Where to put a washing machine in a small bathroom
Owners of small apartments very often have to use their ingenuity to arrange in their rooms all the furniture and household appliances necessary for a comfortable life. A small living space is not a hindrance, because even in the most modest space, with a reasonable approach, you can place everything you need.
In most cases, difficulties arise precisely with the location of the washing machine. Owners of Khrushchev apartments cannot boast of a large kitchen area or a spacious bathroom, but these are the rooms that are usually used for installing machines. As a result, the optimal place for the machine is the bathroom. Let's figure out how to place a washing machine in a small bathroom, what interesting ideas and non-standard installation methods exist.
Place it under the sink or countertop
The most convenient and comfortable option is to place the washing machine under the sink or countertop. Arranging household appliances in this way will bring many benefits:
connecting the machine to utilities will be very simple;
the space under the sink, often left free, will be put to good use;
the interior will look stylish and harmonious.
Much attention should be paid to the selection of a washing machine. If the square footage of the bathroom is very small, it is advisable to purchase a machine of modest size, with a depth of no more than 45 cm. Of course, small-sized automatic machines are characterized by small capacity, but in such a situation you will have to make a compromise. It’s better to wash your clothes in two passes with a machine than to clean things by hand.In general, it is possible to place a washing machine of normal sizes, but having purchased such a unit, you will have to resort to tricks to install it as comfortably and ergonomically as possible.
Let's take a closer look at how to place the washing machine under the sink or countertop. Some installation options are quite simple, others are interesting design solutions.
Washing machine under the sink. Here we will describe a case when the sink does not rest on the sewer pipe, does not have a cabinet underneath it, and the drain is not organized downward, but to the side.
The dimensions of the washing machine must fully correspond to the dimensions of the sink. The standard height of washing equipment allows you to place the sink at a comfortable height for a person.
By installing the equipment this way, it will be possible to save extra square centimeters in the bathroom. This option for the location of the unit is suitable for very miniature rooms.. In specialized retail outlets you can find sets consisting of machines and water lily washers that are ideal for them. We advise you to take a closer look at the ready-made kits, because making the selection yourself will be problematic.
Under a multi-level tabletop. For short people, the location of the sink at the height of the washing machine is inconvenient. But there is a way out - the sink can be placed at a comfortable level, and the countertop above the automatic machine can be made higher. The space above the appliances and under the sink can be used to store detergents and various accessories.
Washing machine on a special box. This method is used in the reverse situation to the previous one. That is, the machine simply does not reach the countertop.Of course, you can simply close your eyes to the free space between the machine and the surface, but the owner of a small bathroom is unlikely to miss the opportunity to build additional space for various small items. Therefore, it is better to install the washing machine on a low box, which is suitable for storing detergents, towels, toilet paper and other things.
Automatic machine under the “wrong” countertop. This design solution would probably be ideal for a compact bathroom. It will allow you not only to stylishly decorate the interior of the room, but also to take into account the design features of your bathroom. The essence of the method is that the tabletop is not designed to be the same length, but takes on different shapes. Above the machine it will be a little wider, and then it will gradually narrow.
This design solution will create a harmonious interior. Bathroom space is also saved - when moving around the room, you won’t have to hit an overly wide and uncomfortable countertop.
The above methods for installing automatic machines are standard. We’ll talk further about how else you can place the machine in a small bathroom.
Let's buy a top loading machine
“Vertical machines,” or machines with a vertical loading type, are very suitable for installation in small bathrooms. It will be quite easy to install such a washing machine even in a limited area. This is due to the compact size of the equipment. The ideal area for placing a vertical rack would be near the shower stall or bathtub.
However, along with a huge advantage - modest dimensions, machines with a vertical loading type are characterized by one drawback - it is impossible to install a countertop above them or organize a permanent place for storing shower accessories. This is explained by the need to constantly tilt up the lid of the washing machine. If you try hard, you can hang a small shelf or cabinet above the machine, but, firstly, they will be located quite high, and secondly, very few items will fit into them.
Let's try to raise
Very bold and completely unconventional solutions come to the minds of designers. One of them is raising the machine above the floor level. However, this method of placement will be ideal only for a bathroom that has a niche. If your bathroom has such a design feature, you are very lucky.
In a construction niche you can simultaneously place an automatic washing machine, a drying chamber, and shelves for towels, clean linen, household chemicals, and various small items. A niche can be open, but if there is a desire, it is possible to close it in several ways.
