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Original poster

All-in-one laundry, loo and boot room - good idea?

85 replies

catelina · 23/01/2022 16:21

We currently have a tiny boiler/utility room, downstairs loo and a very small hall cupboard all next to each other. If we knocked the 3 into one we could create quite a large rectangular space off the hallway that would fulfill all these functions with the bonus of space where we currently have cramped.

I love the idea. But bearing in mind we have half a mind to move in 2-3 years, is this something that would appeal to you?

OP posts:
LaBelleSausage · 23/01/2022 16:22

Not for me. Any visitors using the downstairs loo would see all my washing then

singlenamestar · 23/01/2022 16:22

How muddy is your life? Is the muck from your wellies going to make your clean clothes dirty?

stingofthebutterfly · 23/01/2022 16:25

I wouldn't want clean washing in the same room as a loo or mucky boots tbh. I'd rather have separate, smaller spaces.

Ozanj · 23/01/2022 16:25

I think that’s really unhygienic personally & you may lose out on buyers like me with young families. Combining boot room and downstairs toilet isn’t a bad idea tho

ParisNext · 23/01/2022 16:32

This is a thing now in new build design and apparently called a Utoilety as opposed to utility. Some without door so you sit on the loo looking at the washing and the coats 😳

2holibobssofar · 23/01/2022 16:35

Keep the loo separate, but knock the 2 small rooms together if you can.

Bert2e · 23/01/2022 16:38

Friends have this and it is perfect. Washer and dryer are hidden in cupboards.

StylishMummy · 23/01/2022 16:39

The toilet always needs to be separate/private IMHO

Mosaic123 · 23/01/2022 16:40

Guest toilet on its own and everything else together.

Datsandcogs · 23/01/2022 16:45

Loos and washing should be separate for me, yes it would stop me buying or reducing the price to restore separation.

Original poster
catelina · 23/01/2022 16:50

We live rurally so mud does feature but wellies live on a boot rack outside so transfer is minimal. And other shoes already cohabit with the laundry because the utility is the only space we have for them - hall cupboard is teeny tiny.

It wouldn't be worth doing if we didn't include the current loo because the space gain from combining just the cupboard and utility would be small, while the downstairs loo takes up more space than it needs to so would make it worthwhile.

It's quite common in country cottages to have multifunctional utility spaces (utoility?! never heard that before Grin) which is why it appeals to me. Fair point about visitors seeing the washing. We have a handsome wooden ceiling airer and it'd be clean only and it wouldn't bother me but if it bothers others...

OP posts:
Warmduscher · 23/01/2022 16:52

A “handsome” wooden ceiling airer? Grin

PatriotCanes · 23/01/2022 16:53

We did this, in a way. Toilet and massive butler sink in an enclosed room and washing machine/rumble dryer/airing racks/coats/shoes in the room you walk through to get there.

BarbaraWoodlouse · 23/01/2022 16:59

I would do it. A quick Google for “toilet privacy screen” or “toilet screen” throws up some good options for room divider type things. Could your room lay out work with something like that to give the illusion of a little more privacy?

RitaFires · 23/01/2022 17:01

I prefer separate rooms but if you need to combine them could you put big cupboard doors in front of the machines to make the functions feel more separate?

I find utoilety a funny word, I heard them called lootility rooms before.

itsgettingweird · 23/01/2022 17:03

I would knock all 3 through and then reconfigure a small area with door for the loo. A downstairs loo only needs to be a small space big enough to sit in!

Costacoffeeplease · 23/01/2022 17:06

We have a combined guest loo and laundry room. It’s perfectly private as I don’t unload the washing machine while someone is using the loo 🙄. It also has a door to the outside as we use it as a changing room for the pool (we’re not in the U.K.) and it makes easy access for hanging the washing out. Both doors have locks.

singlenamestar · 23/01/2022 17:08

Unhygienic to have the washing machine near a loo?!

CrimbleCrumble1 · 23/01/2022 17:09

A relative has this set up and it’s not nice, I hate using the loo.

Beamur · 23/01/2022 17:13

My neighbour has done this and I'm quite envious, it's such a useful space. That said I wouldn't be fussed about people seeing my laundry.

breakdown19 · 23/01/2022 17:40

@CrimbleCrumble1

A relative has this set up and it’s not nice, I hate using the loo.
Why?
PurplePikachu · 23/01/2022 17:43

It would put me off, yes. We’d need to budget for the cost and hassle of separating out the toilet again.

I don’t think it’s hygienic to have your clean laundry hanging up to dry by a loo - if anybody flushes without putting down the lid then small particles of nastiness do get into the air.

That’s not me being paranoid btw, that’s the reason dentists say you should keep your toothbrush 6 feet away from your loo.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 23/01/2022 17:50

breakdown19 it feels like I’m having a wee in a random room rather than a designated cloakroom/bathroom. Even though there’s a lock on the door I always think someone is going to come in and take something from the room.

Original poster
catelina · 23/01/2022 18:11

I wondered about making the loo a little cubicle within the larger space but I'm not sure it's possible. We'll get our builder in and see what he says. Either way, it's clearly a divisive issue!

OP posts:
Kite22 · 23/01/2022 18:21

A no from me.
I feel very vulnerable sitting on the toilet in a big room.

If they can make the toilet go off the utility, then fine, but it would be a bit offputting from a buying pov.