It’s camping and festival season, and typically, the weather has taken a turn for the worse! So, when all that washing and those muddy wellies and soggy tents arrive back home you’ll be pleased to have some practical space to sort stuff out. So, given that a large number of you will be getting out there in the great outdoors, we thought we’d bring you some suggestions for a utility, boot or mudroom, or laundry room project…
Mudroom Ideas
This is a good blueprint for a mudroom/utility – there’s a sink, a bench, boot storage, top shelf storage, pegs/hooks, plus a tall cupboard (perhaps for the ironing board/vacuum/brooms etc). We love the paint finish, which is Icicle by Benjamin Moore. It’s a good, light-enhancing colour for a small room, choose the Regal Select Eggshell finish which is paint/primer in one, mildew resistant and soap/water washable. Just the job for a hard-working utility/mudroom. Choose tough tiles for the floor too, such as our Titanio Grafito porcelain tiles for a very practical and beautiful finish.
Floor Choices
Yes, a darker colour is the best choice for a utility room, as there will be footprints, mud, and grit marks and possibly some little paw prints too! A dark floor tile will ‘ground’ the scheme and let’s face it, won’t show every single footprint. Try our Kanna Ceniza porcelain floor tiles for an interesting wood-look parquet design.
Come on In!
This doormat would brighten up the utility/mudroom. Although it’s far too nice to get completely grubby so we’re tempted to have this in between the utility and the kitchen, rather than have it languishing on the exterior doorstep! It’s the Rainy Day Umbrella Doormat, from Bombay Duck.
Period-Style Patterns
If you do fancy a patterned tile for the utility/laundry/mudroom, go for something intense such as our Lester Blue Floor Tiles in porcelain, which are designed to look like encaustic-style tiles with an Art Deco flavour. Just right for a busy home.
Practical Shades
Darker shades for practical colour schemes – try Nocturne and Hainsworth from the paint range by Cox & Cox. Shown here in the Interior Matt Emulsion formulation, but also available in Eggshell, so it can be used for walls, and woodwork – ideal for panelling and shelving etc. Try a mottled stone-look floor to hide the footprints, such as our Urban Grey Matt Porcelain tiles. Perfect and practical!
Utility Room Goals
This utility room is a dream – everything to hand for washing/cleaning, plus a lovely big sink for brushing down boots and soaking muddy clothes. All the useful accessories, storage solutions, tins, jars and caddies, as well as the lovely Hatherop Tall Storage Bag are from a comprehensive selection at Garden Trading. And, once again, we’ll point you towards some super-practical dark tiles for the floor, such as our Bayona Grey large format porcelain tiles, measuring a whopping 1200mm x 1200mm meaning you’ll use fewer tiles and have fewer grout lines!
Vintage Utility Style
Our Metropolis Star Indigo Wall & Floor tiles measure 450mm x 450mm and will add a great vintage vibe to a practical and hard-working utility/laundry/mudroom. Also in Laurel, Sienna, Star and Silver – so there’s something to suit all colour schemes. A great choice for a period home – continuing that classic look.
Make An Entrance
A boot room doesn’t always have to be a separate room. Try and ramp up the practical side of a hallway or lobby by adding a coat rail, shelf above, and a simple bench for bags on top and boots below. These accessories, plants and pots are from the latest garden ranges at Dobbies. For wood-look flooring that’s muddy-boot-proof, try our Egiptian Gold Wood Effect Porcelain Floor Tiles.
Boot-Proof Floors
Consider one of our latest designs, Clay Seal, for your new floor project. As we’ve mentioned, a bit of pattern is a good idea for general practicality when you absolutely know that the floor is going to get put through its paces! Also available in other colour combinations, these measure in at 450mm x 450mm and feature score lines so that each individual tile appears to look like four smaller tiles. Far easier to install and they look absolutely stunning too!
All In A Row
Couldn’t resist pointing this lovely storage unit out to you – just right for boots and shoes, keeping that boot room straight and tidy. It’s the Chedworth Welly Locker, from Garden Trading, as before.
Four Square Pattern
Another practical choice for those hard-working floors, this is Clay Blossom with a mixture of soft shades that have just the right amount of intensity and pattern to help shift attention from any bits of mud or grit to the beauty of the pattern itself. In ceramic, each tile measures 450mmx 450mm and is designed to look like four smaller tiles.
These Boots Are Made For Walking
How could we discuss boot rooms (and utilities of course!) without highlighting some actual wellies! These are the Bees Ankle Wellies, just right for tramping between the house and the garden (and the odd festival outing too!).
We love seeing your projects, so if you’re in the midst of creating a mudroom or utility space then do share your pics with us over on Twitter tagging @TileMountainUK or on Instagram!
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Linda has worked as a freelance interiors writer and blogger for many years; she has written for most of the major home and design magazines, including KBB Magazine, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Period Homes and Good Homes. She made the break and moved from London back to her home town of Shrewsbury three years ago and has just finished renovating her house. She also works in an interior design studio, produces copy for brochures and website, tries to tame her garden, aims to finish all the home furnishing projects she has on the go … and loves walking.