Utility Rooms Material Guide

The best materials for your utility room furnishings

Utility room shelves: wood vs. metal

When installing open shelving in your utility room, you'll have a choice between wood utility shelves and metal utility shelves. Both these utility room materials are easy to install and each has its own benefits.

Wooden utility shelves will generally have more visual appeal than metal shelves. Wooden shelves can be painted or stained, adding much needed color and ambience to a utility room. The only downside to wood is that if your utility room is in a damp or humid area, the wood may be damaged over time.

Metal utility shelves provide strength and durability, but aren't always the greatest looking option. An exception to this is metal shelving with a more contemporary sleek and streamlined appearance.

Utility room sinks: stainless steel vs. polypropylene

The utility room materials most often used for sinks are stainless steel and polypropylene. Most homeowners can discern very quickly which material they prefer. Stainless steel sinks are durable, high-impact, and perfectly suited to utility rooms used for a wide range of activities. Many inexpensive laundry tubs are made from polypropylene. Polypropylene utility sinks are probably best suited to laundry rooms that don't feature a lot of gardening or mechanical activities.

Utility room countertops: natural vs. synthetic

Which utility room material is best for your countertop is entirely a matter of priorities. Granite is unquestionably the most durable utility room countertop material, and it's highly resistant to scratching and cracking. But it will cost you a lot to install. Marble and concrete are durable material alternatives to granite countertops. Ceramic or tile utility room countertops will enhance the visual appeal of a utility room.

There are many laminate and solid surface materials that will be easier on your budget. These include Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone, and for laminates, Formica and Nevamar.

Utility room storage cabinets: aluminum, wood, and polypropylene

A homeowner has a great many style and design options when it comes to utility room storage cabinets. The utility room materials most often used for cabinets are aluminum, wood, and polypropylene. Modular or stackable utility room cabinets are usually made from aluminum or polypropylene, while wood is a common material for built-in utility room storage cabinets.

The difference between these utility room materials is largely a matter of decor. Modular utility cabinets are generally inexpensive and dont need to be as rugged as garage storage. We tend to like wooden utility room storage cabinets because they increase the warmth and livability of the utility room.