Adding a utility space to your kitchen could add thousands to the value of your home. A utility room is one of the most sought-after home features, according to the National Association of Home Buyers, with 91% saying they want one. There are many benefits to having a utility space in your kitchen, but it’s important that you’re aware of the downsides, too.
The typical household does between 2 and 6 loads of laundry per week and spends $170 every year on laundry supplies. A utility area is a great place to designate your washing. Plus, you can hide dirty laundry away in it, such as football kits and muddy footwear that needs cleaning. By storing muddy shoes by your washing machine, you’ll remember to pop them in your next wash. Simply, take out the laces and insoles, place the shoes in a pillowcase, and put them in the machine.
The organization is the key to a happy home. Utility rooms are great for adding shelving, cabinets, storage baskets, hangers, drawers, pull-down drying racks, and similar. You can keep baskets for clean, dirty, and delicate items of clothing that need washing. A noticeboard on the wall to remind yourself when you need to top up your cupboard of cleaning supplies is a good idea too.
Around 10% of the square footage of your home should be allocated to storage. But, let’s be honest, you can never have too much storage. A utility space or room is ideal for storing appliances, laundry powder, ironing board and iron, vacuum, steam mop, carpet cleaner, and more.
You’ll need around 54 square feet to make a decent-sized utility area. This is a lot of kitchen space to lose for many households. Another option is to extend your kitchen to make room for a utility, but this will cost you thousands.
Washing machines can be up to 67 dB. Dryers can also be irritating background noise. You need to bear this in mind when adding a utility space to your kitchen. Can you put up with the house while you’re cooking, for example? And, can you afford to hold off doing your laundry when entertaining guests?
Dryers cause almost 16,000 fires every year. Improper use is often the reason for these fires. Making sure you use your dryer correctly and regularly clean it will lower the chance of a fire. But it’s still something to be aware of, especially if you store hazardous cleaning materials in your utility area alongside your dryer.
Conclusion on Pros and Cons of adding a utility space to your kitchen
Having a dedicated utility space in or alongside your kitchen is a great way to stay organized. You’re sure to love being able to easily access all your laundry-related items together. But, you do need to consider the noise you’ll have to live with and the space you’ll lose.
