The utility room isn’t the most exciting room in the house. It’s usually a bit bare bones and lifeless. And I get it; why spend time and money making a purely functional space beautiful? Well, because if you’ve got a large family, you probably spend more time in there than you’d like. And a half-finished (or even completely unfinished) space can psychologically affect how you view the rest of your home. And if it’s been really neglected, it may even affect the value of your property if you ever intend to sell.

All the utility room really needs is a lick of paint (or some wonderful wallpaper) and a few chic accessories to bring it up to scratch. No huge renovation project required here! I’ve put together a quick guide to the essentials, to hopefully inspire you to give your own space a quick update. And of course, do share your own utility room must-haves in the comments below.

Keep your dirty laundry out of the bedroom and in the utility room with a stylish hamper. I like the practicality of this folding hamper by John Lewis, which has separate compartments for light and dark clothing.

Who knew ironing boards could be so appealing? This wooden board has just the right amount of industrial, utilitarian charm.

This beautiful sewing kit by Merchant and Mills contains everything you need to make small clothing repairs. No home should be without!

It’s not just your dirty clothes that need a home; you’ll need storage for cleaning supplies and other laundry room accoutrements too. Baskets and boxes are the most affordable option here. I love these large bamboo baskets from Rose & Grey.

How about a wooden clothes horse to match your wooden ironing board? The plastic and metal ones are perfectly functional but none of them look as good as this one.