Our utility room ideas cover everything that can handle more than the household chores.
The top utility trends for 2022
Utility rooms are one of the standout interior design trends of 2022. Utility rooms have the potential to curate an inherently practical space using beautiful cabinetry and stylish design elements - it's easy to see why these spaces are garnering so much attention.
Commonly used as a laundry room, utilities are generally used as a secondary space for items we'd prefer to keep outside of the kitchen - and they offer the perfect opportunity to "décorganise".
Below, we’ve laid out some of the most popular utility room trends endorsed by celebrities, influencers and content creators across social media. Read on to find out more about our favourite utility room ideas.
Both stylish and practical solutions, inclusive of; smart storage, robust and easy-to-clean surfaces, and convenient appliances that help make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable.
Stacked laundry appliances
From our findings, we noticed that stacked washing machines are one of the most popular trends at the moment - with a Pinterest score of 66.
Typically, utility rooms are quite compact in size, so it’s important to aim to save as much space as possible. Try placing your laundry units vertically rather than horizontally, in order to free up a great deal of floor space.
Pull out ironing boards
With a score of 53, the practicality of a pull out ironing board has inspired a lot of utility room ideas. Devised as a single drawer that contains an ironing board, which unfolds and tucks away easily. Ironing boards are a necessary feature in your utility room but they can be awkward and cumbersome to find space for. As such, having one that neatly folds away is ideal.
Tilting laundry basket
Used predominantly in the UK and with a Pinterest score of 51, a lot of households have had tilted laundry baskets fit in their utility rooms. These can help keep your utility room looking nice and tidy by disguising dirty laundry and eliminating mess as they tuck away nicely into cupboard space.
Hanging plants
Used to make your utility room a welcoming place that you’re happy doing laundry in, hanging plants bring colour and tranquillity to the smallest of spaces.
Hanging plants have grown in popularity due to their ability to add a calm aesthetic to all surroundings - so popular in fact, 460,000 people have shared posts on Instagram of showing off their favourite hanging plants.
Storage baskets
With over 270,000 posts, the practicality of well-placed storage baskets is a trend that every utility room owner should get behind.
Utility rooms are designed to limit the amount of clutter in your home, so having convenient storage space is a must.
Loose woman, Nadia Sawalha, uses storage boxes in her utility room that doubles up as a pantry. In here she’ll keep tins, baking trays, and other cooking essentials that she doesn’t have room for in her kitchen.
Dog showers
A utility room can have a variety of different uses. If you’re a dog owner, a utility room is an ideal location for a dog shower. Similar to a sink, dog showers are built into the home plan and are a really handy addition to your utility space.
As a consequence of the increase in the amount of people who bought dogs during the pandemic, it’s really no wonder that there have been over 60,000 posts of dog showers circulating around social media.
Ceiling dryer / rack dryer
Invest in a ceiling / rack dryer in order to save space in your utility room, without sacrificing the volume of clothes you can dry. Ceiling racks' increased popularity is clear with a Google trends score of 86.
The queen of clean herself, Mrs Hinch, is an advocate for ceiling driers as her well-designed and well-purposed utility room has rails hanging overhead which she uses for tumble dried sheets.
Splashback tiles
Splashback tiles are usually positioned directly behind a sink (or dog shower) and typically tend to be either ceramic or porcelain.
Thanks to TikTok, splashback tiles have a trend score of 67. This is due to the fact they prevent the wall from any water damage. As such, these are great for keeping your utility room looking fresh, not to mention you can colour code the tiles to add style.
Underfloor heating
Whether you’re doing laundry, organising storage or washing your dog, comfort within your utility room is key. With a Google trends score of 53, it is clear that one of the best ways to uphold these levels of comfort is by using underfloor heating. This heating is popular because it's practical, safe, and energy efficient.
The most popular colour's to paint your utility room
We reviewed statistics from across three social media platforms including; Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to conclude the most popular colours to paint your utility room this season. According to our findings, white is the most commonly used colour in utility rooms.
