Utility cupboard ideas: 10 Ideas To Make Everyday Tasks Simple

10 Ideas To Make Everyday Tasks Simple

Nothing beats a perfectly organised utility room for all your laundry and cleaning. But choosing the right utility room storage will help to optimise workflow and make everyday tasks simple.

From recycling bins to a sliding shelf for easy loading, there are many storage options to consider in order to meet the practicalities of modern life.

Utility rooms and laundries are becoming ever more important as people switch to open-plan layouts where noisy appliances can ruin the ambience. Properly planned, these little rooms can be a huge asset, giving you space for a washing machine, dryer, sink, laundry baskets and ironing paraphernalia, away from the main kitchen. With additional storage, they can work as a secondary kitchen, with spaces for pots, pans and appliances – even an extra fridge or freezer.

Remember, you can never have too much storage. A combination of open shelves (for towels etc) and closed cupboards to safely store detergents is the most practical solution.

So if you’re looking to make your utility room really work for you, take some inspiration from these great utility room storage ideas below.

1. Tall units for your laundry and cleaning needs

Tall units with super convenient shelves will provide lots of storage and ensure everything is kept tidy and close to hand – it’s also great for concealing items you don’t want on display. It’s ideal for storing ironing boards and standing/stick vacuum cleaners.

2. Ergonomic height for appliances

Doing the laundry can be tiresome work, so make life easier for yourself by thinking about your access to appliances and equipment/tools. For example, as shown here, it’s a good idea to lift the washing machine off the floor to minimise bending.

3. Hanging rail

When planning your laundry, make space for a hanging rail – putting clothes on hangers as soon as they come out of the washer or dryer minimises the need for ironing.

4. Consider recycling solutions

Maximise storage in your utility room for recycling and do your bit for the environment. You can place large, super strong recycling bags (buy from Amazon) in a pull-out drawer for plastic bottles, paper and glass.

5. Stack ’em high

Rather than having your washer and dryer side by side, consider going vertical and stacking them one on top of the other to reduce the footprint and save space.

baonaGetty Images

6. Shelf life

You can never have too much storage. Open shelving is a great option as you can see straightaway where everything is.

7. Sliding shelves for easy loading

Think about the benefits of having a pull-out shelf in the unit. Sliding shelves reduce unnecessary bending – it’s perfect for placing the laundry basket so it’s easy to load and unload the washing machine or tumble dryer.

8. A pull out airer

Here, built in hanging rails prevent the creasing of newly washed laundry – because no one wants to spend their time ironing, too – and a built in air dryer saves on those electricity bills. It’s a win-win.

9. Contain utility supplies in a larder cupboard

LochAnna Kitchens’ Lifestyle Larder is designed to suit and adapt to your lifestyle. A great, organised cupboard is all you need to keep your cleaning and laundry essentials in an orderly fashion – and you can choose different design layouts and sizes based on your household’s needs.

The larders provide a space where everything stored is visible and accessible, as the shelves step back as it gets higher in the unit, ensuring any dead space is utilised. There’s also storage for ironing boards and vacuum cleaners, with the larger cupboards including tapered verticals. The cubby holes are ideal for detergents and smaller appliances, whilst the tall storage can be used for ironing boards, mops, upright vacuums and other tall items. You can maximise space with shoe racks, lights and coat hooks.

10. Space-saving accessories

Seek out accessories and furniture that can fold flat and stores away easily. Garden Trading’s Zig Zag Dryer boasts a classic concertina design which can fold out to a generous length of 151cm. It’s great for efficient drying and airing, and can fold away just as quickly too.

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Olivia Heath
Executive Digital Editor, House Beautiful UK
Olivia Heath is the Executive Digital Editor at House Beautiful UK where she’s busy uncovering tomorrow’s biggest home trends, all whilst delivering stylish room inspiration, small space solutions, easy garden ideas and house tours of the hottest properties on the market.

46 brilliant utility and laundry room ideas

46 brilliant utility and laundry room ideas | loveproperty.com

46 brilliant utility and laundry room ideas

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Make your most practical room perfect

Pottery Barn

Your utility room might be one of the most hardworking and necessary rooms in your home but it definitely doesn’t have to be the most mundane. Plan your laundry room right and you’ll have your home running smoothly in no time at all. Take a look at these fabulous and functional utility and laundry room ideas and prepare to be inspired…

Utilise a cupboard

If you don’t have a utility room a cupboard will do nicely. And if it’s upstairs, all the better, after all that’s where all the dirty washing is! This built-in bathroom cupboard with handy concertina doors can fit in a compact washing machine making it an ideal dual-purpose washing and drying space.  A white pegboard and shelving above keeps soaps and detergents within easy reach too.

Work broken-plan

Masterclass Kitchens

When living in an open-plan home, the laundry run can be a noisy business. So, concealing the loud washing machine and tumble dryer behind closed doors will be advantageous. We love this utility room idea that creates a separate soundproofed zone yet glass doesn’t alter the broken-plan vibe.

Convert the garage

If you own a garage with an internal door to your house, why not convert a garage wall into a utility zone? Arrange wall-mounted shelving around a washing machine and tumble dryer to create a compact laundry area that makes the most of every inch of space. 

Style up box storage

Orthex

Give your laundry room an innovative and orderly vibe with storage solutions that are beautiful as well as useful. These shallow taupe storage boxes look super smart stacked using bamboo lids and labelled for convenience. 

Flood the space with light

Lifestyle Floors

Getting the laundry done probably isn’t top of your well-being priority list, but a space that’s pleasant and filled with light can make the job therapeutic. If possible, choose a room that has many windows and go for a colour palette that is calming such as soothing soft blue. Use the light-filled windowsills to grow potted plants and spring blooms. 

Add a clothes rail

Lifestyle Floors

Tiny or narrow utility rooms often lack floor space so a wall-mounted clothes rail is a super simple and handy idea. Add a wooden pole or even a shower rail above a radiator for quick drying or over the sink or draining board to drip-dry items. 

Coordinate with your kitchen

Higham Furniture

Create a flow from your kitchen to your utility room by matching the look throughout by using the same range of cabinets, tiles and flooring. Streamline the finish with matching task lighting.

Top with tiles

Garden Trading

Jazz up an ordinary utility room with a feature splashback. Not only is it a practical asset, but it can also be a stylish starting point to coordinate and match storage containers and accessories. The deep grey containers in this utility room pick out the geometric tile patterns with a chic urban edge. 

Add high shelves

Garden Trading

Utility rooms are rarely large spaces so reclaim unused surfaces to create a space-effective small room. A high shelf above the counter is handy for often-used items. Colour coordinated containers arranged at the back of the worktop look stylish and orderly.

Customise unlikely places

Don’t let small spaces stop you from owning a utility room; you can arrange one just about anywhere. This enclosed balcony has been transformed into a light-filled laundry room with budget friendly-storage and colourful seating.

Pretty up the place

Dunelm

Yes, the utility room is a practical place to get jobs done, but that does not mean you can’t make them pretty. Create visual and inspirational interest to open shelves using glass containers and items that coordinate in colour. This shelf display looks subtle and fresh with an array of soothing pastels tones. 

Add an air-dryer

Carpetright

Need more drying space? Then look up! Classic pulley air-dryers have been used in sculleries and laundry rooms for hundreds of years and are a tried and tested method of clothes drying. Our concern for the environment has given them a revival in recent years as they make good use of warm air trapped in the ceiling space.

Change furniture function

Wayfair

You don’t need made-to-measure furniture to create a productive and attractive utility room. Create country character by picking out eclectic furniture that was originally intended for something else. Hallway hooks and a farmhouse-style console table transforms this pretty corner into a charming utility work station.

Be clever with storage

@pinneydesigns / Instagram

Drying drawers are a neat alternative to clothes horses and a perfect solution for delicate items of clothing as the clothes lay flat and not pulled out of shape. This laundry room has been fitted with bespoke units that house the drawers and wrap around the washing and dryer machines for a streamlined finish in the small space. 

Make a colour statement

Garden Trading

Utility rooms needn’t be dull and unsophisticated, they can be colourful spaces too. Rustic cabinetry and basic shelves have been totally transformed by a feature wall painted in gorgeous forest green. White metal storage and pendant lighting looks bright and fresh against the rich colour behind and adds a vintage vibe to the room. 

Stack large appliances

Crate + Barrel

If the room is a bit of a tight squeeze, investing in a washing machine and tumble dryer stacking kit will free up much-needed floor space. Don’t attempt it without one as a heavy machine needs to be fitted firmly and securely in place. Keep other items hanging from a simple peg rail to make room for a stylish commercial-grade laundry and sorting bin. 

Work with a view

Caesarstone

A modern utility room decorated with grey notes is calm and reliable. This contemporary design is effortlessly practical and super sophisticated. The large window allows the garden to take centre stage and dominate the interior space; the outlook beyond will make household chores seem a breeze.  

Add warmth with wood

Garden Trading

A utility room decorated with wooden panels will turn the working space into a cosy and inviting nook. Rustic wooden appliances and metal storage containers add a nostalgic nod to the past. Plus a delightful Roman blind with a stag motif and star ornament gives a charming finish to this quaint laundry room that’s both country chic and cute. 

Spring clean with green

@emilytuckerdesign / Instagram

This bright utility room is a superb example of how simple, well-executed design can make a workaday space look glorious. The rich emerald green units instantly transform the plain white room, with neatly stacked washing machines, into a smart room that’s a pleasure to spend time in – even if you’re folding clothes. Matched with a green and white blind, the bright laundry room becomes up-to-date and refreshing.

Use the bathroom

As it’s where most of us undress anyway, it makes sense to share the bathroom with the washing machine especially if there is no room for a separate utility room. Laundry room-bathrooms are commonplace in European countries like Sweden and Norway and we think it’s a practical combination we too should adopt too. 

Brighten the mood

Bed Bath & Beyond

Make housework less of a chore by turning your laundry room into a happy place. Let in plenty of natural light with a large window or paint the walls a cheery neutral shade to maximise space. Then introduce bursts of vivid colour and fun artwork that will lighten the load. Why not use this room as a pet food station or pet pad, so you can have a furry companion while you work?

Coordinate storage

El Corte Ingles

A room that requires so much storage often needs little else to make it work. A series of seagrass storage baskets have become a display in themselves in this basic but well-kept laundry room. The natural material warms the white space but with very little to tell them apart, perhaps attractive name labels would make a welcome addition? A white string-tied tag would work perfectly.

Luxe the look with metallics

Norsu HOME

Some people need the motivation to start housework and if that’s the case don’t be afraid to be a little indulgent with your utility room décor to keep you in the mood. Evoke a sense of glamour with rose penny-round wall tiles with a chalky finish, paired with luxurious gold fixtures and fittings that shimmer. 

Create room for pets

@oharainteriorsofficial / Instagram

Keep pets and your house clean after muddy exercise by installing a dedicated pet grooming parlour in your laundry room. The low-level shower is super-handy for washing pets as well as other household items, for instance, walking boots and rubbish bins. Open shelving within arm’s reach is practical for storing animal shampoos and grooming gear, while hooks mounted below hold cleaning leads and harnesses, too. 

Keep shelves open

Sophie Allport

Give your utility room the ultimate country makeover with a muted backdrop and lots of open shelving. Fill the alcoves with charming homewares like vintage jugs and lanterns, polka dot sewing baskets and tie everything together with china and fabric featuring delightful woodland creatures. 

Move with the times

Hotpoint

For a fresh and contemporary take on laundry duties, keep décor to a minimum set against an on-trend colour block backdrop. This modern blonde wood airer and shelving system looks ultra cutting-edge paired with just one simple chair for folded clothing and a tall potted plant for extra greenery.

Add an industrial edge

Melody Maison

Whether your utility room is modern or classic, sturdy laundry baskets are a must. Black wire metal makes a great industrial look and is super practical and easy to move on castor wheels. Similar metal furniture and whitewashed brick walls will add to the monochrome vintage vibe. 

Enliven with plants

Bring the outside in and purify the air with plenty of houseplants. Hang them at various levels from the ceiling for a tropical sense of fun. Green pegs and laundry baskets will pick out the vibrant natural hues, too. 

Decant your products

Garden Trading

Utility rooms house lots of cleaning products. Emptying powders and liquids into airtight tins not only keep them safe, dry and longer-lasting, but the coordinated containers also look orderly and attractive. A wash tidy by the sink is a must, too.

Keep it orderly

Neptune

Good storage will maximise space and put everything at your fingertips. Cabinets that can hold several household items, like tall ones for mops and the ironing board, will make sure everything has its place.

Make ironing motivating

Sophie Allport

The secret to easy ironing lies in the ironing board fabric – choose a 100% cotton with a scorch-resistant and heat-retaining coating if possible. Being padded with under-board straps also helps keep it wrinkle-free and snug to the board. 

Get the right appliances

Lewis Alderson

Good quality appliances make all the difference when it comes to housework efficiency. A hardworking washing machine and tumble dryer will make washdays a breeze even on rainy days. Building stylish cabinetry around white goods will keep the small room practical, attractive and a place you will want to spend time in.  

Add a boot corner

Bath Bespoke

Utility rooms can also double as a great boot room keeping hallways clear. Make furniture multifunctional like here; a bench has been given cubby-holes for shoes making a feature of the family footwear.

Increase work space

HomeSense

Get upcycling, and turn an old table into a utility station with vintage appeal. A lick of vibrant paint and varnish has created a fabulous feature for chores. Store laundry baskets below and hang tools in a pretty bathroom caddy above.

Make it multipurpose

Get the best out of small spaces. Keep clutter out of the way in a corner cupboard while a drying rail above the washing machine will make use of dead space.

Choose charming solutions

Cox & Cox

With pull-out rails for drying clothes, a shelf above for laundry products and hooks below for hangers, this is a great drying solution if space is tight. It could even be mounted on the back of a door.

Matching makes sense

John Lewis

Mary Poppins once said, “In every job that must be done there is an element of fun”. And we agree, so choose ranges that go together to keep organised and motivated. Colour coordinated bags and fabric baskets will keep laundry neatly separated into dirty, washed and ironed. Plus stay one step ahead of the weather with an indoor folding dryer. 

Cheat luxury

Carpetright

Fake expensive contemporary floor tiles with practical vinyl. A mix of monochrome patterns creates an exquisitely detailed floor that will transform a plain and narrow galley utility room. Team with a bank of white budget cupboards to keeps the room balanced and bright.

Box it up

John Lewis

Transparent, robust and stackable storage is a great way to organise the paraphernalia that mounts up but lets you find what you need in a jiffy.

Put on a display

deVOL Kitchens

A fitted bank of cupboards gives a luxurious and bespoke impression especially when painted in a rich and dramatic dark colour. Glazed countertop cupboards are beautiful for displaying more attractive homewares such as vases and linens as well as the perfect incentive to keep your cupboards well organised.

Stick with tradition

Neptune Home

Peg rails offer a versatile and attractive way to store items, keeping them at easy reach. This one sits beautifully above a deep and practical butler sink. Shaker style is all about doing things simply but perfectly – where better to try it out than your utility room?

Go to town with tiles

The Baked Tile Company

Just like your kitchen, a utility room uses a lot of water and a tight space with little ventilation can get damp quickly. Tiling walls and floors is an easy wipe clean solution to combat mould. Lighter colours and reflective surfaces give the room a look of freshness.

Install a large sink

Sainsbury’s

Utility rooms have a multitude of uses; laundry room, boot room, florist, pet groomers, we could go on… So a good-sized sink makes perfect and practical sense. Butler ceramic styles are attractive, hard wearing and will suit rustic and country schemes.

Make room to work

Bath Bespoke

Incorporate a good amount of work surface to get jobs done. Polished stone is stylish, durable and matches the period characteristics of this classic utility room beautifully.

Learn tricks of the trade

Ménage Confort

Why not convert a utility room drawer into a clever pull-out ironing board? You can buy the fittings from hardware stores or many kitchen companies include them as extra accessories.  No more battling with the heavy stand-alone version when you’re in hurry. 

Organise to the max

Pottery Barn

Use the walls to store and tidy all the bits and bobs that clutter the laundry room. A peg wall or peg rails are great solutions for hanging all sorts of tools and utensils. Create two tiers: one for tall items like a clothes dryer and the ironing board and use the lower rail to hang laundry baskets off the floor. 

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16 April 2021

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Utility room storage ideas – 35 practical yet stylish ways to organise a utility

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Utility room storage is essential for keeping your utility and washing area tidy and clutter-free. The main use of a utility room is two-fold: Storage – both for the home and garden – and washing, usually clothing and outdoor equipment. While laundry room and utility room storage and has practical written all over it, it doesn’t have to be boring (promise!). Whether yours is for laundry, boots or potting up, keep your utility room super-efficient with these practical storage solutions.

There are lots of different ways to keep everything you store in your utility room neat, tidy and most importantly, accessible. Think about how you use your utility room – what you just store in the room and the items you use most days.

