Did you know that modern utility rooms have been part of UK homes since the 14th century?
Back then, it was known as the scullery: a hardworking back room where pots were scrubbed, clothes were washed, and dry goods were stored. In many ways, today’s utility rooms do exactly the same job – just with a lot more tech.
Utilities now house washing machines, tumble dryers, irons and all those household essentials you don’t want cluttering up your kitchen. They’re as practical as ever, which is why more and more homeowners are keen to include one.
But what if space is tight? Utility rooms are often on the small side, and a lack of windows or awkward corners can make them tricky to plan.
Well, that’s where Rehome comes in! As the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet, we’re determined to bring your visions of a better home to life. Keep our 11 small utility room ideas handy when you’re drawing up design plans!
What is a utility room?
A utility room is a dedicated space in the home for everyday washing and domestic tasks (from laundry and ironing to cleaning and appliance storage).
Often tucked just off the kitchen or back door, a small utility room helps keep noisy appliances out of your main living areas. In many UK homes, a utility room also doubles as a boot room (or ‘bootility’): a space to deal with outdoor gear as soon as you step inside.
Which utility room ideas you incorporate is entirely personal. If you’re happy with the current location of your washing machine and tumble dryer, you might turn it into a hardworking storage space for bed linen, towels, bedding and cleaning products.
Others use their compact utility room for overflow kitchen storage, or perhaps a hidden laundry zone. Whatever its layout, the main purpose of a utility room is straightforward: to give all those miscellaneous household items a proper home.
How to make a small utility room look nice?
Are you short on space? Don’t give up on your dream renovation – you can still make a small utility room look nice with a few clever design tricks (and our favourite utility room ideas!)
At Rehome, we’re all about making the most of what you already have. You don’t need to fork out thousands on an extension or knock through walls to transform a boot room into something practical and stylish.
Instead, think about design: could it be that your current colour palette is working against the space? While you may have loved navy, black and dark green during your last renovation, maybe it’s time to open up the area with a lighter coat of paint.
Next, tackle clutter. One of our simpler utility room ideas is to invest in proper storage. If you have spare cutlery, tea towels, and detergent bottles lying around, give them a proper home in wicker baskets, crates, or clear containers with simple labels. Vertical shelving, skinny racks and over-door storage are brilliant space-saving ideas for utility rooms.
It’s about taking a step back to make clever, cost-friendly evaluations. So, if you want to steal our top 11 utility room ideas for your remodel plans, be our guest!
1. Bring focus to flooring
It’s easy to overlook flooring when planning a remodel, especially in a smaller room. But starting your overhaul from the ground up is one of the simplest utility room ideas for bringing more personality into the space.
Opt for monochrome tiles in black and white: chequerboard designs can break up the monotony of block colours, which are fairly common in boot rooms. Budget-savvy renovators may want to shop for vinyl flooring.
These durable, water-resistant tiles are capable of handling heavy foot traffic and accidental washing machine spills! For a slightly more ‘upscale’ option, homeowners could splash out on Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT).
2. Baskets, baskets and more baskets!
Utility rooms and baskets go hand-in-hand. They’re an organisational game-changer (plus, in the right shop, they’re fairly cheap!)
It doesn’t matter if it’s for laundry, spare toilet rolls, pet supplies or just the odd bits that don’t quite belong anywhere else, baskets can quickly stop a room from feeling overcrowded.
Wicker baskets are a firm favourite in UK homes, partly because they have a warm feel (and because they’re easily accessible). You can find a variety of styles and shapes online and in person.
If you’re looking for something a little more structured, fabric storage boxes with rope handles are equally suitable. They’re lightweight and often fold down, which is why they’re one of our favourite utility room ideas.
3. Save space with blinds
In compact spaces, every inch counts.
That’s why blinds make a lot more sense than curtains. Curtains might look nice elsewhere in the house, but in a tighter area, they can feel bulky and get in the way.
Blinds, on the other hand, sit neatly within the window frame and let you control light and privacy without stealing any room. Roller blinds are especially handy for this!
They’ll keep the window area neat and tidy, plus they’re available in moisture-resistant materials (e.g., vinyl or PVC): perfect for a space where the air can get damp from appliances.
4. Make use of vertical space
You’ve looked down at the flooring, so now why not look up? In a small utility room, walls – and even ceilings, in some cases – offer untapped potential for smart storage (clever utility room ideas often start with vertical space).
Use vertical space to keep extra washing powders, fabric softeners, cleaning products and kitchen aerosols in labelled containers. Is your main problem a lack of space for drying clothes? Then incorporate wall-mounted racks! Making proper, efficient use of vertical areas will take your transformation to another level. Another smart move is stacking appliances.
By placing a tumble dryer above a washing machine (using a stacking kit), you free up floor space for things like a laundry run or baskets. But what if you’ve got nowhere to put ironing boards or cleaning tools? There’s always the back of your door! Just purchase some hooks or slim racks, available at your nearest DIY shop.
5. Tuck appliances away
While it’s nice to take stock of all your kitchen appliances, having them on display 24/7 may be more of a burden than a benefit. After all, it’s unlikely you use every appliance you own every day!
Instead, take stock of what you really need to see. Rather than leaving your washer and tumble dryer exposed, why not conceal them behind matching cabinet doors?
You’ll still have full access when you need it, but everything looks calmer when it’s closed away – one of the simplest utility room ideas for creating a cleaner look.
