, washing paintbrushes, cleaning football boots, cleaning up after messy garden activities etc.

It sounds as if you have enough space for a w/machine, t/drier, sink and cupboards

Thank you everyone for your replies - they are very helpful.
I can only fit units/appliances along one wall as there will be an external door at the oppposite end to the internal door. I could stack a tumble dryer on top of the washing machine and then fit in a tall cupboard and a sink but then I wouldn't be able to fit in the drying cabinet which I was quite exctied about! I don't have a tumble dryer at the moment and am fed up of washing drying all over the place so thought hiding it away in a drying cabinet was a good idea and perhaps more environmentally friendly than a drier?
Also, how important do you think a work top space is for folding clothes etc, as I wouldn't have much with the above combo?
Decisions decisions!
Thanks again.

A good sink for handwashing, cleaning football boots, fishing kit etc.

Washer/dryer? - I wouldn't bother.

I have one and I'm hugely underwhelmed by the dryer. Only tried it once. Will not get another - useless. Wash cycle is perfectly ok on its own.

Or a drying cabinet instead of the tumble?
here's one that's made for wall-mounting over a washing machine

If it helps I've just measured our utility room and along a wall measuring approx. 7ft we have:

a kitchen sink with drainer on one side over a single kitchen cupboard. Either side of that cupboard is a washing machine and a tumble drier (plus approx 12ins gap at either end which houses things like folded up clothes airer). Across the top of all this is a stretch of worktop which allows for space either side of the sink/drainer to put put a basket of ironing and general assorted crap.

On the walls above we have 2 double kitchen cupboard units which give lots of room for storing stuff