Nowadays, a separate utility room is often designed in a house. Typically, this is located in the attic, basement or somewhere out of the way where you can easily store all of your equipment and cleaning supplies. But in small city apartments without a basement, the washing machine should be located either in the kitchen or in the bathroom. The bad news is that the “white goods” are difficult to fit into the homely bathroom concept and are usually an eyesore. However, we will show you a few variants of how you can integrate the washing machine and dryer into the room in the most space-saving and natural way possible.
Place the washing machine in a niche
A good idea in a small bathroom is to place the washing machine in a niche. If there is no existing niche, you can build a wall out of waterproof (green) plasterboard and tile it. This wall is usually built between the shower area and the washing machine or between the sink and the washing machine.
Of course, the dimensions of the niche should be adjusted to the size of the washing machine. However, remember that the device should not be squeezed into it. You should leave space for the water connections on the back. This depends on the model of washing machine, but usually it is around 10 cm.
To ensure good air circulation, you should also allow for 2 to 5 cm on each side. There should be a socket in one of the side walls of the niche. It must be easily accessible without having to slide the washing machine out so that the appliance can be switched off quickly, for example during a power outage. It is worth installing shelves or clotheslines above the washing machine to make optimal use of the space.
Stack the washing machine and dryer on top of each other
To make the most of this niche, you can stack the dryer and washing machine on top of each other. In this configuration, the two devices are located between two walls, so that stability is guaranteed even in the spin cycle.
Washing machine in the built-in cupboard
However, if you treat your bathroom like a comfort space, sort ofOasis of peace and relaxation, then you can hide the washing machine behind cupboard doors in the bathroom. Then the bathroom interior will look exceptionally elegant and visually more spacious. A floor-to-ceiling cabinet can also be used to store toilet paper, detergent, towels and other bathroom essentials. And, if there is enough space, you can even hide the laundry basket in the closet. An example of thiscan be found in this article.
Idea for a closet system with a sliding door
Before you start planning a built-in cabinet for the washing machine in the bathroom, measure the device! Remember that you will need plenty of space at the back of the washing machine to connect the water inlet and outlet hoses. Leave at least 2 cm of space on the sides of the washing machine so that the machine does not hit the cabinet during the spin cycle. When placing the socket, ensure that washing machine cables are approximately 1.5 meters long and extension cables should not be used.
If you want to hide the washing machine in a built-in cupboard, you can think about which door systems would best suit your room situation. A particularly clever solution is folding doors, which take up twice as much space in the room as normal cupboard doors.The furniture rollerare also a good idea for tight spaces.
From the outside it is not so easy to guess where the washing machine is hidden. The mirror front immediately attracts attention. But as soon as the teak board is pushed towards the toilet wall, you can load the washing machine.
Installation and ventilation of built-in washing machines
Opinions differ here. Some specialists say it is not necessary - after washing, it is enough to leave the door open overnight. However, if you want to be on the safe side, you can have gaps cut out in the cabinet fronts, which will allow air to circulate freely.
Hide the washing machine behind a roller blind
If you have a functional niche in which you can integrate the washing machine, there is another clever way to hide the device, for example behind a curtain or blind.
An average washing machine takes up an area of 60 x 60 cm in the bathroom. It is important to leave some space at the front so that the door can be opened easily. If you choose a compact washing machine with a shallower depth, you can save up to half a square meter of floor space. Every centimeter is important when the bathroom is small! By the way, you can provide a good example of optimal use of space in the guest toiletdiscover here.
Washing machine under the countertop
If the design of the bathroom does not allow you to plan an additional washing corner or a convenient niche in which you can place the washing machine, it is worth thinking about placing the washing machine under the vanity top. This is particularly useful for standard front-loading washing machines with a capacity of 5 to 6 kg.
With this variant you should take into account the optimal height of the washing machine and sink. A standard washing machine, for example, has a height of around 85 cm. The countertop should not rest directly on the appliance, but should be supported by walls on both sides and provide clearance above and around the washing machine. This ensures that the structure of the worktop remains intact during the washing process.
For this reason, the vanity top, which also supports the sink, should be installed at a height of around 90 cm. To ensure that this height is comfortable, it is best to choose a built-in sink. A countertop washbasin on the worktop would then be over 1 meter high.According to the DIN standardA height of 85 to 95 centimeters is recommended.
If you still want a countertop washbasin in the bathroom, you can opt for two separate worktops at different heights. This way you can also create extra storage space for bathroom utensils oralso decoration.
Toploader im Bad
Compact top loaders have the advantage that they only require a small amount of floor space. An even better idea would be to position the device horizontally so that it can be easily loaded and unloaded. Just make sure that the hose is not pinched in an S-shape.
Since top loaders are filled from above, the space above the washing machine is often not used. However, if you place the top-loading machine in a niche, you can install shelves above it and then hide them behind a roller blind.
Washing machine in the bathroom: Get inspired
If you are looking for an idea of where to place your washing machine in the bathroom, browse our image gallery to get inspiration.
Washing machine in the corner to the right of the sink
Custom-made washing machine cabinets are a recommended solution
Washing machine cabinet next to corner shower cubicle
Clever room layout in a narrow bathroom with a bathtub
Black washing machine combined with other black elements
Narrow bathroom with walk-in shower
There is plenty of storage space in the floor-to-ceiling cupboard
Modern bathroom in wood, white and anthracite
An example of the different heights of the vanity top and washing machine
In a small bathroom you should use the vertical areas
Washing machine disappears in the built-in cupboard next to the toilet
Small bathroom with big potential
The washing machine niche is separated with folding doors
White is very popular in small bathrooms
In this way, devices are naturally integrated into the room concept
Small bathroom in a modern country house style
Washing machine under vanity top
Modern bathroom in gray with patchwork floor tiles
Modern small bathroom in stone gray, wood and white
Small bathroom with washing machine
The device is placed opposite the washing zone
Folding doors take up almost no space when opened
Toddlers will likely need a step stool to wash their hands
Modern bathroom in sandy tones and white
You can also store the laundry basket in the built-in cupboard
Different heights ensure visual dynamism
Small bathroom in light gray with patchwork tiles
The dryer should not be placed too high either
Washing machine and dryer placed in a niche
Bathroom tiles with a stone look harmonize with dark wood
Indirect lighting in the bathroom
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