I Have to Walk Through the Kitchen and Laundry Room to Get to the Family Room

Designing a utility room (whatever the size) when you're planning your kitchen or adding a kitchen extension makes sense. Take a look at our utility room ideas to get a experience for what's achievable in your abode.

It's quickly condign a standard requirement in a modernistic home, and then volition non only make your life a whole lot easier but volition add value to your house too.

Experts at Estate Agents, Little Son and Prestwich, explicate, 'Utility rooms pay back their price pretty quickly in terms of their practicality and usefulness.'

'There's too the fact that prospective buyers will notice them useful, too, then adding a utility room will come up with the added bonus of increasing your property's overall value.'

'Many buyers see their inclusion in a property's clarification as beneficial, so even if you break even on toll you'll likely attract more potential buyers to your home when you want to sell.'

And so if you need some guidance on where to starting time when adding a utility room just continue reading because nosotros've covered it all here, from the early planning stages to how to work in plenty of storage...

• Haven't much square footage to play with? Take a look through our pocket-sized utility room ideas for more than inspo.

(Image credit: Jeremy phillips )

Why make space for a utility room?

As long as designing a utility room for your home doesn't compromise your kitchen or bathroom too much, doing so should add value – and if not, desirability – to your domicile.

'I'grand increasingly asked to create designs for open-plan kitchen-diners, including a divide area as a utility, and so much so that it is now unusual if ane is not part of a kitchen redesign,' says Melanie Clear, founder and director of Clear Architects.

If yous too are looking for more tips on designing an open plan kitchen, have a read of our guide.

With an ever-increasing number of appliances and gadgets in our kitchens, having a separate space to store them, as well as somewhere to carry out tasks such every bit the laundry, makes sense,' says Matthew Franklin, senior chartered builder at etc Design Ltd.

'Utility rooms are at present ofttimes seen every bit an essential element for a modern family domicile.'

• Need more advice on designing your kitchen too? Bank check out our kitchen ideas gallery for enough of lovely ideas.

Utility room by Martin Moore

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

How much does it cost to add a utility room?

In terms of cost, calculation a new utility room, either as part of a kitchen extension or redesign, is very much like adding a small kitchen.

You lot will need to consider the aforementioned things, such as redirecting and moving services like h2o, gas and electric, while also thinking about utility room storage worktops and lighting.

If you are plumbing equipment out a utility room to match the kitchen, await to pay from £2,000, including plumbing and wiring.

Alternatively, a local joiner could fit out the space on a budget and incorporate appliances and white goods that you already own.

A cheaper and more than flexible solution would be to buy freestanding or flat-pack furniture and fit the units yourself (observe out how in our guide to fitting a kitchen) for but a few hundred pounds.

That fashion the space can be reorganised and adjusted to suit changes in your lifestyle.

Consider how you'll use the utility room

When planning and designing a utility room, first, consider what yous need from your space.

Natasha Brinsmead from Homebuilding and Renovating explains more:

'To begin, you will need to make sure yous take a hot and cold water supply and waste for the sink and washing auto.'

'You likewise demand to bear in heed that if yous have a vented tumble dryer yous will need somewhere for it to vent to.'

'If you do not have windows to the outside, plan in an extractor to reduce wet when air-drying dress, too.'

This will allow you to plan both its size, if you lot're extending or moving internal walls, and to determine which fittings you lot'll need within information technology.

Here are a few things to consider for your utility room design:

• Is it a place for a washing machine and tumble dryer?
• Do you lot need an ironing space and a laundry chute from the first floor.
• Do you need laundry storage ideas included in your design?
• Do you intend to free upwardly space in your kitchen by having a fridge, prep sink, worktops and storage?
• Will you be creating larder storage within your utility room?
• Do you lot demand a large utility room sink for washing a muddy dog, boots or sports gear?
• Does it need to incorporate room for bike storage?

Larder storage in a utility room by Ikea

(Image credit: Ikea)

Where to put your utility room

Where volition your utility room be best placed?

'The location will be driven by your requirements,' says architect Matthew Franklin.

'You won't want a utility space spoiling a view to the garden, for example, but you might like it to accept an entrance to your garden, which means your utility will need to be on an external wall.'

'It makes sense to have your utility every bit shut to the kitchen as possible, equally it is more convenient and less expensive for the utilities to be connected, merely at that place is no hard and fast rule.' adds Jamie Telford, director at Roundhouse.

Some other selection is to have a utility room near or within a large bath if laundry space is to be its primary role.

(Prototype credit: Cue & Co)

If you are extending a house, always think well-nigh your utility room equally subordinate to the kitchen.

Designing a well thought-out kitchen will always add more than value to your dwelling house than a utility room.

Alternatively, think exterior the box:

• Could you incorporate the appliances from your utility room into your new kitchen pattern (run into beneath)?
• Could you wall off a portion of the garage to fit your washer, dryer and a fridge?
• Do you have space in the garden for a shed or garden room that could exist used equally an external utility room? Nosotros take plenty of garden room ideas that could become you inspired.

