Utility layout help - with diagrams :)

[UtilityLayout]

I’m designing a new utility space and trying to figure out layouts.

It needs to house a washer, tumble drier, huge heated drier, some worktop space and preferably a sink and toilet.

I’d prefer a wall between the toilet and everything else party because I don’t want frosted glass in the window and partly because toilet/clean laundry combo.

I’ve come up with the two layouts in the pic, but I’m not loving either. Both would need sliding door between laundry/loo.

I have some scope to make this space longer but not wider. (Or, I could make it wider, but then it would be a route out the house with all that entails, which I’m trying to avoid.)

We have another downstairs loo so this would be family loo only - don’t need to make it guest-friendly.

(I’ve just looked at first diagram again - it’s supposed to show there’s standing room between washing machine and heated drying rack.)

If you’ve any thoughts, opinions, suggestions or if you can see any obvious flaws, I’d love to hear them.

If you have another downstairs loo already I’d be tempted to leave that out and just have more storage.

Unless your house has multiple wings, do you need another downstairs loo? I’d only see this as a necessity if the house is over 400 or even 500sqm.

I wish we had separate wings, but it’s a 5 bed house with one up and one down at the mo. Doesn’t Sarah Beeny reckon 5 beds needs 3 toilets? (Because I’ve not watched property tv since 2002...)

Have you thought about stacking the washer and tumble dryer to give more floorspace?

5 bed house but how many people in it on a daily basis?

If you're quite happy with existing number of loos then don't strain yourself with an extra...It might be idea to consult a couple of local estate agents for a valuation and see if they think an additional loo is worth it.

As to layout...Have you thought about how you'll prefer to use the space once your actually in it? Most people tend to have their own little ways of organising laundry and moving about, so there's no point on choosing Design B if Design A will feel more comfortable to you.

On the basis of your drawings, I like the second most. If feels much less cluttered, has cleaner lines, allows the light from the window to shine all the way through. Also looks like you have more floor space if you need to move your airer about.

Presumably the machines will be under counter tops?

D = huge drying rack yes? And S = standing room?

How tall is the drying rack, because I'd be tempted to put it by the window if it won't block it?

D is Huge Drying Rack, S is half sink which is just a wash hand basin in diagram one but a proper half sink in 2.

Work tops will be over washer/tumble dryer.

Huge drying rack is tall - about boob height on me. Last time I had a utility it was squarer and had washer/drier in front and rack behind. I think I’m having trouble moving on from that.

Also I’d like the worktop in front of window so I can fold and sort whilst staring at other people doing more interesting things, but then I can’t have proper sink.

There’s only four of us here, but it’s a long walk from garden to existing toilet. Am aware the DC won’t be little forever though.

I did think of stacking wm/td but then I’ve got no worktop (or worktop with nothing under.)

How about an L shaped counter then, would it fit?

You'd gain additional counter space with view (and maybe even room for a radio) while keeping appliances and sink along one wall.

If not enough room for the L shape you could always have a fold out table/wide shelf under the window for picturesque laundry folding

If you want to follow “rules”, I’d say a five bed needs two full bathrooms (or shower rooms) on upper floors. Not two toilets on ground floor.

@Yellownotblue

If you want to follow “rules”, I’d say a five bed needs two full bathrooms (or shower rooms) on upper floors. Not two toilets on ground floor.

Some of the bedrooms are downstairs too though.

Tara, thanks for that suggestion - I’m going to have a play with it.

Upstairs is three beds, 1 shower room. No scope to add anything else.

Downstairs has two beds, 1 bathroom without toilet, toilet.

I appreciate this is weird.

Lol my house is also this type of house, two large bedrooms downstairs and two with en suites upstairs and a large attic room which doubles as an office, cinema room and spare bedroom so not that weird ... unless it's just the two of us 😉

Just had my utility redone and I'm benefitting from cupboards for storage too - so try and fit these in if possible. I'd say we now have a sink which I find great (didn't used to have one in utility so very pleased with this) I'd stack W&T And have extra space personally.
I'd also say put the W&T so that the doors open and easier to remove washing and throw straight into dryer - mine are now next to each other and really like that the doors open so it's a clear movement of clothes between each,
Doors open so they don't sit in the way
Enjoy!

I can’t figure out how to do that with my doors - they’re both hinged on left so whichever way round they go there’s a door in the way.

This is a utility in garage conversion so I’ve got lots of storage in the rest of the space which I’m intending to use mostly as pantry. I just want the utility fenced off so it can be warm and humid, but pantry cool and dry.

So I can use more space for utility, but it’s at the expense of pantry. I was also vaguely hoping to fit treadmill in the rest of the space but that might only be a lockdown wish and not a rest of time wish. (And I think I have a head height issue there anyway.)

Stack the washing machine and tumble dryer - your dryer can then stand next to them

Just to add to the options, how about a hanging airer? That would free up floor space.

Is the toilet mainly intended for use when gardening or playing in the garden? If so then instead of a wall have a shower screen or a glass brick wall and have a 'pee only' rule.

I agree with stacking the washer and dryer.

Is the sink going to be used to hand wash clothes? If it is just for washing hands you can get a toilet/sink combo, the sink sits on top of the tank or to one side of it.

I’d stack the washer and dryer and pop them in a tall unit to hide them. Leaves you with space to pop a sink and some workspace and the right hand wall for either freestanding or wall mounted drying rack.

How about a vertical towel rail mounted on a wall. Would remove need for heated airer?

Ceiling airer rather than dryer. I wouldn't be without mine. I'd also put in a shower cubicle rather than a toilet.

Just came on to say what @Sweetandawfulsour has done. If you want more counter space get a toilet with sink at the back.

@UtilityLayout, thank you for explaining the layout of your house! I understand your conundrum now.

Omg, thank you all for your suggestions.

Unfortunately the space isn’t wide enough for sweetandawful ‘s suggestion - it’s more or less exactly the width of two appliances. (140cm).

The ceiling height is really low so I’d written off a ceiling airer, but I wonder if I could put it above worktops. (So it’d be in your face rather than above head.) I’ll think about that.

(I’m also being really tight and not wanting to spend the money on a new airer when I’ve got one that’s perfect, but that seems like an insane thing to save money on in the whole scope of project.)

yeah an airer doesn't cost a lot and we have ours above our worktop. We just have normal ceiling height (new-ish build) and when pulled up, we can still use the sink and the worktop. I can fit a full load on ours (7 slat) and even in winter I can put a load on it in the morning and have it dried by evening and put one on in the evening and it's dry by morning.

I'd also add some hooks on any plain bits of wall as you can use those for hanging jeans etc by the belt loops or stick things on hangers and hang them from the hooks.

We have this one:

www.castinstyle.co.uk/product.php/1283/seven-lath-gismo-kitchen-maid-reg-clothes-dryer?gclid=CjwKCAiAm-2BBhANEiwAe7eyFIF9sSQqa0A4e7nxQcDMAivrFE2gHoI718P31d-U6WBLyrvc_AIjVhoCTAgQAvD_BwE

we have it in our utility which we is in a converted bit of our garage, so the builders fitted it when doing that and the airer itself was about £60 at the time. that's about 10 years ago so think it would be £70 odd now.

But I love my Dri-Soon Deluxe! 😭

I do like the idea of a ceiling mounted airer but the ceiling is literally 20cm above my head. It would be completely in the way of the worktops. And the window.

Even empty it’d be a bit in the way.