DESIGN IDEAS: 8 PLACES TO POSITION A UTILITY ROOM
1 CONVERTING A GARAGE
Converting an integral garage is a smart option, as it allows you to maximise your home’s existing square footage without sacrificing any living space. Going down this route also means you’ll be able to carry out the required building work without huge disruption to the rest of the house.
Of course, it is possible that you will need to knock down or reposition internal walls to maximise space, so it makes good sense to carry out the conversion as part of a larger ground floor remodel. That way, you can re-jig the layout to create a setup that complements your day-to-day routine, ensuring the entire floorplan benefits from plenty of natural light.
Ideally, your utility room should be positioned on the exterior wall of the house with its own external door — another reason why the garage is an ideal candidate for conversion. This way, your laundry room can double up as a handy to space to store coats and muddy boots, well away from the property’s main reception areas.
2 PARTITIONING OFF SPACE IN THE KITCHEN
If your kitchen is large enough, you can build a stud wall to partition off a utility zone. Then by shifting some appliances and cleaning storage cupboards into the laundry area, you can open up the remaining kitchen space for cooking and entertaining. Building walls is cheaper than removing them, so this solution is often perfect for tight budgets. Plus, placing your utility next to your kitchen is logical in terms of plumbing, as you’ll be able to connect into the same outlets.
“In terms of access from the kitchen, it sounds obvious, but consider the door opening into the laundry area,” says Rhian Williams, senior kitchen designer at Harvey Jones. “Will it impede activity in either working space? Would it improve access and ergonomics to swap the hinge on the door to the other side?”
3 CONVERTING AN OUTBUILDING
Like a garage conversion, transforming an old outdoor WC or storage building into a utility room means you can maximise your home’s existing square footage without eating into precious living space. Depending on the structure’s original function, it’s possible that it’ll need to be connected to utilities. The closer the outbuilding is to the main dwelling, the less it will cost to link it up to plumbing and electrics.
4 PUTTING UPSTAIRS SPACES TO WORK
An airing cupboard, nook on a landing or large closet on the upper floors of your house could be a strong contender for a utility area. “If the zone will predominantly be used for laundry, we recommend siting it near the bedrooms and dressing rooms,” says Richard Moore, design director at Martin Moore Kitchens. This will save you carrying loads of dirty washing downstairs only to carry them back upstairs after they’ve
been washed and ironed. “If this isn’t possible, and your laundry room is positioned next to the kitchen, you could incorporate a chute to whisk laundry down without having to carry it through the kitchen itself,” says Richard.
5 REPURPOSING A PANTRY
If space is tight, incorporating a utility room by transforming your pantry into one may be the most logical and cost-effective option. As with the kitchen partition route, this has the advantage that the washing machine and utility sink can be connected to existing soil pipes in the kitchen.
6 CONVERTING A BASEMENT OR CELLAR
Many period properties come with subterranean spaces that are ripe for conversion. As long as only internal works such as waterproofing and redecorating are required, creating your new utility room at basement level could be straightforward option. Typically, the main stumbling block for converting a cellar is ceiling height, as you’ll need a minimum clearance of 2m. If any excavation and structural works are needed, you could be looking at a bigger budget project altogether.
7 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A DOWNSTAIRS WC
Repurposing a WC provides another logical way of incorporating a utility room into your floorplan while making use of existing plumbing connections. Another benefit of converting a downstairs bathroom is that the space will already be well-ventilated, an essential feature if you’re looking to use your utility room as a place to hang up damp clothes to dry.
Alternatively, space-saving design strategies might allow you to have your cake and eat it by making the most of every nook and cranny. “Most of the time, if you install a WC under the stairs you’ll be able to create a slot of space behind the cistern and add a washing machine, a dryer, or both” says Enrico Trolese, architect and director at CGT Works. “Or, if you have an existing ground floor bathroom with a bathtub, you can convert it into a shower and use the remaining footprint for a cupboard to contain your laundry appliances.”
8 GOING ALL-IN ON A LAYOUT CHANGE
If you’re tackling a remodel, whether on the ground floor or the upper levels of your house, consider incorporating a utility room in the process.
A good designer will be able to help you identify spaces that could be sectioned off to provide a utility area, either in a large open-plan kitchen or even in an area that previously hosted a large storage cupboard or pantry. Remember, if your project involves knocking down any walls, check whether they are loadbearing before charging ahead.