Is your utility room an extension of your kitchen? Is it where you wash up or where you wash your clothes? Invest in relevant utility room storage to suit the needs of you and your household.

Utility room storage ideas

Whatever you’re after from your utility room storage, and however you make use of the extra room in your house, we have lots of ideas in our essential gallery round-up.

1. Organise laundry essentials in caddies

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

Open shelves are a great idea for utility areas as they give easy access to essential items. But having everything out on show can quickly look messy if you’re not super-organised. Corral smaller odds and ends like washing tablets, dryer sheets and pegs into easy-to-grab baskets with cleaning kit in caddies so it’s easy to tote around the house.

Buy now: Portland storage bucket with bamboo handle, £20, Garden Trading

2. Fit adjustable shelving above appliances

(Image credit: Ikea)

Make use of wasted wall space above a washing machine or tumble dryer by adding shelving and racks where you can stack and air clean laundry. The warm heat from appliances will help speed up drying time.

This customisable shelving system consists of wall-mounted uprights that are fixed to the wall, with easy-fit shelves and racks that simply click into place. Shelves can be arranged at different heights to suit your needs and the space available.

Buy now: Boaxel one-section storage, £70, Ikea

3. Save space with a folding laundry basket

(Image credit: Lakeland)

Bulky laundry baskets can be tricky to find room for when space is limited. Opt for a neat, collapsible basket that will hold a full load of washing but folds flat so it can be tucked under a counter or in a gap next to the washing machine.

Buy now: Addis folding laundry basket, £14.99, Lakeland

4. Free up floor space by stacking appliances

(Image credit: Currys)

If utility space is super-tight, utilise room-height by stacking your tumble dryer on top of the washing machine. Stacking kits have a locking device that keeps both the appliances stable, plus a handy slide-out shelf in the centre where clothes can be folded and stacked as they come out of the dryer.

Buy now: WPRO Stacking kit with shelf, £49.99, Currys

5. Kit out cupboards with interior storage

(Image credit: Ikea)

‘Think about what needs storing before kitting out your utility area and ensure that there’s a home for everything’, says storage guru Vicky Silverthorn of youneedavicky.com . ‘Remember to factor in space for cumbersome items like the vacuum cleaner, broom, dust pan and mop.’

Utilise every inch in a tall kitchen cabinet or an understairs cupboard by kitting out the interior with hooks and racks so you can stash bulky items securely. Slide-out interior storage like this will give easy access to cleaning essentials.

Buy now: Metod/Maximera high cabinet with cleaning interior, £241, Ikea

6. Go for easy-access open shelving

(Image credit: B&M)

‘Cupboards aren’t essential if your utility area is closed-off from the kitchen,’ says storage guru Vicky Silverthorn.  ‘Open shelves allow you to see everything at a glance and grab what you need easily.’

Invest in a couple of handled baskets so you can stash towels, linens and clean laundry inside. Woven baskets allow air to circulate so fabrics stays fresh and are easy to carry if you need to tote laundry upstairs.

7. Hide cleaning kit behind closed doors

(Image credit: Benchmarx Kitchens)

If your utility area is on show – or it’s a struggle to keep the space tidy – then consider investing in some built-in storage. A run of base units and wall cupboards will house all essentials and equipment and keep any clutter out of sight.

Arrange cupboards so that most-used items are stored lower down for easy access and those you use less-frequently are stored higher up. Consider mounting a rail on the under-side of a cabinet where you can hang freshly-ironed items.

8. Store supplies in easy-clean mesh baskets

(Image credit: Matalan)

‘Store items neatly, in categories, so you can see what you have – and what you’re running low on,’ says storage guru Vicky Silverthorn.  ‘Don’t stockpile – it might be tempting to buy extra supplies when they’re on offer, but it’s just more stuff to find storage space for.’

Mesh caddies and wire baskets are great for storing laundry supplies and cleaning kit. Easy to clean if there are any leaks or spills, with everything stored together, they’re easy to grab if you’re heading to another part of the house.

Buy now: Metal wire storage basket, £14, Matalan

9. Sort laundry as you go

(Image credit: Ikea)

Instead of tackling a huge heap of dirty clothes and washing all in one hit, make the task easier by sorting laundry into categories as you go. Invest in a couple of baskets or canvas bags (hooked up on the utility room wall) so laundry can be sorted out into darks, lights, colours and delicates ready for loading straight into the washing machine.

Buy now: Plumsa laundry bags, £8 each, Ikea

10. Set up a smart storage system

(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)

Free up much needed space with personalised out-of-the-way storage. Design a simple, budget-friendly layout and include a large storage box for each family member or use labels to specify particular contents. Set them within reach on a high shelf to keep other surfaces clear. Look for a built-in unit featuring a deep basin and cupboards.

Pick unusual tiles for an attractive splashback and a white worktop for streamlined wipe-ability. Make the shelf extra practical by choosing one with a fitted rail, and add a wall-hung extendable airer that allows you to dry clothes without taking up floor space.

Related: Kitchen splashback ideas to keep kitchen walls protected in style

11. Hide appliances behind folding doors

(Image credit: Future Plc/Tom Meadows)

In a large kitchen, the laundry area can be separated from the rest of the space into a neat unit so that it can be easily closed away out of sight. This little laundry store has no airs or graces but has everything needed, from appliances to linen storage, in a well-organised package.

12. Wall mount where possible

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Mark Scott)

Keep utility room surfaces free of clutter by wall-mounting practical items such as an iron and ironing board. Objects that you do not use every day can be stored out of the way but within reach on shelves. A compartmentalised laundry basket helps to ensure that whites, colours and delicates are kept separate.

13. Repurpose furniture pieces for savvy storage

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Merewether for Ideal Home)

Add something a little different with reclaimed storage. Give a neutral utility room character with a wooden merchant’s chest or trunk large enough to store outdoor wear and blankets. It can also double as a boot store and bench seating. Use the free space above to hang a peg rail for coats. Source oversized enamel tins – they’re perfect for storing detergent.

14. Store away under stairs

(Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme)

Designate a little space under the stairs for your cleaning paraphernalia. A cupboard might not be a utility room, but optimise the space inside for household necessities and you’ll be amazed how organised your life will be. Use it for slimline equipment, such as a dustbin and dustpan and brush, and add a handy over-the-door rack that can hold all manner of dusters, cloths and brushes without taking up floor space. Choose colour co-ordinated items – even if you won’t see them when they’re hidden away, the mere fact that they’re co-ordinated will make you happy.

15. Install an extending shelf to act as a worktop

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Brittain)

Make the most of any space with savvy built-in storage solutions. This bespoke cabinetry features an extending shelf which pulls out to act as an additional worktop when needed.

16. Find a place for flower essentials

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Mark Scott)

Conquer the laundry load by ensuring everything is conveniently placed and within easy reach. Add character to your utility room with vintage-style storage.  Position open shelving units and mini cupboards on worktops for a country dresser-like look. Try a wire-fronted cabinet, painted white, and use to store glassware. Keep less attractive utensils hidden in drawers underneath to establish a handy flower-arranging zone. Place freestanding units like these alongside fitted versions for the perfect mix of on-show and hidden-away storage essential to an efficient working space.

17. Rediscover wash-house chic

(Image credit: Future PLC/Caroline Barber)

Get a Victorian feel with large traditional fittings. If you have the space, create a drying area – a perfectly practical plan considering our British weather. Mount twin conventional towel rails on the wall and a vintage pulley airer on the ceiling for drying laundry up and out of the way. Source large-scale laundry baskets – these ones are in black metal for contrast – and make life easy by choosing a design with castors. Keep the look fresh with a palette of white and spring green.

18. Wall-mount cool alternative storage

(Image credit: Future PLC/Debi Treloar)

Anodised aluminium shelves are great for storing laundry products and tools. These fine examples are actually zinc window boxes used as wall storage instead. Make them even more unique by personalising them with paint and hanging them up in a quirky way.

19. Clear the clutter with open-shelving

(Image credit: Future PLC/Paul Raeside)

Separate your laundry in designated baskets to make doing the washing that little bit easier. This utility room uses open shelving – great for creating the illusion of space – to stash away freshly folded laundry as well as boxes for other utensils.

20. Keep it simple

(Image credit: Future PLC/Caroline Arber)

Clever storage is the key to creating a successful utility room. Here, a fixed cupboard with a built-in bench seat accommodates all the necessary equipment required to turn the area into a streamlined but multifunctional space. White-painted walls keep the small room looking airy and bright.

21. Utilise a passage way

(Image credit: Future PLC/Clive Doyle)

Turn a passage or hallway into a utility space with streamlined storage. Add a contemporary vibe by fitting tall, glossy cabinets in white to boost light levels and a cool grey geometric floor to visually elongate the space. Use a wall of floor-to-ceiling clean-lined storage to conceal a multitude of necessities – even a washing machine and laundry bin as shown here. Keep detergent supplies close to hand with fitted shelves above.

22. Create a display area

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Mark Scott)

Be practical with helpful open shelves rather than wall cabinets and keep everything in sight. Fit functional shelves for easy access and get creative with otherwise mundane supplies. Decanter detergent into attractive, easy-pour jars and label with vintage-style stickers. Display with attractive soaps and classic tins in various muted colours for a little hardworking rustic charm.

23. Spruce up with shelves

(Image credit: Future PLC/Ben Robertson)

An open shelved cupboard will store a whole host of fundamentals for the organised utility room. Using a clip rack on the inside of a door keeps mops off the floor and dusters in place. Pale grey paint will not need re-painting as often as white and is still light enough that the room will not feel cramped or dark.

24. Inject industrial style

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

Industrial storage is an original and highly practical storage solution for a utility room. This bakery trolley on casters is practical and easy to move around should you wish.

25. Rethink cupboard storage

(Image credit: Future PLC/Ben Robertson)

Storing watering cans and vases together will make it easier to find what you need. Use simple linen to line the shelves and help keep breakables in place and soak up any excess water. If you have a couple of favourite vases or watering cans, show them off on a window sill and create an appealing artisan look when seen from the inside and out.

26. Go behind the scenes

(Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes)

If you’re planning a kitchen extension and entertain frequently, consider apportioning an area for a utility. A room leading off the kitchen acts as backstage, providing somewhere for extra storage, dirty dishes or prep and cooking, improving the ambience of the kitchen itself and making it a more enjoyable setting for guests.

27. Make the space fit for pets

(Image credit: Future PLC/Mark Scott)

A utility room can offer home comforts for pets without giving them the run of the house at night. Baskets, food and water bowls, and litter trays should have their own zones.

28. Corner off a section of the kitchen

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Parmiter)

Where no separate room is available, a corner of a kitchen can be used as a pantry or utility space. Opt for a rounded solution t make this happen. These doors are practical but also add character. In a smaller room, limit the number of materials you use. Simplicity creates a better sense of space and a more unified scheme.

29. Conceal clutter with a curtain

(Image credit: Future PLC/Trevor Richards)

If your utility room isn’t designed to be boxed in you can choose a simple curtain to make your stoarge solutions look more pleasing to the eye. Whether just to cover a bulky appliance or used to hide all the shelving a decorative curtain can go a long way to improve the appearance of any essential storage.

30. Take a sophisticated approach

(Image credit: Future PLC/Ben Robertson)

Clever use of storage and well-organised essentials ensure a calm, multifunctional utility room where everything is conveniently placed and within easy reach. Combine natural materials such as wood and linen with a dark paint colour for a sophisticated look. Good order is key to the smooth running of this space, so don’t underestimate its importance.

31. Embrace baskets for decorative storage

(Image credit: Future PLC/Ben Robertson)

Utility rooms are generally limited when it comes to space and storage, so use spare baskets or picnic hampers to store a selection of your small essentials. Not only will it save you money and the time and trouble of installing shelves, it will also add an instant hint of countryside charm.

32. Make it multifunctional

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Still)

If you do not have a dedicated space or room to devote to all your utility requirements, it would be a good idea to adapt a cloakroom or boot room to house all your essentials. Cupboards lined with tongue and groove panelling can help to create a smart finish in this often-overlooked space.

33. Choose country-style

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Lizzie Orme)

Make the most of a small utility room with endearing cottage features. Create pretty country style with a series of cupboards and drawers in Shaker-style cream cabinetry, allowing allocated space for every little thing. Go for pieces that have traditional metal tee hinges for added character and a practical butler sink for a touch of yesteryear.

Bring in rustic accessories, such as this wirework basket with a heart motif for peg storage.  It is always useful to have one big sink. You will always need somewhere to soak pans or clothes without encroaching on kitchen space.

34. Uniform the look with colour

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Cleveland )

Ensure footwear is close to hand with large open shelves. Forget cupboard doors on at least one unit in your Shaker cabinetry and break up the scheme by making a feature of footwear. Re-create a traditional utility-cum-boot room with period stone flooring and a practical butler sink. Line walls with cream tongue-and-groove panelling and go for soft sage cabinetry and a character wall pendant.

35. Build bespoke storage

(Image credit: Future PLC /David Cleveland)

Good storage will maximise space and put everything at your fingertips. Cubby hole storage is great for taming belongings but it can look untidy. This version with baskets is a smart compromise that makes it easy to access things, while bring a rustic mood that really looks the part in a country home. Utility room see a lot of wear so choose tough finishes, especially for the floor. Stone or porcelain is ideal.

How can I make my utility room look nice?

Don’t forget to really take your style into consideration as you plan your utility room space and remember that practicality doesn’t mean you have to shun your favourite looks. If you’re a country fan, go for wicker storage baskets. Sleek and chic utility room storage can be achieved with high gloss, colourful storage units and buckets. Traditionalists might like cream or grey units with built-in drawers for hiding everything away.

Think about where you can use on-wall storage, such as sturdy shelving either side of your utility room sink. This keeps washing products high out of reach of little people’s hands. If you mainly use your utility room for washing and drying clothes, you can get some fantastic retro laundry sacks to hide dirty laundry away. Consider things carefully before you start buying cabinetry. Thing about what you will need to store – cleaning appliances, utensils, laundry items or pet paraphernalia. Include one or two drawers in your cabinets to house all the small items, and don’t forget to make room for the bin and the recycling.

Additional words by Lisa Fazzani

Utility room storage ideas: 16 neat solutions for tidy areas

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(Image credit: Future / Ben Robertson)

We demand a lot from our utility room storage ideas. Not only is this nook the unsung workhorse of a functioning household, it is a small space with big responsibilities. 

Alongside accommodating laundry appliances, one of these rooms has to fit a whole range of items which likely includes an ironing board and iron, clothes and linens, the vacuum cleaner, a mop and bucket, and a host of cleaning products.

Briefly put, that’s plenty of stuff, some of which is awkwardly shaped and bulky, to store in a room that doesn’t always have the largest of proportions.  

But take inspiration from these utility room ideas, and you can plan a space that neatly contains all these essentials in a way that makes them easy to find and access, and keeps the room clutter free. 

Utility room storage ideas

Save your favorite utility room storage ideas to show a designer, or use them as the guides to your own design. From woven baskets to storage dangling from the ceiling, here’s how to neaten up your home’s most useful nook. 

1. Mix built-in storage with characterful furniture

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Carefully thinking through your built-in storage is key to successfully keeping a utility room tidy – but leave room for a little fun. While making the most of space is important, mixing strategized shelving and cabinetry with unique pieces of characterful furniture will help the space feel less utilitarian, more domestically blissful. 

In this room, ceiling-height shelving handles the bulk of the storage, while a central space is left clear to house a distressed, antique-style chest of drawers topped with more decorative items.  

2. Use woven baskets for a farmhouse aesthetic

(Image credit: Polly Wreford)

Often what you need from storage – especially in a utility room – is flexibility. Baskets can offer the neatness and accessibility of drawers when used on shelving units, but can also be transported about the room and beyond for maximum utility. 

To keep units like these aesthetically pleasing, swap plastic tubs for woven baskets, as shown in this cleverly organized example. Each woven basket is labelled for clarity and convenience, and stacked up in perfectly sized cubby holes. 

3. Use the walls for utility room storage

(Image credit: Roundhouse)

Even in a large utility room like this one, a wall-mounted airer can be a valuable addition to the selection of storage, avoiding the need to take up the floor with a freestanding version. An extendable model folds neatly against the wall when it’s not in use, making it a great small utility room idea too. 

‘Utility spaces should be uncluttered, functional rooms with as much storage as possible,’ says Daniel Lau, Designer at Roundhouse .  Space for folding and stacking on an island-style surface is an extremely valuable addition, too, if the design of the room allows for it. 

4. Plan for what you own

(Image credit: Davonport)

It’s worth compiling a list of what you plan to keep in a utility room along with the laundry appliances. Some of what’s likely to be stored in there is sizeable and difficult to put away tidily, so it needs to be accommodated in the design from the start, especially when considering narrow utility room ideas.

‘Lots of people opt for as many cabinets as they can in a utility room for maximum storage but unless the interior is designed for specific items it can end up being wasted space,’ says Richard Davonport, Managing Director and Founder of Davonport . ‘For example, the tall floor-to-ceiling cabinets are better if designed to include shelving and it’s important to allow for the height of an ironing board/mop and bucket as this often catches people out.’

