Adding extra storage and moving your washing machine and dryer out of the kitchen is a dream for many. This can all be achieved by creating a utility room.
Work out your area
To create a utility room, you need a free area where units and appliances can be installed. Adapting an old garage or cupboard to hold extra storage is a great way to use this space. You need to ensure that the area has an existing plug socket or electricity connection, as well as an existing hot and cold water feed, and at least one relatively flat wall. As long as all of these elements are present, the process should be simple.
What do you want to put in there?
Due to the smaller size of utility rooms, you can be limited in your options. However, this does not mean that you can’t make the most of the space you do have. Therefore, planning your cupboard layout and which appliances you are moving in is very important. Taking advantage of a range of wall cupboards, base cupboards and tall cupboards can make sure that you are left with a sizable amount of storage that is adapted to the area. Appliances can be stacked within tall units, helping to free up floor space for more storage, or placed side by side with units above and beside them.
The utility room is often used as a holding place for those of us who have a tendency to hoard, so a set of “junk drawers” can be included for storing your postcards, buttons, gadgets and batteries that might work. This, along with tall units and shelves can free up space from elsewhere in the property and clear vital kitchen space.
Getting over obstacles
Unfortunately, nothing is ever perfect, and this will likely include your utility space. It may have obstacles in the way which throw a spanner in the works of your plans. Luckily, these can usually be accounted for. If the area is narrow, this could mean that wider cabinet doors cannot open fully. This means you may want to use an open unit, with shelves or a pull-out basket fitted, which can look attractive and modern. Alternatively, you can opt to split the doors in two, meaning they only require half the depth to open.
Another common obstacle is boxing, a built-out area of the wall, or pipes. These can get in the way of the installation and prevent a normal unit from fitting into the space. Luckily, reduced depth units are available which can sit in front of this space and keep your clean unit line and leave more floor space. Click to view our full range of kitchen units
Finally, you may also have an exposed boiler, which is unattractive and bulky and gets in the way of your other units. We do offer options for this also, with a range of boiler unit sizes which can hide this away and maintain the theme of the room. View one of our boiler units here
Designing your utility
Utilities are very flexible in their design. As most are out of the way and unlikely to attract visitors you can afford to be more daring or more toned down depending on your budget. There are many options available, from high-end painted doors available in a huge colour spectrum, to more simplistic but cost-effective vinyl ranges which can be kept modern and light by using a light grey or gloss white finish.
If your utility is not out of the way, you may opt to continue the theme from your kitchen or connected rooms by matching the style. Using the same style of door in a complementary colour can be a nice way to make the home feel more varied while keeping the overall theme.
The plan
The plan is the single most important thing in your project. Use the tips and advice discussed in this blog post to put your plan together. You can opt for DIY or let us know the measurements and style you are aiming for and we can then help you put this all together.
The rundown – why you should create a utility room:
- Moves appliances out of the kitchen to free up space for luxuries
- Uses and renovates previously unused areas in the house
- Lets you expand on your theme in another area of the property
- Adds value to the property
Hopefully, this guide has helped with planning your utility and provide you with some ideas of how to start. If you need any further information, assistance, or design tips, please don’t hesitate to contact our team here at Kitchen Door Hub, either via phone or email