You can also get creative with awkward corners. If you’ve got a cupboard under the stairs or a spare alcove at the end of the kitchen, it might be just enough space for a hidden utility setup. Fit a sliding or bifold door, and suddenly it’s out of sight but still totally usable. We promise that turning even the smallest nook into something practical is a rewarding experience.
6. Sneak in a pantry!
We love a two-in-one tip, and at Rehome, it’s our job to break down budget barriers with utility room ideas. If there’s a corner of your boot room that you simply don’t know what to do with, don’t let it become a corner for miscellaneous rubbish.
Put it to good use! We’re not talking about anything fancy: just a few shelves or a cupboard to hold dry goods, tinned food, or even your slow cooker and bread maker. It’s a clever way to take pressure off the kitchen. As we mentioned earlier, you’ll want to make use of vertical space if your utility room is on the smaller side.
You can store jars, packets, and the odd bulk buy from floor to ceiling without taking up too much space. Glass jars or clear boxes make it easy to see what you’ve got, and if you label things, everything stays neat.
7. Create a dedicated cleaning product corner!
The undersink cabinet is a popular place for storing cleaning products.
But they’re only so big! If you’re someone who likes to stock up on essentials like antibacterial sprays, washing powders, washing-up liquid and dryer sheets, slowly but surely, you’ll start running out of room.
Instead of having bottles and sprays bursting out of your cupboards, take the initiative and create a dedicated cleaning product corner! The best thing is, it doesn’t need to be a huge setup.
A single cupboard or even just a few shelves can do the job. Pop similar items together, use labelled tubs or baskets, and you’ll always know where everything is. If you’re short on shelf space, the back of a cupboard door can work wonders! If you’ve got kids or pets at home, don’t forget about safety. Keep stronger products on a higher shelf or tucked away in a cupboard with a child lock.
8. Mount an ironing board
An ironing board is a must-have in a laundry-centric utility room. But in a small, overcrowded space, finding a suitable spot for your board where it won’t be in the way can feel almost impossible. That’s where clever utility room ideas come in. Rather than leaning your ironing board precariously against a wall (and hoping it won’t fall or damage anything), simply mount it on the wall instead.
Wall-mounted options are ideal for tight spaces: you can pull them down when you need them and tuck them straight back up when you’re done. Or, if you only iron once in a blue moon, a compact tabletop board might be a better investment.
9. Use pale shades for space
Everyone knows the impact that colour can have, even if unconsciously. Darker shades of red, green, black and blue are used for drama. Lighter colours, monochromes, beiges, and whites reflect light and create space.
It’s an interior design fact! While having too much of either can have negative effects, balancing darker cabinetry with white walls (or vice versa) is a great way to bring harmony back into your boot room. Think muted pastels, creams and soft greys: it’s these shades that reflect light. By keeping your woodwork all one colour (and potentially all cabinet doors), you can help the room breathe a little.
10. Mirrored splashback
Another clever interior design trick, a mirrored splashback, can go a long way in a tight space. Mirrors reflect light, so even if your utility room has no windows or is tucked away under the stairs, a mirrored surface can create the illusion of space.
If you’re collecting utility room ideas, this is a simple upgrade that can instantly make the room feel brighter. They’re also perfect for those awkward walls you’re not sure what to do with. Mirrored splashbacks are easy to wipe clean (always a bonus in spill- and splash-prone areas), and you can even choose a toughened glass mirror that’s specially designed for kitchens and utility spaces.
11. Choose practical, freestanding furniture
Of course, we’re being conscious of space, but one of our favourite small utility room ideas is only having practical freestanding furniture. While you might love the look of your built-in cabinets, you’re stuck with the same setup forever. Freestanding pieces, on the other hand, give you the freedom to adapt the layout as your needs change.
Position one of our ex-display dressers on your largest wall, and use it to house dishes or glassware that don’t have a home. Then, if you find one, repurpose the dresser for linen storage!
Storage-centric furniture, like foldaway pantries, can help you stay organised without cramming too much into the room. Or, if you’re after something really flexible, you can even choose furniture with wheels!
Shop for pre-loved and ex-display utility rooms with Rehome!
As the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet, it’s our job to help you bring these small utility room ideas to life. Luckily, we’re offering Rehome customers pre-loved furniture from luxury furniture brands like Clive Christian, Roundhouse, and Harvey Jones.
Shop for bespoke bar stools and table sets, and you could find your dream pieces for thousands of pounds less than their original retail price! Invest in quality with a pre-loved pantry, or browse our pre-installed laundry runs.
Whatever you’re looking for, it’s time to live in possible.
FAQs
What is the smallest size for a utility room?
Answering this question is almost like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’ Everyone will have a different response.
If, to you, the basic requirements for a utility room are a washer and dryer, then you’ll need a much bigger space than someone who intends to use it solely for storage. Some suggest minimum measurements of 1.8 x 2.4m, others say 1.9m by 1.6m if you’re looking to fit a sink.
We recommend making a list of non-negotiable features (e.g., washing machine, tumble dryer, freestanding pantry) and seeing if they’re feasible for your current space.
How can I get a utility room on a budget?
By shopping with Rehome! We’ve been hard at work helping homeowners bring their renovation goals to life. Our pre-loved furniture, kitchens, cabinets and appliances are all about breaking down budget barriers, so that everyone can enjoy luxury.
How do I design a small utility room?
Keep our top small utility room ideas in mind at the design stage:
- Paint cabinetry and walls with light colours
- Make good use of vertical space
- Add a mirror for light reflection
- Consider floating shelves for extra storage
- Prioritise blinds over curtains
- Consider a floor revamp