5.

Blend seating and storage with a built-in bench

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

Flagging halfway through your big spring clean? Take a seat. Consider turning low level cupboards into a space for seating – or turn the need for a boot bench into an opportunity to house built-in storage. 

In this utility room, a moment of pause is invited by a cushioned bench, which doubles up as a cabinet that is perfectly formatted for shoes or cleaning materials. 

6. Use open shelving wisely 

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

More often than not, a utility room is a space for stashing life’s less beauteous paraphernalia. As a result, closed cupboards and drawers are most designer’s go-to – but open-style utility room shelving ideas shouldn’t entirely be written off. 

If you’re using your utility room for kitchen overflow as in this example, open shelving can be used to house ceramics, storage jars and utensils that don’t fit in your day-to-day. 

Alternatively, if you are running a busy household and simply need items close at hand, then open shelves also offer a quickfire solution to getting tasks done on the double. For your less attractive items, consider stashing them in baskets that hide the mess can be easily slid off the shelf when needed. 

7. Double up on functions

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

If the utility room has to do double duty as a mud or boot room like this one, plan separate zones within it with sufficient storage for the distinct areas. In this room, shoe and boot storage and a bench for taking footwear on and off takes up part of the L-shape. This mudroom idea allows the end of the room to be dedicated to laundry appliances and the sink area.

In the utility space, the storage is designed to accommodate items from small – in the pigeonholes – to medium – in baskets on shelves – to those that are larger and need to be hidden in the cabinetry. 

8. Go for a peg shelf

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

A peg rail can be a useful piece of storage in a utility room of any size, providing a place for the hangers on which freshly ironed garments will be placed and from which laundry bags and cleaning brushes can be suspended.  If there’s sufficient space below it, it can also be handy for aprons, brooms, or a dustpan and brush.

You might want to opt for a version with a shelf above to provide an extra surface for the laundry products that are good looking enough to keep out on display, as well as more decorative items that make the room appealing.

This peg shelf is set below wood panelling that ensures the room is in keeping with the rest of the home’s timeless country style. ‘Although a utility room is a largely practical space, it should very much follow the same design themes and aesthetic as the rest of the interior,’ says its designer Emma Sims-Hilditch of Sims Hilditch .

9. Keep linens fresh

(Image credit: Mowlem & Co)

Design utility room storage to help linens stay in optimum condition. ‘All the hi-tech laundry appliances are integrated behind framed Shaker-style cupboards, which include aeration bars to keep the linen fresh,’ says Julia Brown, Design Director, Mowlem & Co , Newcastle, of this sophisticated utility room.

This laundry room idea includes two vented Maytag steel-fronted drying cabinets, which have space for both wet clothes too delicate for a tumble dryer, and large laundry loads, along with wet outdoor clothes.

10. Store up to the ceiling

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

For a small utility room, it’s worth fitting cabinetry up to ceiling height even if the room is tall and the upper cupboards won’t be the most accessible in order to gain the maximum amount of storage possible. 

It’s the least used items that should be tidied away high up, of course, leaving the everyday things at the height that’s easiest to reach. In this room, they’re placed on open shelving that makes grabbing them even quicker.

The feature wall in this room is painted in Dolphin Jump C-5291 and Raw Cotton C-5823, both from Benjamin Moore .

11. Incorporate a clever feature

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

Build space into a utility room for storing and drying wet clothes without leaving them on show or in the way. In the boot room of this family home, there’s a special cupboard that blends into the room.

‘The drying cupboard was built to the client’s specification,’ explains Richard Moore, Design Director, Martin Moore . ‘It’s a tall cupboard fitted with wooden racks and vented at the top, allowing warmth from the underfloor heating to dry the washing. It keeps the washing out of the kitchen, and out of sight.’

12. Suspend from the ceiling

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

Take advantage of the ceiling to add storage to a utility room without cluttering it up. On a pulley, a ceiling rack can be moved up and down without effort to enable easy loading and unloading, and to grab items for ironing. 

A ceiling rack will take advantage of the fact that warm air rises, so not only will it boost storage, it can ensure clothes and linens dry more quickly than would be the case if they were arranged at a lower height in the room.

13. Allow space for laundry baskets

(Image credit: Lewis Alderson & Co)

Laundry baskets can be large and therefore take up a lot of space, especially when they need to cater for the requirements of a family or where sports or outdoor activities generate a lot of washing. So, consider making space for them inside cabinetry rather than leaving them at floor level. Stacking them, as seen here, is even more space efficient. 

‘When designing a utility room it’s really important to consider the owners’ storage requirements so that everything can be tidied away out of sight,’ says Tom Edmonds of Lewis Alderson & Co .  ‘Tall cupboards allow space for an ironing board and laundry baskets. If there is space for top cupboards these can be a great place to store spare bedding and blankets.’

14. Use the space behind the sink

(Image credit: Future / Mark Scott)

To include the optimum amount of storage in a utility room, look at shelving to fit behind the sink. This way everything that’s needed for hand washing garments as well as completing other laundry tasks is right at hand. 

As the items here will be on show, it’s worth sticking to products that look good on display. You can also decant products and essential items such as clothes pegs into jars to keep them neat as well as swap gaudy packaging for something better.

If you take this step, make sure everything is safely out of the reach of any little ones who’ll be drawn to them.

15. Make a virtue of storage

(Image credit: The Main Company)

A symmetrical arrangement can make all the necessary storage for a utility room into a handsome feature. ‘This stunning utility room combines dusky olive tones with a subtle quartzite worktop,’ says Alex Main, Director, The Main Company . ‘The utility room has been designed to maximise storage allowing the homeowner to hide away everyday essentials with ease. The symmetrical design is visually pleasing and helps to create an open, airy feel.’

Glass-fronted cupboards should be reserved for items that will have visual appeal, while baskets on shelving can be used to round-up small items that would otherwise become scattered  and hard to locate within larger storage areas. 

16. Get an all-in-one solution

(Image credit: Zulufish)

If space is limited, arrange utility room storage around a laundry appliance to provide everything in one easy-to-access area.

‘We created this utility space on the top floor landing of a Chelsea townhouse where space was at a premium,’ says Felix Milns, Founder of HUX London . ‘Wherever possible we always like to create drying space for clothes in our utility spaces, so introduced a towel rail as a heat source behind a hanging rail, which is a really efficient and space-saving way of hanging clothes out to dry. We complemented the space with cubbyholes for basketry, towel storage and a laundry basket.’

It was designed in partnership with Margi Rose Design .

How do I organize my utility room?

When thinking about how to organize a utility room, think big first. The utility room is likely to house some of the most awkwardly large items needed to run the house – from laundry machines to vacuum cleaners and mops – so ensure you have space for those first and foremost. 

Once those are prioritized, you can set about organizing smaller bits and pieces. For convenience, zone the room according to a certain chore. For example, try to keep all your laundry paraphernalia and linens close to the washing machines, give any kitchen overflow like dishwashers and utensil storage its own area, and keep household cleaning items to their own cupboard. 

If you have a lot of open shelving, keep it tiny with storage containers, into which you can group closely related items, so they’re all kept in one place and out of sight. 

What should be stored in a utility room? 

Utility rooms are for storing life’s useful – but not necessarily pretty – essentials. This means cleaning equipment, white goods and laundry necessities. For young families, having a utility room is a smart method of locking away potentially harmful chemicals out of reach of tiny, curious hands. 

A utility room is also a great space to store items that are on rotation across the rest of the house. For example, use the laundry area to store winter bed linens in summer, extra guest towels and seasonal cushions, or use it to store dinner party-worthy service ware and bulky kitchen equipment that you don’t use on a regular basis.  

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

Utility room ideas: 38 inspiring ways to design a utility

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(Image credit: deVOL)

Utility room ideas that make yours a supremely practical space are essential. But it’s also vital that a utility room is stylish as well as smart, so it’s not just a room with functionality, but has some flair too. 

Utility rooms are often located off the kitchen and, if that’s the case, you’ll also want to consider how the two areas complement one another for a harmonious feel when you’re deciding on a new design.

Browse these utility room ideas below for inspiration on layouts, looks, storage, design ideas and more. You can then save the best options for your space and whether you’re creating the room for yourself or working with a designer, they’ll provide the starting point you need.

Utility room ideas

Make space for all the tasks you want to carry out and ensure your space is a pleasure to spend time in with these utility room ideas. Whether you are looking for inspiration for larger spaces or small utility room ideas, we have plenty of ways to create yours.

1. Use floor-to-ceiling storage to maximize space

(Image credit: Future)

‘The best way to maximize space is to install floor-to-ceiling utility room storage, with high level cupboards used for seldom used items such as vases and party platters, accessible via a step ladder,’ explains Richard Moore, design director of Martin Moore . 

‘If you have the space, bench seating provides somewhere to sit and change shoes, as well as handy underneath storage. Stack appliances to create extra floorspace and add a ceiling laundry pulley for drying linens. Fit it above the sink so wet outerwear can drip dry without leaving puddles on the floor.’

2. Choose low-maintenance and durable flooring

(Image credit: Paul Massey)

A utility room is a busy, hardworking space so it is important to choose a flooring that is made to last. 

‘Natural stone retains heat in the winter and is cool in the summer. Wood effect ceramic floors give the beauty of wood planks but are more practical and hardwearing,’ says Richard Moore.  

‘As to whether you continue the kitchen floor into the utility, this is really dependent on whether you are looking to unify the space or create a statement room in its own right. Patterned floors can delineate the space and provide wow factor when glimpsed through a glass or open door.’

Architectural collection painted in ‘Almost Black’, Martin Moore

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

A Sheila Maid airer is often top of people’s utility room wishlists. It’s great if you’re looking to save space and need small utility room ideas, but they are also popular in traditional country homes, as it provides natural air drying for your laundry while making a vintage style statement. 

While a utility room is often an ‘out of sight’ space that only you and your family members will see, it’s important that they look good and work for your lifestyle – after all, you’ll be using it most days. 

This design, for example, has its own distinct character with cabinetry hand-painted a deep charcoal grey and an equally dramatic floor. There is space to hang clothes, ample work surface, as well as a sink, tumble dryer and washing machine.

4. Step it up to the ceiling

Bespoke kitchens, Humphrey Munson

(Image credit: Humphrey Munson)

‘Ease of use and accessible storage are key when designing a utility room,’ says Peter Humphrey, founder and director of Humphrey Munson . ‘This Classic oak ladder can be moved along the rail to access the upper cupboards safely, providing masses of utility room storage and making full use of the available space,’ he adds. 

While floorspace in a utility room can be limited, you can use tall cabinetry to your advantage. This design includes two freezers, a drying cupboard and plenty of shelving. 

‘By raising the height of the washing machines and tumble dryers we’ve made the space more practical, with less reaching down to empty and load the machines,’ adds Peter.

5. Plan storage carefully

Suffolk laundry cabinet, painted in Moss; storage accessories, all Neptune

(Image credit: Neptune)

How you plan your utility room shelving can make all the difference to the function of your utility room, as Jessica Sims-Wilson, home designer at Neptune Cheltenham, explains. ‘If you have the space, consider making it all about cleaning – put the dishwasher in there, an extra sink, all of your cleaning lotions and potions.’ 

If your utility room is destined to be a multifunctional space – combining laundry, a boot room and storage for the vacuum and carpet cleaner, for example – zone the space and give each cupboard a dedicated role. 

‘It will really change the feel of your kitchen and make it a more lifestyle-focussed or entertaining space,’ says Sims-Wilson, ‘because all of the chore-related activity happens in a spare room.’ 

6. Steal space from a kitchen

Design by Studio De Rosee Sa

(Image credit: De Rosee Sa)

When creating a new utility area, you often take room from a kitchen. This makes practical sense as you can use existing plumbing and electrics, but does sometimes leave you an awkward and narrow utility room space to work with. In this situation, stick to light colours to ensure the room feels fresh and airy, and consider a handleless design for a streamlined finish.  

Architecture studio De Rosee Sa gave this design a modern vibe with painted vertical panelling, which offers a sense of height. Meanwhile, sweeping the colour over the door and cabinets creates a sense of cohesion. 

7. Look on the bright side

Photograph Lukonic photography. Designed by Guild Anderson.

(Image credit: Guild Anderson)

Transform a mundane space for household chores into an uplifting room to be in. This cabinetry by Guild Anderson has been painted in Benjamin Moore’s bright and cheery Sunray shade, and the room is further enhanced by the natural light which floods through the windows. 

If you are unsure of experimenting with bold kitchen color ideas then the utility room is a prime opportunity to let your creative side flourish. 

While you don’t need to add too many decorative elements, if you have young children it might be a fun idea to incorporate a chalk noticeboard to leave pictures and messages on. 

8. Take a cost-effective approach

True Handleless Cambridge utility room in Midnight Blue, Benchmarx Kitchens

(Image credit: Benchmarx Kitchens)

More often than not, homeowners will update or create a new utility room at the same time as redesigning their kitchen. While this can be a cost-effective plan, it’s likely that the bulk of the budget will be weighted to the kitchen as this will be seen and used the most. 

‘Where countertops are concerned, if you’ve gone for a beautiful quartz or similar in the main kitchen, you could consider choosing a similar look in a more cost-effective finish for the utility room,’ suggests Julia Trendell, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchens . 

‘Laminates, for example, have many marble-esque, granite and even sparkle-flecked options that can echo your kitchen choice perfectly.’

Take more inspiration from our kitchen countertop ideas. 

9. Choose vinyl flooring that’s up to the task

Mardi Gras 576 Estrella vinyl, Carpetright

(Image credit: Carpetright)

Your space may double up as a boot room or dog-grooming zone, which means it should stand up to mud and wear and tear. Opting for vinyl flooring is not only an affordable option, but a practical one, too. 

Luxury vinyl tiling is also resistant to chemical stains and water, so can be cleaned easily and frequently. Fortunately these days there are plenty of finishes to choose between, from those mimicking wood and stone to playful patterned that add a splash of decoration while disguising pesky footprints. 

Look out for vinyl floor tiles, as opposed to rolls which are prone to warping, with a wear guarantee as standard for longevity. 

10. Coordinate with the kitchen

Shaker range, Harvey Jones

(Image credit: Harvey Jones Kitchens)

‘We find most homeowners replicating the look and feel of their kitchen in the utility room – same worktop and colour scheme, with perhaps a twist on the handles,’ says Matt Baker, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones . 

When planning your cabinetry, be sure to incorporate rails, open utility room shelving ideas and baskets, to avoid the small space feeling cramped with too many wall cabinets. 

‘Box shelving is a great way to open up a wall and create storage, and can be painted to match the cabinets or highlight a favourite colour from within the room,’ suggests Matt.

11. Display, don’t decorate 

The Classic English Scullery, deVOL

(Image credit: deVOL)

‘Utility rooms really do have to work, so the trick is to combine function and longevity with decor that feels authentic rather than over-dressed,’ says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL. 

‘There’s no need for decoration unless it’s useful or relates to the function of the room, so I’d advise against putting up pictures or carefully placed ornaments – just let the room dictate its decoration.’ 

‘If you are a gardener, nothing is prettier than packets of seeds, terracotta pots, jam jar vases and baskets for gathering flowers and homegrown produce.’

12. Glow up

Bespoke kitchen designs, Mark Wilkinson

(Image credit: Mark Wilkinson)

If your utility room sits in an area of the house where there is little or no natural light, think carefully about different ways to illuminate the space. 

As well as your standard overhead light, why not add under-cabinet strip lighting and task lighting to add a shine to your chores? With no windows, it is a good idea to consider installing additional ventilation too, as heat and moisture are likely.  

Vented tumble dryers will need to be installed next to an external wall. If this isn’t possible, you will need to opt for a condenser tumble dryer instead.

13. Create a view to the utility room

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

Utility rooms are usually hidden away behind a door, but consider creating a permanent visual link between the two spaces instead. ‘We wanted to establish a clear separation between the kitchen and the utility whilst still retaining a sense of cohesion between the two spaces,’ says Richard Moore, Design Director, Martin Moore of this family home refurbishment project. 

‘We installed tall Crittall doors to give the owners a clear run from the utility room through to the kitchen and dining area, meaning they can keep an eye on their young children whilst cooking or sorting out laundry. It also allows natural light to stream throughout the space.‘

The room was given its own distinct character, however, painted kitchen cabinets finished in a deep charcoal gray shade and a dramatic floor.

14.  Opt for a sizeable sink

(Image credit: Davonport)

A sink of generous proportions could be a good choice for a utility room with the uses it’s put to different from those in the kitchen. 

‘A butler sink is a good choice for a utility room as it’s deep enough to soak laundry in, clean dirty boots in and, due to the ceramic finish, it is also very easy to keep clean,’ says Richard Davonport, Managing Director and Founder of Davonport . ‘They are historically the type of sink that was designed for the butler’s pantry in London (hence the name), so they nod to this heritage and are aesthetically a nice focal point.’

