However, hidden or not, stored objects can only be used if they are neatly organized in a practical modular system. Solutions for storing cleaning equipment range from simple and imaginative interior design ideas to integrated appliances. Industrial systems such as pull-out pantries, previously only found in warehouses and factories, are now being appropriated by the domestic market for their practicality and use of minimal materials. Realizing your interior design ideas for the utility area doesn’t have to be as mundane as the tasks associated with appliances found in the utility area. Good imaginative ideas can reduce clutter and save space every time.
In restricted areas, wire basket and rack systems provide an invaluable and flexible storage method. They can be installed in virtually any space, be it under stairs or on the back of cabinet doors. They do not collect dust and everything that is stored is easily accessible. Hooks and small containers can be added to expand its storage possibilities. A cheap and cheerful interior design solution for storing smaller items on wire shelves is a simple fabric ‘shoe bag’. Other inexpensive ideas include colored plastic baskets and stackable boxes.
When looking for areas to use as a utility area, the wasted space under the stairs makes it an ideal area to put your interior design ideas into action. The needs of people who live alone or in small studio spaces have resulted in a new generation of compact washers and dryers that will fit right into these types of small spaces. When combined with retractable ironing boards and high-end clothes drying rails, these essentials take up little space and can even be completely hidden from view. Mini washers are designed to be placed on a sink drainer and stored away when not in use.
In the early stages of interior design planning, allocate spaces for cleaning and drying equipment, as well as for plumbing in a washing machine. These plans are often overlooked, but they are absolutely necessary to ensure that daily tasks are streamlined and don’t become a burden. Proper interior design planning will ensure that you have planned for items such as a clothes dryer, clothes rack or pulley. If space doesn’t allow for a washer and dryer, a simple up-and-down “pulley” made of plastic-coated steel or natural wood will have to do the job.
Remember, reducing clutter is paramount in your interior design plans. Wall-hung or vertically stacked units will provide the best space-saving solutions. Make sure to utilize hard-to-reach corner spaces under countertops by installing carousel storage trays. When your interior design plans call for unit construction to take place, consider using marine plywood. It is an ideal material to use, being impervious to moisture it will hold up well in small kitchens and poorly ventilated laundry areas.