Laundry cupboard in a kitchen, by Cue & Co of London

(Image credit: Cue & Co)

Creating space for a utility room

The prime space for a utility room is i that is under-used, has go overflow storage or is total of clutter.

Be artistic, even the smallest nooks could exist used to costless up useful space in your kitchen.

• If the under stair cupboard is used as a dumping ground, mensurate it up and consider stacking your washing machine and dryer to create a small utility room (notice tons of under stair storage ideas in our characteristic).
• Consider installing a worktop in a storage cupboard. If there is potential to add together plug sockets, you could free upward kitchen worktop infinite past moving appliances.

This bespoke under stair utility closet is by De Rosee Sa Architects

(Image credit: De Rosee Sa/Alex James Photography)

What to include in a utility room

What you choose to include in your utility room design is essentially down to how yous want to utilize the space, we've covered enough of options below:

ane. Creating a food-prep area in a utility room

• Worktops
• A sink
• Dishwasher
• Fridge-freezer
• Pantry and larder storage

You could besides relocate your small appliances, like the toaster, microwave and annihilation else that eats up worktop space.

(Paradigm credit: Garden Trading )

Creating a laundry or utility room

• Save room with a washer/dryer or stack your tumble dryer over your washing car.
• Swap out a tumble dryer for a smaller and cheaper-to-run dehumidifier.
• A deep sink will exist useful for soaking clothes and washing muddy boots (or pets).
• Lots of versatile laundry storage ideas.
• Cupboards invaluable for hiding away cleaning products.
• Alpine cupboards can hide mops, brushes, an ironing board and the vacuum cleaner.
• If at that place'southward no wall infinite for drying racks, consider a pulley-way ceiling-hung design.
• An extractor fan will lessen the effects of condensation.
• Underfloor heating will help dry out your washing without taking up wall infinite.

• Store for the best washer dryer to save space and allow for easy and efficient laundry in our expert guide.

Laundry room by Ikea

(Image credit: Ikea)

Utility spaces should be uncluttered, functional rooms, with easy-to-make clean worktops and equally much storage space as is possible.

If there is plenty infinite, a spot for ironing, an open closet with hanging space, and shelves for freshly laundered clothes, are all very useful.

• From practical laminate to stylish solid forest, marble and more options, we tin can help you consider all the best worktops available.

Pembroke Shelving from Neptune used in a boot room

(Image credit: Neptune)

Combine a utility room and a kick room

You needn't make lots of space for a boot room to combine it with a utility room.

Utilise our guide to designing a boot room to observe out all the essentials and see our boot room pattern ideas for inspiration, simply look to include:

• Storage options for shoes and boots and outdoor article of clothing.
• Hooks and drying infinite for damp coats.
• Benches to sit on while taking off muddy walking boots.
• If you have dogs, a small shower for hosing down is a popular addition.

(Epitome credit: Schuller)

Choosing the best utility room cupboards

'If the utility room is continued to the kitchen, information technology makes sense to go along to utilise the same style of cabinetry as it volition enhance the feeling of space and visual continuity,' says Jamie Telford, director at Roundhouse.

'Consider the practicality of the worktops and the internal layout of the cupboards – you may need shelf infinite for upright vacuum cleaners, mops and brushes, for instance, as these need to be housed in tall cupboards.'

'Focus on practical, wipe-make clean units, with a mix of open and airtight full-acme storage that is, ideally, tiered for like shooting fish in a barrel achieve for all the family.'

Utility rooms may not have natural light, so combining a well-lit room with a neutral or light reflecting unit of measurement will help give a spacious feel.

'Y'all may also wish to consider choosing handle-less styles with integrated appliances for smaller utility spaces to give a seamless expect.'

• Accept a look at these all-time integrated washing machines which could save you lot space, and coin.

Whether you lot're adding a utility equally part of an extension or you're converting an existing area of your property, information technology'southward easier and more toll effective to build information technology near to already existed drainage and ventilation.

Yous'll likewise need to remember about redirecting heating, water supply, electrics and don't forget aplenty power points for all your appliances.

• Good drainage: Ensure in that location are sufficient links to the mains and speak to a plumber to assess the cost of relocating pipes.
• Natural calorie-free: Locate the room where in that location's access to the exterior and a window for ventilation. Consider glazed doors or rooflights, likewise.
• A applied layout: Think virtually the items you wish to store in the utility and ensure cupboards are big plenty to accommodate. Effort integrating appliances behind doors for a streamlined wait.
• A robust worktop and flooring: Invest in hardwearing utility room flooring to withstand article of clothing and tear and heavy duty worktops, especially if the infinite is to be used for nutrient preparation, also as household tasks.

This utility room, designed by Neptune , is small but applied

(Image credit: Neptune)

Whatsoever your intentions for the space, the utility will quickly become the overflow room, and so allow for more storage at planning stage than you think you'll need.

Open shelves are the most efficient selection, but tall, floor-to-ceiling cupboards with sliding doors are platonic for small spaces that you desire to expect neat, providing hanging space for coats, shelving for outdoor items or bins for recycling.

Discover tons of storage ideas and buys on our dedicated hub page.

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Source: https://www.realhomes.com/design/planning-and-designing-a-utility-room

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