4 Cheerfully Designed Utility Rooms
Designers share how they used colour to bring joy to an otherwise functional space
Let’s face it, there aren’t many of us who look forward to doing a load of laundry or ironing some shirts, but a dedicated room for such tasks can certainly make them more palatable. If you’re lucky enough to have a utility room, you could even make more of it and turn it into a space that fills you with joy as soon as you walk in.
We’ve spotted some gorgeous utility rooms on Houzz this week and asked the designers to fill us in on how they achieved such lovely results.
We’ve spotted some gorgeous utility rooms on Houzz this week and asked the designers to fill us in on how they achieved such lovely results.
2. Go for green hues for a calm, inviting feel
Designer: Jo Llogarajah of Studio JKL
Location: London
Homeowner’s request: “The owners asked for a functional and aesthetically pleasing utility room that maximises storage and efficiency while maintaining a cheerful and inviting atmosphere,” Jo says.
Jo used Houzz Pro software for the project to create a budget proposal. “This allowed the homeowners to maintain control of the overall project cost, ensuring that all design choices met their expectations, needs and budget,” she says.
Why did you go for this colour scheme? “The colour palette features a soft sage green for the cabinets, which creates a calm and fresh look, perfectly suited for a utility room,” Jo says. “This shade was chosen for its soothing qualities and ability to brighten up the space.”
Other features: “The natural wood worktops add warmth and a touch of rustic charm, balancing the modern appliances and clean lines of the cabinetry,” Jo says. “The open shelving with decorative items adds a personal touch and makes the space feel more welcoming. We try to repurpose materials where possible, which can also help save costs. In this design, we reused the solid wood worktop from the kitchen, which was being replaced, as the worktop and shelves in here.”
Designer tip: “To create a cheerful utility room, incorporate bright and uplifting colours, utilise natural light, and add personal touches through decor,” Jo recommends. “Opt for open shelving to display attractive items, such as potted plants or colourful storage bins. Functional yet stylish lighting fixtures can also make a big difference, making the room feel more open and inviting.”
Designer: Jo Llogarajah of Studio JKL
Location: London
Homeowner’s request: “The owners asked for a functional and aesthetically pleasing utility room that maximises storage and efficiency while maintaining a cheerful and inviting atmosphere,” Jo says.
Jo used Houzz Pro software for the project to create a budget proposal. “This allowed the homeowners to maintain control of the overall project cost, ensuring that all design choices met their expectations, needs and budget,” she says.
Why did you go for this colour scheme? “The colour palette features a soft sage green for the cabinets, which creates a calm and fresh look, perfectly suited for a utility room,” Jo says. “This shade was chosen for its soothing qualities and ability to brighten up the space.”
Other features: “The natural wood worktops add warmth and a touch of rustic charm, balancing the modern appliances and clean lines of the cabinetry,” Jo says. “The open shelving with decorative items adds a personal touch and makes the space feel more welcoming. We try to repurpose materials where possible, which can also help save costs. In this design, we reused the solid wood worktop from the kitchen, which was being replaced, as the worktop and shelves in here.”
Designer tip: “To create a cheerful utility room, incorporate bright and uplifting colours, utilise natural light, and add personal touches through decor,” Jo recommends. “Opt for open shelving to display attractive items, such as potted plants or colourful storage bins. Functional yet stylish lighting fixtures can also make a big difference, making the room feel more open and inviting.”
3. Add warmth to the utilitarian space with earthy tones
Designer: Codi Rodrigues of The Code Design Studio
Location: Surrey
Homeowner’s request: “The client wanted a utility space that was functional but equally beautiful,” Codi says. “It’s also used as a boot room, with side passage access, so it has plenty of storage and seating for their two kids.”
Why did you go for this colour scheme? “This colour is one of my favourites – Nether Red by Little Greene – because of its earthy roots,” Codi says. “It’s joy-evoking and something completely different to the utility/boot rooms you typically see in neutrals, greens or blues. I loved using this colour in this space for its uniqueness.”
Designer tip: “My tip for creating a cheerful utility room is to make the effort to think outside the box and deliver something that isn’t the standard space,” Codi says. “Consider [who will be using it], push the boundaries, be unique.”
Designer: Codi Rodrigues of The Code Design Studio
Location: Surrey
Homeowner’s request: “The client wanted a utility space that was functional but equally beautiful,” Codi says. “It’s also used as a boot room, with side passage access, so it has plenty of storage and seating for their two kids.”
Why did you go for this colour scheme? “This colour is one of my favourites – Nether Red by Little Greene – because of its earthy roots,” Codi says. “It’s joy-evoking and something completely different to the utility/boot rooms you typically see in neutrals, greens or blues. I loved using this colour in this space for its uniqueness.”
Designer tip: “My tip for creating a cheerful utility room is to make the effort to think outside the box and deliver something that isn’t the standard space,” Codi says. “Consider [who will be using it], push the boundaries, be unique.”
4. Take inspiration from art and accessories
Designer: Chi-Chi Baber of Lomax & Chi
Location: West London
Homeowner’s request: “They wanted a fun and vibrant utility space they would enjoy using,” Chi-Chi says. “They wanted it to be a feature in the house rather than merely a functional space.”
What inspired the scheme in this room? “The clients love the artwork of Joao Incerti [on the wall above the worktop],” Chi-Chi says, “so we used these as inspiration for the colours and pattern.”
Designer tip: “Be bold and have fun, push yourself beyond your comfort zone,” Chi-Chi advises. “It’s a room that guests don’t see, so make it your own.”
Tell us…
Have any of these designs triggered ideas for your own utility space? Or have you already gone for a bold scheme? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
Designer: Chi-Chi Baber of Lomax & Chi
Location: West London
Homeowner’s request: “They wanted a fun and vibrant utility space they would enjoy using,” Chi-Chi says. “They wanted it to be a feature in the house rather than merely a functional space.”
What inspired the scheme in this room? “The clients love the artwork of Joao Incerti [on the wall above the worktop],” Chi-Chi says, “so we used these as inspiration for the colours and pattern.”
Designer tip: “Be bold and have fun, push yourself beyond your comfort zone,” Chi-Chi advises. “It’s a room that guests don’t see, so make it your own.”
Tell us…
Have any of these designs triggered ideas for your own utility space? Or have you already gone for a bold scheme? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
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Designer: Krystyna Martin-Dominguez of K Space Interiors
Location: South London
Homeowner’s request: “This is a very small utility room with no windows,” Krystyna says. “You come to it straight from the very large entrance room, so it was important that when you opened the door to the laundry room, it looked nice.”
Why did you opt for bright yellow cabinets with terracotta tiles? “It’s a colour that made my client happy,” Krystyna says. “It’s modern and simple with a midcentury twist, and it went well with the terrazzo floor from Mosaic Factory.
“For a harmonious look, I used the same tiles as in the main entrance, and the bright fronts were to brighten up the space in an otherwise quite sophisticated house,” she says.
Designer tip: “I often ask my clients to not hold back and let me know what their favourite colour is,” Krystyna says. “Then I use the colour in less expected spaces, such as inside the wardrobes or in small rooms like the laundry or cloakroom. It’s important the colour goes with the overall scheme, so we play with the shade or tone.”
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