15. Surprise with cabinetry color

(Image credit: Harvey Jones)

The choice of color for cabinetry can lift a utility room and contribute to a scheme that’s attractive rather than merely functional. 

‘This pink utility room is just off a neutral kitchen,’ explains Matt Baker, Kitchen Designer at Harvey Jones. ‘We agreed with the homeowners to create something a little different from the kitchen and chose a more playful shade to inject character. The light pink hue paired with a modern style of cabinetry looks fresh and contemporary and brightens up a slightly darker space.’

In fact, a utility room can be the ideal venue for a color choice you might be hesitant to make elsewhere in your home. ‘They’re usually hidden away and we don’t spend enough time in them to get bored of a bolder color scheme,’ says Matt.

16. Hang wallpaper

(Image credit: Future / Lisa Cohen)

Utility rooms are really receptive to bold decorating styles. It is also a great space to experiment with decor if you are a little apprehensive because it is not a room you have to stay in for long lengths of time.  

‘Strong colors and patterns can work well in a smaller space – perhaps matching the accent color used within the main kitchen,’ suggests Richard. 

Also consider echoing the kitchen cabinet design but in a different finish to achieve good continuity and flow between spaces, particularly if there is open or glazed access between the two. This space which showcases the celebrated Tema e Variazioni design from Fornasetti. 

Displaying clear glass objects in front of the paper keeps it highly visible, while silver finishes harmonize with the wallpaper’s colorway with the result that the room feels rich in interest rather than merely practical.  

17. Consider counter materials

(Image credit: Mowlem & Co)

The counters of a utility room need to be hard wearing and hygienic – just as they are in the kitchen. Choosing the same material for both spaces is an option for continuity and is ideal if you’re looking for utility room ideas that will make the two spaces feel linked. 

Julia Brown, Design Director, Mowlem & Co , Newcastle, opted to use the same white Carrara marble she did for the wall run of kitchen cabinets in this utility room. ‘Some projects cry out for a beautiful blend of all the finest ideas, materials and solutions – especially when ample space allows,’ she says. 

Using a natural material that will always have a unique appearance for the counter contributes to the character of the room, and the pale marble is combined with this tongue and groove, hand-painted kitchen cabinet idea as part of an overall subtle color scheme in soft blue, grey and white.

18. Incorporate unfitted furniture

(Image credit: Future / Simon Brown)

Cabinets made bespoke for a utility room can maximize every inch of space and provide a design that suits exactly the uses and precisely the storage demands on the room. However, it’s also worth considering introducing a freestanding piece of storage furniture for a characterful finish.

Antique linen cupboards, along with furniture used by previous generations for other storage purposes, retain their usefulness today with internal layouts that provide adequate space for folded linens and towels. 

Size up to a design that extends towards ceiling height to utilize otherwise dead space in the room. Width-wise, be sure to measure how much space is needed to open the doors, especially in a narrow room and where storage is placed opposite front-loading laundry appliances.

19. Pick terracotta for a farmhouse feel

(Image credit: Artisans of Devizes)

A utility room is a high traffic area requiring hard-wearing and durable flooring. It should also be able to cope with splashes, and prove easy to clean. For this room, the homeowners picked terracotta. 

‘Used on walls and floors for centuries, terracotta tiles have never gone out of fashion,’ says Hamish Smith, Creative Director, Artisans of Devizes . ‘A timeless look perfect for classic and contemporary interior projects, this rustic surface solution has seen a huge surge in interest with consumers, designers and architects alike.’

Terracotta is also a sound choice for adding texture to a scheme that contrasts with the smooth surfaces of counter and cabinetry for decorative richness.

20. Make it streamlined

(Image credit: Scavolini)

Stacking front-loading laundry appliances can be a space-saving strategy. Designed-for-purpose cabinetry is essential to support the weight and be mindful, too, that the top machine’s height needs to be convenient for operation by all the room’s users. 

Flat-fronted cabinets can keep the look of a utility room contemporary, and handleless options can also be a sound choice in smaller spaces where every inch counts. This design by Scavolini features an integrated sink and pull-out washboard as well.

‘If families have the space and budget, we recommend incorporating two washing machines and two dryers so laundry can be processed in half the time,’ says Richard Moore. ‘For a recent project we were asked to accommodate some commercial laundry machines, which offer much larger capacities than domestic. Commercial clothes steamers have also become quite popular for eliminating trips to the dry cleaner. An extra fridge, freezer and dishwasher is a real luxury, especially if you entertain on a large scale, and can often be tucked away in the utility.’

21. Think about an open arrangement

(Image credit: Life Kitchens)

A utility room that’s a zone of the kitchen rather than a separate room could be a convenient alternative to one that’s closed off and behind a door. 

‘When a utility room opens to a kitchen it can provide many benefits,’ says Graeme Smith, Head of Retail & Commercial Design at Life Kitchens .  

‘Often a utility room contains many items that we need at hand on a daily basis, so having this close to the kitchen is handy as you’ll be able to easily access things you need. In addition to this, having a utility room connected to a kitchen helps to free up space for kitchen storage ideas.’

If you opt for this arrangement, consider the noise levels of appliances to avoid laundry cycles intruding on activities in the kitchen. 

22. Plan storage that conceals

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

As an alternative to tidying the items kept in a utility room behind cabinet doors consider slide-out options. ‘We often recess pigeon holes and shelving into the cabinetry to insert wicker baskets, which not only look great but provide a convenient place to keep light bulbs, laundry detergent and other bits and bobs which might clutter up a home,’ says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch of Sims Hilditch . 

Slide-out storage has the advantage that you can take it right out of the place where it’s stashed for best access to the contents. Kits for cleaning or for repairing clothes, for example, can also be easily carried to where they’re needed.

23. Cater for different activities

(Image credit: Future / Mark Scott)

A utility room can be far from merely a laundry space, and is handy for arranging flowers fresh from the garden as well as shop-bought varieties. If yours fulfills this function, follow this room’s lead with counter-top storage dedicated to vases of different sizes and shapes to suit all your displays accessible right where you’re arranging for maximum convenience.

This slim cupboard leaves space to work on the counter, and adds pretty detail with its rustic wire front.

24. Experiment with materials and finishes

(Image credit: Herringbone Kitchens)

Think about including a range of textures and finishes in your utility room ideas for added interest. 

Glazed cabinets can be part of the mix just as they are in the kitchen, provided you pick the right glass: 

‘The reeded glass units make the space feel lighter and add interest to the cabinetry,’ says William Durrant, owner of Herringbone Kitchens of this design. ‘In addition it adds a new texture and helps with obscuring the glass so you don’t have to be too tidy behind it.’

The Belfast sink adds attractive and tactile detail to the scheme, too, while pink tiles laid in a herringbone pattern add subtle color and shimmer.

25. Dress the window

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Utility rooms can often be window-less spaces but if you’re fortunate enough to have a room with a window, there’s the opportunity to use an attractive treatment. A Roman shade will add a softer note to a scheme of hard surfaces, hanging in soft pleats. 

It can be a good strategy to follow this room’s example by fixing it above the window so it doesn’t obstruct any of the daylight when it’s pulled up and leaves the space brighter.

Interior plantation shutters can be a fabulous alternative. These allow light and privacy to be finely regulated, can block bright sunlight as necessary to prevent the space overheating, and are easy to clean as well.  

26. Fit a laundry chute 

(Image credit: Martin Moore)

Weave solutions into your utility room design that will make life more convenient for you. 

This one would also make a great laundry room idea as it has a laundry chute: ‘It runs directly from the boys’ bedroom which is one floor above,’ explains Richard Moore, Design Director at Martin Moore. ‘It means that the laundry doesn’t have to be carried through the kitchen.’

The room’s cupboards boost the ease of use of the space, too, with purpose-fitted interiors providing storage for an ironing board, and space for keeping linens pristine.

27. Introduce pattern at floor level

(Image credit: Future / Jody Stewart)

One of the best opportunities for indulging in a love of pattern when designing a utility room is to bring it to the floor, which provides the largest canvas in a room fitted with cabinets and laundry appliances. 

Here the patchwork-style tiles make the space enticing to enter into. They also pick up a warm shade that links to the wallpaper of the hallway beyond for a cohesive feel.

As with kitchen tile ideas, tiling a utility will prove an easy to maintain finish and will stand up to splashes of water. 

28. Make a small utility room feel bigger

(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)

In a compact area, cabinetry raised up on legs will create a more expansive feel as the floor can be seen from one side of the room to the other. Hiding the appliances by fitting them into purpose-made cabinetry can also make the space feel larger by concealing their bulky shapes behind doors. 

Taking this route is also a great way to put the emphasis on the room’s furniture rather than its practical elements, making for a more decorative scheme.

To boost storage in a small utility room where opportunities to add it are few, take a leaf from the designer of this space and fit shelves on the side of tall cabinets.

29. Choose warm metals

(Image credit: Paul Craig / Miele)

To give a hard-working room a warmer note, consider a faucet in a warm metallic finish rather than a cool version. This Perrin & Rowe Phoenician mixer has an aged brass finish that will have enduring style, and it’s teamed with tactile porcelain lever handles. 

Designed by Humphrey Munson, the utility room has cabinetry handles with the same warm tone, and a Miele washing machine and dryer set behind cabinet doors in a smart symmetrical arrangement either side of the sink. 

30. Make space for a large sink

(Image credit: Penny Wincer)

It’s easy to think you don’t need an additional sink in a utility room, particularly if you have a double sink in the main kitchen area. But a large sink is key to well-functioning utility room. 

‘Alongside plumbing for laundry appliances, a large Belfast style sink is invaluable for all the tasks one would prefer not to carry out in the main kitchen,’ says Richard Moore. 

‘Go as big as you can accommodate to cater for pre-soaking clothes and flower arranging, as well as hiding dirty pots and pans when entertaining!’

31.

Make space for arranging flowers

(Image credit: Vanrenen GW Designs)

If you’re a keen flower grower then why not let your utility room double as a space to cut and arrange home-grown blooms? Often located off a main kitchen or living area with access to the garden, utility rooms are well placed for setting down buckets full of stems, or, if you’re a budding florist, you could even create a dedicated flower room. 

When it comes to designing a flower room a large, deep sink is a must for plunging flowers into water to keep them from wilting, as is ample worktop space laying out stems into groups ready for arranging. Rather than opting for cupboard space consider installing plenty of open shelving to store vases – this will make them easily accessible and can make a beautiful display. Think about having hooks for twine and, scissors and secateurs as well as hooks overhead for drying flowers. Alternatively, a pulley clothes dryer could work just as well.

32.

Use robust finishes

(Image credit: Dan Duchara)

Fitting tongue and groove paneling finished in a durable, wipeable paint finish can make a practical wall treatment in boot rooms and utility rooms as they can be subject to a lot of spills, knocks and bumps. Opt for an eggshell paint suited for interior woodwork such as Little Greene’s Intelligent Eggshell pictured here in pretty Pea Green. 

A handy seat for taking shoes off and on is a brilliant way to make the most of forgotten corners while the space underneath can be used to store boots or picnic hampers. It’s also worth thinking about making the most of the wall space by adding hooks and a tall shelf. 

33. Opt for bespoke joinery in a boot room

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

If you’re looking to create a practical boot room then it goes without saying that effective storage is key. Bespoke joinery is the best way to get the most from your space as it can be designed around your personal needs providing plenty of space to house everything from coats, boots and bags, to pet care products and outdoor essentials like picnic hampers.  

‘A boot room should include practical storage solutions such as built-in bespoke shelving and coat hooks,’ says Louise Wicksteed, design director at Sims Hilditch. ‘Bespoke joinery may cost a little more, but it does mean that the design will be perfectly suited to the space. Do try to combine seating and storage as well as a basket for each member of the family to store items of outdoor clothing.’ 

34. Consider flooring

(Image credit: Sims Hildtich Interior Design with floor tiles from Artisans of Devizes)

Hardwearing flooring is a must in a utility or boot room as they are high traffic areas in frequent use. Durable, and boasting beautiful natural markings, solid stone makes a lovely choice for a period home provided it is non-porous or sealed to protect from staining. For a rustic look, consider limestone tiles which have been ‘tumbled’ to give a rustic flagstone finish such as these Seasoned Buscot Limestone tiles at Artisans of Devizes, pictured in a beautiful utility space by Sims Hilditch.  

35. Choose adjustable lighting

(Image credit: Original BTC)

Lighting ideas play an important role in any practical space. When designing a lighting scheme take time to analyse exactly what you need to use your utility room for and to factor in enough task lighting to suit. Being limited on space, utility rooms benefit from flexible lighting, says Charlie Bowles, director, Original BTC . ‘Lights that can be moved, adjusted or angled can effectively control the direction or spread of light. Adjustable rise & fall pendants or spotlights help illuminate task areas and supplement natural light.’

36. Add in baskets

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Cubby holes are a great storage idea for keeping utility rooms organized, but left as open shelves they can look untidy. Filling them with rustic woven baskets is a good way to keep the clutter out of sight, plus they make a fitting choice for a country look. 

37. Make space for faithful friends

(Image credit: Brent Darby)

If you have a dog then there are plenty of ways you can make your utility room doggy friendly. Why not give your constant companion a sleeping space they deserve with a bespoke bed? ‘In addition to your usual storage solutions, you can design a comfortable nook for a dog bed, a dedicated food station and hooks for leads,’ suggests Tom Howley , design director at the eponymous kitchen company. ‘There is also a trend for purpose-built pet showers, ideal for washing muddy paws after a long country walk,’ he adds.

38. Be bold with color

(Image credit: Dan Duchars )

As spaces in which we don’t spend huge amounts of time, utility rooms can be a great places to be bold with color. For a twist on a the traditional country kitchen colors try a deep navy/charcoal shade on woodwork and cabinetry. To warm up the look add in honeyed natural wood worktops, wicker baskets and finish with burnished brass hardware and fixtures.

How can I make my utility room look nice?

The key to making a utility room look nice is good storage. Get as much as you can behind closed doors – including appliances – and the space will always look neat and tidy, however plainly decorated it is.

If your utility room is off the kitchen, choosing cabinetry that is identical in design but perhaps a shade or two lighter in color can be a good way to create a link between the two spaces. 

Lighting is important too – it can help what is often a small space feel bright, especially if there is no window or door to shed light or open for ventilation. 

Finally, adding decorative details, from bright floor tiles to pretty wallpaper to a shelf of pretty tins in which you can hide laundry tablets will create an attractive finish.

Does a utility room add value to your home?

A utility room can add value to your home. It’s a particularly worthwhile feature if the downstairs layout is open to any extent, keeping laundry appliances away from family space and allowing washing, drying, ironing, clothes repairs and more to take place in a dedicated area where these tasks don’t intrude on other household activities.

A utility room can be a relatively inexpensive feature to introduce as it could be carved out of existing space, as well as be part of an addition.  

Not only could it bring a return on investment, but it can attract buyers when the time comes to sell. In fact, not having one of these rooms can be a serious issue. Some 91 per cent of home buyers want one in their home, and it’s the number one most desirable home or community feature, ranking above energy-efficient windows, patios and more, according to the NAHB ’s report What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 edition).

Where the utility room is positioned matters, too. A laundry room that’s located on the main floor is the modern approach and preferable to either basement or higher floor options, if space allows. 

(Image credit: Sims Hildtich Interior Design with floor tiles from Artisans of Devizes)

(Image credit: Sims Hildtich Interior Design with floor tiles from Artisans of Devizes)

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

30 laundry room ideas for snug and sizeable spaces

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Great laundry room ideas can make all the difference to what can be a loathsome task. Whether it’s professional attire, school uniforms or a sports kit, we all have to wash clothes daily or weekly, depending on our work and social schedules.

It’s a tough nut to crack, but staying on top of those never-ceasing wash pile mountains is easier done when you’ve got a stylish set up to keep your space in check. 

Stacks of ironing just aren’t a good look, and since most of us have to dedicate a fair amount of time to doing laundry, it makes sense to keep your utility area looking as fresh as your washing loads, right?

If you have a separate laundry room, complete with the best washing machine around, there are lots of things you can do in the way of adding design interest and organized functionality. But fear not if you don’t. Even a small scheme can work hard at looking good and staying true to its purpose, helping you to keep those cotton-fresh scents coming and your laundry room decor ideas styled and as beautiful as ever.

Laundry room ideas for seamless style and function

Create a, dare we say, blissful environment replete with laundry room storage ideas and clever decor tricks. Keeping the workspace looking good and shipshape will make doing laundry much more enjoyable, and who doesn’t want that?

Experts at Persil concur: ‘Regular laundry is essential for your household, and a clean, well-organized laundry room will make the task a whole lot easier.’

Transform your lackluster laundry room from messy to immaculate with easy laundry room organization ideas, clever configurations and pro styling tips that will scrub up and refresh how you use and see your space. Yep, you’ll be able to tackle the mud, without the sweat and tears!

