Set up an ideal utility room and manage your household even better – tips & inspiration

Regardless of whether you have a separate room available and would like to set up a utility room there or would like to make the most of the last free area in your apartment for this purpose, some tips and ideas are always welcome. The utility room, which is usually used for washing and hanging laundry, separating waste and storing cleaning supplies and cleaning supplies, is an important and very practical space. It creates order, provided it is set up correctly. This can be a challenge, especially if there is little space. But with our tips and ideas you will set up the perfect utility room and run your household even better and easier.

Set up a small utility room

If you want to store and store as many things in a small room as is usual for a household room, unintentional chaos can quickly arise. The dream of a tidy and practical laundry room is quickly shattered and household chores are no fun at all. For this reason, in order to avoid a junk room, there are a few things you should keep in mind when setting up the utility room:

• Make maximum use of the space for storage.
• Arrange furniture in a U shape in the utility room. It looks neat and every cupboard, drawer and work surface is easily and quickly accessible.
• Floor-to-ceiling cabinets are the ideal solution when space is limited. If there is not enough space on the floor, the height of the room must be used. In the upper cabinets, which are harder to reach, simply store things that are used less often. In summer, these can be blankets, winter clothes (or summer clothes in winter), or washing bowls, kitchen appliances, etc
• Store the washing machine and dryer in floor-to-ceiling cupboards and, if necessary, place them on top of each other if there is not enough space to put them next to each other.

Design a laundry room in a narrow room

Is the room for oneFurniture arrangement in U-ShapeIf it's too narrow, you can also use a simple row of cupboards as laundry room furniture, which you can use to set up the utility room. With this limited space, floor-to-ceiling cabinets are a must in order to provide enough storage space for everything you need. Avoid placing individual items such as the vacuum cleaner, laundry basket, ironing board or drying rack in the room, as this not only looks messy but also takes up valuable space. Instead, try to integrate and store all these things in the cabinets. Even the laundry basket can find space in a built-in cupboard.

Cupboards for sorting laundry are also very practical. These have openings through which laundry can be easily transported into the cupboard (where there is a basket or other container). On the one hand, this is not visible and you don't waste time opening the cupboard. This also eliminates the hassle of sorting dirty laundry because it is thrown into the respective compartment in advance according to color. So if there is enough space for this variant, you should definitely consider the laundry sorting cupboard.

Near the kitchen

If you have a room close to the kitchen or a free area that you could redesign, you can also set up a utility room there. It is usually set up right there. In this way, you can also unload the kitchen itself, where you previously had to store all the food in cans and jars as well as the drinks. Simply combine the laundry room with a pantry and reorganize your household this way.

However, since all the cans, bottles and food can quickly appear chaotic, we recommend lockable cupboards instead of shelves for the pantry and if you want to set up the utility room. However, it is important that there are enough cracks and gaps in the cupboards so that the air can circulate. Alternatively, you can also store the food in baskets or boxes and then store them on shelves. This also looks much neater than products directly on the shelf. If the room is large enough and really close to the kitchen, you can also put the refrigerator (or a second one) in here and thus gain more space for the kitchen.

Practical ideas for furnishing

• Elevated washer and dryer– If the washing machine and dryer are installed a little higher in the cupboard, it will of course make working with them easier. It is not without reason that more and more housewives are opting for a high oven, which offers the same advantage. You don't have to bend down every time to load and unload the two machines.
• Storage area for raised washing machine– If you have the machinesinstall increased, a pull-out shelf integrated into the cupboard (pull-out shelf) for the laundry basket is really very useful. If you have a built-in cupboard specially made, be sure to include such a pull-out shelf. Visually it looks like a drawer. If you pull it out, a simple board appears on which you can place the washing bowl or laundry basket so that you can easily fill it with the finished laundry. For this purpose, the pull-out shelf should of course ideally be located directly under the washing machine/dryer.
• The ironing boardIntegrated in the cupboard for the laundry room - An ironing board that is either integrated in the cupboard or attached to the wall and can be quickly folded out if necessary is very practical and space-saving. This way you save a lot of space when setting up the utility room and it stays tidy. Instead of a folding model, you can simply have a cabinet made with high sections in which you can place the ironing board upright and store it that way.

• Foldable clothes airer– Regardless of whether you have a dryer or not, a clothes horse is always needed. Since this can take up a lot of space and doesn't look particularly nice when leaned against the wall, you can also integrate it into the cupboard. Afoldable or hanging design, which can be quickly taken out of the cupboard when needed and then disappeared back into the cupboard, is very practical. Depending on how much space you have available in the closet, the size of the stand can even vary as needed.
• A sink– A sink is not a must, but it can also be very useful. You can pour out the dirty water there after wiping and don't have to go to the bathroom. You can also conveniently wash your laundry there by hand or wash your hands quickly if necessary.
• A worktop– The worktop doesn't necessarily have to be large, but a place where you can put something down for a short time is an advantage. Whether you choose the classic worktop on a cupboard for this purpose or a small separate table is up to you and basically depends on the size of the tableutility room and planningaway. If there is little space, you can also use a pull-out shelf for this purpose, but this time it should be higher. If it is not needed, it simply disappears into the cupboard.
• Crate holder for drinks– If you are setting up the utility room to also store food in it, it is worth thinking about a crate holder on which you can conveniently store drinks crates so that they do not get in the way.

• Waste separation system– Just as a laundry system is practical, a waste separation system is also beneficial. So if you plan to separate your waste in this room, think about such a system. This will help you sort and separate the waste.
• Shower for the dog– Animal lovers know how uncomfortable the bathroom can be. It is usually necessary to clean the room afterwards. How about setting up a small shower specifically for the dog in the utility room instead? This is a great idea, provided you don't also store food there that could get wet or dirty.
• A television– Ironing in particular can take a long time. For this reason, some housewives (or men) decide to have a television that they put in the laundry room. And if you're just starting to plan anyway, you can definitely include a compartment in the built-in cupboard. This makes ironing much more pleasant. Alternatively, you can simply place a radio in the room.

What you should consider when planning

To make the most of the space and set up a perfect utility room, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Since you will be washing and drying clothes in this room, tiles are the best choice for flooring. These are known to be moisture-resistant compared to laminate or parquet. Linoleum is also a possible and easy-care option. Since the room is usually quite small, white or another light color is best suited for the walls. Light colors make a small room look more spacious, so that even the smallest room no longer seems so restrictive. But if that's too sterile for you, you can add a few color accents here and there and create a more homely laundry room.

Before you start tiling, you should think carefully about how many water connections you need, as this may involve additional lines and pipes. The location of machines and the sink must be clear before arranging the utility room. The same applies to the power connections. All devices require electricity, but plenty of sockets are also recommended. After all, sometimes you also want to be able to connect the iron, possibly the vacuum cleaner and certainly some other devices.

A window is not necessarily a mandatory element, but it is very advantageous. Not only because it makes the room much brighter and friendlier, but because this way you can always ventilate it well to avoid moisture and mold growth as a result. Especially if you iron there for a long time, you definitely want to have a pleasant room climate and get rid of the steam.

Useful ideas

Now that we have provided you with some helpful tips, you will probably also want some beautiful utility room ideas that you can use as inspiration. Then you can take a look at the following photo line. There you will find interesting suggestions on how you can set up a perfect household room in a sensible way. Simply combine your favorite ideas with your own innovative solutions and start planning right away. Then you can set up your own utility room to manage your household with ease and fun from now on.