Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Utility Room
Discover how to plan a super-functional utility space without blowing your budget
A well-designed utility room can work as a home’s control centre where everyday household essentials are washed, cleaned and stored away out of sight. But what exactly should you incorporate when it comes to planning the ultimate space?
We got the lowdown from four interior designers about the must-have features to include to get the best from the room, and where it’s possible to claw back some pennies with clever design hacks. “A utility room is often purely a functional space with a closed door to the rest of the house, but there are still ways of keeping things chic and in-keeping with your home,” Zoe Willis says.
Professional advice from: Zoe Willis of Zoe Willis Design; Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors; Julia Yong of York House Designs; Tim Higham of Higham Furniture
More in this series: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen I Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Bedroom l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
We got the lowdown from four interior designers about the must-have features to include to get the best from the room, and where it’s possible to claw back some pennies with clever design hacks. “A utility room is often purely a functional space with a closed door to the rest of the house, but there are still ways of keeping things chic and in-keeping with your home,” Zoe Willis says.
Professional advice from: Zoe Willis of Zoe Willis Design; Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors; Julia Yong of York House Designs; Tim Higham of Higham Furniture
More in this series: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen I Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Bedroom l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
Save on: Cabinetry
Well-planned storage is essential in a utility room to ensure the busy area remains orderly and functional, but this doesn’t have to mean fitting bespoke cabinetry. Off-the-shelf units will do the trick, Zoe Willis says.
“Consider fitting low-cost carcasses and have your builder make some doors that are in keeping with the kitchen cabinets. Then you can have fun painting the cabinets a bold colour, as, after all, it’s a hidden room for boring jobs,” she says.
Savings can also be made by swapping cupboard doors for curtains, as in this Georgian townhouse designed by Emilie, where gingham cabinet skirts conceal the appliances and cleaning products.
You can also claw back the pennies by adding open shelves instead of wall cupboards, offering the opportunity to create a country feel with wicker baskets to hide away clutter. “In my own home, I have a simple grid system on the wall made from scaffold poles and painted MDF shelves, with baskets that keep the clutter hidden, but everything is accessible,” Zoe says.
Well-planned storage is essential in a utility room to ensure the busy area remains orderly and functional, but this doesn’t have to mean fitting bespoke cabinetry. Off-the-shelf units will do the trick, Zoe Willis says.
“Consider fitting low-cost carcasses and have your builder make some doors that are in keeping with the kitchen cabinets. Then you can have fun painting the cabinets a bold colour, as, after all, it’s a hidden room for boring jobs,” she says.
Savings can also be made by swapping cupboard doors for curtains, as in this Georgian townhouse designed by Emilie, where gingham cabinet skirts conceal the appliances and cleaning products.
You can also claw back the pennies by adding open shelves instead of wall cupboards, offering the opportunity to create a country feel with wicker baskets to hide away clutter. “In my own home, I have a simple grid system on the wall made from scaffold poles and painted MDF shelves, with baskets that keep the clutter hidden, but everything is accessible,” Zoe says.
Spend on: Worktops
The surfaces in a utility room need to be just as robust and hard-wearing as those in the kitchen, and arguably more so in order to withstand the messes, spills and hard graft that takes place in this back-of-house space. Think of all that football boot washing and barbecue utensil cleaning.
“We recommend the same worktop material is used for both the kitchen and the utility space,” Tim Higham says. “Not only does this mean a consistent aesthetic, it can also be a cost-saving solution, as all the pieces will be fabricated at the same time.”
Planning to revamp a room – or more? It’s easy to find and hire interior designers through Houzz.
The surfaces in a utility room need to be just as robust and hard-wearing as those in the kitchen, and arguably more so in order to withstand the messes, spills and hard graft that takes place in this back-of-house space. Think of all that football boot washing and barbecue utensil cleaning.
“We recommend the same worktop material is used for both the kitchen and the utility space,” Tim Higham says. “Not only does this mean a consistent aesthetic, it can also be a cost-saving solution, as all the pieces will be fabricated at the same time.”
Planning to revamp a room – or more? It’s easy to find and hire interior designers through Houzz.
Save on: Sinks
While farmhouse-style ceramic sinks are appealing for their rustic charm, they do come with a hefty price tag, so consider forgoing the Darling Buds of May look in here and opt for a money-saving alternative.