1. Make use of every last inch of space

(Image credit: DARREN CHUNG PHOTOGRAPHY LTD)

Let your laundry room reach new heights (quite literally) by optimizing the space you have to store clothes, detergents, pegs and more by making the most of recessed walls and tall ceilings.

The shelves within this alcove idea allow for framed art and other home accessories to create a cozy atmosphere. Because let’s face it, no one really enjoys cleaning, so you’ll want to make the environment feel as hospitable as possible. The airer suspended from the ceiling, will make your room feel taller and is a great place to hang tea towels too.

2. Highlight your wash day assets with LED strip lights

(Image credit: Getty/onurdongel (Creative: 1329905542))

Laundry rooms aren’t known for being the most fashionable of rooms, but if you want to remove the frumpy feel of this room – modernize your laundromat with a sultry lighting idea to create an ambient mood.

Though it looks super expensive, you can DIY the job by buying strip lighting on Amazon and fitting it yourself. Choose warm bulbs and dark decor (we love the walnut wood and matt black wall paint) to create a beautiful contrast that has a midcentury modern touch. With its chic and sophisticated, gender neutral look, this is bound to break the boundaries of ‘blue and pink’ household chores.

Show off your best eco-friendly laundry detergents and display the best bath towels for a spa-like space you’ll want to show off to guests.

And, if you’ve got the room to play with, the adjacent walk-in closet idea is a must for fashionistas who like functionality. 

3. Squeeze a comprehensive setup into cupboards

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

Ideas for small laundry rooms don’t have to be sub-par, so if you’ve got an itsy-bitsy space – think outside the box. Contrary to what you might think, laundry rooms aren’t just for lavish houses with wealthy inhabitants in the sticks. So if you’re looking for a laundry room idea that’ll look good in urban dwellings, make use of your cupboard space.

‘Our client wanted to hide all the appliances in their compact city kitchen. The cleaning cupboard has been designed with every detail in mind.’ says Emma Sims-Hilditch, founder of Sims Hilditch .

By utilizing the broom cupboard, and strategically stacking a washing machine and tumble dryer, everything is tucked away tidily in the resident’s cooking space. A recipe for success, we think you’ll agree?

4. Go wild with wallpaper

(Image credit: Future)

It might sound counter-intuative to introduce a wallpaper idea in a place where water and wet objects are present, but done carefully it can add atmosphere and interest to your laundry room.

If you are concerned that your beautiful wall covered will get ruined, considering using products designed for the bathroom or areas with high humidity. A peel and stick wallpaper is a renter-friendly choice should you be blessed to have a designated laundry room in your rental.

We particularly love this on-trend, biophillic idea with palms and a pop of green. A budget way to refresh a tired laundry room quickly and cheaply. If the Entomological framed wall art bugs you out a bit, get the Miami beach look with this Tempaper adhesive wallpaper, available on Amazon . It’ll look great with some pastel pink cabinets.

5. Create a calming coastal feel with nautical decor

(Image credit: Dunelm)

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, and we can bet you’d rather be by the coast than drowning in a sea of socks, pants and underwear. But if you can’t go to the beach, bring the beach to you.

Wall paneling ideas are an instant way to bring coastal character to your clothes cleaning cabin, and when paired with a dark teal hue, is a ‘shore’ way to harbor that at-sea aesthetic.

The Harbor Small Sideboard by Dunelm is the an idyllic place to store clothes, and reinforces the nautical theme without going overboard with cheese. The Louvre doors had that beach hut/cabin vibe, while also adding an ayr of rustic charm with distressed edge detail. 

6. Introduce Shaker-style details into the mix

(Image credit: Olive & Barr)

Shaker-style decor isn’t exclusively reserved for the kitchen. So if you want to add a sophisticated touch to your space, this is one laundry room idea that washes with us.

When thinking about laundry room paint color ideas, navy can add a dramatic atmosphere to your laundry, while brass fixtures are bound to make it feel classic and expensive too. Elevate the look by introducing faux marble counter to create a – dare we say it – glamorous feel!

7.

Go shabby-chic with clashing prints, colors and textures

(Image credit: Homesense)

Bring your laundry room to life with a lived-in feel that feels authentic. Because if we’re being realistic, a proper cleaning space isn’t spic and span all the time, so by embracing clashing hues, different textures and motifs, you don’t have to stress about a perfectly matching ensemble of coordinating items.

This modern traditional setup is a beautiful example of a laundry room that has organically evolved. The floral and French laundry baskets add a classic feel, while painting a wooden table is super easy to DIY, if you know how to paint furniture.

8. Separate lights and darks with a unique system

(Image credit: The Secret Drawer; Armac Martin)

Everyone has their preferred laundry ritual – we’re certainly not going to dispute! But to get the most out of this dedicated space, you need to group and order with ease.

To do this, incorporate a mix of drawers, cupboards, and open shelves to store laundry essentials at all levels, maximizing functionality whilst making the same look seamless.

Shown here, are dedicated pull-out bins to separate washing colors, not only getting garments ready for action (avoiding ‘accidental’ color dyes) but lending a charming accent feature with a nod of country charm. 

9. Elevate your utilitarian space with decorative tiles

(Image credit: Tile Club)

Turn basic into beautiful with a hardworking floor and wall tiles to give your laundry space a creative update. From eye-catching patterns on glossy tiled splashback features to meandering pathways with splash-resistant floor tiles, pave the way to your dream aesthetic with a tile shape, material, and finish to suit all.  

If you rent or are looking for a quick, budget-friendly update that requires minimal effort, try a creative peel and stick tile from the likes of Tileclub wall in a dry area for a fun new look!

Going for conventional concrete tile? Learn how to tile a wall so you can splash out a bit more on your favorite design and save on labor costs.

10. Luxe up laundry days with contemporary details

(Image credit: Westbourne Group; Armac Martin)

Spin your laundry space into a sophisticated haven with designer-inspired touches. Nod to the coolest kitchen backsplash ideas with smart subway tiles that tick all the boxes for style and practicality also.

Keep things airy and bright with open-shelving to make a functional yet attractive display of sustainable small storage solutions, like glass storage jars for washing powders and woven baskets for folded linens. And for a final touch that helps define the space, frame white goods with contrasting cabinets.

11. Incorporate a pet bed for a dose of puppy therapy 

(Image credit: Tile Club)

It’s no fun doing the laundry alone. Why not enlist the company of your favorite four-legged friend whilst boosting your laundry room’s efficiency by converting a cupboard into a cozy nook for furballs to curl up in? You never know, you might even be able to prevent muddy paws from marking their territory throughout the main home! Note that you may want to opt for a quiet washing machine to not disturb their zzzs!

Simon Bodsworth, MD at Daval says: ‘Given that pet ownership is higher than ever before, taking a more considered approach with dedicated storage space, integrated pet stations and durable materials that can withstand heavy use, yet remain beautiful is going to be essential. ’ 

He continues: ‘Fresh design concepts like the ‘bootility room’ and perfect combo mudroom laundry ideas are helping to retain the social aspects of open living by minimizing noise from laundry appliances and preventing dirt and debris coming into the main areas of the home.’ 

12. Install white goods above ground level 

(Image credit: Brandt Design)

Washing machines and dryers are big and bulky by nature, so consider the best integrated washing machines and opt for other laundry room appliances that can be into built-in cupboards to free up precious floor space, making room for more useful additions like a portable ironing station and clothes dryers. It’s all about getting clever with what you do have.

Julia Steadman, commercial director, Brandt Design comments: ‘Creating space is essential in the home these days with the kitchen becoming all rooms to all people. Having to accommodate both practical and social aspects of modern life is key and so finding new ways to maintain high functionality yet keep noise levels to a minimum has given the laundry and utility room new focus. ’

She continues: ‘Taking the time to do a ‘laundry audit’ is highly recommended, as this will give you a better idea of how much laundry is being done each week and how it is currently managed to ensure your new utility room can fully support your needs.’ 

13. Work out the best location for your laundry room

(Image credit: Life Kitchens)

Laundry rooms are the workhorse of the home and a noisy one at that! The size of the household will ultimately determine the weekly laundry mountains, so it’s important to establish what’s going to be the most time-efficient scenario. 

‘Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens comments: ‘To work out the best location for a utility room think of what function you are going to use the space for,’

‘A utility room could be located towards the center of the house and not too far from the bedrooms as most of your washing will come from these. With the acoustics of appliances running in mind, you may alternatively wish to locate it away from a room where you entertain and socialize.

‘On the other hand, a utility room often contains many items that we need at hand on a daily basis, so having this close to your cooking and food preparation area is handy as you’ll be able to easily access things you’ll need quickly.’

14. Create hanging space for air drying and ironed clothes

(Image credit: Life Kitchens)

One of the most practical laundry room ideas is creating hanging space to keep newly pressed threads crease-free as you iron or to air-dry freshly laundered pieces.

All you need are simple tension rods easily found at Amazon et voila! Create a flexible shelving system that serves all of your requirements. Learning how to dry clothes without a dryer will help you to save energy at home, lower energy bills and enjoy longer-lasting clothes, as well as being kinder to the planet – win-win!

15. Get crafty with DIY counter space

(Image credit: Ikea)

Fancy dabbling in a spot of DIY? Add extra workspace by creating a tabletop for your washer and dryer using simple plywood sheets which can be bought online at Amazon.  

Alternatively, learn how to put up a shelf with brackets. Or, if you don’t fancy all the work involved, you could introduce a deep shelving idea to make extra workspace. 

16. Hang a clothes airer on the wall or ceiling

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

Clothes racks are beyond useful additions to bedrooms and laundry rooms alike, but if you don’t have so much space available, choose a wall-mounted drying or hanging version to make the most of that precious square footage. Check out this clothes airer from UK brand Garden Trading which has a nifty shelf for even more storage and hooks for must-have laundry accessories – think lint rollers and the like.

17. Stick to a storage theme

(Image credit: Garden Trading )

Sticking with a particular style for your laundry room will make it look and feel tidier, which, in turn, will probably make laundry chores much more enjoyable. 

Mix utilitarian laundry staples boasting nostalgic appeal (yes that’s you tin canisters, glass storage jars, and wire mesh caddies), with natural materials on cabinets for a country-inspired scheme, full of character and texture.  

18. Label stackable storage baskets

(Image credit: Orthex Group at Homebase)

Restore order in your laundry space with baskets and storage with labels. Stackable baskets with in-built, wipe-clean labels look really neat in any space, big or small; plus, they will make a daily laundry room sweep far easier if you know which compartment to add items to.

Create labels by using the Scotch thermal laminator (available on Amazon) with card to make the tickets waterproof, or invest in a label machine, like a Cricut Joy, which is occasionally on offer on Amazon , for uber professional results.

19. Store products in glass containers

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re trapped in a laundry room, rummaging through messy cupboards to find what you’re looking for. So save the washing powder spills and stresses by displaying your products proudly in glass and acrylic vessels. Here, we love how the clear containers look against the textured grey walls.

Blending functionality with style, you’ll be able to access the best cleaning products with ease and efficiency. Cinderella who? When you’re not housing flowers, fill your fishbowls with pegs, and use kitchen canisters (like these on Amazon) with a scoop to display laundry detergent and washing pods. Always keep them out of reach of your little ones on a top-shelf.

See-through accessories will also make the room appear bigger and airier. You could go one step further and buy eco-friendly detergent loose from a bulk store. You’ll be making an eco-friendly choice, save on all that recycling and reduce your carbon footprint.

Or why not look into investing in eco-friendly detergents (that also come in pretty packaging we may add) like KINN Living ‘s laundry collection?

Sophie Barrow, Co-Owner of KINN, explains, ‘When you switch to using a natural laundry product that doesn’t use these ingredients you’re already not only improving the quality of your own home environment by not breathing in those chemicals but you’re also stopping these harsher ingredients from washing down our drains and into our waters. ‘

20. Add a console or bookshelf

(Image credit: Ikea)

Add extra storage by simply bringing in a bookcase, cabinet or console table if the laundry room space permits. 

Or if floor space is at a premium, you could hang a wall cabinet or try a shelf to store the laundry clutter and feature your most Pinterest-perfect laundry accessories.

21. Make space for a laundry sink

(Image credit: KINN)

If your space permits, a laundry room sink is a really useful addition to dedicate to washing delicate items by hand or pre-soaking stains or soiled items. If space is at a premium, a corner sink might be just the ticket.

22. Opt for an industrial look

(Image credit: String Furniture)

Using open shelving such as String Furniture’s shelving system , can create an industrial look with stainless steel surfaces, shelving hooks for hanging accessories, and clean white accents such as tiles and appliances.

The modular nature of this furniture means that you can add or take away shelves to suit the growth or minimalism of your space.

23. Use wall hooks to hang laundry bags

(Image credit: Ikea)

Nowhere to hang clutter like laundry bags and accessories like towels? Follow IKEA ‘s lead and add wall hooks that will fit in even the smallest area of wall space. 

Create a regimented line of hooks or make more of a feature with an irregular positioning and an odd number of hooks.

24. Add laundry bins with wheels

(Image credit: Scavolini)

Create built-in spaces beside your washer for laundry bins with wheels – making lugging heavy laundry baskets a thing of the past. Bins will also hide a multitude of sins because they take a large quantity of washing, so there’ll be no messy laundry overspill coming up to laundry day.

25. Keep things clean with white

(Image credit: Getty / onurdongel)

Keeping your laundry room decor pared back will give the illusion of a larger space and it’ll feel tidier too. 

Whitewash the walls, use white subway tiling and add to the simplicity with natural basics and accessories.

Peter Erlandsson, co-owner of String Furniture explains, ‘To make your utility feel larger, there is an age-old doctrine of using light colors on walls to make your home look bigger.’ 

26. Create laundry space in a kitchen

(Image credit: B&M)

No room for a laundry room? Dedicate a space in your kitchen for your laundry baskets and accessories, either by clearing out a cupboard or adding a kitchen trolley solution on wheels. 

A cart can be wheeled over to your washer when needed and stored away the rest of the time. Add in some of the best indoor houseplants to get it a familiar vibe that fits in with the rest of the kitchen scheme.

27. Create a feature wall to add interest

(Image credit: Norsu Home)

Thinking of redecorating your laundry room? Add extra interest by creating a feature wall with a dramatic paint color or for a more practical option go for stylish tiles as a backsplash. 

(Image credit: Dunelm)

If you’re going to redecorate your laundry room, why not be brave and adopt a creative approach to your repainting? Give painting with tape a whirl, in a bold design to zhuzh up a dull backdrop, or try out this washi tape idea.

29. Store laundry room clutter behind a sliding door

(Image credit: Matalan)

If you don’t have a laundry room, why not use sleek fitted sliding storage in your bathroom or kitchen to store laundry clutter and stack a washer and your tumble dryer? 

The shelving will be useful for folding and will also hide stress mess – all you need to do is slide the door closed…

(Image credit: Ikea)

With careful planning, the best washer dryer can be accommodated without giving up too much floor space. You could incorporate a small laundry space in a powder room, closet or even an en-suite bathroom. We also like the tall shelves that draw the eye upwards, while making use of vertical space.

What should every laundry room have?

Laundry room essentials include: Detergent; bleach; dryer sheets; clothes dryers; small storage solution; stain and odor removers; sewing and mending supplies; an iron station; towels; cleaning supplies – go eco wherever possible for a mindful approach that’s kinder to you, your home, and the planet.  

Kim Emery aka @clippercityhouse , advises: ‘The best ideas for a laundry room in addition to the obvious washer and dryer are upper and lower cabinets for storage, a stylish utility sink, and space for hanging. You’ll love a laundry room that is functional as well as beautiful!’

How do you set up a laundry room?

Create a functional space with a space-saving, stackable washer and dryer; open shelves for storing wash day essentials; laundry bins to separate colors; an ironing station; drying racks – either standing or wall or ceiling mounted; a utility sink; and task lighting. 

Matt Phillips, head of UK operations, Rotpunkt , comments: ‘New and exciting design concepts, which are driving trends towards hardworking utility furniture like wall systems, multipurpose workstations and display cabinetry through to asymmetrical layouts and wall-hung solutions have a more ‘lifestyle’ vibe and design aesthetic,’

‘For me, I find the ability to integrate appliances with the furniture is still an unexpected design concept for the typical homeowner: especially when you’re able to include multiple appliances in one tall housing unit. ‘

‘Not only does this style of utility storage create a reactive laundry room able to conceal noise pollution and/or conflicting styles, but it also leaves more space to add-value through coordinated accessories and practical floor and wall storage.’

Holly is a Content Editor at Real Homes, and has previously worked at Future Homes brands including Country Homes & Interiors and Livingetc. She has a background in interior and event styling spanning a decade, which previously took her from coast to city and beyond to Australia. 

