Smart Ideas You Have to Steal from the Most Popular Utility Rooms
Check out the top utility rooms on Houzz last year and be inspired by everything from style to storage
Victoria Harrison
19 January 2017
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Looking for utility room inspiration? The Best of Houzz 2017 results are in and the top utility room images make for fascinating viewing. From clever ideas for tiny spaces to inspirational country-style utility rooms to dream of, take a look at the winners below and get plenty of ideas for your own laundry space.
Be creative in a small space
If there’s one thing Houzzers are remarkably good at, it’s finding clever solutions to small space living. This ingenious utility room in a cupboard is a great example of how to squeeze a laundry area into a kitchen-diner.
The homeowners have had a cupboard custom-built to house the washing machine and dryer one above the other, with storage space at the top for detergent bottles. When opened up, it’s a practical washing area, but once the doors are closed, it’s completely hidden – perfect for a small space or open-plan kitchen.
If there’s one thing Houzzers are remarkably good at, it’s finding clever solutions to small space living. This ingenious utility room in a cupboard is a great example of how to squeeze a laundry area into a kitchen-diner.
The homeowners have had a cupboard custom-built to house the washing machine and dryer one above the other, with storage space at the top for detergent bottles. When opened up, it’s a practical washing area, but once the doors are closed, it’s completely hidden – perfect for a small space or open-plan kitchen.
Celebrate country style
When it comes to utility rooms, many of the most popular ones channelled elements of country style. There must be something about the space that suits wicker baskets, Shaker-style cupboards and solid, natural materials. This utility/boot room immediately conjures up thoughts of brisk countryside walks and sunny wash days.
The style would be easy to bring into an urban home, though; just introducing small elements, such as natural materials and wicker storage baskets, would give a clear nod to the style.
When it comes to utility rooms, many of the most popular ones channelled elements of country style. There must be something about the space that suits wicker baskets, Shaker-style cupboards and solid, natural materials. This utility/boot room immediately conjures up thoughts of brisk countryside walks and sunny wash days.
The style would be easy to bring into an urban home, though; just introducing small elements, such as natural materials and wicker storage baskets, would give a clear nod to the style.
Pack in plenty of storage
This small laundry room squeezes a lot into a compact space. The washing machine and dryer are tucked under a practical work surface, while shelves above provide plenty of space for baskets, cleaning materials and stacks of folded laundry.
Wall hooks on the right-hand side ensure large items, such as brooms and dusters, are stored away neatly, keeping as much floor space clear as possible. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards on the left, meanwhile, provide extra storage and keep visual clutter to a minimum.
View the 11 most popular kitchen photos and get design ideas
This small laundry room squeezes a lot into a compact space. The washing machine and dryer are tucked under a practical work surface, while shelves above provide plenty of space for baskets, cleaning materials and stacks of folded laundry.
Wall hooks on the right-hand side ensure large items, such as brooms and dusters, are stored away neatly, keeping as much floor space clear as possible. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards on the left, meanwhile, provide extra storage and keep visual clutter to a minimum.
View the 11 most popular kitchen photos and get design ideas
Create a sense of unity
This utility room is a lovely, calm space thanks to a simple colour palette of dove grey units, honey-coloured wood and warm-toned walls. By keeping the scheme simple and introducing plenty of storage, from wall cupboards to base units and large wicker laundry baskets, everything is tucked away and ordered.
Light-coloured wall shelves provide storage when required, and cleaning materials are neatly stored in dedicated baskets.
This utility room is a lovely, calm space thanks to a simple colour palette of dove grey units, honey-coloured wood and warm-toned walls. By keeping the scheme simple and introducing plenty of storage, from wall cupboards to base units and large wicker laundry baskets, everything is tucked away and ordered.
Light-coloured wall shelves provide storage when required, and cleaning materials are neatly stored in dedicated baskets.
Keep everything in its place
This compact laundry cupboard was another Best of Houzz winner and it’s a great example of a neatly ordered storage area. Two large laundry baskets stack up vertically to keep washing piles organised, while different-sized cubbyholes provide space for various bits of kit, from the vacuum cleaner to the iron.
A tall, slim space to the right provides a neat slot where the ironing board can be tucked out of sight, bringing order and tidiness to a busy laundry room.
This compact laundry cupboard was another Best of Houzz winner and it’s a great example of a neatly ordered storage area. Two large laundry baskets stack up vertically to keep washing piles organised, while different-sized cubbyholes provide space for various bits of kit, from the vacuum cleaner to the iron.
A tall, slim space to the right provides a neat slot where the ironing board can be tucked out of sight, bringing order and tidiness to a busy laundry room.
Hide machines with neat doors
While this utility room is rather larger than most, it clearly struck a chord with Houzzers. Bespoke cupboard doors like these are a simple way to hide a washing machine and tumble dryer, helping to bring a level of calm to a working space.
With all the cabinet doors closed, this would look just like a neat row of kitchen units, so it’s a design that would work brilliantly in an open-plan space, too.
See 10 more fresh ideas for utility rooms
While this utility room is rather larger than most, it clearly struck a chord with Houzzers. Bespoke cupboard doors like these are a simple way to hide a washing machine and tumble dryer, helping to bring a level of calm to a working space.
With all the cabinet doors closed, this would look just like a neat row of kitchen units, so it’s a design that would work brilliantly in an open-plan space, too.
See 10 more fresh ideas for utility rooms
Hang a long rail
This contemporary utility room in Oxfordshire was also popular with Houzzers and more than 5,000 of you saved this photo to your ideabooks.
The sleek floor-to-ceiling cupboards and built-in washing machine and dryer ensure the space is calm and uncluttered, and the rail above the sink area is a useful place to hang freshly ironed clothes.
What do you think of these utility room designs? Tell us in the Comments below.
This contemporary utility room in Oxfordshire was also popular with Houzzers and more than 5,000 of you saved this photo to your ideabooks.
The sleek floor-to-ceiling cupboards and built-in washing machine and dryer ensure the space is calm and uncluttered, and the rail above the sink area is a useful place to hang freshly ironed clothes.
What do you think of these utility room designs? Tell us in the Comments below.
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Some lovely looking utility rooms. When we do a utility room for a client our top three must haves are 1) a dryer staked on top of the washing machine - enabling quick transfer from one to other without having to work around doors.2) a hanging rail over a sink for drying clothes that can't go in the tumble dryer and 3) baskets with a name tag for each family member so that clean and ironed clothes can be sorted and delivered to the correct bedroom.
Great feature reflecting what many of our customers are looking for: ways to hide away their 'stuff' so it doesn't clutter up their space. We have built-in laundry bins which fit 450, 500 or 600mm cabinets and house large baskets with handles so you can go up to the bedroom or bathroom, bring down the laundry and hide it away until it's time to do the washing. Great for the utility room or kitchen, particularly in open plan or compact spaces.
We have similar built-in bins as above - don't know what it says about our laundry schedule but we found they weren't big enough for our needs. Very nice to have dirty clothes hidden away thiugh. One 'must have' for me has been a flat surface for drying sweaters etc which can't be hung.