Utility Room Ideas: Why They’re the New Must-Have and How to Create Yours

Once a behind-the-scenes space, the utility room is finally having its moment in the spotlight. No longer just a place to stash the mop and washing machine, it’s now the room everyone wants — a calm, organised space that makes everyday life feel a little more sorted.

At Lakeland, we’ve been helping homes run smoothly since 1964, so we’ve seen household trends come and go. In the 1960s, the dream was a dining room with a heated sideboard. In the 1980s, it was all about conservatories. But today? The utility room is the new must-have, and for good reason.

Whether you’ve got a full laundry room, a tucked-away nook or just a clever cupboard, there are ways to make your space work harder (and look better). From energy-smart drying solutions to small yet impactful upgrades, we have the tools to help you create a utility space that’s as practical as it is stylish.

To give you a little inspiration, we’re sharing our favourite utility room ideas, clever storage tips and space-saving solutions.

What is a utility room?

A utility room is a dedicated space for everyday chores like laundry, cleaning, and general household storage. It usually holds appliances like the washing machine and tumble dryer, along with laundry baskets, ironing boards, and cleaning products — all neatly tucked out of sight.

The rise of the utility room

According to our 2024 Trends Report, nearly half of UK households now have a dedicated utility or laundry space — and of those who don’t, more than half would love to create one.* It’s easy to see why. A well-planned utility area helps keep the everyday chaos in check, giving you a designated space to sort, store and stay on top of the laundry pile, all while keeping the rest of your home feeling calm and clutter-free.

But it’s not just about function, it’s about feeling good too. An organised, beautifully styled utility room brings a real sense of satisfaction. In fact, for many younger homeowners and renters, a curated utility space has become a fresh kind of status symbol — a quiet corner that proves you’ve got life running smoothly (or at least looking that way!).

This shift is also reflected on social media. With hashtags like #laundryroomideas racking up over 70 million views on TikTok, it’s clear we’re rethinking how we clean, dry, and store, and how we design our homes to support daily life.

At Lakeland, we’ve always believed in the magic of hardworking spaces, and we’re here to help you transform yours, whether you’ve got a whole room, a hidden nook, or a clever cupboard under the stairs.

Why is the utility room so popular?

So, what’s driving the nation’s newfound utility room obsession? For starters, it’s the weather.

During one of the wettest winters and soggiest springs on record (April 2024 ranked as the sixth wettest in 189 years), drying clothes indoors became more of a necessity than a choice. While 71% of people still dry their laundry outside when they can, nearly half (49%) now rely on non-heated airers indoors, and 14% use heated airers* like our much-loved Dry:Soon range.

Then, there’s the joy of order. Influencers like Stacey Solomon and the ‘cleanfluencer’ movement have shown how therapeutic it can be to decant washing powder into matching jars, colour-code your cleaning products, or label every laundry basket.

And as our homes adapt to flexible working, blended routines, and multi-purpose living, the utility room has claimed its corner as a quiet hero. It’s a zone for calm, order, and everyday wins.

Utility room storage ideas

You don’t need loads of space to create a brilliant utility zone. From under-stairs cupboards to built-in wardrobes turned laundry hubs, small-space solutions are booming. Think slimline trolleys, fold-away drying racks, and vertical shelves that help you make the most of every inch.

It’s all about using what you’ve got. A well-planned layout and choosing smart storage that works for your routine can turn any small space into a utility hero.

Here are some of our utility room storage ideas:

Use a trolley

Lakeland NeatNest Cleaning Trolley Bundle

£199.98

Our NeatNest range is perfect if you’re after a stylish and functional cleaning trolley. With smooth-rolling wheels and modular accessories, it’s easy to transport your essentials from room to room while keeping everything neatly organised.

The Cleaning Trolley Bundle comes with everything you need to turn your NeatNest into a full-on mobile cleaning station. It includes five clever space-saving add-ons: a broom holder, dustpan pot, two shelves with hooks, and a lift-out caddy — all designed to attach neatly to your trolley and keep everything right where you need it.

Or, if your laundry routine needs a bit of order adding to it, the Laundry Trolley Bundle is the one to do it; it adds drying racks, an iron holder and more to the NeatNest Trolley.

Switch to a heated airer

When it comes to laundry, drying is often the trickiest step, especially if you don’t want to rely on expensive, energy-hungry machines. That’s why heated airers are so popular. They’re cheaper to run than a tumble dryer, making them not just kinder to clothes, but easier on your energy bill too. In fact, our 2024 research found 25% of those aged 25–34 have embraced heated airers*, showing just how popular these gadgets have become with younger, sustainability-focused households.

Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer

£199.99

Enter the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer, which continues to be one of our best-loved products. It’s quick, energy-efficient, and folds away neatly when not in use. With 21m of drying space, it’s ideal for busy households looking to stay on top of the laundry pile without cluttering their living room.

Upgrade your ironing kit with space-saving tech

Last year, we highlighted how younger consumers were falling out of love with ironing and ironing boards. This still holds true. Overall, in the UK, 79% of households own an ironing board. This figure falls to 67% for those aged 18 to 34.*

For those who like their clothes crisp and crease-free, we’ve got brilliant options.

Lakeland Steam Iron Station

£99.99

The new Lakeland Steam Iron Station packs a powerful steam punch and folds away into one space-saving unit when you’re done.

1.8L Steam Generator Iron

£69.99

And if you’re looking for an ultra-light, easy-to-use option, our 1.8L Steam Generator Iron keeps the water in a separate tank, making the iron itself lighter and easier to glide.

NeatNest Ironing Trolley

£99.99

Pressed for floor space? Our NeatNest Ironing Trolley includes integrated baskets for your essentials, a pull-out drying rack, and a clip-on ironing board — all in a compact design that’s easy to tuck away when not in use.

Small utility room ideas

Utility rooms are so desirable that half of people without one say they’d like to create one, even if that means repurposing an existing space. According to our trends report, homeowners would be most willing to sacrifice the following rooms to build their dream utility space: garage (18%), followed by a spare bedroom (8%). The attic and home study both follow at 5%, and 4% would even forego their dining room.*

However, you don’t need to knock down walls or sacrifice entire rooms to feel the benefits of a utility space. Sometimes it’s the little changes that make all the difference.

Here are some of our small utility room ideas:

Add a collapsible drying rack behind the door
Pop some over-door hooks for clothes or shoe bags
Store washing capsules in a labelled tin
Keep your ironing board neatly tidied on a wall hook
Add wall-mounted mop holders
Decant liquids into reusable spray bottles
Add some glass jars with scoops
Stack matching baskets
Roll out a slimline trolley (like the NeatNest trolley)
Use a rotating organiser in deep cupboards to easily reach cleaning products

Elevate your utility room with Lakeland

Whether you’re planning a complete utility room makeover or just want to bring a little more calm and order to your laundry routine, we’re here to help. From clever space-savers to stylish storage and energy-smart drying, we have the solutions to turn even the smallest space into your home’s new favourite room.

For more how-to guides and inspiration, head over to our blog.

*All statistics according to the Lakeland 2024 Home and Cleaning Trends Report.