A utility room should make life easier. However, if you have insufficient storage or an impractical layout, it can quickly become a dumping ground for laundry, cleaning products and household essentials. It can also look cramped, dark, and unappealing to work in.
Found in many modern new build homes, utility rooms are compact spaces with huge potential to help improve daily life. To make the most of every inch of your space and create an inviting space, here are the best laundry room ideas
How to make the most of a small laundry room
Optimise small laundry room design by planning it around the large appliances. The most important elements of this space are usually the washing machine and tumble dryer, so space for those needs to come first. But if your room is multipurpose, here are the top 4 small laundry room ideas:
- Think about using the room’s vertical space for shelving, extra cabinets, door accessories, and hooks to save space.
- Make a list of your laundry room must-haves, such as cleaning products, laundry baskets, pet supplies, coat storage, recycling, or extra pantry storage.
- Consider the workflow of your room, such as where you’ll sort, wash, dry, fold, and store clothes.
- Keep in mind water inflow and outflow, the way doors swing, ventilation, and easy access to items you use most.
Choosing the right layout for your laundry room
Clever laundry room design maximises the space. You may be limited in where your washing machine and tumble dryer can go, so here’s how to plan around them.
Consider multi-purpose features
What does your utility room need to include? A space for pet food? Storing wet weather gear and wellies? Will your recycling be in here? Does it double up as a cloakroom?
Answers to these questions will help you plan what you want to do, store and hide in your laundry room. Then you can design a dynamic utility space that suits your lifestyle needs.
Use vertical space
Stacking your large appliances is one of the best small laundry and utility room ideas to make the space feel bigger. Build upwards rather than outwards. Positioning your tumble dryer on top of the washing machine can create room for a utility sink, a folding worktop or extra base storage.
Carry the idea on by installing shelves or cupboards above worktops and machines. This keeps detergents, cleaning products and spare supplies within easy reach without taking up precious floor space. Hooks, peg rails and wall-mounted drying racks can also utilise otherwise unused walls.
Examine workflow
Think about what you do in your utility and how you do it. Are you someone who likes to sort and fold right from the washing machine or tumble dryer? If so, a worktop space will be preferable to a laundry room sink.
Is your utility room linked to a bathroom, cloakroom or does it lead to an external door or garage? If your room sees a lot of traffic, be careful not to block the flow. Avoid using wall units and hanging space that obstruct movement.
Clever laundry room storage ideas
Laundry room storage solutions include tall and wall units with pull-out drawers and baskets. Once you’ve decided what needs storing in your utility space, you can plan how you want to arrange it. Let’s examine this in more detail:
- Tall laundry room units. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards maximise vertical space and are ideal for storing long items such as ironing boards, vacuum cleaners, mops, and sweeping brushes. Appliance housing units conceal your washing machine and tumble dryer, and look neat.
- Wall storage. Shelves, wall-mounted cupboards and hooks keep everyday essentials off the floor. Over-the-door organisers and fold-away drying racks are great for smaller utility rooms.
- Pull-out storage. Laundry baskets and recycling bins or slim caddies on rollers make the most of awkward gaps while decluttering.
- Storage boxes and baskets. Use labelled baskets or stackable containers inside cupboards and on shelves to organise cleaning products, pet supplies, spare towels, and other household essentials.
- Worktop space. Fit a worktop above front-loading appliances to create a handy space for folding and sorting laundry.
- Space-saving extras. Retractable washing lines, pull-out ironing boards, and fold-down or ceiling-mounted drying racks are practical and tidy.
Laundry room decor ideas for compact spaces
Choose colours, lighting and accessories that make your utility room feel brighter, bigger and more enjoyable to use. Once you’ve covered the practical basics, you can add your own style to create a space that feels homely rather than just a space for laundry or chores. Keep reading to find out how.
Make your laundry room feel bigger
- Choose light colours to create a brighter, more open feel.
- Add task lighting under wall units or shelving.
- Consider glossy cabinet doors or reflective surfaces to bounce light around the room.
- Use mirrors to create the illusion of more space.
- Keep accessories coordinated to avoid visual clutter.
Add personality with colour and texture
- Introduce a colour theme with tiles, wallpaper, flooring, or accessories.
- Add plants that thrive in humid environments.
- Decant detergents into decorative jars and use matching baskets for storage.
- Incorporate natural materials like wood, wicker or rattan for warmth.
Choose a décor style
- Go Scandi with pale colours, natural wood and minimalist styling.
- Choose a modern look with sleek cabinetry and glossy finishes.
- Add boho touches using woven baskets, plants and textured accessories.
- Use durable finishes, darker colours and practical storage for family proofing.
Personalise your own Genesis Homes laundry room
When you buy a new home from Genesis Homes, you’ll often have a range of personalisation options to choose from, especially when buying off-plan. This gives you the unique ability to pick units, flooring and appliances and plan a space that suits your needs.
Our homes are built to a high specification as standard, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our finishes. Your laundry room is no exception!
Get in touch with our friendly team to find the ideal new build home that works for your lifestyle.