Holly loves working with creative minds and discovering fresh, indie brands, and is a firm believer that no home can have too many cushions, unruly blooms or decorative details of happy

Everything in its place: 7 perfectly designed utility cabinets

1 Neat cabinet with items from different categories

It is difficult to arrange items from different categories in one cabinet, the feeling of chaos somehow appears. But not here – in different sections there were stocks of food, bottles of wine, cleaning products, household appliances and tools. The whole secret is in the various compartments, adjusted to the size of the stored things. For example, very small shelves are reserved for low baskets with little things, the ironing board is not on the floor, but in an ideal compartment. Thanks to this, there is no “air” above it, and a usable space appears below.

Instagram @gailmiller_interiors

• Storage systems

  7 places in the apartment where you can place a utility cabinet

2 Clever storage system in the mini pantry

An alternative to closed cabinets are frame storage systems that can be placed, for example, in a pantry or dressing room. They have a little more space for different things. In this case, the floor-to-ceiling space is occupied by shelves with baskets, containers, as well as retractable baskets. Empty space is occupied by a vacuum cleaner and a beach umbrella – it would be difficult to fit them anywhere else. The upper mezzanine, as usual, with rarely used items – suitcases and travel bags. The next one is reserved for household supplies, they are also not needed every day. But in easy access there are signed boxes with tools, other household items, as well as baskets with towels and textiles. The wall on the side is not empty – a mop is suspended from it.

Instagram @calm_and_order

• Storage systems

  Where to store a mop and a vacuum cleaner so that they do not interfere: 8 ideas for an apartment and a house

3 Niche cabinet with various types of storage

The top shelf of this cabinet is occupied by standard transparent containers (budget and one of the most convenient options) with various little things and objects. Unlike other storage systems, there is a bar for outerwear – sometimes in the off-season it is better to keep it that way than tightly folded in bags. In the space below, everything is simple: a large closed drawer with rarely used things, on it is an open one with those that are needed more often. The organizer on the door deserves special attention. Signed compartments are filled with different contents, and special latches are made to prevent too high objects from falling out. Several pairs of shoes are attached to the very bottom of the door.

Instagram @thehomerevival

• Storage systems

  For those who love order: 8 perfectly organized cabinets

4 Open storage system with household appliances and other things

Everything seems to fit in this spacious niche. In the large compartment there is a vacuum cleaner (it is possible to charge it here) and a stepladder. If necessary, something not very large can be hung from a free wall. On the right side of the cabinet, each box and electrical appliance has a separate shelf – it looks neat, and it is probably very convenient to use. On the left, several shelves are reserved for supplies and small items in signed containers.

Instagram @neatlittlenest

• Storage systems

  Before and after: 7 wardrobes and wardrobes where they put things in perfect order

5 Compact cabinet with items by category

This compartment of the utility cabinet does not contain vacuum cleaners and mops, but a lot of various items and tools. For their organization, they chose not ordinary plastic containers, but more stylish baskets of two types. And the main principle was the division into categories: in one place there were only wires, in another – a supply of napkins for cleaning, in the third – garden accessories and tools. If necessary, this type of storage can be optimized by making the distances between the shelves smaller and adding 1-2 extra ones.

Instagram @organizedbylucy

• Storage systems

  What to store in a fabric basket: 9 ideas for ordering

6 Very small closet that fits everything you need

This closet is mainly for cleaning tools and accessories. Therefore, it was important to divide them into subcategories: this is how containers appeared separately for the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, etc. The containers themselves are quite simple, and the shelves are probably made by hand, which means that you can arrange convenient storage without high costs and custom-made cabinets. The space below is traditionally occupied by large household appliances. An ironing board and a compartment for packages are fixed on the walls.

Instagram @the_middle_house

7 Perfect storage on the shelves in the niche

It’s not just cleaning products, stocks, seasonal items that have to be neatly stored. Smaller items sometimes require no less careful approach to their organization. So, in the example in the photo, translucent containers of various sizes with batteries, receipts, games, stationery and much more were placed on the shelves, which is often randomly scattered in drawers throughout the house. A trolley was also placed in this utility closet – so it does not create a visual mess in the room, but it can be easily rolled out if necessary. And the traditional solution is a vertical vacuum cleaner suspended from the wall. In this case, it was placed atypically high.

Instagram @mollyfarhangi

• Storage systems

  Instructions for filling the closet: how to plan storage to fit everything

Material prepared by

Tatyana Chemodanova

ideas and photos with dimensions

Further convenience of using it depends on how thoughtfully designed the number and size of shelves in the closet.

So, the topic of today’s article: “Internal filling of the closet in the hallway, photo with dimensions, as well as some recommendations.”

Let’s get started.

We will show you some common options in the form of diagrams with approximate calculations, and we will also take a closer look at cabinet fittings that are designed to save interior space.

What are the features of the interior filling of the closet in the hallway?

As a rule, a closet in the hallway is not the main and only closet in the house, but an additional one.

And, if bed linen is placed in other closets, things that are rarely used, things that are not relevant at a particular time of the year, then in the corridor you need to place things that you use daily.

For example: shoes, hats, sports equipment, outerwear, accessories.

Of course, if the hallway is large and you have separate hangers for hats, umbrellas and a shoe shelf, then you don’t need to think much and you can place anything there.

But, few of us can boast of a very spacious corridor.

There is either a hanger with a shoe rack or a closet. And if you have just such a case, then let’s approach the issue thoughtfully and as conveniently as possible to plan the interior space.

So, what conditional areas should be in the wardrobe for the hallway?

We give you an approximate list, taking into account the breakdown into conditional zones: upper, lower and middle.

At the same time, the most necessary shelves are located in the middle at the level of outstretched hands. That is, those that you use several times a day.

And the side parts remain free if any of the shelves are pushed a little deeper inside, for example, shelves for linen and socks. Then there is a place on the side to attach a holder for hats or ties.

Top

• Sports storage (shelf)
• Out-of-season shoe box storage (shelf)

Middle section

• Long top storage compartment (bracket)
• Short top storage compartment (bracket)
• Office for shirts, dresses, skirts (bracket)

• Trouser compartment (bracket)
• Sweater compartment (shelf)
• T-shirt compartment (shelf)

Bottom part

Side parts

• Hat holder
• Holder for belts, bags, umbrellas
• Iron holder

Doors (if hinged)

• Iron holder
• Hair dryer and curling iron holder

• Vacuum cleaner hose holder

Practical cabinet designs to save space

Simply calculating the size, depth and width of shelves is not enough.

Before doing this, you need to know what fixtures and designs are on the market. Maybe they will be very useful to you and you will start from their presence when calculating the size of departments.

Here is a list of the most common accessories:

• Rods, brackets, clothes lifts on hangers
• Pants

• Holders for ties and belts
• Honeycomb baskets for linen and tights
• Shoe racks and shelves

Now we will look at each of them in detail, you will see their photos and then decide for yourself whether you need them. If yes, then estimate their size and plan the cabinet with this detail in mind.

Rods, brackets, lifts for clothes on hangers

Rods and brackets are different not only in length, but also in location. If your closet is very narrow, then it will not work out to equip it with a bracket for outerwear located along. Like in the photo, standard:

But you can put a transverse bracket. For narrow cabinets, this is just an ingenious invention. Here is a photo of such rods.

As you can see, they are regular and retractable. The latter are more expensive, but save more space.

There is also a very interesting and practical option – a lowering bracket. Things can hang just under the ceiling, and when necessary, you simply lower the bar.

And as you understand, the free space below can be equipped with additional shelves. This is what such a device, which is called an “elevator”, looks like. No need to stretch high, very comfortable.

It is also a good option when the bracket is equipped with additional accessories with which you can place more things in one area. These are the so-called “chains” and they look like this:

Pants

Pants are a very convenient addition. And sometimes it is not at all advisable to allocate an entire shelf with a bracket for storing trousers (of course, if you do not have 50 pairs of them). It is much more practical to place this holder somewhere under the shelf and make it retractable. For example:

Holders for ties and belts

Small things tend to wrinkle and disappear from sight if no special device is provided for their storage. We give you examples of the successful arrangement of such holders, and you already choose what you like best.

The last photo shows not an element of a closet, but an ordinary hanger. If you can buy one, then you don’t have to think about where to place the tie holder.

Honeycomb shelves for linen and tights

Decide right away how many drawers with dividers you need. Focus better on the number of family members who will use the closet. Ideally, each b = should have its own such shelf.

But ordering those with chipboard partitions is expensive. There are now ready-made distributors on the market that you just need to insert into the opening box. These are:

Therefore, before designing retractable systems, find distributors, find out their dimensions and, based on this information, make the final calculation.

Holders and shelves for shoes

There are also an incredible number of them now. And such elements are certainly needed, since putting shoes in a regular box is inconvenient. It will fit there quite a bit in this case, the shoes will wrinkle and it will be inconvenient to get it out. Look at the photo, what options for shoe holders are.

Holders and shelves for bags in the closet

If you have a large closet, it is very reasonable to get similar hooks or special shelves. Bags will always be in sight and will not wrinkle.

Iron holders

There is no better place for an iron! Provided, of course, that your wardrobe is spacious enough.

Vacuum cleaner holders

The vacuum cleaner itself can be placed on the lower shelf, and the handle can be fixed in this way.

When you have already decided what kind of accessories you will purchase, it’s time to do the initial calculations of the compartments.

After you make a sketch with the image of the necessary compartments, the master will already correct them and fit them to the exact dimensions, taking into account door systems and other nuances.

We give you some examples of successful schemes of the “insides” of the wardrobe, and you are already thinking what can be changed to suit your needs.

An example of filling a 2-door wardrobe

Here is an example of the simplest and most functional filling of a two-door wardrobe. You can take this calculation as a basis, and place drawers, pull-out brackets and other fittings in place of open shelves.

In general, it is not so easy to fill a two-door wardrobe correctly. There is very little space and you need to think about every centimeter and turn before making a decision. Here, as in the proverb: “Measure seven times – cut one.” But, if you managed to successfully arrange the inner drawers, then even in such a small closet a lot of things can fit.

Be sure to equip such a wardrobe with sliding fittings, lifts and other accessories for wardrobes. Don’t forget to equip the doors correctly.

For a small closet, it is better to put ordinary, hinged ones. And it is more convenient to open them (there is no dead zone) and you can hang something on the inside of the doors (holder for ties, scarves, hats, etc.).

An example of filling a 3-door wardrobe

And this is an example of a wardrobe with three compartment doors. In general, this scheme is designed for coupe-type doors. If you put oar, then there may be four of them.

An example of filling a 4-door wardrobe

There are a lot of options here. In a large closet, you can put not only what we have listed above, but also bed linen, blankets and other household items. We give you several schemes, and you are already looking at what is closer to you.

An example of filling a corner wardrobe

A corner wardrobe needs to be thought out very carefully, since the slightest negligence in the design and you will have large “walking” places. And this, we think, is not included in your plans in any way, because corner cabinets, as a rule, are ordered when they want to save space.

We give you two variants of schemes. One for a simple cabinet, and the second for a double, just located at the corner.

Ready-made modular systems

And if you don’t want to make compartments from chipboard, then you can not fool around and assemble just a closet box, equipping it with doors that match the design of your hallway.

And the “insides” can be purchased at specialty stores that sell ready-made storage systems. For example, Leroy Merlin and others.

They can be taken as a set, or as separate elements.

The systems are sold both in a prefabricated version and in the form of separate elements that are assembled like a construction kit.

Today you have learned everything about the internal filling of the wardrobe in the hallway. Photos with dimensions and examples will definitely help you create a really practical wardrobe that will delight you for many years.

Utility cabinet for home and beyond, overview of options with photo

Usually the term “utility cupboard” is used to refer to one of the items in the range of metal furniture. For some reason, it is generally accepted that a separate cabinet for household equipment is required only in production workshops, schools and kindergartens, various commercial institutions and other organizations. However, modern apartments also need some kind of furniture or just an equipped corner designed to accommodate buckets, mops, household chemicals and other items used for cleaning, cleaning, washing and washing. Let’s take a look at the options here.

Contents

1. What is a standard utility closet
2. Where do you store mops and buckets at home?
3. What should be the filling for a utility closet
4. Built-in cabinets for household inventory, photo
5. A freestanding utility cabinet in the corridor and not only
6. Tips for organizing a storage system in a utility unit

What is a standard utility cabinet

4 You can sell

you will not find ready-made utility cabinets made of chipboard. And this fact is simply explained: everything that will be stored in such furniture has a rather aggressive effect on the case. Therefore, metal utility cabinets are mainly on sale. Only for metal furniture, the manufacturer can carry standard warranty obligations that it will not swell, fade or lose its “marketable” appearance if wet rags, buckets after cleaning and all kinds of cleaning products are stored inside.

Similar models are more appropriate for non-domestic use. And they are purchased mainly to equip household blocks of kindergartens, workshops, shopping centers and other general places, where specially hired personnel periodically clean.

Where to store mops and buckets at home?

If it is not possible to equip a separate pantry, housewives go to all sorts of tricks to place the usual cleaning items discreetly in various places.

• Household chemicals, napkins, sponges, gloves, rags and rags for cleaning “settle” under the bathroom, in cabinets under the sink and sink, as well as on the toilet shelves.
• Buckets, mops, dustpans and brooms are stored on balconies and loggias, closet sections in the corridor or pantry.
• Vacuum cleaners, ironing boards and dryers usually find their place in closets and closets.

Of course, I would like all these household items to be located in one place – a specially designated closet. But this is not always possible. Therefore, zealous housewives try to use every free corner.

It is especially difficult to organize inconspicuous storage for long brushes, mops and brooms. For all its compactness, the length does not allow them to be placed on shelves and mezzanines. But narrow niches in the house are the place for them. For example, behind the refrigerator.

Or on the side of a tall cabinet.

In the free space behind the toilet.

And even on the doors to the pantry.

What should be the filling for the utility cabinet

If the area of ​​the apartment allows, it is better to allocate a separate utility closet for storing all household chemicals, cleaning items and accessories in the house. It can take its place in the corridor, any free niche of a non-residential room, on a loggia or in a spacious bathroom. At the same time, the filling of the utility closet should be as thoughtful as possible initially. However, it can always be improved with the help of additional mesh storage systems, containers, hooks and various accessories.

As standard, the filling of the cabinet for household equipment is a combination of a high section for a mop, an ironing board, a vacuum cleaner and numerous shelves for everything else.

Cabinet body can be made of laminated chipboard. But at the same time, keep in mind – you should not store wet rags and napkins in it! Chipboard can swell quickly. Also, the material absorbs odors, so keep any substances with a strong odor tightly closed. As well as those that are quite aggressive in composition and if they are accidentally spilled, they will lead to damage to the material.

There are plenty of handy tools on the market to make the inside of a chipboard or wood cabinet as convenient as possible. For example:

• Special holders for vacuum cleaner, iron, retractable ironing boards.
• Kitchen drawer drawers and walk-in closet drawers can also be used to fill the utility cupboard.
• Various hanging baskets, buckets, containers and other containers will fit.

Built-in cabinets for household inventory, photo

Almost any empty niche can be used for storage of household inventory in the house.

If the depth is sufficient – feel free to design a rack with shelves of sufficient size for buckets, basins, a vacuum cleaner and other bulky items, without which cleaning is unthinkable.

It’s great if such a rack is located near the washing machine – it can be designed into a single module. Here, a laundry basket, an ironing board, and a dryer will come in handy.

To furnish such a built-in closet or a whole closet, you can use not only shelves made of chipboard. But also special storage systems with wall mounts (Elf, Arista, etc. ).

They are expectedly more expensive, but much more practical and durable. Of the pluses, it is also worth noting that mesh shelves and baskets are better viewed – you can always see what is above or below eye level or hidden in the depths of the shelf.

Free standing utility cabinet for corridor and beyond

There is nothing special in the design of the utility cabinet for the home – it is a case with shelves and a niche for long household items.

The dimensions of the utility closet are determined solely by the length and width of the things stored in it. For example, a niche 1.3 m high is enough for an ironing board, and even less for mops and so on. In fact, the utility closet can be made in the form of a tall cabinet.

It is appropriate to separate the section for the ironing board separately, providing a corresponding section inside the cabinet body.

If you own a fairly large private house, you may find a mobile cleaning cabinet useful. You can also make it yourself.

Agree, it’s very convenient – to put together everything you need for cleaning and “roll” after you, and not carry it separately.

By the way, in the case of a large area for an apartment or a country house, the utility closet “grows” into a separate, equipped room, which can be called “ironing”, “laundry” or “laundry”.

Even in a small space, you can conveniently arrange everything – washing machine, ironing board, dryer, clothes hanger, buckets and mops. And, of course, shelves for storing all cleaning and detergents.

Tips for organizing a storage system in a utility unit

When developing the internal filling of a utility cabinet or compartment, one should start from the large-sized items available.

• Vacuum cleaner, buckets are located at the bottom of the cabinet, basins and baskets can be placed at the very top – in the mezzanine.
• In niches reserved for mops, brooms and rags used in cleaning, it is better to provide special trays into which moisture will drain. They can be plastic, silicone or metal.
• Use containers, trunks and baskets to classify cleaning products and detergents. It is very convenient to remove a certain box from the shelf and choose from it what is currently required.
• For small items (clothespins, brushes, sponges) an organizer with transparent pockets is available. It can be hung on a door or a hook inside a closet.
• Low, narrow plastic chests of drawers and bookcases also help organize the storage system.

