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layout for utility room

6 years ago

Hi! We are currently building our first home, and I need some thoughts for the layout of our laundry/utility room. It is small, so I’m trying to get the most out of space and storage. You’ll see in the picture below that the right hand side is a washer and dryer. The set we have already open from the top, they are not front load. So a folding rack above the washer and dryer is not an option. On the left side of the room, we decided to get rid of that closet. So there is a utility sink, then we are going do that whole wall with the granite extended over from the utility sink as a folding table. I have so many hanging clothes items so I would like to do a hanging rack or rod above the folding table there. I also want more storage space for basic things like extra sheets or towels, batteries, toilet paper and paper towels. So What do you suggest for layout? Cabinets below the folding table or keep that open for dirty clothes hampers? Shelving above the hanging rack? (But I also didn’t wasn’t paper goods out in the open for visibility purposes. I’m to the point of needing to finalize our layout here with cabinets and such and just looking for ideas to get the best of both worlds. Thanks!

Comments (11)

  • 6 years ago

    It looks like you have a variety of options. One option is to have the hanging rod above the counter, on the left, abutting upper cabinets over the sink. Another option is to put uppers along the whole wall on the sink side and have the hanging rod below the countertop, assuming you have the countertop placed at a height that would allow this. If you feel you need more hanging space, you could have the rod span the entire length of the countertop and place upper cabinets above the washer and dryer (assuming your ceiling height is similar to that in the hallway). If you did that, you could keep the space under the counter open for dirty clothes hamper.

  • 6 years ago

    Wall cabinets over W/D and sink area can hide alot if deep enough. We add a simple shower rod over our machines and wall cabinets so we can hang clothes straight outta the dryer. Also we added shelf over door way with upside down brackets. The picnic basket there looks decorative while hiding paper goods. Use bins and baskets to storebulbs, batteries etc. I have plastic rolling drawers under Elfa shelves full of plastic tubs. I would love to have cabinets to hide all that but they survived washer floods and freezer melt downs better than wood or cardboard storage. A simple skirt on a curtain rod under the counter could hide baskets tubs or rolling shelves.

  • 6 years ago

    Wow these are great ideas! I love the idea of the shelf over the door with upside down brackets. Thanks!

    I guess ideally, I would do a rod the whole span of the wall. Then do cabinets above the rod, but I’m afraid they will just be so high. In my mind you need enough hanging space for the rod. Then cabinets above put them so high.

  • 6 years ago

    Do you know the name of it?

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Yes, here is the one I selected. It is good strong quality. The plastic ones are not good.

    misc · More Info


  • 6 years ago

    This is awesome! Thank you so so much. I had no idea that even existed!

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    It is pretty big too, around 3-4' long with around 4-5 rods so it holds a lot. I love it. No reaching for me anymore. I just lower the thing tie it down to the cleat, hang stuff, take the cord off the cleat and raise it up and redo the cord on the cleat.

  • 6 years ago

    IKEA makes an adjust drying rack that folds flat onto wall when not in use. Mount it to open wall space.


    https://www.ikea.com/au/en/images/products/grundtal-drying-rack-wall__0108734_PE258359_S4.JPG


    it looks like you have the wall space and you could even put in two of them if you felt like one was not enough for your needs.


    Also, since you are going to the trouble of building a new house, I wouldn’t design it around your existing washing machines. Get front loaders and put a removable top (removable for service, not on a regular basis by you) over them so you can fold and store things on top. Having a folding table over a sink doesn’t sound like a practical plan.


    You didn’t show an elevation, but wherever you have vertical space, put in upper cabinets.


    Instead of a hanging rod that takes up a lot of room, put in a valet rod that recesses into wall when not in use. I find that offers plenty of room for shirts waiting to be ironed, etc.



  • 6 years ago

    Unfortunately, purchasing front loaders while we already have fully functioning and operating top loaders, is not in the plan or budget for my husband. So we have to make do with what we have.


    Also, the ikea link you sent has an error message and will not load. Could you tell me the name of the product?

  • 6 years ago

    Not sure the name. It was the second google image that came up for me when I searched on ikea drying rack.


    https://www.ikea.com/au/en/images/products/grundtal-drying-rack-wall__0108734_PE258359_S4.JPG


    Theres a possibility it isn’t made any more. the one that folds flat to the wall when not in use is nice.


    Also, I would make sure you plumb for both gas and electric for dryer for future proofing.