Standard swing door. This option is not suitable for every room, because the door will have to be opened and you will need a lot of free space around the niche.
Roller shutters. A modern decorative element will perfectly hide the contents of a niche from prying eyes. To use roller shutters, you do not need additional space - when opened, the roller blind is collected under the ceiling, and when closed, it simply falls down. Closed roller shutters are a solid, dense fabric of a certain color. A canvas with interesting photo printing will look very beautiful.So, in addition to their main function, roller shutters will also decorate the interior of the room.
Using blinds or fabric drapery. This option will be somewhat cheaper than special plumbing roller shutters.
In the case where the bathroom is located close to the pantry, you should think about a small redevelopment. The storage room attached to the bathroom will serve as a construction niche, which is perfect for placing an automatic machine.
Solution for a combined bathroom
Where can you put washing equipment in a combined bathroom? An interesting method is to select one wall of the room and place an open cabinet there, in which to place the washing machine. Based on the size of the room, calculate what dimensions of the cabinet you can afford, whether it will consist of one section or several. It is better to install the machine in the lower section of the cabinet, and use the upper sections to store household chemicals, towels, shower accessories, and clothes.
The cabinet can be either closed or open. Here everything will depend on your desires, preferences, as well as the design features of the bathroom.
Let's choose a wall-mounted machine
Wall-mounted washing machines will be a convenient solution. However, not everyone agrees to mount the machine gun on the wall; only brave and creative people can make such a decision. After all, to load and remove laundry from the drum, you will have to literally “climb the wall.” The option of installing washing equipment on the wall is used by many designers.
For some users, the prospect of climbing to get washed clothes is not as scary as the fear that the machine will fall down during operation.If you are only concerned about this, there is no need to worry; if you secure the machine according to all the rules, then the operation of the installation will be completely safe.
Of course, if the walls in the bathroom are made of plasterboard, it will not work to position the washing machine this way. Only a strong wall can handle such a load. The main disadvantage of this installation method is that the selection of the machine will be limited to units with a small permissible load of laundry. The space under household appliances can be used at your discretion: hang shelves, cabinets, or even place a cabinet with a sink under it.
Options for remodeling a small bathroom
The size of kitchens and bathrooms in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings is an interesting topic that can be discussed tirelessly. Some owners constantly complain about the cramped spaces, while others are happy with such square footage and are ready to be creative in arranging the rooms.
Especially for owners of Khrushchev apartments, we decided to bring interesting design solutions with which you can achieve the most comfortable design in the bathroom and not be tormented by the question: “Where to put the washing machine?”
When remodeling a bathroom, add a few square centimeters of corridor to the area of the bathroom. This way you will build a niche where the washing machine can easily fit. The unit can be placed directly on the floor or on a higher level. Please note that it is considered optimal to place the installation drum at a distance of 90 cm from the floor covering, this will make using the machine even more convenient.
You can find a place for the washing machine without major redevelopment and major repairs. An interesting idea is to build a small niche with dimensions similar to the dimensions of a washing machine, due to the protrusion towards the hallway. An organized protrusion in the corridor can be easily disguised by the facade of a wardrobe. This way you can get a kind of redevelopment without starting it.
We hope that after reading the article you will not have the question: “Where to put the washing machine in a small bathroom?” There are many options for placing household appliances, from standard installation under the washbasin to creative wall mounting. Carefully consider the design of the bathroom, evaluate its design features, correctly select the dimensions of the automatic machine, and then the problem of localizing the washing machine will be solved.
Owners of small apartments very often have to use their ingenuity to arrange in their rooms all the furniture and household appliances necessary for a comfortable life. A small living space is not a hindrance, because even in the most modest space, with a reasonable approach, you can place everything you need.
“Vertical machines,” or machines with a vertical loading type, are very suitable for installation in small bathrooms. It will be quite easy to install such a washing machine even in a limited area. This is due to the compact size of the equipment. The ideal area for placing a vertical rack would be near the shower stall or bathtub.
Wall-mounted washing machines will be a convenient solution. However, not everyone agrees to mount the machine gun on the wall; only brave and creative people can make such a decision. After all, to load and remove laundry from the drum, you will have to literally “climb the wall.” The option of installing washing equipment on the wall is used by many designers.
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