How to level up your utility room for less – 5 clever ideas from IKEA

When it comes to reconfiguring a room on a budget, IKEA is the trusty place I can always turn to. Whether you’re looking for affordable flatpack furniture to create a practical living space or functional storage solutions to make the most of a small area, it never fails to deliver.

Don’t underestimate the power of a good utility room design – it has a huge impact on everyday life, turning tiresome tasks like folding and sorting laundry into an organised system you actually enjoy using.

From dedicated laundry corners to stylish ways to conceal unsightly appliances, here are some of my favourite IKEA utility room ideas that will elevate both the design and function of this hardworking space, along with tips and tricks from the experts.

1. Create a dedicated laundry corner

Every utility room needs a dedicated laundry area, including baskets, shelves and a place to hang wet garments. In this IKEA utility room idea, these essentials have been carefully positioned next to the tumble dryer and washing machine for easy access.

Even if you're working with a small utility room, you can bring this idea to life by taking advantage of the room's height, according to Becky Purchas, founder of White Space. You could attach an adjustable clothes rail to the side of a cabinet or use a wall-mounted clothes bar inside an existing wardrobe unit.

If space allows, install a cabinet next to your appliances as a place to store laundry detergents, pegs, and other accessories so they're conveniently kept in one place. Poppy Duffree, founder of Organised Interiors, recommends clear, stackable cubes (like these £12 containers from Ikea) to keep track of what you have and what needs replenishing.

Laundry corner shopping picks

Becky Purchas

Becky Purchas is a professional organiser and declutter coach, and the founder of White Space. With a warm and encouraging approach, Becky cuts through the physical and mental clutter, to create clarity and functional space that supports wellbeing.

Poppy Duffree

Poppy Duffree is an award-winning professional organiser and founder of Organised Interiors, known for delivering white-glove, show-home-standard home setups for clients. With a background in operations and prime property, she launched the company in 2019 to transform the often overlooked stage of move-in organisation. 

2. Conceal unsightly appliances behind a curtain

If your washing machine and tumble dryer are ruining your utility room's aesthetic, install a curtain divider to keep them out of sight. In the idea above, the brown curtains tie in with the neutral design of the space, while hiding the bulky appliances.

Fabric and moisture don’t mix well, which is why proper ventilation is key to making this idea work. Choose a durable, breathable material, such as cotton, and a lightweight option that’s quick and easy to open.

You’ll also need to ensure there’s enough space between your curtain and appliances to avoid a fire hazard, as well as sufficient airflow. As an extra precaution, consider using a fire-retardant spray for fabrics (like this one from Amazon).

Shop Ikea curtains

3. Combine your utility with a boot room

If you're tired of mountains of shoes and coats overtaking your hallway, it makes sense to combine your utility with a boot room. This can be as simple as stacking a couple of shoe racks in a vacant corner and adding some pegs on the wall to hang your coats.

It will work even better if your utility room idea has a sink, making it convenient to wash off muddy boots after winter walks – rather than letting them sit in a cupboard and be forgotten until your next outing.

“A boot room will undoubtedly see its fair share of dirt, so it’s essential to choose the right materials to maintain a clean and functional space. For the flooring, I recommend hard-wearing, non-slip tiles as they’re easy to mop and can withstand heavy traffic," says Melissa Denham, interior design expert at Hammonds Furniture.

“For the walls, washable paint or tiles are the way to go. That way, you can quickly wipe away and splashes or scuffs without worrying about damage. For your worktops and cabinets, choose materials like laminate or quartz as they can be easily wiped down and are resistant to stains.”

Shop affordable IKEA shoe storage

Melissa Denham

With over two decades of experience designing and delivering interior projects, Melissa creates stunning interiors for residential projects as well as events, workspaces and showroom staging. She aids clients in creating their vision of a dream space through her interior design expertise and creative eye. 

4. Create a folding station above your washer

If there's one thing I wish I had in my laundry room, it would be a folding station above the tumble dryer – everyone with a well-organised utility has one. Instead of lugging a mountain of laundry up the stairs (and dropping half along the way), this lets you sort, fold and organise everything in one place.

In this IKEA utility room idea, the washing machine and portable laundry bags are conveniently placed below a waist-level countertop –⁠ the perfect height and setup for folding clean laundry. An ironing board and clothing rack are also within easy reach to create an efficient process.

"Having a dedicated space like this can really help to streamline the laundry process", adds Becky Purchas.

5. Install a shower in your utility room

Downstairs bathrooms are one of the best ways to future-proof your home, providing an accessible shower space without the need to trek upstairs. To save space in a smaller home, consider combining it with your utility room. As a bonus, it can double as a place to hose off dirty boots, wash clothes by hand, or let soaked items dry over a drain.

However, Michael Zohouri, founder of Pyramid Eco warns, "The issue is that you’re bringing together two high-moisture activities in one area, so you really need to get the ventilation right."

Here's what he recommends:

1. An extractor fan rated higher than the minimum for a standard bathroom: "The fan should extract directly to the outside and not into a loft or wall cavity. It should also have a humidity sensor rather than relying purely on a light switch."
2. Sufficient airflow: "There needs to be a gap under the door or a dedicated air inlet so that fresh air can replace what’s being extracted. Without that, the fan will struggle to work efficiently."
3. An externally vented tumble dryer: "If there’s a tumble dryer in the room, it should ideally be vented externally. A poorly vented dryer can push large amounts of moisture into the space."
4. Effective moisture-control: "You want to treat it as a high-moisture environment and ventilate accordingly. Moisture control has to be proactive, otherwise you’ll start to see mildew on clothing and that persistent musty smell develop over time."

Shop these laundry shower room essentials

Michael Zohouri

Michael Zohouri is the company founder, bringing over a decade of experience to the role. His expertise spans energy-efficient retrofitting projects, including insulation, solar and heat pump installations. Committed to addressing challenges like thermal bridging and improving air quality, Michael focuses on creating healthier, more sustainable living environments while reducing energy costs for residents.

As demonstrated above, updating your utility room doesn’t have to cost the earth – most of these IKEA finds are under £100. To add your personal stamp, consider giving these items a fresh lick of paint and mixing them with older furniture pieces in your collection.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out our guide on what to include in a utility room, and browse the best utility room layout ideas.