100 and 1 way to install a washing machine: emphasis on countertop design

What types of cabinets are there for washing machines?

In the cabinet you can place not only an automatic washing machine (WMA), but also all sorts of washing accessories - here they will always be at hand. The bedside table is made of moisture-resistant material . In addition to a niche for appliances, it has a built-in sink or sink - this is the most rational and aesthetic solution for a kitchen or bathroom. You can verify this from the photos, which show options for floor cabinets for washing machines.

Many options have been invented for rational and at the same time aesthetic arrangement of washing machines in bedside tables. The entire variety of products can be divided into two large groups:

• With a sink - this solution allows you to make the most of the space in the bathroom or kitchen - a room where there is a sink.
• No sink. This is a simpler and cheaper solution.

Also, conditionally, all design versions can be divided into bedside tables for:

• kitchens - these models are distinguished by their beauty and functionality;
• for the bathroom - the emphasis is on ease of use, the main thing is that there is harmony with the interior.

To understand the variety of ideas presented by manufacturers, we classify all options for floor-standing cabinets for washing machines according to several criteria.

In 99% of cases, the sink is located on the side of the drawers, and not above the washing machine - with this solution, you can position the siphon without any problems.

By installation method

There are three installation methods:

• On the floor . The floor-standing version is more stable. The most important point here is that the bottom panel must be resistant to moisture.

• On legs . Especially often used in the presence of a heated floor system.

• Hanging option . The washing machine stands on the floor, and the hanging bedside table is secured with anchors to the main wall.

According to the material of manufacture

Durable materials that are not subject to corrosion are used for construction. The moisture-repellent properties of materials in the bathroom are especially important.

Suitable materials:

• Metal. Durable and reliable. Must be coated against corrosion.
• Plastic. Cheap and practical. They are not afraid of moisture.
• MDF. Attractive and reliable. The material is characterized by increased water resistance - if treated with a special water-repellent composition.
• Glass. Stylish and exclusive. Such designs are usually made only to order.
• Tree. Eco-friendly and stylish. It comes painted and laminated.
• Stone. Expensive and durable. Usually developed individually, taking into account the interior.

By design

There are no limits to your imagination - SMA cabinets can look completely different. They can be classic - rectangular, or modern - with rounded edges.

The sizes are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the washing machine - there are ready-made solutions for full-size and compact devices. Fans of individual projects can order an exclusive design.

Products are distinguished by the type of facades:

• Open. They don't have doors. The washing machine is on display. The downside is that you will have to wipe the dust often.
• Closed. Both the SMA and the shelves are covered with doors. The door design is good for families with children. Another plus is that you can choose the doors to match the color and style of the interior.

Doors are distinguished:

• folding - open outwards - down 45 degrees;
• swing - mounted on hinges and open outwards;
• sliding - move to the side;
• retractable - retractable on rollers.

Table tops:

• seamless - solid surface without joints;
• curly - with a complex contour;
• mortise - a hole is cut for the sink.

Advantages and disadvantages of placing a washing machine under the countertop

One cannot but agree that placing a washing machine under the countertop in the kitchen is an involuntary measure that has its pros and cons.

The advantage of this layout is that it creates additional free space in the bathroom, and also creates an original work surface in the kitchen in the form of a designer countertop. If you have a large family, then this is an excellent option for placing the machine, since you can load the laundry at any time of the day, regardless of whether the bathroom is currently occupied or not.

In addition to its advantages, a washing machine in the kitchen can bring a lot of inconvenience, for example:

• during washing, especially during spinning and draining, the machine will make a lot of noise, which can interfere with communication during dinner and even drown out the TV;
• the smell of chemical laundry detergents does not combine well with the smell of freshly prepared food, besides, the kitchen is not only about “eating”, but also about “relaxing”;
• To start the laundry, you need to go through a whole quest: go into the bathroom or other room where the laundry basket is stored, take things from there, sort them, load them into a basin, and bring them to the kitchen. In addition, you should not forget about the powder, which is clearly not somewhere nearby.

Advantages and disadvantages

It is especially beneficial to install a countertop with a cabinet in a small bathroom - you can make the most of every centimeter of space. Here you have a washing machine, powders with rinsing agents, and a washbasin - you can easily reach everything without changing your body position. This is a very profitable solution, but it also has disadvantages - it is better to find out about them in advance. Let's compare the good and the bad when installing a bedside table under the washing machine.

