Cabinet for washing machine - varieties: how to choose

Michel March 14, 2018Specialization: plumber with 10 years of experience, computer repair specialist, powerlifting coach. I have extensive experience in construction, interior decoration, and making homemade furniture. Hobbies: sports

Greetings, comrades! Like yours, probably, my washing machine is installed in the bathroom next to the toilet and, to put it politely, does not decorate the room. Lately I've been wondering if I should build a locker for her and have been doing a little research on possible solutions. I hasten to introduce you to its results.

Washing machine? In the closet? Easily!

Cabinet for a washing machine in the interior - advantages

The range of modern furniture offers the opportunity to install a bedside table under the washing machine in the bathroom. This approach has a number of advantages:

• The ability to organically fit equipment into any interior. A machine standing in a row with a cabinet looks much nicer;
• Ability to use space with high efficiency;
• You can arrange high-quality storage for linen that requires washing. A special folding section with a metal basket will help with this. The piles of dirty laundry lying near the washing machine will disappear;
• The cabinet will reduce the noise threshold of a working washing machine;
• All hoses, pipes and tie-in elements can be hidden behind the flaps.

Some difficulties will inevitably arise. It will become more difficult for you to carry out some repairs, such as replacing a siphon. And in case of leaks, it will be much more difficult to remove water without consequences.

In what rooms can it be installed?

The most common places to install cabinets with a washing machine are:

• Bathroom. It's just convenient. With a normal layout, this particular room is located at a remote distance from the bedroom. Noises will not disturb the rest of the family members from resting;
• Kitchen. The lack of space in the bathroom forces the washing machine to be placed in the food preparation area. You will still have to store washing powders, conditioners and other household chemicals in another place. We'll have to pay closer attention to young children. In the bathroom they are much less likely to be naughty;
• Corridor. The most undesirable option. It may be difficult to walk through it. But, sometimes this is the only way to get rid of hand washing. The layout of apartments does not always correspond to the real needs of the owners.

DIY cabinet assembly

Having decided on the installation location, design, and taking the necessary measurements, you can begin assembling the structure. If a finished product is purchased, its installation is carried out according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. When making a cabinet yourself, the process looks a little different and consists of the following steps:

• A sketch of the future product is drawn up;
• The material selected for work (MDF, laminated chipboard) is cut according to the measurements taken. To do this, the slabs can be taken to a workshop where there is special equipment;
• On the panels that serve as the side walls, where the shelves will be attached, blind holes are made, and special stops are fixed in them;
• Here the hinges are marked and installed, to which the doors are subsequently screwed;
• All panels at the junction points are processed using PVA;
• The joints are securely fastened using corners and self-tapping screws;
• Pre-purchased legs are attached to the resulting structure with self-tapping screws;
• At the final stage, the doors are installed and the shelves are installed.

Types of structures

All bathroom cabinets for washing machines are classified into:

• Floor-standing. They do not require any additional manipulations after assembly. Simply install them on the floor in the chosen location. It must be even. Severe lumpiness can subsequently cause stagnation of water in the drain or siphon. This especially applies to models of cabinets combined with a sink. Also, options with legs are preferable to those equipped with a plinth. Legs make cleaning easier. Do not interfere with natural air circulation. And the height-adjustable ones will allow you to place the cabinet level even on a crooked floor;
• Hanging. They look more original. Will not cause any difficulties with cleaning floors or removing spilled water. But the wall must be load-bearing. At the same time, give preference to partitions with high-quality, durable masonry. The presence of plasterboard or other soft materials is undesirable. You will also need high-quality fasteners. The greater the weight of the cabinet, the stronger the fastening metal should be. Furniture corners and special brackets are the leaders in strength;
• Built-in. Both full and partial embedding is allowed. Preliminary preparation of the niche will be required. But the washing machine can be covered with doors.

What should you consider when installing SM under a countertop?

1. Due to the need to regularly clean the drain hose filter, it is important that the bottom of the machine body is freely accessible. Modern built-in models often already have a convenient design that allows you to clean the filter without removing the base. But if you install a stationary model, the base will still need to be removed. In the latter case, make sure that it is removed and inserted back onto the legs quickly and easily.
2. Many modern SMs do not emit strong vibrations like older generation machines. But if there is a need to further minimize the sound and vibration of operating equipment, stick felt pads on the side walls of adjacent cabinets.
3. Depending on the installation method chosen, hinges or cabinet ends may prevent the powder drawer from opening. To solve this problem, it is enough to leave a gap between the machine and the cabinet on one side.
4. If you install a CM without a door, the kitchen countertop will need to be attached to the wall.
5. Take into account the difference between the dimensions of the equipment itself and the required dimensions of the furniture for its installation. For example, the depth of installation of the SM will always be greater than the depth of the machine itself. This difference in centimeters is necessary to connect communications.

Frame and dimensions

For the material used for the frame of the cabinet under the washing machine with sink, resistance to water, heat and vibration is required:

• Plastic;
• Hardwood;
• MDF or its varnished version (LMDF);
• Combinations of metal with durable glass;
• Furniture board. Compressed thin wood slabs. To add strength, adhesives are added.

Typical dimensions for a cabinet are considered using the example of a model with a countertop under which a washing machine is placed. The length of the tabletop is 1.2 m. In this case, the width of the bedside table completely coincides with the width of the machine (60 cm each). The height is 85 cm, and the depth of 45 cm is quite enough. Here it is worth mentioning right away that it is better to purchase a washing machine either before the cabinet, or at the same time as it. The depth parameter completely depends on this size of the equipment. When arranging a niche for a machine, its exact dimensions are taken. Add 2-3 cm on all sides for natural cooling. But you will have to add 10 to 20 cm in depth. This space will be needed to place the hoses. Also, the machine will not hit the wall in spin mode.

