How to Make a Small Utility Room More Efficient

Clutter is the biggest culprit when it comes to making a space feel cluttered and inefficient. When de-cluttering any space, your first priority should be to keep items off the floor; this will not only make the space look larger, it will make it easier to function in the room. Wall cabinets and wall shelves make the best use of unused vertical space. After getting rid of anything that doesn't belong in the room, is broken or is no longer needed, organize what is left and design a storage solution. Wood, metal or plastic boxes are great for organizing smaller items; for instance, you may want to put all your hammers, screwdrivers and other tools in a tool box and use another box to hold pet leashes and supplies, and another for gardening pruners and outdoor tools. But before you buy a bunch of storage boxes, think about how you use your utility room and the items stored there. If you use your tools fairly often, a pegboard mounted on one wall may be a more efficient way to keep needed tools close at hand.
If your utility room has a closet, make use of every square inch. A closet with nothing but a hanging pole is not very efficient. A shelf above or a bank of vertical shelves to one side provides a space to place shoes, laundry baskets, vacuum cleaner bags, etc. Browse the storage solutions aisle of a home improvement store for ideas on how to make the most of your closet.
If your washer and dryer are in the laundry room, rolling canvas sorting bags are a great solution if you have the space. This allows you to sort whites and darks easily and the cart rolls out of the way when it's not needed. Racks with hanging space above are terrific for air-drying and holding freshly pressed shirts. Alternately, install a retractable clothes line that you can pull out on laundry day.

1. If the room is dreary and cramped, repaint in a cheery pale pastel like light yellow or green. Wallpaper in light shades and smaller patterns help a room feel larger than dark papers with big patterns.
2. Make sure you have enough light for required tasks directing overhead lighting above a workbench, the laundry area and a utility sink. Ceiling mounted florescent fixtures are usually sufficient but you can make the room a little more stylish with track lighting or pendant lighting that is located right where you need it.
3. Choose window treatments that make the most of natural light. Easy to clean roll-up shades or easy care fabrics that can be tossed into the washer as needed are great choices. Mini-blinds offer lots of light control but they tend to accumulate dryer dust in a laundry/utility room.
4. If you are going to replace the floor, choose and easy care vinyl or linoleum in a light toned pattern that won't easily show foot prints or grime. Styles that are free of nooks and crannies are the easiest to clean.
5. Add wall decor art that fits your style. From nautical prints, to pressed country flowers or contemporary metal art, making a utility room more stylish makes it more pleasant for everyday chores.