Now the sun has finally arrived, along with the dreaded cobweb season, it’s time to turn our attentions to spring cleaning. OK, maybe just blitzing the worst offending areas. The secret to nailing household chores with minimal strain is a well-organised utility room that supports speed and efficiency and makes spring cleaning a breeze…or at least bearable. Whether you’re designing a new utility space or renovating an existing one, careful planning can ensure the engine room of your home works like a well-oiled machine. Here’s how to get started.

1. Establish the perfect layout

In the same way that the layout can make or break efficiency levels in a new bespoke kitchen, so the layout in a utility room has the biggest impact on functionality and enjoyment levels. Whether you have a small utility or spacious utility/laundry/boot room to work with, the same rules apply.

Start by establishing clear work zones according to the main activities required of the space. Common zones include household cleaning, laundry, outerwear storage and pet care. Within each zone, allocate sufficient storage and enough space to perform the different tasks comfortably. If there are tasks that share facilities, aim to position them centrally. For example, a modern kitchen sink might be required for soaking stains, emptying the mop bucket and filling dog bowls, so it needs to be easily accessible.

2. Think about flow

Plot the passage between entrance and exit and aim to avoid any pinch points that might hinder your flow through and around the room – such as washing machine doors opening the wrong way. Position the washer and dryer near each other, with a folding station close by. If you have space, an island unit is very useful and will allow you to spread out when folding fresh laundry. Ensure that all storage is accessible and that there’s enough room to move freely, without tripping over dog beds or the ironing board.

3. Focus on storage

It’s so easy for your utility room to become a dumping ground for household randomness that has a use but is either too bulky or too ugly to reside in your beautiful luxury designer kitchen. A good way to ensure this doesn’t happen in your new utility is to remove everything in your current space and sort into categories; keep, donate, recycle and bin. A thorough declutter will help make it easier to assess exactly how much storage you really do need and organise it logically. 

Make the most of the vertical space by opting for at least one tall cabinet, with room for mops and brooms, and as much open shelving as possible. Pop a set of folding steps on the inside of the door for quick access to the top shelves. Unlike kitchens, utility rooms are transient spaces so you can afford to cram in a bit more storage – you won’t be hanging out in there trying to relax!

4. Go bespoke

To ensure you don’t waste an inch of space, consider custom cabinetry that’s made to measure. Bespoke solutions can include built-in laundry hampers, pull-out shelves, pegboards and internal storage compartments. We often include space for internal sockets within utility cupboards, so any vacuums or steam mops can charge in-situ.

What about a ‘garage’ to park your robot vacuum cleaner out of the way? Or drying crates with underfloor heating for your four-legged friends? Thanks to Roundhouse’s bespoke capabilities, we can easily accommodate more unique requests.

What should you include in a utility room?

Every utility room specification is different but clearly identifying your essentials (and goals) from the outset will help achieve a practical and hardworking space. A deep kitchen sink is invaluable for hand-washing delicate items, soaking stains, and scrubbing muddy boots. Choose a durable material that can withstand heavy use, such as a fireclay Butler-style sink or deep stainless steel. Installing a wide sink at a lower level is a popular way to include dog-washing facilities (for smaller breeds). 

A clear surface for folding clothes and a drying rack for delicates will make light work of laundry processing, while an ironing station where the board folds neatly away and the iron is plugged in ready for action will speed up clothes pressing. Open shelves can make a small utility room feel larger and provide easy access to frequently used items. Use seagrass baskets and enamelware to keep everything organised and tidy. Other regular requests we receive at Roundhouse include dedicated space for storing laundry baskets, pet feeding areas and built-in waste bins.

Our expert kitchen designers can help you make the best choices for your Roundhouse bespoke kitchen, furniture or wardrobes. Visit any of our seven Roundhouse showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham and get planning!