Traditional bench seating with integrated storage is a must. It’s the perfect place to remove muddy boots and gather everything you need for the day. You can choose either a painted wood finish with removable seat cushions for comfort or opt for a thick natural wood seat that can be easily wiped down. We also like to include pull out drawers or leave room for baskets underneath, maximising every inch of space.

Whether you use your boot room as your main entryway or a space that doubles as a utility, it’s essential you have a durable and easy to clean floor. Natural stone flooring is the traditional choice which can withstand knocks, mud and heavy footfall. If you want something without an uneven surface, stone or wooden-look porcelain can be a fantastic option that can easily be cleaned whilst standing the test of time.

Utility

Formerly named the scullery, the utility is fast becoming a room high up on homebuyers wishlists. Located just off the kitchen, it’s usually the engine of the house used for laundry, storing cleaning supplies, large appliances and even space for showering your beloved pooches.

Utilities combine a range of storage solutions. Tall pantry style storage can be designed for specific jobs such as housing an ironing board, laundry products and baskets or essential cleaning supplies. Other small kitchen appliances that may be cluttering up your kitchen can also be stored in a utility.

Like a boot room, it’s always good to have a mixture of concealed cabinets and open shelving designed to simplify everyday tasks. If the space is more laundry-focused, you can use floating shelving to place detergents out of reach, store spare towels, and keep household essentials streamlined and organised in baskets or jars. Whilst you should let walls share the workload, you should still consider work surface space and low fitted cabinets to maximise storage capacity.

Bulky appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers often take up a considerable amount of space in the kitchen. Moving them to a dedicated full-height cabinet allows you to hide them out of sight when not in use. Stacking them vertically also frees up valuable floor space and makes it easier for you to load washing.