Utility room or playroom?

[NotAPuffin]

We've just moved into a new house. The kitchen has less storage than we're used to and we don't really want to add more as we'd lose the space we currently have for a small table and chairs, which we like having there.

We were thinking of using the converted garage as a playroom but I'm considering converting it to a big utility room, to add extra storage, laundry facilities (and a laundry shute because it's under the bathroom ) and cloakroom type stuff, all of which is necessary.

The kids are 6 and 5 and tend to play all over the place, not in the playroom. It's really just where the toys are stored. But they have large bedrooms and we could easily fit the toys in those.

DH thinks they should have their own space aside from their rooms, but I think it's more important to have the utility-laundry-storage stuff. If they want to be somewhere other than their rooms there's the sitting room, dining room and study, so it's not as if they'll be forced into being in the same room as us when they're teenagers and we're too embarrassing or annoying to be in the same room as them.

Thoughts?

Utility. Hands down.

I've lived a lot of places, and getting all the laundry gubbins into one room is the best thing ever - way beyond kids toys, having all the clothing in one place ( I had a huge utility in one house - the clothes lived there most of the time, I just took them straight from the dryer and on shelves, and we wandered out of the shower to get them - like a laundry/wardrobe cross)

Another argument that occurs to me is that we both work fulltime. The kids are out at a childminder's all week so that's where the majority of their playing happens.

Playroom. I'd love a utility room but if there's a choice to be made I would (and did) opt for a playroom every time.

Think forward, and see how flexible you can make the space. Toddlers become school kids become teenagers. For example you could have some big cupboards and even an airer/ironing space, but the rest of the space for a play room.
Every family has different dynamics but when they get to the Xbox stage you will be glad to put it in a room that's not your lounge or anybody's bedroom! Although it sounds like you are not short on other rooms.

Have Both ! Add in a built in cupboard that has a washing machine and tumble dryer next to each other - then add shelving above for folded clothes and add a small hanging rail too for shirts etc - leave enough room to slot in an ironing board at one end or hang it on the back of the door, if you have a pair of doors to access this cupboard, add hooks for mop broom and an iron hook on the rear of the other door - when the doors are open it's a utility - when they are shut - it's still a play room ! Add a lock if you want to keep cleaning products out of kids reach !
( and loose the key if you want a break from laundry !!!)

Have both. If its a normal size garage (i.e. big enough to drive a car into it), I can't see why you can have a small utility room AND a playroom. You'd need to be clever with the planning, but you could definitely make it work with both.