Pros:

• Looks attractive. It all depends on you - you can choose or even order an option in any style, color, etc.
• Space is saved.
• Communications are hidden - hoses, wires, plumbing.
• The device operates quieter behind closed doors - if they are provided for by the design.
• You can provide several shelves for all sorts of useful things - there are always plenty of bottles and cans for various purposes in the bathroom. Options with a linen drawer are especially convenient.

Minuses:

• If something breaks, the approach to communications becomes more complicated.
• While cleaning, it is difficult to wash the corners inside the nightstand.
• The installation of this furniture and the equipment in it should be carried out by a specialist.
• Additional expenses.
• A mini-cabinet with SMA will not fit in every bathroom. For example, this project cannot be implemented in Khrushchev’s houses, especially if the bathroom is not combined.

Flaws

In fact, experienced designers note that this option for placing plumbing fixtures in the bathroom does not have many disadvantages. After all, a countertop for a sink and washing machine allows you to organize the space in the bathroom as efficiently as possible. Basically, the disadvantages include the following features:

1. The main disadvantage of this technical solution is that the sinks are matched to a specific model of washing machine, the width of which is smaller than usual. Therefore, if you already have a machine, then choosing a sink for it will not be easy.

2. High price. Typically, a countertop with a built-in sink and washing machine is made of artificial stone, which is why the cost of the finished product increases many times over, let alone custom-made countertops.

Remember that you can’t skimp on countertops. Not only do models made from inexpensive materials look less impressive, they also last several times less.

Review of ready-made solutions

Both ready-made designs and standard ones are available for sale, from which you can order a version for specific conditions. Let's see what the manufacturers offer.

Misty Cuba 105 L

Floor-standing version from Misty (Russian company) from a premium class. The cost is about 22,000 rubles. Width - 105, depth - 50 cm. The body is made of laminated chipboard, with a glossy or enamel coating on top. The set includes a dolomite sink. Chrome fittings were used. There are drawers for useful items, but there are no laundry baskets. Weight - 27 kg.

LOTOS-110

This model is from the “Lotus” collection from the company of the same name (Russia). The company makes custom-made furniture and offers ready-made solutions. LOTOS-110 is available in left and right versions - depending on the location of the sink. The tabletop material is cast marble. The body and facade are moisture-resistant MDF. Colors - red, white, light green, breeze, cappuccino, pistachio or at the request of the customer. The price is about 40,000 rubles.

Misty Mexico 105 R

Another floor-standing option from Misty from the premium class. Width - 105 cm, depth - 50 cm. Height - 86.5 cm. The materials used are the same as the Misty Cube. There are drawers, but no laundry basket. The cost is within 22,000 rubles. Weight - 26 kg.

Esthete Dallas-100

Dallas facades are made of moisture-resistant MDF. Especially for washing machines from (Russia). There is left and right execution. The table top is made of cast marble. The body and facade are covered with glossy enamel. The drawers close smoothly thanks to the special Blum closing mechanism. The kit costs approximately 21,000 rubles.

IKEA and Leroy Merlin

The largest furniture store (Russia) offers cabinets that can be used for installing SMA. In the photo below, the machine is placed in a cabinet with doors. Regular kitchen furniture was used.

You can also buy suitable furniture in the Leroy Merlin hypermarket chain - there is a huge selection of furniture, it’s easy to choose cabinets and cabinets in which you can install washing machines. The original version of a floor cabinet for SMA is with a laundry basket.

Often finished products come complete with an overhead sink. If you make a custom order, you can choose the sink to your liking. Bowl-shaped washbasins are especially popular.

Combining a washing machine and sink

Traditionally, a straight single-level countertop is used, so the height of the machine should not exceed 75-80 cm: otherwise it will be inconvenient to use the built-in sink. In small bathrooms, a super compact option is ideal - when an overhead “water lily” with a side drain is mounted directly above the body of the washing machine. Installation requires an even lower model (up to 70 cm), built under the panel, which reduces the possibility of choosing a washing machine model.

But why not deviate from tradition in favor of original design? It is possible to install a washing machine under a countertop made in several levels:

• with a classic “step” height difference;
• with several “ladder” or “cascade” transitions;
• with a non-trivial inclined “ramp”.

Then the height of the washing machine no longer matters, and the room looks more stylish and modern.

The most elegant design solution is a monolithic countertop made of artificial stone with an integrated bowl for washing. Another option is to install a tabletop with extended sides in the corner. The sink of the corner model is located in the center, the washing machine is located under one wing, the laundry basket or storage system is under the other. It is recommended to round off all the protrusions; this will add convenience and give the entire structure visual lightness.

DIY cabinet

If you are comfortable with a saw, drill and other tools, you can make a bedside table for the SMA yourself. You will have to spend time, and no one will give you the materials for free, but you will be able to do exactly what you want. Well, and satisfy your “homemade” vanity at the same time.

