Why You Need a Utility Room

At Home Tales, we believe that maintaining great communication and relationships with our clients is an important factor that helps us to produce beautifully finished home extensions. Our hands-on approach, attention to detail, and friendly team are why we stand out from the average ground floor extension company in London.

When you are considering the layout of your new ground floor extension, as a homeowner, you must weigh up your priorities. In what way would you like your extension to make everyday life easier? For some people, adding an extra bathroom and utility is at the top of their list.

Why a utility?

In a modern home interior, you will find open plan living has become increasingly popular. This means tearing down internal walls to reveal a large, open space. They’re incredible at drawing in plenty of natural light and transforming your ground floor into a social area. However, the lack of walls can lead to the reduction in storage space. Large appliances may also spoil your kitchen-dining-living room’s modern aesthetic.

A utility room is a dedicated space for storage and performing household chores, among other things. Basically, anything you don’t want out in the open for you and your guests to see. This is perfect to prevent clutter from building up in your main room. If you have a green thumb, your utility can be a buffer zone where you can change out of your muddy boots and clothes before entering your pristine kitchen. Put your cleaning products and large appliances (washer and dryer) into this room so the whirring and rattling doesn’t interrupt your relaxing night in.

Access

Typically, a utility room will have two main access points, which can vary depending on the intended use. One door allows access from the main kitchen area, whilst the other door opens to the outside of the property. Being placed next to the kitchen means straightforward installation of appliances, a sink, and an extra shower, saving on plumbing costs. A utility with a door that faces a rear garden would be ideal for someone with a green thumb, as they can remove and store their muddy boots here, along with any other gardening tools. Some clients opt for a doorway that faces the front entryway so that the utility doubles as a cloakroom for guests, or a space to rinse your dog down after a long walk.

Small space

Think your ground floor layout seem too cramped to fit a utility room? Don’t write it off just yet, you’d be surprised what can be done with a small room. Some properties can even tuck their utility under their staircase!

If you don’t have the space to fit both a washer and dryer, you can opt for a 2-in-1 machine that switches between both actions. If it’s just floor area that you lack, you can stack these appliances to make room for your vacuum cleaner. Separating these appliances from your main room is especially great in this day and age, as some people prefer to throw all their outdoors clothes directly in the wash to prevent any cross-contamination. Similarly, including an extra sink in here allows everyone to wash their hands upon entering.

Install open shelving to make the most of the space. You can store your clean towels and cleaning products here or use it as an extra pantry/larder. Just make sure to keep any food products away from the toxic cleaning products.

Large space

If you’re lucky enough to have a home that can accommodate a large utility room, there are plenty of features available to you, as you will have better design flexibility. Of course, you will be able to comfortably fit your washer and dryer here, with adequate countertop space. Make this the ideal room to do your household chores by fitting in an ironing board, cupboards, and drying racks. If your main concern is your messy, beloved pet, the addition of an extra shower/bath and sink would be perfect, especially if they love to jump in muddy puddles.

Is your kitchen lacking storage space for food products or cookware? You can include an additional fridge, freezer, and separate food cupboards to ensure all your items have a designated spot. Once again, be sure to keep your food and cleaning products away from each other in separate cupboards.

In conclusion, a utility room would be a great addition to your property and would make clutter/dirt easier to manage. We think you should seriously consider having one installed! Our friendly team will ensure you get the best possible outcome for your ground floor extension layout. If you would like to discuss your home renovation further, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us on 02070432378 or book a free telephone consultation with us here. Alternatively, you can email us at hello@hometales.co.uk and we will endeavour to respond in a timely manner.


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