RENOVATION
PROJECT PLANNING
CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO HANDY SPACES? WE HELP YOU PICK WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR HOME
NEAT STORAGE
Keep your utility room tidy with clever storage, such as open shelving, plenty of cupboards and handy wicker baskets
CLEAN AND FRESH
As well as washing, a laundry room should have areas for sorting and separating loads, folding and drying
Once seen as an unusualluxury, both utility and laundry rooms are now frequently sought after, as homeowners realise the benefits of having a dedicated space for storage and chores. The overlap between these two functional spaces means they’re often used interchangeably, yet they still warrant separate names, which suggests they have their own distinct functions.
UTILITY ROOMS
These are versatile spaces, and can be adapted to serve a variety of functions. ‘A utility room tends to cater for a mixture of uses, with designs being tailored to individual needs,’ explains Ruth Lavender, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery (benchmarxkitchens.co.uk). ‘It’s a feature that can serve as anything and everything – including a cloakroom, pantry, general storage area, boot room or pet-washing area.’
‘A utility room is a natural extension to the main kitchen area so you can prep and wash food, even batch cook or easily cater for guests without having an impact in the kitchen,’ says Matt Phillips, head of UK operations, Rotpunkt (rotpunkt.co.uk).
LAUNDRY ROOMS
A laundry room, however, will stick to its sole purpose as a space to do the washing. ‘When drying clothes in the winter, it’s more common to dry them inside on an airer or in the tumble dryer,’ says Jo Winston, sales and marketing director, St Modwen (stmodwenhomes.co.uk). ‘Having a dedicated space where you can keep laundry well ventilated and out of the way is super handy.’
