What is a utility room?

JuzaMum

I thought a utility room was a space for the washing machine and dryer, maybe a big sink for dirty washing (cat litter trays, small dogs etc) and cleaning products. That's what's in mine, along with tins of paint and other odds. Room for a chest freezer would be nice. I'm house hunting a want a utility room still, I like to keep dirty pants out my kitchen! Several houses I have looked at have the fridge in the utility. One had the fridge and dishwasher, I thought that's more like having half your kitchen in another room and quite inconvenient. What do you think utility room should or shouldn't have? Am I unrealistic thinking it shouldn't house part of the kitchen necessities?

user1977

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

elsien

I suppose it would matter if there was no room in the proper bit of the kitchen for the appliances that have been shoved in the utility. 

JuzaMum

user1977 said:

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

The problem from my point of view was the kitchen was not big enough to fit everything in. It seems quite a few places have such small or badly designed kitchens, that they need another room to put the rest in.

Tabieth

Whatever works. I have a tall fridge freezer in my utility room (plus my washing machine). I prefer there as it gives more cupboard space in my kitchen. 

Mark_d

JuzaMum said:

user1977 said:

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

The problem from my point of view was the kitchen was not big enough to fit everything in. It seems quite a few places have such small or badly designed kitchens, that they need another room to put the rest in.

A utility room is typically intended for things such as washing machine, tumble drier but there isn't a specific definition of a utility room.  If your kitchen is on the small side, then maybe your fridge and freezer might sit in the utility room.  There's nothing stopping you from putting a microwave in the utility room to give you more space in the actual kitchen.

ButterCheese

Some people prioritize space in the kitchen for table and chairs, cooking and storage. I had a mate who had the fridge and freezer in a cupboard under the stairs. It's all moveable stuff anyway so doesn't really matter. The main thing is the size of the kitchen and would it accommodate your needs. Also some older kitchens were not designed to fit all our modern appliances, so it's often cheaper to move some things out rather than get a new kitchen fitted 

user1977

JuzaMum said:

user1977 said:

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

The problem from my point of view was the kitchen was not big enough to fit everything in. It seems quite a few places have such small or badly designed kitchens, that they need another room to put the rest in.

In which case surely the question is whether the kitchen is big enough for you, rather than where they've decided to stick the fridge?

kimwp

Mark_d said:

JuzaMum said:

user1977 said:

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

The problem from my point of view was the kitchen was not big enough to fit everything in. It seems quite a few places have such small or badly designed kitchens, that they need another room to put the rest in.

A utility room is typically intended for things such as washing machine, tumble drier but there isn't a specific definition of a utility room.  If your kitchen is on the small side, then maybe your fridge and freezer might sit in the utility room.  There's nothing stopping you from putting a microwave in the utility room to give you more space in the actual kitchen.

I agree with this. I think it's become a catch-all term for a smaller room that you'd have utilities (water, energy) going to, and you'd pop into for a specific task, but you wouldn't hang out in.

jackieblack

I know a few people who've opted to put the dishwasher in a utility because their downstairs is open plan and they can shut the door on the utility and not sit on the sofa listening to the noise of the dishwasher

BridgetTheCat

Back in ye olden days before utility rooms were popular people would often put a tumble dryer and/or freezer in their garage. In that vein I think it’s basically a place to put appliances that won’t fit in the kitchen.