All white spaces can at times feel quite clinical, so try breaking up the all white by combining a secondary colour on surface tops, cupboards, tiling, and storage spaces.
Grey colourways ranked second across all three platforms, followed by brown and blue particularly on both Pinterest and TikTok. Instagram saw an uplift in green (14%) and cream (10%) colourways, highlighting neutral earthy tones are one to watch this season.
Pair white marble surface tops, with a pastel blue or green splashback tiling, and muted grey storage cupboards, to achieve a minimalist yet chic approach to your utility space.
The best colours to use in your utility room according to Pinterest
|
Colour |
% of times colour appeared on a pin |
|
White |
46% |
|
Grey |
22% |
|
Brown |
12% |
|
Blue |
8% |
|
Cream |
6% |
|
Pink |
4% |
|
Green |
2% |
The best colours to use in your utility room according to Instagram
|
Colour |
% of times colour appeared on an Instagram post |
|
White |
44% |
|
Grey |
16% |
|
Green |
14% |
|
Cream |
10% |
|
Brown |
8% |
|
Blue |
4% |
|
Black |
2% |
|
Pink |
2% |
The best colours to use in your utility room according to TikTok
|
Colour |
% of times colour appeared on a TikTok |
|
White |
46% |
|
Grey |
20% |
|
Blue |
8% |
|
Brown |
8% |
|
Black |
6% |
|
Cream |
6% |
|
Pink |
6% |
The best tips and tricks to design an organised and functional utility room on a budget
Lizzie Beasley, Head of Design at Magnet, comments:
“Having an organised utility room is a great way to make a sometimes forgotten room, into a functional and fully utilised space. There are many great and effective ways to organise your utility room that cost little but are perfect for organising all your household essentials.”
1. Sustainability is an upcoming trend for utility rooms
A great way to store your everyday necessities is by using sustainable glass and bamboo jars, which not only bring in a sustainable element into your home, but can be taken to refill stations so you can stock up on your essentials without the added packaging. They also look great sitting on the side of your counter too, so why not opt for open shelving so you can easily grab these day to day items.
2. Opt to stack appliances to save space
If size and space isn’t on your side, the design and layout of your utility room is crucial for optimising the space you have. A popular way of laying out smaller sized utility rooms is by having your washing machine and tumble dryer stacked to save space. You can also incorporate a pull out shelf into the space so you can simply fold your clothing and pop in straight into the basket.
3. Incorporate the use of two sinks
Additionally, if you hand wash pieces of clothing on a daily basis, incorporating two sinks into your utility space could be a great option for you. This way you can use one for hand washing your clothing and the other for anything else, in order to avoid your clothes getting stained.
4. Choose built-in cabinetry
Choose a more affordable built-in cabinetry option such as Magnet’s Nova range, which is available in 7 colours. Built-in cabinetry is a great choice for a utility room as it allows you to hide items you don't want people to see, but also allows you to grab the essentials like washing powder quickly.
5. Metallic over ceramic sinks
Opt for a sink with a metallic finish rather than ceramic as these generally come with a smaller price tag.
6. Select a basic design chrome tap
As utility rooms are usually hidden away, selecting a basic design chrome tap is a budget-friendly option, which still provides a sleek and stylish look to your sink.
7. Fit tile-effect laminate flooring rather than true tiling
Tile-effect laminate flooring is a great choice for utility rooms as they have a smaller price tag but they are super durable and scratch resistant, which is especially great for busy families.
She adds “Keep in mind what is important to you and your family when designing your new utility room. What everyday tasks can be made easier by incorporating specific features? Think how the space can be best utilised to fit your everyday needs.”
Need help with your utility room?
Do you need help with designing your dream utility room? At Magnet, we are here for you. Feel free to get in touch and book a consultation today for a completely free, no-obligation design and quote.
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