Cabinet for washing machine: how to choose

Installing a podium under a washing machine is an original solution that allows you to rationally use the free area. The structure is a raised platform on which the washing unit is installed. A simple and accessible technique allows you not only to conveniently place the washing machine, but also to improve operating performance and get additional space for a laundry basket or storage of household chemicals.

Do you store laundry in the washing machine?

Oh yes! No.

The stand serves for rational use of space and ease of loading and unloading things. Modern bathrooms are compact and not spacious. In a small apartment, every square centimeter is important. To make the most of the available space, you have to save space and come up with useful tricks.

Advantages of installing a washing machine on a podium
Selecting a room
Making a podium with your own hands
Types of podiums
Features of operating washing machines on the podium
SMA catalog with reviews

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.

What to make the box from?

Having measured the dimensions of the equipment and decided on the size of the box, you can start purchasing “consumables”. To make a cabinet for washing equipment, it is better to purchase moisture-resistant materials. This is especially important if the machine is installed in the bathroom - it is always too humid there. We list the materials from which it is possible to construct a box.

Chipboard. These stoves are suitable when the automatic machine is installed in the kitchen area, corridor or pantry. If there is no direct contact with water and steam, laminated chipboard will last quite a long time. This is the most budget option.
MDF. The material is more expensive than laminated chipboard, but this cost is quite justified - the boards are characterized by increased moisture resistance and are quite suitable for making boxes for the bathroom.
Beam. Wood impregnated with a special moisture-resistant composition will last for many years. Using timber you can not only make the frame of the box, but also add shelves to it. It is also possible to “connect” racks, metal or plastic baskets. The additions will fit perfectly into the interior and make the design more functional.
Furniture board. Using it, you can build a massive cabinet for a washing machine. Impregnated wood will be resistant to moisture.
Fake diamond. Suitable not only for making a cabinet tabletop, but also for the side walls of boxes and shelves. Usually combined with other furniture materials.
Metal frame and plastic panels. You can buy a profile frame ready-made, or make it yourself and add plastic to it. Using different containers and baskets, you can organize not only a “house” for the washing machine, but also a lot of storage space.

Materials can be combined with each other, for example, make a box from timber, complement it with an MDF tabletop and plastic shelves.

If you want to make a box at the renovation stage, then you can decorate it with various finishing materials: tiles, plasterboard, panels. The inside of the cabinet can be supplemented with shelves, retractable drawers, and baskets. As an option, instead of a front door, use blinds or thick roller blinds.

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.

Making a podium with your own hands

Creating a useful thing on your own is a simple process. Construction will require inexpensive building materials and a minimum set of tools. The device must be stable and reliable, able to withstand not only the weight of the machine, which sometimes reaches 80 kg, but also the load due to vibration. To create such an elevation you may need:

concrete blocks or foam blocks;
silicate or ceramic brick;
wooden beam;

steel channel or metal corner;
polycarbonate plates;
dry concrete mixture.

DIY option

Less durable, but much more aesthetic materials are suitable for cladding:

ceramic or tiles;
waterproof drywall;
PVC plates;

plastic;
laminated or waterproof chipboard.

In addition, you need to prepare a standard set of tools that can be found in any home craftsman’s pantry, as well as dry cement mixture and tile adhesive. To work you will need:

construction pencil and square;
tape measure or measuring tape;
crosshead screwdriver;
hacksaw;

drill;
level;
electric screwdriver;
bucket;
Master OK.

Do you wash your shoes in the machine?

Oh yes! No

The manufacturing process may vary depending on the degree of complexity, the chosen design and the materials used. When installing the podium, you must ensure that it does not block access to the sewer system and water supply. Otherwise, the inlet hose cannot be installed and the device will not be able to operate.

Expert opinion

I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.

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It is important that the surface of the pedestal is strictly horizontal. When installing, check the plane with a building level. A prerequisite is ideal smoothness and absence of changes.

To compensate for vibration loads, a damper tape, isolon or polyethylene foam is laid under the machine. The finishing is done with plasterboard and tiles that match the shade and texture of the walls or floor. It is attached to a special moisture-resistant glue, having previously treated the surface with a primer.

Podium for compact SMA in the bathroom

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.

Making plasterboard countertops

Drywall countertops have begun to gain popularity. Not only a niche for a washing machine has become fashionable, but also a bedside table with shelves under the sink. A plasterboard countertop in a bathroom makes the interior fashionable; a bathroom, even if it is small in size, acquires a modern design.

Design and decoration of plasterboard countertops Return to contents

Full contents of the material

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.

What is the cabinet made of?

Ideally, your closet should consist of a frame and a drawer located in the very center.

On top you will need to place a second drawer to accommodate the dryer. It is best to construct furniture from specially prepared fiberboard sheets. Then your furniture will be strong and stable. In order not to spoil the idea, contact specialists who will cut them to the dimensions specified to you.

