Utility Room Advice

[maggiehilltop]

I'm converting my garage, and this will include a fairly long, galley style utility room. I'm thinking of having a walk in pantry/cupboard at the far end but was wondering if anyone has any must-haves for a great utility room? My only wants at the moment are a big pantry, and a clothes pulley!

For me a utility room would be to get the washing machine (& maybe tumble drier) out of the kitchen to make more space for kitchen stuff.

Broom cupboard with space for the vacuum cleaner, mops, brooms, buckets. Ditto iron and ironing board. (Currently stored in random cupboards around the house).

Wouldn’t you want the pantry in the actual kitchen? I’ve got a large pantry off the family room which is off the kitchen. I think it’s a bit stupid and I only use it for “extras” or infrequently used items because traipsing there from the kitchen is a hassle.

From a laundry perspective, I’d also get a large double sink, or a “dirty” sink...

Some people regret putting their dishwasher in the utility because it’s far away from the packing away cupboards.

Deffo a 'dirty sink' so everything DIY/ garden etc stays out of the kitchen.
Also lots of drying and sorting space for laundry.

Best utility I have seen is one where you get lots of surface space to sort laundry etc then enough shelving to have one laundry basket per person so each person is responsible for hauling their own clean laundry back to their bedrooms.

@Beetle76 I think when I say pantry, I probably do mean a walk in broom cupboard for the ironing board, hoover etc. with lots of shelving for the kitchen overspill. My kitchen is a kitchen/diner so I don't really want to add more cupboards which creeps into the dining area. if I'm honest I should probably have got a few more cupboards when I got the new kitchen but I was really aware I didn't want it too cluttered.

The washing machine and dryer will definitely be in there, with perhaps an under the counter freezer (extra to the one in the kitchen.

@CornflakeMum @areallthenamesusedup I think this is my dilemma, a nice big worktop or a dirty sink. The way it is setup, a sink would be about 2 steps away from my kitchen sink, so I'm not convinced it'd be worth it.

Sigh. I'll only get one chance at this, I want to get it right!

Well maybe work surface is more valuable to you?
I have exact set up areallthenames describes - a long bench space for folding and sorting with shelving racks above where each family member has s laundry box which things get sorted into. It works really well!

I would go for work surface rather than sink. Hardly use my sink. Use my work surface every time I am in there. Every single time.

Big sink for cleaning big BBQ racks, dirty boots.
I've got one of those tall ladder style radiators on, great for putting smalls on to dry, you can also get them connected to the electric as well as the central heating system. I've also got a wardrobe pole fixed across the width about 6 foot up so I can put clothes on hangers straight from the w.machine.

What about a sink with a cover?
Sink when you need it.
Cover it when not in use, can then be used as worktop space?

@sparklystarshinebright I've just posted a drying question on this board - I didn't know you could connect rads to the mains electric.

Does it heat the room enough to dry clothes on your hanging rail overnight?

A great utility was top of my list when we got our extension done. Look at Schuller - they have so many great ideas in their utility range. Ours is a boot room/ utility & we lost garage space so some of that crosses over too.
I have a pole to hang drying with large worktop for folding underneath then baskets for clothes underneath. Washer & dryer are at eye height with pull out shelf for basket underneath.
2 coat cupboards, shoe cupboard & massive drawer under bench seat for school bags, boot bags etc.
Double sink so I can soak laundry, dirty sports’ gear etc.
Storage for brooms etc & large recycling bins
It’s my favourite room 😊

My utility room (plan) will be right by my back door so it'll be where we dump our coats and shoes and also school bags. I was hoping to get a couple of units for such items to be stored) and a wall kept free for coats to hang.

I'll definitely be getting a dirty sink, and my washing machine and drier will be in there too. Need a ironing board and brook cupboard there too.

It's only 3m squared - don't think I'll fit this all in 😫

@Simonutti72 I cross posted with you! I love the sound of your utility! Any chance of a cheeky pic?! Your set-up sounds ideal.

Just seen your attachment. I don't think I'll have the space for that. I love it though!

A dehumidifier will make a huge difference if you're hanging up clothes to dry, especially in winter.