There are many handy accessories on the market that do not require any special installation. With a competent, thoughtful approach, they will help to use every corner of the free space with benefit.

Built-in closet: Things to think about before calling a measurer

Planning the inside of a closet is often compared to ordering a kitchen set. Yes, a measurer will help you with an engineering solution and offer design options. But he will not be able to decide for you, it is more convenient for you to have two hangers and shelves. Or instead of them – it is better to make one barbell and baskets.

In order for a built-in wardrobe to make you not sigh, but delight, you need to think carefully about the interior layout: distribute departments and sections, plan shelves and hangers, drawers and organizers. At the same time, we will find out how many swords, trousers and boots we have.

Kirill Egorov House of Architecture and Design

Question 1: What size can I make a closet
It is clear that you will have to start from the size of that room or part of the space (say, a corridor or hallway) that you decided to take under the built-in wardrobe. But there are a number of important nuances.

Cabinet depth. The standard depth of a wardrobe with hinged doors is 60 cm. So much is needed to freely fit coat hangers with clothes on a regular longitudinal bar: at least 55 cm is required for a comfortable arrangement of outerwear, and 5 cm less for light clothing. If it is a wardrobe with sliding doors, it is better to add another 10 cm – this is how much the compartment design will “eat”.

In a cabinet less than 50 cm deep, you will have to replace the longitudinal rod with end rods. Correctly calculate their number: on average, 8 coat hangers are placed on a 40-cm end rod.

Interested in interior design?
Let’s select a contractor according to your criteria

Pak Daria

Fact: sometimes cabinets are made deeper than the standard. In the example in the photo, the closet is located under the loft bed (mattress width 90 cm). And the designer of the project added a number of internal shelves for seasonal items in boxes, for example. They will be hidden by clothes on the shoulders.

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Ksenia Bobrikova. Xenia Design Studio

Idea : With the help of a cabinet, you can level out the flaws in the layout. In the example in the photo – a wardrobe with sections of different depths. One with the ability to enter (dressing room), the other – in the size of a standard wardrobe. Behind the closed door, it is impossible to guess that there was an unfortunate ledge in the room.

Cabinet width. The minimum width of the wardrobe is not regulated, but there is no point in making it less than 40 cm – otherwise boxes with men’s shoes will not fit. Most often, cabinet sections are a multiple of 50 cm in width.

Maria Panchenko

Door width. What if you want wider doors? It all depends on the type of door.

► Sliding doors. For the middle and economy segment, focus on a width of 120 cm. Larger doors will sooner or later loosen the roller system when moving. This rule does not apply to elite collections, where XXXL doors are specially designed with reinforced strength guides, hangers and rollers.

Free workshop

Important rule : the width of the door should be matched to the width of the section. No matter how wide you push the doors apart, “dead zones” are still formed in the closet that are never open. If there is a drawer in such a zone, it simply will not slide out. An exception is a four-door wardrobe: it is possible to plan the doors in it so that two sections open at once in the center.

By the way: if the width of the sliding leaf is not enough, add drawers to it (example in the photo). That’s also possible!

STUDIO8

Idea: cabinet fronts can duplicate the internal filling – they do not have to be solid sheets from floor to ceiling. Kitchens are often designed according to this logic. However, 5 facades will always cost more than one (of the same size in total). If only because the number of loops and the need to process the edge are 5 times more.

Ariana Ahmad Interior Design

► Swing doors. They are usually made in a width of 60 cm. A wider door will be too heavy and the hinges may not support it. The most harmonious proportions of the height and width of the door are 1:5. Facades of this size are easy to use and do not warp.

The maximum height of sliding doors is 4 m: this is the length of the profiles in popular designs. But if you want chipboard doors above 278 cm, you will have to use decorative partitions. Or choose another, more expensive material.

Joinery Wood

Length. Cabinet can be any length. If he has a floor or ceiling planned, then you need to take into account the limited length (height) of the plate – the same 278 cm for chipboard. This obstacle is easily overcome: the master puts a vertical wall and attaches the next plate to it – and so on ad infinitum. In addition, most often the closet can do with the floor and ceiling of the apartment: in this case, own structural elements are not used.

The maximum length of the guide for sliding doors is 4–5 m. It is not recommended to join them, since the rollers wear out the most at the joints. The alternative is the same column wall, which actually breaks your closet in two. It will still look like a monolith – what’s the difference?

In the case of compartment doors, there are restrictions on the minimum cabinet length – 1 m. Doors (and there must be at least two of them) do not let out less than 50 cm wide, otherwise they will fall out of the rails.

Quatrobase Studio

Question 2: How to plan the inside of the closet
Designers recommend that before planning the closet, make a list of all the things that you will store in it, and then add another 20% “to grow the wardrobe. ”

Step 1: Make a complete list of clothes, shoes.

Step 2: Group the items in the list according to how they are stored. Decide what will lie on the shelf or in baskets (knitwear) and what will hang (trousers, jackets).

Step 3: Decide how many items you have in each category. Will they fit in four drawers or do you need all 10, is one meter of rod enough?

Tip: Decide on the price in advance: the inside of the cabinet can be very diverse in cost. Therefore, limit the budget that you plan to meet. An amount not exceeding 10% of the cost of the cabinet itself is considered rational. But in the end, it’s up to you to decide.

ARTICLE DESIGNER…
Filling the closet: How to calculate that all things fit

Kutenkovs project

Longitudinal and end bars
Clothes hanging on hangers will occupy the largest compartments. For women’s clothing, we plan a box with a height of 150–160 cm. If long men’s coats or raincoats are hanging in the closet, put a height of 175 cm. For each hanger, you can lay 5 cm – this will be the width of the compartment (and the length of the longitudinal bar).

If you have a narrow cabinet with end rods, put 60 cm in the width of the compartment on each hanger. End hangers are usually made a little – 2-3 pieces.

Sometimes it is worth making separate boxes with a barbell for short items: skirts, trousers, shirts and blouses. They require a lower height – 80–100 cm, which means they save space.

If men’s trousers are to be hung without kinking, set aside 120 cm for them.

Nikita Maksimov // Interiors and plywood furniture

If you need a length of a longitudinal rod of more than 120 cm, provide a vertical support rod in the middle. It is placed at a distance between the upper and lower partitions and is connected to a horizontal bar with a special coupling. This is necessary so that the longitudinal bar does not bend under the weight of things. If heavy things are hanging on the hangers – fur coats, coats – the length of the bar without support should not exceed 100 cm. behind the outer wall. Make it better than ordinary horizontal shelves. Sliding doors, rolling back and forth, push the side wall, creating a shock load. Horizontal shelves located close to the side plate will connect it with the rest of the cabinet’s load-bearing structures. One barbell will not provide such a strong bond.

Haven Design and Construction

Boom with lift
The lift is a special tool that allows you to lower and raise the boom (as pictured). Such designs are quite expensive, but are indispensable in tall cabinets when you have to use the space right under the ceiling. The elevator will lower jackets and skirts right into your hands, and then again remove the bar with things to an unattainable height.

SpaceMakers of Atlanta

Shelves
Built-in wardrobes are ordered for more than just clothes. Almost everything can be stored on open shelves (except what needs to be hung): bed linen and knitwear, books and dishes. For clothes, you can use long shelves (80–120 cm), and for heavy books and dishes, the length of the shelf should not exceed 80 cm. A convenient distance between the shelves is at least 40 cm.

If you make a shelf longer than 80 cm, provide a vertical partition under it as an additional support. Otherwise, the shelf may bend during operation.

Armarium Studio

Shelves mostly store a variety of knitwear – it can stretch out on hangers. In addition, the shelves are suitable for storing neatly folded jeans, bags, jewelry boxes, hats. So make more shelves – everyone will come in handy.

In Vogue Kitchens & Joinery

Special shelves
Wide shelves are designed in the upper part of the cabinet – for blankets, blankets and bed linen. In addition, it would be nice to provide compartments for sports equipment. Think about what exactly you will store there. Four pairs of roller skates? Tennis rocket? Yoga mat? It is better to measure especially dimensional fixtures in advance. At this moment, you understand the advantage of a chess player over a bodybuilder.

In addition, at the very top they usually make a large long shelf for suitcases, bags and camping equipment. Height – 45–50 cm.

richhof

How to keep shelves tidy
Clothes can slide off shallow shelves, and on long ones they quickly turn into a shapeless pile. To prevent this from happening, make small shelves with a rim or break a long rack into separate square cells: in this way, each pile of clothes will have its own cell. Keeping order will become much easier.

Another way to organize the contents of open shelves is to put everything in boxes.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

Roll-out shelves
Roll-out shelves are more convenient than fixed shelves – they make it easy to find and get what you need. And the distance between them may be less than between ordinary ones. True, convenience is not cheap. Roll-out shelves are meaningful only in the austerity space mode.

richhof

Drawers
Drawers are just as much more convenient than their stationary counterparts – they allow you to easily view the contents. And besides, they save cabinet space: the height of a standard drawer is 20–25 cm, the shelves are 35–40 cm. The drawers better protect the contents from dust. They have one minus – they are expensive, so it makes sense to use them locally: for all sorts of small things that are inconvenient or impractical to store on the shelves: hats, gloves, scarves and other accessories. For stockings, socks and underwear, shallow drawers are used – about 12 cm high.

Kay Wade, Closet Factory

The most convenient drawer models are those with a transparent front. They allow you to see the contents of the drawer without pulling it out.

When designing a drawer and calculating its width, be sure to take into account the width of the hinges for hinged doors and door joints in wardrobes. If the box is made to the full width to the maximum, it may simply not slide out.

Finch London

Handles inside
Drawer handles in a cramped wardrobe – a frivolous waste of space. Even the most modest hinge will eat 1-2 cm of the closet, which you won with such difficulty from the room. Therefore, it is better to choose drawers with recesses in the front panel.

Studio Bazi

By the way: not only drawers, but also entire sections can be pull-out – a convenient solution when we are dealing with a non-standard deep niche. In this case, it is reasonable to change the opening mechanism (when the facade is pressed, the internal contents are pulled out – an example is in the photo).

Then the width of the wardrobe section should be made a multiple of 60 cm – the size of the coat hanger with a jacket or coat.

Anne Chemineau – Decor Interior

Econize Closets & Blinds

Organizers
Drawer dividers and organizers help prevent chaos. They can be built into the box, or they can be sold separately from it. If you can’t stand laundry piled up in a heap, it’s better to invest in this additional option and enjoy laying out socks in cells. Like solitaire.

raumplus

You can find the right organizer for almost everything. The main thing is that there are enough boxes to accommodate them.

New Style Cabinets

Closet in a closet
Especially valuable and delicate things are stored behind additional doors. This design allows you to better protect the contents from dust and other adverse factors. Doors, as a rule, are made of glass, but you can also make deaf ones – it’s even more economical.

Astakhov Furniture Bureau

How to store shoes
Special inclined shelves for shoes are a very convenient way to store shoes and boots. Alas, such shelves are not very roomy. It is more rational to divide shoes into two parts: the one that is worn now, and the one that needs to be stored – seasonal, elegant, for special occasions. Leave what you need on the shelves, and put the rest in boxes and put it in the far corners of the cabinet.

Shelves for shoes are usually designed at the bottom of the wardrobe. Their standard length is 80-100 cm. Or – a narrow fully retractable section is designed for the width of the boot (shown in the photo).

Organizeology

High boots are conveniently stored hanging on special spacers – so the bootleg does not lose its shape, and creases do not appear at the bottom.

Hannah Brown

If shoes and bags are important in your life, you can give each item a separate place in the closet. Of course, in the living room or dining room, such an exhibition would be inappropriate, but in the dressing room or hallway – completely.

SpaceManager Closets

How to store ties
Dedicated organizers are handy, but they take up a lot of space. Ergonomic, but expensive option – vertical sliding cabinets.

The most economical way is with rods or hooks on the cabinet door.

Closet Factory – Michelle Langley

Order lovers can put their ties in the closet drawer. Beautiful, economical and convenient to choose. But are you sure that you will roll them into a roll every time and put them in place?

Wendy Scott Closet Design

How to store jewelry
Special equipment exists in jewelry storage cabinets. If your closet is also a dressing table, consider how much and what kind of jewelry you will store here. Boxes with tangled chains are a thing of the past – now jewelry is conveniently hung individually, so it’s easy to choose the right one. Small pull-out trays with organizers will help you arrange rings, earrings and bracelets – conveniently and beautifully, like in a shop window.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

If there is no space for a dressing table in the closet, use the open end. Here you can hang beads and chains, hair accessories on hooks or even furniture handles. It is not necessary to close this wealth with a door.

Custom Kitchens by John Wilkins, Inc.

Built-in ironing board
A rare but very appropriate design in a wardrobe. It will save you from folding and unfolding the ironing board and worries about where to attach it.

MARKINA DESIGN

Mirrors
The most popular way to place a mirror in a wardrobe is to make the doors mirrored. You can close the cabinet with mirrors completely or partially. This is ergonomic: the mirror does not take up extra space, and reflective surfaces add shine, light and volume to the interior.

HUX London

If you are not a fan of large mirror surfaces in the interior (really, they do not add coziness) – mirror the inner surfaces of the doors. True, this method is only suitable for swing structures. Two open doors with mirrors inside provide a pier glass effect: you can see yourself from the front and back.

Alexander Lakidon’s author’s furniture studio

The original solution is a retractable mirror. It allows you to see yourself in a different light than what is on the door. Such a mirror is convenient when the closet is in a narrow aisle, and there is simply no place to look at yourself in the door.

Another advantage of the retractable mirror is that you don’t have to wipe fingerprints on it all the time.

MARION STUDIO

Plinth
This piece of built-in wardrobe comes in handy if you have an uneven floor – which means that there may be problems with doors mounted to the very bottom. Compartment doors will ride downhill, and you can’t install a guide on the bumps. Swing doors can also warp, in addition, ugly gaps will remain between the door and the floor. The plinth allows you to level the bottom level of the cabinet, eliminating these problems.

Dell Anno Canada

Lighting
Adding lighting to your closet is effective, practical, but not necessary. With the help of lighting, you can make open shelves more interesting, more mysterious – the space behind the glass doors. After all, illuminated shelves make it easier to find what you need.

It makes sense to mount the lighting inside the sections if you have open shelves and want to get a beautiful decorative effect. Lighting hidden inside one shelf will not reach another compartment. If you want to illuminate the contents of the closet so as not to rummage through things in the dark, mount the lamps in the visor. Do not forget to leave a gap between the visor and the upper border of the swing doors – so that they do not cling. The transformer for built-in lights is usually installed on the roof of the cabinet.

MARION STUDIO

How to properly equip the mezzanine
The mezzanine is a separate space in the upper part of the cabinet. It’s not so easy to get there, so basically the mezzanine works like a pantry: seasonal things and sports equipment, suitcases and dresses that “I will wear when I lose weight” are removed here. Inside the mezzanine, as a rule, do not make additional compartments and drawers. If the height of the cabinet allows, you should not make separate doors to the mezzanine – this will only increase the cost of the cabinet. A separate compartment door will be especially expensive, so if you really have to, it’s better to make swing or folding doors there.

By the way: sometimes it is more reasonable to lower the ceiling than to make an excessively high mezzanine.

Rikki Snyder

Solid front or split front?
It is not necessary to hide the contents of the sections behind large monolithic doors. You can make your own separate doors for each section and block. Drawers in this case will become part of the facade. You will get quick access to things, and the front will look more interesting – if, of course, you planned the design aesthetically. Hidden behind large doors, shelves and drawers can be arranged according to logic rather than aesthetics. And, besides, solid facades will cost less.

Valery Krauklit

Closet with a secret
A whole secretary can be arranged behind the doors of the built-in closet. Drawers for papers and letters, shelves for collections of coins and cigars, a sliding table for a laptop. In standard configurations, this is difficult to find, but to order it is easy.

If desired, the built-in wardrobe can have a built-in safe, or maybe a refrigerator for cosmetics or watch holders with a recharge function.

MORE PHOTOS…
In the portfolio of interior designers on Houzz – more 3600+ photos of built-in furniture in the interior

Asiya Orlova Design

will be painful for you.

So, what can you give up? If you are planning a closet, replace the expensive aluminum system with a cheap steel one. It is, of course, less reliable, but if you do not look far ahead, it will do. The service life of an aluminum system is 20 years, while that of a steel system is an average of 5–7. Well, steel is noisier.

Armarium Studio

Another savings resource is the number and design of doors. If you replace narrow doors with fewer wide ones, it will be cheaper. In some places, doors can be completely abandoned – to make a combined facade with open shelves or to put hinged doors instead of compartment doors.

You can reduce the cost of the cabinet due to the materials used. Instead of an expensive “facade” chipboard, use a cheaper, thin white board inside. If you have planned the shelves correctly, their load-bearing capacity will not be affected by this.

