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Original poster

Help me plan my utility room

17 replies

Believeitornot · 02/09/2017 21:21

So, we are getting a new kitchen and separate utility room. I've gorged on Pinterest but need some real life tips.

Our utility room is 2.8mx2.2m and will have a door to the garden on one short wall and door to the kitchen on the other. We plan to put the washing machine and tumble dryer in there. Plus a sink.

I also want space for hanging delicates to dry, for garden shoes and random shit like light bulbs and batteries. Oh and kitchen appliances like the bread maker etc. And space for a hamster cage

Can anyone give me words of wisdom about how much storage? I've thought a tall cupboard, worktops plus wall units and draws should be enough. And a wall mounted rail for drying... apart from that I can't think of much else....

OP posts:

Belindabelle · 02/09/2017 21:28

Well we fitted our futility room with washing machine, sink and dryer on one side and Ikea Kallax on the other. Works really well.

NapQueen · 02/09/2017 21:33

Can you stack dryer on top of the washer? I saw a great one that had a pull out shelf in the middle too for folding the drying as it was being taken out.

A basket or peg line for odd socks to match 6 months later when they show up.

Original poster

Believeitornot · 02/09/2017 21:35

I don't think we need to stack them - there's plenty of space. It's more the extras really - I want to take as much out of the kitchen as I can and also want clever storage. Am also debating whether to put the iron in there.

I like kallax - might have that wall mounted if possible...

Will def have a peg line or something.

OP posts:

InsertUsernameHere · 02/09/2017 21:45

A tv to watch while you are doing the ironing.

Titsywoo · 02/09/2017 21:46

I'm getting a utility room soon when we finish refurbing our house at the end of the year. I'm thinking of doing a washing machine and tumble dryer (fitted in kitchen type cupboards) with a worktop above then shelving so I can have washing baskets tucked away. I also want a proper pulleymaid on the ceiling, somewhere to keep my ironing board, a large sink for soaking stuff. I will probably have a cupboard for cleaning stuff too.

Starface · 02/09/2017 21:46

I have recently done our utility. I would go for a ceiling airer not wall mounted to maximise spaces. I hung a peg thing for drying cloths on it.

Re the stacking or side by side washing machine & dryer - I think it depends on how the space works for you.

I have a large broom cupboard for Hoover/ Steam mop/ broom. I have wall cupboards but actually think shelving is much more flexible, especially for storing appliances. Wall cupboards are shallow compared to floor cupboards, but the door makes them even more limited. I find storage on top of cupboards better than in them!

I find having key appliances 'out' on the utility workshop makes me more likely to use them, but planning my power points also helped that.

Most of my utility worktop is covered in laundry but that's how I planned it!

gwendolenfairfax · 02/09/2017 21:47

you need a sheila maid

Starface · 02/09/2017 21:47

Plus lots of floor space so the utility is my dumping ground and I don't need to look at stuff.

namechangedtoday15 · 02/09/2017 21:58

Consider a pocket door, means you get so much more space.

Definitely talk cupboard for ironing board, Hoover etc. We have iron on the inside of that door.

Have an open talk cabinet which is the exact size of the laundry basket and then 5 shelves above which has a basket for each member of the family. All clean laundry is folded and put in owners basket.

Those wooden files from Ikea - 2 of those attached to the wall - one for greeting cards / wrapping paper etc and one for documents / admin.

We have wall cabinets that are the rectangular type (so quite wide but not very high) quite close to the ceiling for things we don't use very often, wall mounted drying rack (which folds flat when not in use), microwave on wall brackets which frees up counter space.

namechangedtoday15 · 02/09/2017 22:00

*tall cabinets!!!

Original poster

Believeitornot · 02/09/2017 22:05

Oh yes I hadn't thought about admin stuff!

Wall mounted microwave is a great idea.

Like the idea of baskets for each person. Folding washing then allocating is a pain. And will think about how to get open shelves in.

I've been eyeing up Sheila maids but not sure what our ceiling is like for attaching things.

I had thought about wall cupboards with doors but in our last home we had open shelves which is more practical on reflection.

This is all great stuff, thank you.

I'm quite excited about the futility room

OP posts:

Parker231 · 02/09/2017 22:08

We have one wall with the full length of floor to ceiling cupboards and the opposite wall with washing machine and tumble dryer under work top with a sink. There is a door to the garden and another to the kitchen. The storage means all boots and shoes are out of the way.

Original poster

Believeitornot · 02/09/2017 22:18

I hadn't originally planned for floor to ceiling storage but the suggestions have made me think that yes I should get the tall unit all the way to the top.

OP posts:

Jfw82 · 02/09/2017 22:21

Gwendolenfairfax Sheila maid! Thanks we had one above aga when I was younger and was wanting to reference that for ceiling drying it could not remember the name!!

Gini99 · 02/09/2017 22:30

I am currently planning mine too and it is similar in size but more constrained because part of it is a huge floor to ceiling built in cupboard (one wall of which is structural) which I am going to use mainly as a 'linen' cupboard with all the spare towels/duvets etc plus a shelf for each family member with clothes ready to put away. We're also a bit constrained on where doors etc are so it has to be quite a small L for the rest of the room.

For the rest of it at floor level, I really want a double sink which will take up quite a bit of the space but I think it will be really useful to have a 'dirty' sink and 'rinse' for hand washing and then for all of the kinds of jobs I don't want in my gleaming new kitchen... The other wall will have the washer and dryer at floor level and then worktop above. If I have space I would love one of these but I can't get the spacing to work at the moment.

One wall will have cupboards and the other shelves. I am also thinking of either something like www.pulleymaid.com/beedboard_rack.htm this or the ceiling mounted rack above.

I have given more thought to this tiny space than anything else in our huge renovation...

Suzietwo · 02/09/2017 22:32

My utility is in the garage. The very very very very best thing is having two washing machines. I do 2 loads at a time.

bluemarble · 03/09/2017 00:29

I'm also planning my new utility room which is similar size (3.2m x 1.9m). It has a door to garden on one of the long walls and door to hallway on one of the short walls. Next to the door to the garden I'm having a large sink, washing machine, tumble dryer with worktop over. Then above the worktop I'm planning to put a hanging rail and a shelf with baskets.

On the other long wall I'm putting a tall cupboard for ironing board, mops, brushes, cleaning products etc, then a tall freezer (to get it out of the kitchen), then large cupboard under worktop, then floor standing boiler with work top over, a couple of wall cupboards and more hanging rails. I'm having a small radiator mounted above the worktop below the hanging rails to help with drying clothes. The cupboards are intended for overflow larder storage from the kitchen so for food, lots of bottles of wine etc. But will probably end up full of junk that doesn't have a home anywhere else.

By the back door will be boot storage and probably hanging hooks for muddy coats etc.

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