Home Utility Rooms of the Past, Present and Future
Utility rooms are the unsung heroes of any busy household – they’re essential in making sure that laundry and dirty pups alike come out sparkling. Throughout the years, utility rooms have evolved from a simple space inside a room to do washing up tasks to full laundry rooms with indoor plumbing and mud rooms for handling life’s grime at today’s busy pace. While modern utility rooms often feature beautiful tiles, upgraded washer and dryers, even dog-washing stations, utility rooms are still found in unfinished basements or inside a closet. The future of utility rooms is in smart appliances, leak detection systems and luxury finishes. Let’s explore the past, present and future of utility rooms.
Then
In the 1800s, before modern day plumbing, laundry was an all-day event – hand washing was done by boiling clothes, scrubbing them in a basin using lye soap and a washboard, then wringing them out to be line dried. Often seen as the early utility room, a “scully” which was often found in Victorian homes, served as a room for maids to wash dishes and a general cleaning and prep area. When electricity became common in homes in the early 1900s, the scene was set for the invention of the electric washing machine. It was invented in 1908 by Alva J. Fisher. and became popular in suburban homes not too long afterward, moving the task of washing laundry indoors for good. By the 1950s, homes had dedicated laundry spaces in basements or garages, and what we know as the modern-day utility room was born. Today’s utility rooms are more multifunctional than ever, and more often than not, boast the same aesthetics as the rest of the home, marrying both form and function.
And Now
While strides in form have been made in the way of the utility room, so has the functionality. Organization and smart storage solutions provide flexibility for any utility space, and play an integral part of making sure things remain tucked away and out of sight, keeping the appearance pristine so many love. The installation of pull-out hampers, hidden wall-mounted drying racks and in-cabinet shelving allow for an adaptable space. Some modern utility rooms even utilize hidden appliance garages to keep appliances out of sight. We’ve even heard of a hideaway toilet!
What’s Next: The Future of Utility Rooms
So what’s next? Technological integrations are the future of utility rooms (and of home design in general). App-controlled washers and dryers, faucets with water-monitoring alert systems as well as leak protection systems are just a few of the innovations that you can expect will be commonplace in the utility room of the future. Sensor-activated and hands-free faucet systems (even voice-activated) will continue to become more common in utility room spaces. Design cohesion is also in the utility rooms’ future – think matching finishes and smart lighting. Some homes are even integrating the usage of two separate utility rooms – one for the heavy duty cleaning and another for everyday messes.
Faucets are already vital, but a utility room or laundry room without a faucet and sink will soon be unthinkable. In fact, just as the kitchen moved from a one-faucet space to a two-faucet space recently, the laundry room will soon have two faucets. One will be an industrial quality pull-down faucet with a powerful sprayer for powering off stains such as the gorgeous i3 Collection Olympia Single Handle Pre-Rinse Spring Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet. The secondary faucet will have a long reach, incredibly useful for filling buckets and other tasks one would normally have to take outside in order to accomplish. A perfect faucet for this purpose is the Central Brass Two Handle Shell Type Bar/Laundry Faucet.
Wrapping it Up
With more than 100 years of experience, Pioneer, Olympia, and Central Brass are trusted names in faucets built for real-world performance. Easy to install and engineered for durability, these faucets are ideal for both residential and multifamily utility rooms. You can count on these brands to deliver reliable performance, fast availability, and lasting value—backed by one of the best warranties in the industry.
Pioneer, Olympia and Central Brass
With more than 100 years of experience, Pioneer, Olympia, and Central Brass are trusted names in faucets built for real-world performance. Easy to install and engineered for durability, these faucets are ideal for both residential and multifamily applications. You can count on these brands to deliver reliable performance, fast availability, and lasting value—backed by one of the best warranties in the industry.
We’ll Save You Money and Time
There are many ways to the same destination. This saying applies to multifamily housing builds just as much as to anything else in life. The ultimate goal is save as much money as possible while delivering a great finished project – that’s simply showing smart business sense. But, finding a one-off deal or sacrificing quality isn’t the only way to get a healthy ROI. We have a better way.
Pioneer works with professionals every day to develop specification packages and plans that save our valued partners both time and money, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s our goal to ensure your project meets or exceeds its expected outcome. We want to get to know you and your company and show you how we can save you money. Please reach out via our website form or call us at (800) 338-9468.
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