Home Utility

As the list of must have appliances has grown, space in even the largest kitchen can feel compromised. Today’s trend is towards modern open plan living and people are increasingly looking towards using their kitchen as a space in the house for dining, entertaining and leisure. This however is not always compatible with the noise created by the mundane tasks undertaken in a family kitchen.

With this in mind, the popularity of the a utility room has grown in the UK. Once a staple of continental houses, the primary use of a utility room is for laundry. Washing Machines, and Tumble Dryers can be stacked where space is tight and larger models that are too big too fit standard kitchen units can stand alone comfortably in the new space. Second sinks can also be accommodated for messy cleaning jobs, whilst other options presented by a utility room include additional storage for cleaning items, a pantry for dry goods, and additional space for the drying of clothes.

When considering what you might like to store in a utility room, you can be creative as you like. For the cook in the house, it can become that extra space for all the organic goods, occasionally used sauces and spices that don’t need to be stored in a fridge but which all benefit from being stored in a cool environment.

And when it comes to entertaining and large parties or even Christmas where you want the kitchen to be the focal point of all the fun, the utility room can store that extra fridge or fridge freezer which will mean your kitchen will be less cluttered.

And don’t forget to think practically about your utility room’s design and consider including shoe racks, hooks for outdoor coats and plenty of storage space. But above all, make sure that the units and paintwork that you choose are hard wearing and easily cleanable as you’ll be amazed at the amount of chores the utility room can cater for. Continue Reading

More often than not a utility room is one of the smaller rooms in the house. By simply streamlining the design you can make this tiny room not only feel larger, but also function more efficiently.

Color Creates Space
Since this room is generally diminutive in size, you want to draw as much light into the room as possible. Select pale, neutral paint for the walls and a white ceiling. If you prefer to hang wallpaper, select a subtle design and keep the pattern small to respect the scale of the room.

Crisp Lighting
Making sure that the room has adequate lighting will also help it seem larger and brighter. Overhead light fixtures are perfect for brightening the room, and since they are on the ceiling and out of the way again it gives the illusion of adding space to the room. Overhead light is also a better choice for lighting a small room because it more effectively reflects light throughout the room, and it is safer and does not take up any valuable floor, counter or wall space.

Make the Most of Windows
If you are lucky enough to have natural lighting in the room make sure that you do not diminish the natural light by obstructing the window. Keeping your window treatment unobtrusive and streamline can add a clean, tailored feel to the window area. Curtain toppers or mini blinds help keep the window area streamlined, and they are easily adjustable for more light, less light or privacy. If you are not planning to install new flooring, simply keep your current floor free from clutter. If you plan to install new flooring use a light colored vinyl to keep the room bright. A light colored floor has the advantage of being easy to keep clean. And using vinyl flooring makes it easy to clean up any water or wet messes. Continue Reading

It use to be that laundry rooms were like kitchens, out of sight and out of mind. It was the one unsightly place that even the homeowners themselves didn’t want to see, let alone spend much time in. Therefore, not a lot of square footage was wasted or allocated for these spaces. That’s no longer the case for these rooms. Today, the doom and gloom of the laundry rooms are over. They are no longer the junky part of the house that lacked organization, decor, and style.

A laundry area may include facilities for washing & drying, ironing, sewing, arts & crafts, pantry shelving, the water heater, and even the HVAC system. Because of this multi-function, it is often referred to by other names that include the service room, all-purpose room, and utility room. As with all rooms in a home, the shape and size of the space varies. Moreover, the scope of the room is molded by the purpose of the space and the overall square footage of the home. Below you will find suitable ideal dimensions to accommodate a laundry for small, midsize, and large homes.

Suggested Measurements for a Laundry Room

Laundry Closet
6 feet in width and 3 feet deep is the absolute smallest dimensions to fit a standard size washer and dryer. Ideal for homes with limited space. Typical locations are in or near the kitchen, tucked along a hallway, or nestled under a straight staircase.

Small
Possible dimension arrangements: 6 to 8 feet in width, 6 to 8 feet in length (36 to 64 sf). 6 ft x 6 ft is the smallest walk-in room that you can get away with. It allows for a 32 inch door to access along with cabinets or shelves above the washer and dryer. It is best to use for just washing and drying cloths as the space doesn’t allow for much else. Continue Reading