This unsung hero space is the workhorse of the home, ensuring everything runs smoothly…
To show you utility rooms can be equally pretty and practical, KBB journo Charlotte Luxford shares some gorgeous designs that have caught our attention lately…
Aim high
For this powder-pink utility room designed by The Mint List, the team commissioned Roundhouse to create bespoke cabinetry that utilises the unusually high ceilings.
The stacked laundry appliances create a compact vertical zone, enhanced by a connecting pull-out shelf ideal for loading and unloading. An open compartment beneath the countertop offers a dedicated spot for a laundry basket.
“The blush-toned timber keeps the room calm and cohesive and the Taj Mahal quartzite gives it a luxurious finish,” says Ben Hawkswell, senior designer at Roundhouse. “A functional yet elegant utility space with intelligent storage at its heart.”
Corner plot
This compact utility room in the Norfolk Rectory project by Naomi Astley Clarke was cleverly tucked around the corner during an internal reconfiguration to better utilise the space. “There’s now a bootroom as you first enter the back door, meaning the white goods and washing are not the first thing you see when coming into the house,” says interior designer Naomi Astley Clarke.
Keeping in mind muddy dogs and boots, Naomi specified a hardwearing tumbled limestone floor from Mandarin Stone, a plethora of storage space, and countertop for laundry baskets and sorting, plus towel radiators for drying coats. An overhead clothes dryer makes good use of the generous ceiling height in this narrow space.
Perfectly practical utility
“This utility room was designed to make everyday tasks feel uplifting rather than mundane,” says interior designer Laura Stephens. With space at a premium, the washing machine and dryer were stacked and hidden behind bespoke joinery, allowing the main counter to be used for overspill from the kitchen, potting jobs, and general household tasks.
Meanwhile, a gathered fabric curtain conceals a built-in dog bed, creating a charming, comfortable nook. “The warm pink zellige tiles wrap the walls and shelves, giving the room a soft, textural backdrop,” says Laura. “Tiling the shelves also makes them wonderfully practical, offering a wipe-clean spot for everyday items while still allowing space for decorative pieces that bring personality to the room. The space feels restful, functional, and beautifully considered.”
Calm and collected utility
“We wanted this room to feel like a practical sanctuary – baskets hanging, somewhere for laundry and the practicalities of everyday life, but also a space to be enjoyed,” says Hutley & Humm co-founder Melissa Hutley.
The colour scheme complements the kitchen, with the straw tones feeling “grounded and warm,” while the ironmongery from Corston is simple yet classic – a refined, minimalist finishing touch for the already pared-back scheme.
Full-height cupboards above a secondary fridge and tall units provide the perfect place to store items that aren’t needed everyday, while open shelving opposite makes bringing something in from the garden that bit easier, with a spot for vases and tools.
In the zone
Interior design firm Studio Westmaas took the corner of a large hallway area in this home and has transformed it into an ultra-functional laundry room. By encasing it in glazed panels, the room still feels full of light, despite the fact that it doesn’t have any windows.
This has also proven a clever way to partition the space without it seeming too enclosed. At the same time, space-saving sliding doors ensure the laundry room doesn’t encroach on the main walkway, or eat into valuable floor space.
“You can often find a little cubbyhole or an alcove and create another room; it’s the best feeling to find you have suddenly added purpose to what may have looked like an unusable space,” says Helen Parker, creative director at Devol.
Form and function
Built for a busy family of five, the design for this utility room was all about maximising functionality while maintaining a quietly luxurious aesthetic.
A full-length Arabescato marble worktop provides generous preparation and folding space, paired with a classic Belfast sink. Pull-out drying racks, slide-out timber shelves for resting baskets, and deep drawers, ensure every item has its spot.
“One of the smartest features is the four-storey laundry chute, which drops directly into the room – a family-friendly detail that keeps daily life running smoothly,” says Marcelina Janizsewska, senior interior designer at Project London, who worked collaboratively with Cor Domi on the bespoke joinery.
Dual washers and dryers sit beneath the counter, with pink Claybrook floor tiles zoning the laundry area. Pale blue cabinetry sets a calm tone, finished with warm brass trims and hardware.
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