“Utility room sinks are often undermounted to save space, so they don’t need to be super-stylish,” Julia says. “They’re also likely to get scratched by football boots or covered in paint from cleaning brushes, so save here.”
“Practicality over luxury is the key,” Emilie says. “Favour stainless-steel or composite sinks, which will be cheaper than a stone or ceramic design. They will also be more durable and can sustain anything you can throw at them.”
While farmhouse-style ceramic sinks are appealing for their rustic charm, they do come with a hefty price tag, so consider forgoing the Darling Buds of May look in here and opt for a money-saving alternative.
“Utility room sinks are often undermounted to save space, so they don’t need to be super-stylish,” Julia says. “They’re also likely to get scratched by football boots or covered in paint from cleaning brushes, so save here.”
“Practicality over luxury is the key,” Emilie says. “Favour stainless-steel or composite sinks, which will be cheaper than a stone or ceramic design. They will also be more durable and can sustain anything you can throw at them.”
Spend on: Good-quality taps
“Cheap taps are a false economy, especially in such a hard-working space,” Emilie says. “It’s really worth spending the most you can afford on some good-quality taps in order to avoid costly repairs and replacement in a few years’ time when they leak or break.”
Tim also believes buying a durable tap from an established premium brand is a key priority. “This is because they should perform better and will be guaranteed to last longer than cheaper versions, particularly if you opt for a tap with more moving parts, such as one with a super-useful spray hose,” he says.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
“Cheap taps are a false economy, especially in such a hard-working space,” Emilie says. “It’s really worth spending the most you can afford on some good-quality taps in order to avoid costly repairs and replacement in a few years’ time when they leak or break.”
Tim also believes buying a durable tap from an established premium brand is a key priority. “This is because they should perform better and will be guaranteed to last longer than cheaper versions, particularly if you opt for a tap with more moving parts, such as one with a super-useful spray hose,” he says.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Save on: Wall and floor finishes
It’s all about durability and practicality in a utility room, so avoid expensive tiles, Emilie warns. “Don’t even think about cement or terracotta tiles, which are porous and will need to be sealed regularly, as they stain easily. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are cheaper, easy to clean, and require no – or very little – maintenance.”
“Unlike a bathroom, a utility room needs minimal tiling,” Julia adds. “So as long as you have a sink splashback of some sort, you can paint everywhere else.”
“We always use washable paints in a utility room, either on the walls or on tongue-and-groove panelling, which saves on the cost of having tiles, and makes the utility room look more attractive and less clinical,” Tim says.
Tell us…
What have you spent and saved on in your utility room? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
It’s all about durability and practicality in a utility room, so avoid expensive tiles, Emilie warns. “Don’t even think about cement or terracotta tiles, which are porous and will need to be sealed regularly, as they stain easily. Porcelain or ceramic tiles are cheaper, easy to clean, and require no – or very little – maintenance.”
“Unlike a bathroom, a utility room needs minimal tiling,” Julia adds. “So as long as you have a sink splashback of some sort, you can paint everywhere else.”
“We always use washable paints in a utility room, either on the walls or on tongue-and-groove panelling, which saves on the cost of having tiles, and makes the utility room look more attractive and less clinical,” Tim says.
Tell us…
What have you spent and saved on in your utility room? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
A utility room is the workhorse of the house, the place where the laundry gets done, the sports kit gets discarded and the ugly cleaning supplies get tucked away. But predominately, they are designed to house arguably the most important appliances of the home – the washing and drying machines.
“These appliances will be working hard and need to go the distance, so it’s vital to invest in a reputable brand with a good warranty,” Emilie Fournet says.
Julia Yong agrees that you should invest in good-quality appliances with a long guarantee. “You don’t want to be changing these heavy, awkward appliances on a regular basis, so buying well first time is good practice,” she says. “However, be mindful of fancy models that offer extras, such as WiFi, at a premium. We’ve found that, in reality, our clients rarely use these additional features they’ve paid for.”
Julia goes on to offer an excellent tip if your budget can stretch to it. “If space isn’t at a premium, I highly recommend investing in a hard-working laundry drying solution.” She suggests a drying rack that can be folded away within the wall and then pulled out when needed. “They’re a game-changer for busy households,” she says.
More: Common Utility Room Mistakes and How to Avoid Them