Where to put utilities when kitchen is small?

Hoploz

The OP wasn't asking about re-sale values, they were asking for opinions on the best use of space for their existing situation.

If selling then clearly a three bed is worth more than a 2 bed with upstairs utility room. But if there is too much bedroom space and not enough utility space for the people who actually live there, it makes sense to use what's there more effectively!

Good idea to put the washer and drier within a cupboard in the spare bedroom. Best of both worlds. That gets my vote.

Kathy535

We've got a very small kitchen, about 7ft by 8ft. A dishwasher is essential (despite there only being 3 of us) as it's somewhere to hide all the dirty dishes - in a such a small kitchen the dishes seem to take up more space. Our kitchen has room for the dishwasher, washing machine and a space for the tumble dryer (which we got rid of and haven't missed, a hanging rail next to the dining room radiator dryes most clothes quickly and they don't need ironing mostly which is a real bonus!

Is there room in your bathroom for the washing machine and tumble dryer? My mum has her washing machine in the bathroom and it works a treat.

audigex

Cupboard under the stairs? (Moving any electicity/gas meters outside to a cupboard, if necessary)

Most will have enough space for both washer and dryer.

Upstairs bedroom could work but beware of putting off buyers (or rather, more work required to put it back to a bedroom later) plus the increased damage a flood upstairs can cause...

And check they don't do their washing late in the evening, washer/dryers are surprisingly loud when in the room next door, rather than the other side of a house.

Loopy28

My sister's under stairs cupboard is accessed via the living room so wouldn't be ideal for these appliances and isn't big enough anyway.

The upstairs bathroom is also small, no room for them either. It is a fairly newly built house and the kitchen and bathroom are small where as two of the bedrooms and the lounge diner are large. She wanted this and they don't have kids and are ones to use the lounge and not sit in the kitchen so they went for this design. She says after the stress of moving this time, she can't see herself moving for at least 20yrs!! (I know that feeling)

She seems to be leaning towards having a cupboard removed in the kitchen for a dishwasher and have the tumble dryer upstairs in the third bedroom/box room. She can't afford a new kitchen at present unfortunately.

melanzana

I have the opposite problem. Would love a downstairs loo, but no room for one. However, the kitchen which is long and narrow, fits a table and four chairs, a w/m, dishwasher/f. freezer and plenty of cupboards.

I dislike tumble dryers, so the spare boxroom upstairs has a clothes horse, an ironing board, and storage. It is called the "Laundry Room" lol.

I suppose I will have to run up and down the stairs to the loo for the foreseeable though!!

I know this is not helping OP, but I couldn't help myself!

I think every house has something that is not quite right for the owner.

caronoel

phill99 wrote: »

No space for a dishwasher? Whatever next? Such a First World Problem.

Maybe use the sink to do the washing up.

Quite right.

Women get it too easy these days.

Give them an inch and next thing they'll want indoor lavvies, the vote and driving licences. Where will it all end???

squeeks

We had a similar dilemma. We put the washing machine and a condensing dryer under the stairs - you do need to carefully choose quiet appliances.

silvercar

bouicca21 wrote: »

I'd hate a laundry room upstairs and suspect it would affect saleability. Would it be possible to move the kitchen into the lounge diner and turn the existing kitchen into a utility room?

In America it is common for people to put utility rooms upstairs. Either find space in the bathroom or behind panel doors in a bedroom. Designed cleverly it would look like there is a built in wardrobe behind rather than a washing machine.

splishsplash

Sacrifice the dishwasher :eek:. Steady on :eek: I think I need a lie down _pale_

If the OP has no need of a third bedroom, then it makes perfect sense to convert it to a laundry room. Washing machine, drier, ironing board, clothes airers, racks and shelves - perfect. I would very much like such a room. It makes far more sense than any other option.

thenewbee

OP me and my partner have a tiny kitchen and we've got a counter top dishwasher on the counter next to our sink. We bought 10 inch plates as regular dinner plates don't fit but otherwise it's perfect for us - we use it once a day unless we've got people over & it's really economical too!