Full drawers are convenient but rather expensive. Can be replaced with those that extend 3/4; settle for ball bearing guides instead of roller ones. Yes, the drawers won’t slide as smoothly, and they won’t be able to pull out all the way, but that doesn’t always matter. Or abandon the boxes in favor of ordinary shelves.

Inspired Closets by Organized Spaces

Even shelf fixings can be saved. Instead of invisible eccentrics that pull shelves and sidewalls together, order corners. In fact, there are no inconveniences from them – on the contrary: if you want, you can rearrange the shelves differently.

The only case where eccentrics cannot be dispensed with is if the shelves serve as stiffeners holding the cabinet structure, for example, in the end section with an open, non-built-in sidewall.

ABOUT THIS…
All on the shelves: expensive and convenient or cheap and cheerful?

Masha Eltysheva

80 photos in the interior, design ideas

How to choose a closet in the hallway?

Several recommendations for selection:

• For a small hallway, you should choose compact designs with compartment or folding accordion doors that will not clutter up the room and hide the area.
• Since this room is characterized by increased pollution, it is not advisable to use models in light colors, which are especially easily soiled.
• In a narrow and long corridor, it is better to place the closet near a short wall.
• For a square corridor, a full-wall installation is more appropriate.
• A walk-through hallway with a large number of doorways can be decorated with a small narrow cabinet placed in the front door area.
• When creating a wardrobe, the best option is to install louvered facades that promote free air circulation.

Types of cabinets

There are several types that differ in their features and advantages.

Wardrobe in the hallway

This sliding structure holds a sufficient number of things, provides their orderly storage and simplified search.

The photo shows a four-door wardrobe in the interior of a high-tech hallway.

Swing wardrobe

It is the most traditional and familiar version of the wardrobe, which can have any purpose, for example, to be storage, household or even book. Before installing the swing model, you should correctly calculate the area in the room, taking into account the opening of the doors.

Integrated

Easily fits into an alcove, closet or corner space to form an entire walk-in closet. The built-in model consists of shelves, crossbars and other components that are attached to the walls, which gives the product a special reliability and monumentality.

Modular

Due to the special placement of individual modules, it turns out to design a model that will fit organically into the interior and will be highly functional.

Combined models

Products complemented with a mirror, hooks for clothes, holder for umbrellas and other elements are considered quite a popular solution. For example, the most practical option is models with a shoe rack, a banquette, an ottoman or even a small sofa, which provide proper storage of shoes and also facilitate the process of changing shoes.

Equally functional are cabinets with cabinets that fully meet the requirements of the corridor. A well-planned design will provide convenient placement of things and a place for hats or bags. Models with shelves on the side or in the middle have a very stylish and original design, which can be filled with various necessary items, books, figurines or other accessories.

The photo shows an entrance hall with a hinged wardrobe equipped with shelves and a seat.

Pencil cabinet

Differs in rather modest dimensions, it can be wall hanging or installed on the floor. Most often, a single-leaf shallow cabinet-pencil case is equipped with numerous drawers and shelves with closed and open compartments.

The photo shows a single-door cabinet with a mirrored facade in the corridor interior.

Internal filling of the closet in the hallway

The filling of the wardrobe in the hallway mainly includes the insides, in the form of a bar with hangers for outerwear, shelves, drawers or baskets in which you can store various small items or place umbrellas. Also, the design is equipped with a special lower narrow compartment for shoes or even a separate place for household items.

Quite often, for more efficient use of space, cabinets are complemented with various hooks for clothes, hat holders or corner shelves, on which bags, keys, umbrellas and other small items are easily placed.

How to position the cabinet?

Several accommodation options:

• In a niche. Built into a niche, the design is a very convenient and unique solution that does not clutter up the space. Such designs look compact and neat, while contributing to the storage of a sufficient number of things.
• Above the door or around the door. Ceiling mezzanine cabinets, arranged around or above the doorway, not only beautifully frame the entrance, but also significantly save space, which is especially important in small-sized corridors in Khrushchev.
• For the entire wall. This option is more appropriate in spacious hallways. In order to further emphasize the overall dimensions of the room, you can choose solid, rather than built-in products.
• In the corner. This arrangement has many advantages. The corner design occupies a minimum of useful space, does not clutter up the room and does not restrict movement in it.
• Under the stairs. A fairly comfortable, stylish, beautiful and practical solution that frees up additional square meters and makes the space as functional as possible.

The photo shows the interior of the hallway in light colors with a full-wall hinged mirror cabinet.

In large corridors, it is also very common to install high structures up to the ceiling. Such models are sometimes distinguished by built-in lighting, which gives them a particularly spectacular look.

The photo shows a wooden cabinet under the stairs in the hallway in country style.

In narrow and long corridors, structures are installed from wall to wall and decorated with a solid mirror or glossy surface, which creates the effect of depth of space.

The photo shows a modern entrance hall with a three-door wardrobe up to the ceiling, decorated with spotlights.

Dimensions and shapes of wardrobes

See also

Corner wardrobe in the hallway

An ideal option for almost any room is a corner wardrobe. It can be L-shaped, triangular, oblique, diagonal, trapezoid with a rounded or beveled corner, or have a radius design, which is especially suitable for decorating a square room.

Corner pieces like these make the most of any size hallway. A really interesting shape is the radius model, which makes the surrounding interior more elegant. It can be semicircular, convex, concave or even non-standard curved wavy shape.

The photo shows a narrow double wardrobe in the corridor interior.

Large structures have significant dimensions, which are mainly installed in the entire width and height of the wall. These huge products are quite roomy.

The photo shows a spacious corridor with a large wardrobe made of wood.

In small corridors, narrow single-door, double-leaf or pivot models are often found, which not only rationally use the space and correspond to the ergonomics of the space, but also look very stylish.

Color range

The classic color is brown, which is mainly characteristic of wood products. Designs in this color scheme can also be distinguished by a dark red, burgundy tint or a dark, sophisticated shade of wenge, often found in a classic or English interior. White, beige or gray cabinets are considered the most neutral, they do not visually overload the space, do not attract too much attention and do not violate the proportions of the room.

The photo shows the interior of the hallway with a brown wooden cabinet.

Particularly spectacular compositions can be achieved using a black and white tint solution, and blue or light blue products help to form an unusual, memorable and bold design, due to which the atmosphere is filled with special freshness, airiness, volume and spaciousness.

The photo shows a blue hinged wardrobe in a fusion hallway interior.

In order to fill the atmosphere of the hallway with pleasant and cheerful emotions, colored yellow structures or products in accent or soft and gentle green tones are perfect.

The photo shows a corridor decorated with a yellow wardrobe combined with a hanger.

Photo of a hallway in different styles

A well-chosen closet can be an ideal addition to a corridor made in a specific style.

Contemporary

Contemporary interiors are dominated by rectangular structures characterized by clear geometry and matte, glossy or glass facades. Sliding wardrobes in this style have a unique sense of style and have an individual and presentable appearance.

The photo shows a hallway interior in a modern style with a mirrored wardrobe.

Classic

For classics or neoclassics, it is preferable to use wooden built-in models or massive solid structures, decorated with carvings or gold plating, which are an indicator of the solidity of the interior.

The photo shows a sliding wardrobe with a rhombic beveled mirror in the interior of a hallway in a classic style.

Loft style

In a loft style hallway, oversized wardrobes with a combination of wood and metal, with strict forms and a rough appearance, or antique products made of raw boards or metal gratings, will be appropriate. Such a design decision always looks quite creative and stylish.

The photo shows a loft-style entrance hall with a swing wardrobe made of metal.

Provence style

This style is characterized by slatted facades, vintage pieces of furniture or imitation antique structures. Basically, Provence is complemented by wooden models in pastel shades, which can be decorated with carved or drawn patterns. Such a decor is able to give lightness and weightlessness even to the largest multi-door wardrobe.

Minimalist

Minimalist furniture is particularly versatile. Facades most often have a natural texture or a smooth surface and do not have fittings, such as handles, which makes the cabinet invisible, integrated and visually hidden. In the manufacture of structures, wood, glass, chipboard or MDF are used, light, pastel white, milky or sand tones predominate in colors.

Scandinavian

For a Scandinavian interior, choose the most simple and modest cabinets with primitive decor, various transformer models or combined designs with a hanger, ottoman or cabinet for shoes.

Interior cabinet design ideas

Fronts with a mirror have a particularly attractive design; in addition to their aesthetic appearance, they provide a visual increase in space. A special flickering and volume is distinguished by a mirror plane with a facet. Models with transparent, frosted, patterned glass or designs with a smooth glossy surface coated with lakobel look no less original in the hallway, which, due to the reflective effect, add light to the space.

The photo shows a wooden wardrobe with a beveled mirror facade in the hallway interior.

Quite an interesting solution is products with an open part made for a showcase or ordinary open shelves, which can be radius, straight or angular.

The photo shows an entrance hall with a white wardrobe with frosted glass doors.

A very popular design option for sliding wardrobes is the use of sandblasting drawings, engraving or photo printing, which provides the application of a wide variety of images suitable for any interior direction.

Elements with stained glass are used to create an unusual design, and patina products are great for giving an atmosphere of antiquity. Models with various inserts look especially presentable, for example, from rattan, leather that is pleasant to the touch, has an elegant and expensive look, often made in the form of a carriage tie or bamboo, which gives the atmosphere naturalness and naturalness.

If a child lives in the house or apartment, a separate locker for clothes can be purchased for him. Such designs are mainly distinguished by bright and colorful execution and creative design, making them the main interior element. In addition, children’s models must first of all be stable, safe and have a sufficient number of compartments.

Photo gallery

Wardrobe can not only add comfort and functionality to the hallway, but also give it a stunning aesthetic appearance.

Organization of storage of things in the apartment interesting ideas: storage in the house

• Is it really difficult?
• Storage in wardrobes and separate cabinets
• Hiding under the bed
• Swedish storage
• Workplace Storage
• Boxes and boxes guarding the house
• Working with storage room
• We use the darkest place in the apartment for storage
• Who’s hotter?
• Tidying up the bedroom
• Living room storage
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Storage on a balcony or loggia
• Solution to all problems

It is far from easy for an ordinary Moscow family of three (mother, father and child) to keep the house clean. After a general cleaning in the apartment, the ideal order will not last even three minutes.

The solution to the problem is convenient storage and space optimization. Thanks to this article, you will not only find information on how to get rid of the feeling of clutter, but also get a solution to automate the process of maintaining cleanliness in the house.

Is it really difficult?

Poured coffee and forgotten on the table, scattered toys, things out of place, a cluttered balcony, cupboards full of seasonal items – all this creates a feeling of disorder. The state of untidiness of the room spoils the mood. He wants to close his eyes and not see anything. He waved his magic wand and clean!

The most difficult thing to keep in order is the storage of various small items, toys, clothes, small household appliances, etc. The right decision for any apartment is to determine the “location” for each item.

Main lines:

• Household supplies and household chemicals – best stored in the bathroom or toilet. It is necessary to place household chemicals and household supplies out of reach of children and pets, but at the same time so that it is convenient to get them if necessary.
• We store books and gadgets in one place, in the recreation and entertainment area. It could be a living room or a bedroom. Even if there is a desire to read a book over a cup of coffee in the morning in the kitchen, then return it to its place.
• Crockery, groceries, kitchen utensils – store as much as possible in kitchen cabinets. Even if the apartment has a miniature kitchen (no more than 6 square meters), it is important to organize all the storage of kitchen utensils and products within this small room. The solution would be a suite with additional cabinets to the ceiling, using the space above the refrigerator or under the window.

At first glance, what is described in the three paragraphs above may seem complicated. In fact, everything is simpler than it seems. To deal with the storage of things and the rational use of space in the apartment, we will consider every corner of modern housing from the point of view of optimization.

Storing things in wardrobes and separate wardrobes

Even if the apartment does not have a full-fledged wardrobe, there will most likely be enough clothes to dress the inhabitants of a small village near Podolsk. What to do? In this case, Marie Kondo’s “Vertical Storage System” will help. Even with a small number of closets and a small amount of space for placing things, it will be possible to distribute all the available clothes for a family of 3 people, or even more.

The principle is as follows:

• All basic sets are placed vertically in chest of drawers or on shelves.
• Only outfits for holidays, celebrations and things that wrinkle a lot are determined on hangers.
• Uses multi-level wardrobe hangers, additional Velcro hooks (or other fasteners) for wardrobe doors.

This is just 0.0001 of what Marie offers with her storage optimization system. With a detailed study, the situation with putting things in order in the closet changes for the better instantly.

Hiding under the bed

Beds are now not only the most comfortable place to relax in the house, but also great for storing things. With the advent of modern styles, the structure of the beds has changed a bit. A striking example of this direction is the New York style, where the bed is multifunctional and has several drawers for storing bed linen, clothes and all sorts of little things. Such beds are both double and small for the nursery.

Swedish storage

Shelving is one of Sweden’s favorite types of furniture. Surely, at the mention of this type of furniture, the names come to your mind – BILLY, CALLAX or even FREDLEV. Ikea just taught many in our country to love shelving for comfortable and functional storage. This type of furniture is suitable for placing gadgets, small appliances, clothes, shoes or children’s toys.

Workplace Storage

Drawers in a standard desk can be made much more spacious by installing dividers. This is a budget and quick way to increase the “usable” space in the workplace. Dividers can even be made by hand.

Boxes and crates keep the house tidy

Using crates and crates will help keep your home tidy and make it easier to find things in closets. Toys, shoes and the same type of clothing are placed in separate boxes and placed in cabinets. A drawer with clothes can also become a kind of bedside table. But it is worth remembering that this method has a minus – it takes a long time, it is difficult, and additional efforts are required to teach all households to put things in containers.

We are working with the storage room

All the residents of the new buildings are now smiling. After all, they know what is going on. Warehouses are becoming more and more popular. Just some 10 years ago, they were mercilessly disposed of, but now the situation is different. We are talking not only about a separate room in the apartment, but also about the basement rooms, in which the individual cells of the residents are located. Usually they are rooms 1. 5 by 1.5 meters.

The advantage of any pantry is the ability to remove personal belongings and household appliances from view. Access around the clock. But with security, things are much worse. Storerooms outside apartments are often opened, valuables are stolen. Therefore, residents have to worry about the safety of property or place in the box only what has no value for the robbers.

We use the darkest place in the apartment for storage

As you guessed, we will talk about the hallway. Usually this is a long corridor, and in new buildings there is almost a whole room of 10 square meters. m. Most often, nothing comes to mind for residents except for a banal closet. The idea itself is good, but you need to understand that such bulky furniture not only holds a lot in itself, but also “eats up” a lot of usable space.

Functional furniture is the solution:

• Bench with storage container.
• Built-in wardrobe to fit the room.
• Separate roomy pieces of furniture.
• The same rack.

Don’t forget to think about the design so that it matches the overall style of the apartment. Unload the hallway to the maximum, add lighting.

Who’s hotter?

Half of the salary goes here, something is constantly being prepared and it smells delicious, and how everything is stored here is better not to think about it. We are in the kitchen! Several times a week we go to the grocery store. We are preparing something new and trying to figure out how to put things in order in the kitchen so as not to lose functionality and convenience.

The main and most budgetary life hack for the kitchen is containers. With their help, you can put things in order in any kitchen with any furniture. It is practical to use multi-level containers. At the same time, the more space in the storage system, the easier it is to put things in order.

Tidying up the bedroom

The bedroom is the easiest place to organize storage. Bed with drawers, bedside table, wardrobe or wardrobe. You can complement the overall ensemble with drawers on wheels that slide under the bed or under the closet.

Storage in the living room

The living room is a room for relaxing and meeting guests. Comfort and appearance are especially important here. The walls and cabinets of the old model are no longer used for the living room. In modern design, shelving is increasingly being installed, which allows not only to provide comfortable storage, but also zoning. There is even a special technique – storing things in racks “by color”. This method of distributing things adds zest to the room. In addition, it is easier to remember where and what lies.

Cleaning the bathroom

Organizers, wicker baskets, cabinets with mirrors, and the use of transparent boxes makes it easier to find the right things. Attach a magnetic panel to the wall like in the kitchen for storing metal jewelry, scissors, nail files, etc.

Storage on a balcony or loggia

Cluttered balconies are the same eternal problem as with an attic in a private house. Everything that does not fit in the apartment or is left “useful later” is sent to the balcony or loggia. Things deteriorate, become damp, and the owners try not to pay attention to the space “overgrown” with rubbish. Remove a pantry or a storage cell in the warehouse for sports equipment and things that you may someday need. And on the balcony, clear the space, put beautiful wicker furniture, a shelf for books and a portable speaker to create a pleasant atmosphere. A modern balcony is not a place for trash!

Solving all problems

It is important to understand that everything that is stored at home should be actively used. The question arises – “What to do with children’s crafts, souvenirs and a mountain bike on the balcony?”. There is an exit! You don’t need to store rarely used items at home.

Take advantage of our warehousing service.