A big deep sink (Butler style is ideal) with draining both sides has been the best thing in my utility room. Also a very large ceiling airer with a pulley.

@LittleEsme have a look at Schuller for ideas it’s SO good. www.schueller.de/en/kitchens/pantry
You could adapt the ideas using other stuff (Ikea might be good for this)

@LittleEsme - sorry wrong one!
www.schueller.de/en/utility-room

OP the sink question really depends I think on how you use your kitchen diner. In our last house, the sink in the utility room was incredibly useful as we used to entertain a lot (in eat- in kitchen) and I’d just pile all the pots and pans that didn’t go in the dishwasher out of sight in the utility. Loved being able to do that, especially as I’m a neat freak.

In our current house we now have two dogs so the dirty sink is where they get washed after muddy walks!

OPand don’t forget with a clothes pulley you need good ceiling height- so that even when you’ve got clothes draped over you can still walk underneath (not an issue if your room is wide enough so it can be to one side)

I have a run of 3 standard size units on one side with worktop above and a high shelf. Under the high shelf is attached 2 wardrobe size hanging rails. It's so useful to have these to air off clothes or dry delicates and room warm from tumble dryer.
I also have a sink for dirty stuff and I don't like laundry baskets so I have a cupboard that I just pile all the dirty washing into

We have

1. Enclosed toilet with massive sink for washing hands but also cleaning football boots, BBQ grills, paintbrushes etc at one end.
2. Stacked washer and dryer
3. Two sets of waist high kitchen units with pan drawers, with countertop over it for sorting laundry and hanging rack for drying in the ceiling over that
4. Floor to ceiling cupboards - one with no shelves as it's got the boiler and the broom/mop/hoover etc and two with shelves that we use as pantry space.

I have a sink with a cover but wish it was worktop as the tap gets in the way. I may feel differently when I have muddy footvall boots to clean...
A towel radiator that is on the central heating and had an electric switch is amazing for drying off washing thats still a bit damp, tea towels, socks, wet jackets. I have drying racks and a dehumifier and am working on DH to put me up a Pulleymaid!
Measure everything! I have a big cupboard for hoover and mop but the fixed shelf prevents me putting the ironing board in so its still propped up against the wall. Again, working on DH to use a bit of tall MDF a few inches from the wall so I can create a ironing board/airer hideaway.

I have

Pulleymaid
Dual fuel ladder towel rail
Extractor fan
Broom cupboard with a pull out rack for hoover, a plug socket for charging the cordless hoover, clips for mop and broom, shelf for bucket and cleaning products
Sink with cover and hose tap. The tap swivels so I can move it aside when I want to use it as worksurface
Small overflow freezer
Small wine fridge
Stacked washer and dryer with pull out shelf between and collapsible laundry baskets wedged down the side
Pull out unit for laundry liquids
Slot at the end of the cupboard run for ironing board
Many cupboards for misc household stuff like wrapping kit, picnic kit, sewing kit, medicine box, shoe polishing stuff, travel items, carrier bags, loo roll etc

It’s a small room that works really hard!

@minipie your room sounds incredible. Any chance of a few pics? I need loads of inspiration too.

We’ve just done ours which is 4m x 2.5m The back door is more or less in the middle of one short end. Windows on one long side and one short side opposite to where back door which is glazed is.

We have:
W. Machine
T dryer
Pull out under counter cupboard for w powder etc next to w machine
Full size u counter beer fridge (which is used as overflow for kitchen fridge)
Corner cupboard for storage
1m sink unit with a large 700mm wide s steel sink.
Tap with pull out hose with variable spray
Cupboard housing u floor heating controls for utility, kitchen and conservatory
Opposite w machine and t dryer we have a 1200mm wide cupboard - one side for vacuum etc but I decided to have a shelf above rather than keep the ironing board in there
Other side is fully shelved..
Amtico oak flooring and black granite worktops/ up stands and cills.
Maple units so it all matches the kitchen.
I’ve also got a super quiet automatic extractor so I can iron in there without everything steaming up. We also cook crabs in there on a separate plug in hob so extractor is fab for that.
We love it!

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