Features and benefits of a cabinet over a washing machine
In most homes, the bathroom is fairly modest. And the extra space would be welcome there. And if it is not possible to expand the premises through redevelopment, you need to invent other ways to preserve the usable area. In this situation, the shelf above the washing machine in the bathroom will help out. We will tell you how to choose and how to make a convenient place to store household items.
- Advantages and disadvantages of a cabinet over a washing machine
- Varieties of cabinet designs
- Facade design methods
- Internal filling of the cabinet
- Rules and features of choosing a cabinet for a washing machine
- Manufacturers and models
- DIY step-by-step instructions for making a cabinet over a washing machine
- Video: base cabinet for washing machine
- Examples of the location of the cabinet above the washing machine in the photo
Advantages and disadvantages of a cabinet over a washing machine
For a start - about the pros. The first and foremost, relevant for all models, is additional storage space for the things you need. Additional shelves will not interfere even in a spacious bathroom, and even more so in a small one. In addition, the cabinet does not take up any floor space.
The second advantage is that floor-standing models will reliably protect equipment from moisture. Still, keeping sophisticated appliances in the bathroom can be unsafe. Therefore, it is necessary to use all the possibilities to minimize the risks of washing out from the ingress of water.
This design also has disadvantages. It is only one, but real and refers to floor cabinets. The fact is that you may not notice the leak in time due to the detached hose. There is a risk of flooding your apartment and your neighbor's. But if you monitor the condition of the washing machine during and after washing, nothing bad will happen.
Varieties of cabinet designs
Like any other furniture, the wardrobe can be: floor-standing, built-in or hinged. We will tell you more about each model.
Floor models
They resemble part of a kitchen set. It can be a tall pencil case, in which, in addition to a niche for a typewriter, there are upper shelves. Behind them you can hide the boiler, communications. It is also suitable for storing household chemicals, tools and more.
Families with small children will appreciate the advantage of tall cabinets. On the upper shelves, you can hide things and funds that should not come across to kids.
Also, the cabinet can be wide, with several compartments. This option is suitable for spacious bathrooms, as it will take up more space.
Wall cabinet above the washing machine
The easiest and safest option. A closed cabinet or open shelf is attached above the washing machine. It is perfect for storing household chemicals, tools, and other little things. The advantage of this design is that it is easier to assemble it yourself, and it will not block access to communications. This means that if the hose comes off, you don't have to move or disassemble the furniture to fix the leak.
Built-in options
Visually save space and hide household appliances from view. But a built-in wardrobe is suitable only for a spacious room or for a bathroom, which, according to the layout, has a niche for a typewriter. That is, it will not be possible to install it in typical apartments of the old image.
Facade design methods
The design of the cabinet completely depends on the taste of the owners, as well as on the stylistic solution of the bathroom. But it should be borne in mind that there is high humidity in the room, so not all decor options and materials of manufacture are suitable. For example, a varnished board will quickly deteriorate.
It is better to pay attention to natural wood and coating with hydrophobic paints or laminated materials. Laminate can be of any shade, as well as photo printing perfectly fits on it.
For a small bathroom, light furniture or a cabinet with mirrored doors are suitable.
Important! Vibrations from the clipper can cause loose mirrors to fall and break. Therefore, it is important to consider this point. It is better to make mirrored doors on hanging cabinets that are not connected to the washer by the body.
Internal filling of the cabinet
There may be shelves or a cavity inside the structure. It all depends on the needs of the owners of the house. If it is necessary to hide pipes, a boiler, then the space is left unfilled or "air" small shelves are mounted, closer to the cabinet doors.
If the priority is additional space for storing things and household chemicals, then the cabinet “starts” with the required number of shelves.
Important! When choosing the distance between the shelves, it is worth considering the dimensions of some containers for household chemicals and the dimensions of other things that will lie in the closet. It is better to make one or two roomy shelves, and 2-3 with a small height.
You also need to provide a place for installing the laundry basket. It can be stored in a closet or on an open countertop shelf, which is located directly above the washer.
Rules and features of choosing a cabinet for a washing machine
The most important thing is to determine the size of the furniture. They directly depend on the size of the washing machine. In floor-standing cabinets, the niche in width and height should be 2-5 cm larger than the body of the machine. The back bar should be located 10 cm further than the back of the machine.