The only thing left for you to do is paint the blanks in the color of your choice.

Assembling the closet

The first step is to drill holes for shelves in the sides of the cabinet. A five-millimeter drill size will be ideal for this purpose. It is also necessary to make holes at the top, 7 mm away from the edges. This will ensure that the shelves won't crack when you screw the cabinet together.

Now it's time to start attaching the cabinet. This is done using metal corners. After this, all that remains is to glue the parts and secure them by screwing in the screws. You can use M8 machine screws as legs. To prevent the cabinet from swaying or standing at an angle, it is best to screw a sleeve with an internal thread into the board. Only in this case can you at any time adjust the position in which the cabinet will stand like a glove. Cover the cabinet legs with plastic caps to prevent them from scratching the floor.

Now it's time to install the cabinet in the designated place. There is no need to rush this process: since there will be another cabinet on top, you must make sure that the bottom one is level. The final step will be to fasten both cabinets together. First you need to clamp them with clamps and then fasten them with screws. They should not be too large in size, otherwise they will stick out with a sharp end from the back of the board.

Finally, all that's left to do is install the door latch. This is an ideal option for preventing the door from closing at those moments when you don’t really need it. The spring-loaded hinges will not allow her to do this. Such a retainer can be purchased at any household goods hypermarket.

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.

Making a drawer

After the main work is done, you can begin assembling the drawer.

First of all, on its front side it is necessary to determine the place where the handle will be located. To do this, you need to measure the distance vertically and horizontally and make sure that the handle will be installed in the very center. Agree, if at the end of the work it turns out to be shifted to the left or right edge, it will not look very nice.

Once you are done with the markings, you can screw the front panel to the sides. Make sure that its width is sufficient to completely cover the future contents of the box, without leaving any gaps. Now I started to screw on the guides for the cabinet. This requires an accurate eye so that subsequently the fittings installed on the sidewalls do not end up being screwed at different heights.

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.

Bathroom shelves

If you couldn’t fit an automatic washing machine (WMA) under the sink, you can still save space. Many users use the lids of their washing machines as a surface for placing bath accessories, microwaves, kettles and other items - despite the prohibition in the instructions.

Look up and see wasted space - above the washing machine. Why not add a few shelves here? Or even a small locker? It turns out that this idea has long been picked up by manufacturers - they offer ready-made solutions that differ both in design and in materials of manufacture.

Varieties

Shelves above the SMA can be made:

The shelves are attached - in the bathroom or in the kitchen, using hinges, brackets and corners. Also, shelves can be a single structure united by common components.

The cabinets above the washing machine can have different designs - the imagination of the creators is not limited by anything, you only have to take into account the cost of materials and the size of the room. The cabinet can be made:

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.

Types of water lily shells

Although they are similar to each other, these shells have certain differences. The internal structure can be made from various types of sanitary ware. Some of them may initially have a countertop.

Form

In addition to the standard square shape, their models can be rectangular or semicircular in shape. In addition, there are also unusual, bizarre shapes. Some similar modifications may have a tabletop that is installed on the side.

Faucet hole

Some models have this hole, while others do not. The last option is designed for a very small bathroom, when the drain is located as close as possible to the wall.

Drain system in countertop sink

As we described below, the drain can direct water downward, which is better in that it minimizes the risk of a clog. Or it can point to the side, which is fraught with blockages, but it will save space under the sink and allow you to place a washing machine below.

Photos in the interior

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.

↑ Subtleties of installation and care

It is possible to carry out installation work in one day, even with your own hands. An exception would be a tiled stationary concrete countertop. It all depends on the duration of the tiling work.

When planning a joint structure, place communications so as to avoid direct contact of electricity with water.

If the sink is of small depth, make sure that the top of the machine is covered with at least minimal protection from splashes. The bowl itself should protrude 4 cm or more.

Drain pipes and siphons should not touch the washing machine. Fastenings may become loose due to vibration during spin washing. They should not be located directly above the washing machine body. Options for correct placement: on the side (if the sink bowl is on the side); behind the wall.

After installing the siphon and connections, it is worth checking the tightness properly. Cleaning up leaked water in the space behind the washing machine is difficult. The connections from the washing machine should be additionally secured with a clamp.

While using the washing machine, you should regularly check the integrity of the wires, the tightness of connections, hoses, and pipes.

At the installation stage, free access should be provided for cleaning and inspection of connections. No matter how much you would like to install everything as compactly as possible, you shouldn’t push it tightly against the wall. First, condensation can form on the inlet hose, which can lead to mold when it touches the wall. The second reason to freely place all the modules is the vibration of operating equipment, which can lead to disruption of the integrity of the tiles and loosen pipe connections.

Competent calculation of each element and reliable installation guarantee uninterrupted service of this design, which perfectly organizes the interior of even the smallest bathroom.