Utility spaces are a necessary part of any modern home. With so much laundry to do, no longer is just a space in an unfinished basement enough. A dedicated finished laundry room is one of the utility space upgrades that many homeowners enjoy immensely. From using vertical space for more room for cleaning tools to adding rods for drying delicates and items that need to be ironed, here are some handy suggestions.
Maintain Needed Appliances
Most people focus on kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces, but there are other workhorse parts of the home that need some love. The utility space upgrades works best when cleaning appliances are maintained, saving you many headaches when trying to get your chores done. I know cleaning the washer sounds silly unless you’ve neglected that chore for long enough that you see mold growing along the gasket. And keeping those cleaning tools running may take some DIY or pro repairs from time to time. For example, you can always buy laundry parts for trusted brands such as Alliance, and aftermarket or brand replacements for vacuum cleaners like Dyson, so you can save some cash and tackle the chores.
Use the Vertical Space
Even in a basement or dedicated laundry room, space can be small since they aren’t designed for entertaining and relaxing. (I know sofas have crept into closets, but they haven’t made it into laundry spaces just yet!) As a functional space, they are typically devoid of form or style. However, there are walls! You can make better use of a cramped utility space by using the vertical space around you. Always tripping over detergent? How about some shelves for the laundry essentials? You can also use floor-to-ceiling locking cabinets to secure dangerous chemicals and other supplies from kids and pets.
Install Custom Utility Space Upgrades
In the US, around 72 percent of newly built homes are designed with functions such as laundry in mind, and come with dedicated utility space on the first floor. While you may want to build a bar to make your home more awesome, investing in custom utility space upgrades may be a better use of cash for now. Necessary upgrades like built-in units, pull-out drawers, and baskets will help keep the space organized and tidy. This is a blessing since a laundry space gets messy pretty quickly. It just takes a few loads of unfolded laundry to feel like a mess.
Disguise Appliances and Tools
Have you ever thought of glamming up a utility space? Of course, you don’t spend free time in there—unless you are hiding from other chores—but there’s no reason why it can’t look better. Installing cabinets for washing machines and other tools and appliances can help keep the space more organized, and keep little fingers away from things they shouldn’t be touching. This approach can help make chores more pleasant, but it also helps provide a cleaner and minimalist look, especially when you design a stylish space.
Don’t Forget About Design and Style
The question is, do you go ahead and design a stylish utility space or not? Most people wouldn’t bother, but a pleasing and inviting utility space can take away the drab feeling of doing chores. Choose colors that make you happy. If you need to put laundry in the basement, a finished basement with careful attention to lighting can elevate your laundry and ironing experience. If you have the space, a dedicated ironing area with light, a rubber mat for underfoot, and perhaps a Bluetooth speaker provides a functional, relaxing space away from family members who are always creating more laundry.
Summary
Keeping your appliances in good working order is one of the best utility space upgrades you can make. Of course, the area itself can help you get your chores done with custom drawers and cabinets, especially when you take the extra step of designing a stylish and inviting space.