For work you will need:

• chipboard sheets;
• bars and boards;
• screws;
• pencil;
• roulette;
• drill;
• hammer;
• saw;
• Sander;
• level.

Procedure:

• The lower base will consist of two guides and several cross members - the more of them, the more rigid the structure will be, and this is what we need. The washing machine is heavy and will vibrate during the spin cycle, so the product should be as strong and rigid as possible.
• Connect the guides with transverse furniture screws. Drill holes in advance so that the screw heads do not rise above the surface of the boards. The hats will be recessed in the wood, put plastic caps on top of them - to match the color of the furniture.
• Attach a chipboard sheet or plywood to the base. But the thickness of the plywood must be at least 0.8 cm.
• Attach corners to the legs to connect to the base. Tighten the screws and the corner - it will be attached to two surfaces at once. It is advisable to attach the corners to the boards with bolts for a more durable connection.
• Cover the base with chipboards and attach them with screws. Fill the holes with wood filler.
• Give the product an attractive look - treat it with stain, varnish and then paint. You can decorate the legs with special decorative elements.

Popular dimensions

When buying a cabinet, you need to take into account the dimensions of the SMA and the features of the room:

• The width of the most compact version is 110 cm. Height is 88 cm. Depth is 62–65 cm. The compact version is designed for a small room, it has the simplest design - only a niche for the device and a drawer under the sink for useful things.
• In a more spacious room, versions with a height of 90 cm are used. Width is 130 cm, depth is from 60 to 65 cm. Several drawers can fit here.
• The universal version has a width of 120 cm. Suitable for almost all kitchen and bathroom spaces.

Installation recommendations

It is better to entrust the installation of a bedside table - with or without a sink - to the experts. Also, specialists must connect the SMA. Typically, such services are provided by stores that sell similar furniture. But in principle, having minimal experience in such work, you can do everything yourself.

The procedure for assembling and installing a cabinet with space for a built-in sink:

1. Assemble the cabinet, checking your steps with the instructions. Move it closer to the installation site.
2. Connect the sink faucet to the water supply.
3. Connect the siphon, which has a branch for the washing machine, to the sink and to the drainage system.
4. Place the machine in a cabinet with a niche, pass the hoses - drain and fill - through specially provided holes.
5. Connect the device to the sewerage system, electrical network and water supply.
6. Start the test process.

The hoses must not be bent during installation - problems may arise when turning on the SMA.

How to choose?

To ensure that the purchased furniture is ideal for your washing machine, consider a few points:

• Where will the installation be carried out - in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Depending on this, the size and shape of the product are determined.
• Dimensions of the washing machine - it must fit in the space provided for it.
• If you want to hide your SMA, look for a version with a door.
• Pay attention to the quality of the fittings - handles, hinges, awnings, etc. If the fittings are of low quality, you will have to repair the furniture from time to time. Also pay attention to the material of the fittings; the best option is chrome-plated metal. Plastic fittings, even coated ones, will not last long.
• Choose a product made from moisture-resistant material.
• Try to ensure that the design of the product matches the interior of the room.

There should be gaps of several centimeters between the walls of the bedside table and the machine - this is necessary to prevent the transfer of vibration from the device to the furniture.

By purchasing or making your own cabinet for SMA, you can improve the interior and save space. There is a choice - from the simplest designs to mega-functional products - with drawers and laundry baskets.

Tips for choosing

When buying furniture for a washing machine with a sink, you should not rush, since the right choice will depend on many factors.

Therefore, we recommend following some rules:

1. When you decide to buy such a cabinet, first decide on the location of the cabinet. This place can be located either in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
2. As with the purchase of any other furniture, you should clarify the amount of money you are willing to spend on the cabinet.
3. If you have already bought a washing machine, then you should measure its height, depth and width and take them into account when choosing a cabinet. Since the machine must, firstly, fit into the space allocated for it in the cabinet, and secondly, leave a little space around it so that during operation the vibration of the equipment is not transmitted to the furniture.
4. In addition, you still need to think about how the plumbing pipes will be routed from the sink and washing machine.
5. Do not forget about the compatibility of the purchased furniture with the style of the room.
6. Pay attention to the materials from which the product and its accessories are made. For legs, arms and legs, chrome-plated metal is a good option. Plastic chrome-plated or gold-plated fittings may lose their original appearance within one month. Painted cabinets must be perfectly smooth.
7. It is important that the materials from which the cabinet is made are moisture resistant. Only in this case can it serve you for a long time and efficiently.