Small utility room ideas

Maximise storage space and the functionality of your utility room with these small laundry room ideas.

A space in your home dedicated to keeping it clean and tidy is a luxury, even if it's a small one. We've got lots of tips to help you make the most out of your small utility room, including utility room storage ideas perfect for a modern laundry room.

If you're looking into a utility room extension, take a look at our cost guide here.

1. Stack appliances

Use the most out of the vertical space in your small utility room and stack your washing machine or tumble dryer on top of each other. This will save on floor space and creates a seamless design.

2. Open shelving

Instead of cluttering your wall space with bulky wall units, opt for open shelving instead.

This will keep your small utility room feeling bright and airy but still allows you lots of storage space for all of your laundry room accessories.

3. Baskets for storage

Baskets are a fantastic storage solution, especially for utility rooms. You can use them to store cleaning products, towels or any other accessories you may want to store.

Get baskets that you can neatly stack to make the most of the space.

4. Overhead clothes airer

An overhead clothes airer, otherwise known as a 'ceiling pulley,' is a brilliant solution to drying your clothes in a small space to avoid damp.

You simply hang it from your ceiling, and it has a pull cord, which means you can lower it. This means you can dry all of your clothes without using up any of your floor space.

5. Light and bright

Keeping a small utility room light and bright is important for making it appear bigger than it actually is.

Utilise as much natural light as possible. You can even hang a mirror so it will bounce the natural light around the room. Alternatively, install lots of artificial lighting to mimic this.

6. Labelled containers

Use a label maker to personalise your own storage jars and containers.

Decant your detergent and other cleaning supplies into attractive glass jars to keep your utility room looking effortlessly stylish.

7. Integrated appliances

If you don't want your washing machine and tumbler dryer on show, you can get them integrated so they look like they seamlessly fit into your utility room design.

This means that they will sit flush behind a door and will look like a regular cupboard. This is ideal for a small utility room as it looks tidy and uncluttered.

If you've got appliances that need fixing, take a look at our cost guide here.

8. Cleaning caddy

An affordable way of keeping your supplies neat and tidy is with a moveable cleaning caddy. You can pick one up from most DIY stores, and they are ideal for moving around the house if and when needed.

Check out our house cleaning cost guide here.

9. Handleless design

Keep your utility room design fuss-free with handleless cupboards. This clever trick is to make the room feel less busy and cluttered.

10. Add plants

Introducing plants to any space is always a good idea! They are an excellent accessory for bringing life and colour into your room. You don't want to fill your utility room with lots of pointless ornaments and decorative bits, so a plant or two is the ideal compromise.

11. Wall tiles

Add some interest to your utility room walls with stylish wall tiles. Not only will they look cool and stylish, but they are extremely practical.

Perfect as a splashback behind a sink and will no doubt save your walls from being dirty.

12. Pull out ironing board

Rather than taking up valuable space with a full-size ironing board, invest in a pull-down or tabletop design.

They do precisely the same job but are just more compact, so are perfect for small utility rooms.

13. Install hooks

A row of peg hooks come in very handy when designing a utility room. They are great for hanging towels from, dressing gowns or any other garments you may want to keep in your laundry room.

If you've got the wall space, you can hang them on there, but if not, install them on the back of your utility room door to best utilise the space you already have.

14. Use a curtain

You may think a sink curtain is outdated and old-fashioned. However, they have made a come back! They are a perfect solution to hide unsightly appliances or a messy area in your utility room.

Rather than buying one already made, choose a fabric you truly love and get have a go at sewing it yourself. You can read how to properly measure for curtains here.

15. Go bespoke

If you're in the beginning stages of planning a utility room and don't have a lot of room to work with, then consider investing in a specialist carpenter and go bespoke.

A skilled carpenter will be able to utilise every inch of space on offer to you, which will make your laundry room highly functional.

16. Multi-functional furniture

Choose to put furniture in your utility room that is multi-functional, and that can be used for different things.

For example, a clothes rail is a great way of hanging clean washing but you can also use it to hang other things from as well as using the shelf underneath to store baskets and other bits and bobs.

17. Under counter storage

Don't forget about your floor space! If there's a gap between your floor and cabinets, it may even include a handy shelf then use the floor space to it's maximum potential.

Baskets are great for this or foldaway boxes are super handy. Read some other methods of smart storage, here.

18. Vertical shelving

A small utility room is the perfect room to boast floor to ceiling shelving. In any other room in the home it may feel too much, however because laundry rooms are built to be practical, the more storage space the better.

Keep things tidy with containers that fit perfectly on the shelves and that can be neatly stacked.

19. Utility trolley

One of the most practical pieces of furniture you can buy for your small utility room is a moveable trolley.

Perfect for storing pegs, towels and cleaning supplies, a utility trolley can be moved around the room to fit where you want it to, making your chores ten times easier.

20. White wash

White washing a space doesn't work in every room but it does for a small utility room. Keeping the colour palette light and bright will make it feel bigger and more airy.

White cupboards paired with a white quartz worktop looks stylish as well as tricking the eye into making your utility space feel larger than it actually is.

21. Practical flooring

Practicality is key when it comes to designing a utility room. Choose a functional type of flooring to make sure it's durable and will stand the test of time.

LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) are really high quality and are a great alternative to solid wood. Alternatively, lay patterned floor tiles for a stylish look and if it suits the rest of your home.

22. Utility cupboard

Having an entirely separate room to use as a laundry room is a luxury. If you aren't lucky enough to have this, create your own utility cupboard to store all of your cleaning supplies.

Install shelving above your washing machine and create your very own utility space.

23. Keep the space open

A lovely idea to keep your utility space feeling open, is to remove the door that connects it either to your hallway or another room.

It will feel like an extension of your kitchen (or any other room it may be connected to) and will make it feel bigger than it really is.

24. Ladder rail

A ladder rail is a wonderful piece of furniture that would suit most utility rooms, especially if they are inspired by stylish industrial spaces.

Lean a ladder rail on the wall and use it to hang your towels.

25. Incorporate a wardrobe

A utility room isn't just for cleaning, it's ideal for storing your clothes once they have been washed and ironed.

If you incorporate a wardrobe space into your utility room it will free up wardrobe space in your bedroom and keeps it hidden away.

If you're interested in converting a room in your home to a utility space, hire a professional…