There have been utility rooms in three of the five houses we have owned.
Our current house, which we have lived in for 25 years was one of those without, but no more. Last year we extended our kitchen and added a decent sized utility room and it is bliss. It has a sink and a run of units and the washing machine is there.
I have rigged up a really good drying area in there - the radiator is a long low towel rail, ideal for drying socks, underwear and small things on, with a drying rack that folds flat against the wall above it when not with use, with an extractor fan above it, so if clothes cannot be dried outside, they can be dried quickly inside, so no tumble dryer.
It also doubles up as a boot room for gardening clothes and outside mucky gear and I also have an upright freezer is in it