Characteristics

Width (cm) 64.0 Height (cm) 200.1 Depth (cm) 38.0 Color palette White Country of origin Russia Weight, kg 43.9

Prices and availability may vary. Please check the exact cost and availability of goods in stores.

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Facades

The following types of cabinet facades are distinguished:

• Open. Some sections or shelves will be visible;
• Closed. The interior contents of the cabinet are hidden behind the doors.

In this case, the methods of opening the facade system may differ:

• Swing. The doors are secured with furniture hinges and swing outwards. Reliable way. But it is recommended to avoid pressure and sudden jerks. They “eat up” a lot of space when opening;
• Folding. The hinges are transferred down the sash. When opened, it tilts down 45° relative to the body. A good option for a section with a basket for dirty laundry;
• Retractable. This is how the boxes are designed. They are equipped with movable rollers with side guides. Requires a lot of space in front of the cabinet;
• Retractable cargo system. It's essentially a tall, pull-out drawer. Instead of a standard case frame, it is equipped with a high metal basket. Another very convenient way to store laundry for washing.

With the facade on the washing machine side, everything is a little simpler. These are either swing doors or sliding doors. For such a system, the doors are fastened together with hinges. When opened they move to the side. Equipped with an upper roller carriage. All these methods are possible if the machine is built-in. They have special loops for hanging. Conventional washing machines are often left open. The body is hidden inside a niche, and the front part with the drum is visible.

Types of countertops - designs, materials and decor

When choosing a countertop, keep in mind that it can be of several types:

• Seamless. Most modern materials used for the manufacture of countertops provide the possibility of producing a single piece with a length of up to three meters. The surface of the tabletop without seams looks more organic;
• With integrated sink. In this case, the sink bowl is an integral part of the countertop fabric. They are made simultaneously from the same material. This option eliminates the difficulty of cutting a hole for the sink;
• Curly. The front side of the tabletop is cut out with a complex curved contour. They are highly decorative.

For the manufacture of countertops, materials with increased strength are used:

• A natural stone. The best surfaces are made from quartz. Very durable, smooth, do not scratch. Granite ones are slightly inferior to them. Be sure to inquire about the percentage of quartz when purchasing. It should be at least 30% in granite. Very often there are products made from waste varieties (the percentage of quartz is less than 10%). Considering the hefty price tag, this is important. After all, strength directly depends on this. The most capricious marble. May absorb dyes and become scratched. It needs to be regularly polished and waxed. But the appearance is impeccable;
• Fake diamond. The agglomerate is quite durable, but rough to the touch. But it is not afraid of small abrasives. But it is better to wash acrylic stone with gels. Easily scratched, but weighs significantly less;
• Wood. A luxury option with a high price tag. The surface requires mandatory impregnation with an antiseptic. It is also better to polish it, and then coat it with furniture varnish in 2 layers. This way you will get rid of problems with dirt absorption and swelling from water;
• Thick tempered glass. This solution will allow you to create an extremely original design. The surface can be smooth, with a noticeable relief, patterned, matte, tinted, colored. The choice is very rich. Moreover, absolutely all samples are not resistant to mechanical damage. Scratches cannot be masked later.

All types, without exception, are subject to edge decoration in the form of figured cutting (chamfer). There are a number of elements for this:

• Half a circle (in cross-section);
• Quadrant. Can be convex or concave;
• Wave;
• Oval floor (roller);
• Quarter oval (half roller);
• Straight. Regular slightly rounded edge;
• Euro chamfer. A protruding rib is cut above the edge. Next, it is cut at an angle relative to the chamfer;
• Multiple rib. There may be several chamfers. All of them are placed with some indentation from the previous one. They can be flat or sloping.

By combining simple elements, more complex chamfer designs are created. There are several dozen of them in total.

Types of sinks for cabinets with washing machines - installation options

Among the general variety of sink shapes, it is important how it is mounted:

• Hanging. Requires wall mounting. To do this, you will have to first install brackets with studs. Do not choose thin partitions with weak finishing. The cabinet is installed after the sink has been completely installed and its functionality has been checked;
• Mortise. They provide for the use of a countertop, part of which can be placed above the washing machine. To install a sink in the countertop, you will have to cut a hole of the required size. This is a rather difficult moment. After this, the sink is either lowered from above or raised from under the countertop. The second option looks more aesthetically pleasing, but is more difficult to implement;
• Installation on a pedestal. A hole is cut in the countertop to fit the size of the drain. The entire remaining surface of the bowl remains above its surface. Rounded sinks with a high side look very beautiful in this design;
• Furniture fastening. They are put on the assembled frame of the cabinet like a lid. Completely replace the upper horizon of the frame.

Handmade refrigerator stand

It is often difficult to part with old items, even after purchasing new ones with similar properties. So, there is no desire to throw away old furniture quite often. Such elements are often accumulated on balconies “just in case,” in the hope that over time they can be used somewhere useful.

From old furniture, which is assembled from ordinary chipboard, it is possible to assemble a simple cabinet for a refrigerator. Such a solution is advisable when the refrigerator is low; in order to get food out of it, you need to “bow” to it. So, by disassembling several pieces of furniture, selecting the most complete and suitable parts from them, you can make a fairly strong and large cabinet, in which, among other things, you can then equip shelves for a variety of necessary items that are not needed in constant access.

Photos in the interior

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Simultaneous installation of a washing machine with a cabinet allows you to hide all the unattractive parts of the cut-ins in communications and hoses. The technique looks more organic in any interior. At the same time, the space is used with increased functionality.