It’s the covetable space that make daily life easier

It’s an overspill of the kitchen, traditionally an unloved and overlooked space where essentials from buckets to brooms, washing powder to wellies and pet food are stowed. But there’s been a recent surge in enthusiasm for a utility space devoted mainly to laundry and cleaning kit. A haven of domestic calm and order. If your utility room isn’t up to scratch, it’s worth giving it a revamp to boost its appeal and efficiency.

SmartStore Classic Storage. Image supplied by Orthex

Location, location, location

When it comes to laundry, it’s all about location, location, location, according to TV presenter Kirsty Allsopp. The host of property programmes sparked a debate after posting on Twitter that it’s disgusting to keep washing machines in the kitchen. The comment came in response to a journalist’s comments about Americans finding the British habit of placing washing machines in the kitchen confusing. In many parts of Europe washing machines are kept in the bathroom. In the UK, most homes have washing machines built into the kitchen, or the utility room if they have one, partly because we don’t have electrical sockets in bathrooms.

If you’re building a new kitchen extension or remodelling your home and have the option, consider making space for a laundry room. Traditionally, it’s near the kitchen, convenient for hanging laundry to dry outside. But it could be upstairs. Dirty laundry is generated upstairs, in the form of clothes and bed linen, so the trip to the washing machine and tumble dryer is shorter. The ideal laundry room should minimise the number of steps between essential tasks, such as washing, drying, folding and ironing.

Assessing available space

What if you don’t have space for a dedicated laundry room at home? As critics of Allsopp’s controversial comment pointed out in smaller homes the “laundry room” is usually a washing machine within a compact kitchen. If you don’t have space for a laundry room, why not consider a laundry cupboard instead. Assess whether you have room in a kitchen, hall or landing. You might be surprised at the tiny spaces into which you can squeeze one.

DaFre large laundry room composition. Image supplied by Go Modern

DaFre offers a clever storage unit with a sink, washing machine/dryer, pullout ironing board, shelves, all neatly tucked behind tall doors, see above. It’s completely modular so you can add or remove units to suit your space. Plus, it’s designed for all rooms within a home. Designers at Husk are also creating invisible utility rooms using wardrobe units to hold stacked washing machines and dryer, cleaning appliances, shoes and more.

Another option is to pay a carpenter to build you a laundry cupboard with simple shelves around a washing machine and tumble dryer. There’s also plenty of excellent “off the shelf” storage. Check out Ikea’s ideas for a kitchen-laundry or a bathroom-laundry combo.

Layout and kit

Laundry appliances can be placed side by side for convenience or stacked on top of each other to save space. Some stacking kits are available with an integrated hanging rail or shelving for storing laundry pods and fabric softener.

A tall cupboard for the ironing board is useful so it doesn’t fall out every time you open the door.  If it’s big enough this cupboard may also accommodate a folding clothes airer and vacuum cleaner. There will also need to be plenty of cupboard space for cleaning products and to keep clutter – candles, vases, torches – neatly out of sight from the main social hub of the house, including the kitchen.

Think about how you will use the room. A countertop for folding laundry is handy as are built-in slots for laundry baskets – consider separate ones, each tagged for white, coloured and dark items to make sorting laundry quicker and less of a chore. Allocate enough space if you want to do the ironing in your laundry room and think about positioning and number of plug points.

Add a statement sink

Fisher & Paykel laundry. Photo credit Victoria Summers. 

Belfast sinks are incredibly popular in laundry rooms. They’re shallower but wider than their Butler sink cousins. Apart from their good looks, a large sink is practical for everything from handwashing clothes to soaking stains and from washing mud off wellies to flower arranging. Pair with matt black taps for a luxe look that won’t cost a small fortune. Consider a tap with an extendable nozzle which is helpful for washing muddy pets or simply rinsing out a large sink.

Laundry appliances

When it comes to washing machines, choose a drum size to match your needs. A single-person household may suit a 5kg drum while a 9kg drum may be right for a large family. Washing machines use an energy efficient label from A to G. Choose the most energy-efficient you can afford as that will save you money in the long-term. No-one wants a noisy washing machine disturbing their home life. Look for models with noise-reducing features such as vibration reduction technology or sound insulation panels that will keep your laundry room quiet while completing the wash cycle. John Lewis sells a range with a Quiet Mark certification.

Strictly speaking, a tumble dryer isn’t necessary if you have an outside washing line. As bills rise, the retro laundry maid, a drying rack that descends from the ceiling on a pulley, is making a comeback for air drying clothes. The rods can also serve as a temporary spot for freshly ironed garments. A pulley clothes airer from Cast In Style costs £65 to £130, depending on size. Pulley Maids offers a clothes airer which extends out from the wall for £95 (prices correct July 2023). Lakeland’s heated tower airer has lots of fans. But if you do buy a tumble dryer look for the most energy efficient with an energy label A+++

Stylish shelving

The most practical and perhaps smallest room in your home can still be stylish. In addition to storage for bigger items, consider some stylish solutions for small utility items like pegs and cleaning products. Wicker baskets are an attractive solution to cluttered utility room shelves. Lakeland and the Elfa range from Store also have ventilated shelving and baskets that can be customised to your needs.

Make the most of your laundry room’s vertical space by installing shelving cabinets or units that reach the ceiling. If you’re installing a new kitchen, perhaps the old units could be repurposed for your laundry room? Alternatively, there are plenty of low-cost options that don’t compromise on style. White Ikea Shaker style units look fresh and won’t break the bank.

Don’t scrimp on handles as they can give you pleasure every time you do the laundry. Check out the gorgeous brass ironmongery from Gipsy Hill, which starts at £29 for a brass knob.

Walls and floors

Decorate with specialist moisture-resistant paints to protect your laundry room from mould, such as Dulux Easycare Bathroom, £20 for 2.5 litres Homebase - prices correct July 2023. White tiles are also a practical choice for a room with high humidity levels. Incorporate light colours into the laundry room’s design to create a feeling of spaciousness and cleanliness.

Today having a kitchen is not enough. Potential buyers also want a laundry or utility room. As many homes are now open plan it makes sense to have a dedicated area for the washing machine and dryer so it can run without disturbing dinner or a late-night movie.