This is necessary to ensure air circulation, which will protect the equipment from overheating.And the cabinet itself will not be affected by the vibrations that the machine emits. If the walls of the furniture are close to the body, the equipment will start to overheat and quickly fail. In addition, it is quite problematic to install the washer in a narrow niche.
If the machine is hidden behind the doors, there should be two. That is, you need to add a few more cm to the depth of the cabinet. When choosing a material, it is worth considering that they can give a warming effect. This shouldn't happen, so breathable options are fine.
Manufacturers and models
Cabinets for washing machines are produced by many furniture manufacturers, ranging from network giants (eg IKEA) to private companies that specialize in the production of bathroom furniture.
The lineup consists of wall cabinets, pencil cases, small niche bedside tables, which are intended only for "disguising" the machine. Also in the catalogs are presented roomy floor options with a niche for a typewriter and an additional chest of drawers for storing things.
The height of the products ranges from 1 m to 2.5 m.
An alternative to ready-made furniture are cabinets assembled according to individual measurements and drawings. This is the best option, since a towel holder, a hook for hanging a basket of laundry can be mounted to such a structure.
If you decide to hide the typewriter behind a built-in wardrobe, then you need to order it only according to individual drawings.
DIY step-by-step instructions for making a cabinet over a washing machine
You can assemble the wardrobe yourself. Both beginners and experienced home craftsmen can do this. The most important thing is to make the correct calculations.
What is needed for manufacturing
In addition to manufacturing materials, you will need a minimum set of tools:
- screwdriver;
- drill;
- jigsaw;
- fasteners (corners, screws);
- fittings;
- pencil and tape measure.
Be sure to purchase and use protective equipment - glasses and gloves.
Preparatory stage
First you need to measure the dimensions of the stylish car and calculate the dimensions of the cabinet.
Important! Furniture should look organic in the bathroom. If it is small, then you should not make a closet to the ceiling. In addition, tall models are less stable. The optimum height is 1.7 m.
It is better to make a cabinet from a moisture-resistant laminated MDF board: this is the most suitable budget material. It consists of pressed shavings and natural binding elements, which, when heated, do not emit harmful substances into the air.
Necessarily! The board must be covered with PVC, the thickness of the material is at least 19-20 mm. Furniture made of this material will withstand a heavy washing machine weighing up to 80 kg.
The surface of MDF must be solid, without scratches and chips. Otherwise, the furniture will quickly deteriorate from moisture.
It is necessary to calculate the parameters of the parts, taking into account the fact that the shelves will be 10-15 cm shorter than the lower and upper walls. Then markings are applied to the MDF sheet and cut.
If you cannot cut the parts yourself or you lack confidence in your abilities, it is better to order them.
Step-by-step description of the manufacturing process
How to assemble a cabinet for a washing machine:
- screw the legs to the base;
- drill holes and insert shelf supports;
- connect the base and connect it with corners to the side walls;
- fasten the upper part to the back plate with corners;
- install internal shelves.
At this stage, the cabinet is practically assembled. It remains to mount the doors with closers and think over the finish.
Instead of a cabinet, you can hang air shelves above the washing machine. It is much easier and will take a minimum of time. All you need is a processed board, a drill, a screwdriver and corner mounts on which the structure will hold. However, it is worth considering the capabilities of the wall: if it is "weak", then you should not place bulky, heavy objects on the shelves.
Final finishing and decor
If photo printing is applied on the laminated material, then there is no need for decoration. However, you can do it differently and fix light mirrors on the doors of the shelves. They will reflect light, making the room appear more spacious.
You can also complete the finish by installing useful accessories, such as a hook for hanging a laundry basket or a towel holder. These additions will come in handy in order to save space and competently arrange the working area.
Video: base cabinet for washing machine
https://youtu.be/uAciq1SQOdE
Examples of the location of the cabinet above the washing machine in the photo
There are many ways to position the cupboard over the washing machine. The photo shows popular options that are suitable for bathrooms of different sizes. Among them, you can choose the right one, and then make adjustments to the plan in accordance with your own ideas and taking into account the peculiarities of the layout of the apartment.
