How to design a utility room

21 November 2023

Did you know that we also design and install utility rooms for our clients? In this article, we’ll look at some key questions to consider if you’d like to create or refurbish a utility space at the same time as your new kitchen. All the utility rooms featured in this article are from recently completed projects in St Albans.

Designing a utility room when you’re redesigning your kitchen is a good opportunity to ensure harmony of design and function between both. These much-used spaces often serve as extensions to the kitchen and if you’re already having building works carried out, it makes sense to factor in the creation, expansion or re-shaping of a utility space at the same time.

There are a number of questions you should consider which our designers can guide you through, listening carefully to your needs and creating a beautiful and practical space that fits your lifestyle. But to start with, here are some basic questions that you should ask yourself if you’re setting out to design a utility room for your home.

1. What is its purpose?

What space do you have? Or, what space do you need, in order to fit everything that you deem ‘essential’ into your utility space? At this point, you should decide whether your utility room is also going to be a space for laundry and/or coats, boots and a larder. Consider which of the following you’d ideally like to incorporate:

washing machine and tumble-dryer
ironing space
laundry chute from another floor
sink
drying rack
bike, laundry or recycling storage
fridge, worktops or larger storage units

2. Where will it be?

Will it be adjacent to the kitchen and if so, where? Do you want it to have a garden entrance/exit? It usually makes sense to have your utility room as close to the kitchen as possible, as its more convenient for utilities to be connected and they can be designed tactically to free up space in the kitchen by housing a fridge, prep sinks, worktops and storage.

A well-designed utility room could also bridge the gap between indoors and out, preventing dirt from entering the kitchen and main living areas.

3. What colour scheme do you want?

A utility room is often a space that guests don’t see, and it can provide extra storage for miscellaneous items that would otherwise clutter the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look stylish! Consider the colour scheme of your kitchen to create a seamless extension, maintaining the same kind of furniture (e.g. shaker style or handleless) but also think about how you could add a touch of personality.

In Homewood Road, St Albans (right), our client made the utility space stand out in its own way by choosing a beautiful, tiled floor that still complemented the colour scheme of the kitchen.

Some utility rooms in action:

1. Faircross Way, St Albans

For this home, we designed a utility room close to the kitchen plus a laundry room (pictured on left) and bespoke bedroom wardrobes upstairs. The compact laundry room is designed to maximise functionality and efficiency. The washing machine and tumble-dryer are conveniently stacked, allowing for easy transition between the two. The sink is surrounded by enough surface area for washing delicates and folding clean clothes. For added convenience, a heated airer is tucked neatly around the corner, providing a dedicated space for clothes to try.

2. Laburnum Grove, St Albans

Located behind the island is the utility, working as an extension of the kitchen and offering ample work surface space for mixers, blenders and other appliances to be out on the worktop and ready to use. Whilst there is plenty of space for appliances on the counters, there is also more than enough space for a washing machine, tumble-dryer and tall unit for mops and brooms.

3. Longacres, St Albans

It is hard to visualise that this room originally only had a couple of sockets, a desk and a computer! Now, it has been transformed into a multi-purpose utility room for our clients which involved careful and clever design. This smart and practical layout ensures that all the essentials of a laundry room are harmoniously integrated within a small space.

For more kitchen and utility room design inspiration, browse our Gallery of recently completed kitchens in St Albans, Harpenden, Radlett, Watford and beyond.

Otherwise you can pop into our St Albans showroom to view a wide range of traditional and modern working displays or give us a call on 01727 810 007.