Installing a washing machine (WM) in the kitchen is often a necessary measure, because... there was simply no room for it in the small bathroom. And sometimes such an arrangement is a deliberate step, if it is convenient to place all the equipment in a house or apartment in one place.
There were other advantages
:
- additional work surface. As a rule, SM is installed under a countertop on which you can cook;
- a small bathroom without a machine will become free and convenient to use.
Washing machine in the kitchen, built into the end of the kitchen unit
. Of the minuses:
- the need for camouflage (especially in kitchens with a classic design, where SM does not fit at all);
- proximity of washing powder to food;
- the need to carry dirty laundry to the kitchen every time you wash;
- the need to select and prepare a place for installation in advance.
Kitchen with built-in SM under the countertop
Despite all the listed inconveniences, the housewife will eventually get used to this arrangement. Important questions remain: how to integrate a washing machine into a kitchen unit so that it does not violate the stylistic unity, and its use is comfortable. We'll talk about this in more detail later.
Built-in washing machines
There are several ways to embed the SM. The choice of one option or another will depend not only on visual preferences and aesthetic considerations, but also on the layout, size of the cabinet and the dimensions of the machine itself.
If you are still at the stage of purchasing a washing machine for a ready-made set, then your task is greatly simplified. Modern manufacturers offer SMs of different sizes.
Built-in model SM, hidden behind the facade
You can choose a model according to the dimensions that fit perfectly into a cabinet prepared for CM or into a niche under a tabletop.
There are SMs on sale with the following parameters:
- width – from 45 to 70 cm;
- height – from 50 to high 130 cm;
- depth – from 33 to 85 cm.
If you have already purchased a full-size machine, but do not yet have a kitchen set, then there are only two possible solutions:
Below are several possible solutions from which you will surely choose the best one for your kitchen.
Complete installation under the countertop
Similar to any other built-in appliances, the front part of such a machine will be equipped with special hinges for attaching the facades of the headset.
Its parameters of depth, width and height are already initially precisely set to the standard parameters of lower cabinets.
The disadvantage of such a built-in washing machine is the high price and difficult access to the body in case of breakdown.
Installation in a cabinet behind the facade
To build a washing machine into a cabinet, it is necessary that the dimensions of the equipment itself and the cabinet allow it to be placed there. All three parameters are fundamentally important here - height, width and depth.
The standard height of a base cabinet is 80-85 cm, and a full-size SM is 85 cm. If you have not yet purchased equipment, then in the store you should pay attention to compact models with a height of up to 70 cm or with the ability to remove the top cover. It is possible that in the car you have already purchased, it is possible to unscrew the top part, thereby making its height smaller.
This may also be interesting: Small dishwashers built under the sink.
The floor cabinet from most manufacturers can have several width parameters suitable for installing a SM in it: 60 and 80 cm. Consequently, the width of the machine will be several centimeters smaller. It is important to take into account here that on the left between the machine and the furniture body it is advisable to leave a gap the width of the cabinet door hinge. This must be done so that the powder compartment can move forward freely.
The standard depth of a kitchen cabinet is 60 cm. When choosing a machine that is supposed to be hidden behind a cabinet door, we take into account not only the depth of the cabinet, but also measure the parameter along with the door to its very convex point. In this way, it is possible to embed SM with a depth of up to 50-55 cm.
Also make sure that the bottom of the cabinet can support the weight of the machine. Otherwise, the bottom of the cabinet needs to be strengthened. The furniture itself must also be stable enough to withstand vibrations from equipment.
If you have already purchased a washing machine and have problems installing it due to its dimensions, then the optimal solution is to make custom-made furniture to meet the specified parameters.
Despite all its installation complexity, a built-in washing machine in the kitchen has an undoubted advantage - complete camouflage of the washing machine in the interior and preservation of stylistic unity.
Installation in a niche between cabinets, without a door
The space specially prepared for SM probably already has the required height, depth and width. This method is simpler and therefore the most common.
Most machines, as a rule, already have the required width and depth, matching the standard dimensions of the cabinet.
Washing machine in a small kitchen
The question of how to hide a washing machine in the kitchen with this installation option can be approached in several ways, depending on the style of the interior:
- choose SM and headsets in the same color scheme. Although the choice of colors for the washing machine is small, you can easily find a universal and most common white option to match the white set. You can also more often find gray or black SM models. Another idea is to paint or cover the body of the car with vinyl stickers in the desired color.
- choose the SM in the same style as the rest of the kitchen appliances (oven, microwave, etc.), for example, metallic. This option will look good in modern styles - high-tech, loft, American, etc.
- close with a beautiful curtain. The idea is relevant for styles in a rustic spirit (country, Provence, shabby chic).
- make an accent.
There are unusual and bright designer cars that can become a color accent in the interior. Here it is important to support their design in other interior elements. For example, decorate the apron in the same color.
Stationary location
If there is no other place to install the washing machine in the kitchen, then the only possible solution is to place the equipment separately from the unit. Even with this arrangement, you can hide or harmoniously fit into the interior a free-standing SM:
- under the dining table;
- behind a screen or curtain.
It is desirable that with this installation method, the equipment should have very compact dimensions, which is especially important for a small kitchen.
The disadvantage of this location is the problematic connection to communications.
Positioning the Top Loading Machine
Such SMs are very compact and are easier to place permanently than front-loading models. But they are not as practical in terms of using the kitchen workspace if they need to be built in.
They can be built under a folding table top or a wide bar counter.
Pros and cons of placing a washing machine in the kitchen and tips for using it
Placing a washing machine in the kitchen is most often a necessary measure, which has its pros and cons. Let's start with the positives.
- In addition to freeing up space in the bathroom, you will create an additional work surface in the kitchen. Another bonus for a large family is the ability to do laundry at any time, regardless of whether the bathroom is busy or not.
However, when moving the machine to the kitchen, you need to be prepared to put up with some inconveniences:
- The noise of the machine during spinning and draining will interfere with communication during meals and drown out the TV.
- The smell of washing powder and other cleaning chemicals is not very appropriate and useful where food is stored, and where household members eat and relax.
- To wash dirty clothes, you will first have to look into the bathroom (or another room where the laundry basket is stored), sort and load everything you need into a basin, grab the required portion of powder along the way, and only then proceed to the kitchen.
However, all these inconveniences are not critical and can be completely solvable. Here are some tips to help you quickly get used to the kitchen-laundry area.
- To prevent noises and smells from disturbing you during gatherings in the kitchen, try to start washing clothes at night/evening or in between meals.
- It is best to store washing powder either in a closet in containers with a tight lid (say, under the sink), or in another room altogether (in the same bathroom, for example).
- To prevent the powder from spilling past the tray every now and then, simply replace it with liquid laundry detergent, which, by the way, always dissolves completely.
- To make the machine make as little noise as possible, adjust its legs well.
- If you're building your kitchen from scratch, try to use ceramic tiles/porcelain flooring rather than laminate or hardwood flooring. After all, firstly, it is not afraid of possible leaks, and secondly, it minimizes the noise of the machine during washing.
See also the material: Guide to choosing an automatic washing machine.
Washing machine in the kitchen with different layouts
Here are some interesting ideas on how to beautifully arrange a stationary or built-in washing machine.
- Corner kitchens with washing machine.
- Linear (straight) layout.
- U-shaped kitchen with SM.
- Double row.
