How much 'walk space' is needed in a utility room?

[Missnearlyvintage]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning our new utility room, (we currently just have appliances in the end of our garage), and have read conflicting things, (and looked at numerous photos on pinterest), of how much 'walk room' you need in a utility room between appliance fronts and an opposite wall, or appliances opposite other appliances which face each other/ cupboards facing other cupboards.

1.2m seems to be suggested, but our space is tight and I've measured that if I really stick my bum out while I'm putting the laundry in the machine etc. I need about 1m. So if anyone knows whether what their utility spaces are like and can let me know I would really appreciate it please?

The extra 10-20cm would make all the difference to the design if I can just go with my measurement, but I don't want to spend all the money on the new utility, only to find that skimping on that 'walk space' isn't practical.

Thanks very much!

We've just moved into a house with a utility room - a purpose built one if that makes any difference. I've just measured the gap between the units/appliances and the opposite wall at 1.2m. I'd say 1m would be fine.

Fat fingers! I meant 1.1m

I have 87cm walk space. 1M would fine imo.

I have about 90cm, it's quite tight but works ok and meant I could make the most of the overall space in the house.

I think a metre is fine, but irritating. It's what I have and I find it annoying trying to move laundry between machines. You ideally need space to bend/squat down, and see both machines at once .

We have 98cm between appliance and wall and that is ample for us. Our tumble dryer is stacked above the washing machine.

We're about to create a utility as part of a new kitchen, it's going to be 1.5m wide & just over 2m long. The washing machine & tumble will be stacked against one of the narrow ends to make more space for loading / unloading.

But atm I have 80cm between wm & wall. It's tight but totally workable.

I have about 80cm and it's ok

Between my tower cupboard and the washer I have 1m.

My tumble and washer are next to each other with a small cupboard between. I had my points put in there.

I removed my utility sink as I never used it.

One thing to think about would be putting any wall cupboards as high as possible to give more useable worksurface. My carpenter talked me out of it (he thought I wouldn't be able to reach the shelves) but I only need the bottom shelf most of the time, I should have put them higher. Instead I'm going to get some nice containers to store stuff on top of the cupboards (dog's toys).

I've got 2m squared, can fit the ironing board up but not with the machine machine door open.

Too much!!

Although the fridge freezer is now in that space on the left...

(Door is to the toilet)

Definitely stack the dryer above the washing machine and you will find it a lot easier to move washing from one to the other. We store washing liquid above that in a top box.

We have a hand wash sink next to the washing machine stack and a plumbed in draining board. A spray tap is useful too. We have a wine fridge on that side and the total length is 2.4m. There are boxes for dry washing above. I also have a large towel rad for drying.

On the opposite wall, which is about 1.4 m away, we have a tall cupboard for ironing board and mop etc. There is a work surface with drawers under and beneath that, welly storage and paper recycling. Above the work surface is hanging for clothes before ironing.

If you think about what you want in the room and decide if it’s more about laundry or just storage with washing taking place, then you can plan effectively. If you have space, use it.

Thanks everyone, it's really helped hearing about your views and spaces, I think I'll try to stick to 1.2m for spaces where we will be moving around a lot - taking coats and wellies off etc. but not be too bothered about sticking to that 1.2m for laundry or storage spaces.

We're hoping to get quite a lot of storage space into our utility, along with the space for stuff associated with having 6 cats, and mudroom stuff - lots of coat and wellie space and somewhere to sit to take footwear off, so it's more of a multi-use space than just somewhere for a washer, dryer and fridge/freezer.

Thanks again, you are all fab, I really appreciate your replies. x