Cabinet for washing machine in the bathroom

If your bathroom is spacious, it will freely accommodate plumbing, furniture, washing machine, dryer and many other items. For those bathroom owners who have to value every square centimeter in this room, we can advise such an option to save free space as a cabinet for the washing machine.

Such furniture will replace hinged shelves, cabinets or hooks, as well as help to hide the body of the equipment. About what features of cabinets for washing machines should know in advance, whether it is possible to make such furniture with your own hands and how to properly install it?

• The presence of such a cabinet will help to keep order in the room. You can easily place inside detergents, stocks of hygiene products, rags, paper and other things that are stored in the bathroom.
• In addition, the bathroom will be much easier to clean because sprays, boxes, jars, and bottles of cosmetics can be kept inside the cabinet instead of in plain sight, where they quickly collect dust.
• You will no longer have to stack small items on top of the washing machine, putting them away for the duration of the wash. All the little things can be hidden inside the closet.
• If your closet has a built-in laundry basket, you can hide dirty laundry from prying eyes.
• No more rags or other items will fall behind the washing machine.
• Thanks to the installation of the cabinet, the noise of the machine will be reduced.
• The washing machine can be protected from the encroachment of children or animals.

For cabinets in the bathroom, it is important to choose materials that are not afraid of water and high humidity. At the same time, they should be attractive in appearance.

For a cabinet that hides the washing machine in the bathroom, they often use:

• Glass. Which can be mirror, matte or transparent, as well as decorated with drawings or engraving. It is a moisture-resistant material that blends well with any interior. True, the cost of a cabinet made of glass is not cheap, and in many cases, the design must be ordered, which will further increase costs.
• Plate material. The most common in our bathrooms is MDF, because these boards have a protective moisture-resistant film. It is only dangerous to get water in the places of fasteners and joints of parts. It costs a cabinet for a washing machine made of MDF is quite moderate, but you will not find much variety among the models.
• Wood. Such a material in the bathroom we used to avoid, but in our time, wood may well be used for cabinets with a washing machine, as it is treated with special impregnation and varnish. Keep in mind, however, that a quality cabinet made of wood cannot cost cheap.
• Plastic. This is the most unpretentious material, which is not afraid of water and cleaning agents, and also costs less than others. In addition, it is represented by a large variety of colors and decorative elements. Such a cabinet can be chosen as a temporary measure when the budget is limited.

Most often this type of furniture is a rectangular or square cabinet. If a corner version is chosen, there is an opportunity to install a cabinet with semi-circular doors.

A cabinet combined with a washing machine can be:

• Free-standing. In this case, the equipment is installed under the countertop, and the cabinet itself is more like a cabinet, inside which next to the machine can be a dryer, a laundry basket, shelves for household chemicals, hidden from sight pipes. In addition, the countertop of such a cabinet can continue and include a sink, which is even more advantageous for saving space.
• Vertical. Standard cabinet with hinged doors, in which there is no bottom and hidden washing machine. The appliances in such a cabinet can be raised, making it easier to load/unload laundry.
• Built-in. This option is also expensive, and very difficult to implement, as it requires redevelopment and repair work.
• Corner. An excellent choice for the owner of a small bathroom that has a free corner.

This version of the cabinet, under which the washing machine will be located, is also on the market. In the hinged cabinet it is easy to hide meters and utilities, as well as to place many small items. Between the washing machine and the bottom of the cabinet should remain a small gap. Often, to visually expand the space, the model of the hinged cabinet in the bathroom is supplemented with a glass door.

Quite often the cabinet, inside which there is a washing machine, is ordered individually according to the required dimensions, but on sale there are also ready-made options. For example, the popular company IKEA offers a convenient model of such a cabinet, made of chipboard with a protective film. The model is called Lillongen and is available in white and black and brown.

It is a tall narrow cabinet with a width of 64 cm, inside which you can install two shelves (they can be adjusted in height) and two towel racks. The product is also distinguished by the presence of adjustable plastic legs for greater stability of the model and protection of the cabinet from moisture.

The hinged model of the cabinet for the washing machine is made by the Russian company Vod-ok. The width of the product is 60 cm, and such a cabinet is made of MDF. It has two shelves and an upper compartment with hinged doors, complemented by door closers for smooth closing.

If you are not satisfied with the range of ready-made bathroom cabinets in stores, you can always build the product yourself. However, this requires having at least basic carpentry skills and special tools.

First, draw a project of the future cabinet, calculate all the dimensions and contact furniture manufacturers in your city. Order chipboard or MDF along with a saw and pick up the finished parts. At home, fasten them with metal corners and screws, and then install the cabinet in its place. If desired in such a cabinet can be equipped with shelving or drawers.

• Be sure to leave a free space (at least 2-3 centimeters) between the washing machine and the walls of the cabinet so that the vibration of the machine will not damage the furniture.
• Although the cabinet for the washing machine and has moisture protection, try to install such furniture away from places where water regularly falls, especially hot water.
• If your cabinet has a plinth, it's important to make sure it doesn't interfere with the operation of the machine.