How to choose a cabinet for a washing machine in the kitchen

A washing machine isn't just a necessary household appliance, it's also a design element. When a washing machine doesn't fit into the overall design of a room, it's often hidden behind cabinet doors. Freestanding washing machines are rare in kitchens, as kitchens are often small, making it difficult to squeeze in a full set of appliances. Instead, the washing machine is installed under the counter or in a cabinet. How to choose a cabinet for a washing machine, and the different types available—that's what we'll discuss.

What are they?

When we talk about washing machine cabinets, we mean a separate cabinet specifically made for the appliance. It may seem strange, but such cabinets actually exist and are sold. But most often, when ordering kitchen furniture, people also purchase a cabinet for the washing machine so that the design of all the furniture matches.

Ready-made cabinets for washing machines come in the following types:

• one-story and two-story;
• open and closed.

Closed cabinets have doors behind which the front of the machine is not visible, so absolutely any machine can be hidden in such a cabinet.

Two-tier cabinets allow for the combined installation of a washing machine and dryer, making the laundry process very convenient.

An example of a special cabinet for a washing machine is the Russian-made De Aqua Trio Lux cabinet. Its dimensions (D x W x H) are 55 x 70 x 87.5 cm. Not every washing machine will fit in this cabinet, but the height is fine, as most machines are 85 cm tall with the lid and 83 cm without the top lid. However, full-size models may not fit in terms of depth, so you need to choose a narrower washing machine. A cabinet like this costs about $250.

Here's another cabinet—the Armadi Art CARNAVALE CMS. This cabinet is made in Italy. Its dimensions (D x W x H) are 70 x 70 x 98 cm. This cabinet will fit any washing machine, but will there be room for the cabinet itself? It will definitely take up valuable square footage in the kitchen. The cabinet is made of laminated chipboard, and the doors are MDF. The price is around $640.

The Armadi Art CARO CAMSL cabinet, unlike the previous one, is designed for both a washer and dryer, and measures 188 cm tall. Therefore, it costs almost $1,190.

Of course, not everyone can afford an Italian-made cabinet. For that price, you can order a kitchen set that includes a cabinet for the car. This is often the case, creating a unified design for the room. The cabinet can be closed, have exposed doors, or be open.

Selection criteria

When choosing a cabinet for a washing machine in the kitchen, you need to consider a number of nuances.

1. Dimensions. This parameter applies to both the kitchen dimensions and the washing machine dimensions. The dishwasher should not fit flush with the cabinet, but should have gaps at the top, left, and right. There should be at least 1 cm of clearance on the sides and 2-3 cm at the top to allow air circulation. There should be a gap at the back for the appliances and at the front to prevent the door hinges from touching the machine body.
2. It is necessary to take into account how the powder receptacle will be extended. Don't place a narrow machine in a deep cabinet. Otherwise, pouring detergent will be extremely difficult.
3. Also consider which way the cabinet door opens so that it does not interfere with the opening of the machine drum.
4. The type of machine is important: built-in models have a door that is hung directly on the machine body, while freestanding machines require a cabinet with a door.
5. The design of the cabinet, its color, and texture should match the overall design of the kitchen.
6. The cabinet design should not create problems when connecting the machine to utilities, as well as to the machine's drainage filter.
7. The cabinet material must be moisture-resistant. Laminated MDF with a water-resistant film is moisture-resistant. A wooden cabinet is also an option, but it must be treated with a special compound.

Important! When choosing a cabinet in a store, don't be trusting. The salesperson may praise a stale or low-quality product. When buying, focus on ease of use, not price.

Checking and assembly

Upon delivery of your purchased cabinet, be sure to inspect it for integrity and defects. There should be no chips or scratches on the doors. In addition, check that all components (hinges, screws, corners, etc.) are assembled and that there are enough of them to assemble the furniture.

Many retailers offer furniture assembly and machine installation services. If you plan to assemble your kitchen cabinets yourself, here's what you need to do:

• read the assembly instructions, if there are none, then assemble the cabinet intuitively, because there is nothing complicated about it;
• arrange the fasteners into piles: hinges, corners, etc.;
• determine the purpose of each part, find doors, sides, console parts, etc.;
• Next, connect the cabinet elements with a corner, starting from the bottom and side walls, then screw on the cabinet roof, the back wall, and finally the doors.

Once the drain and inlet hoses are connected to the machine, you can install it in the cabinet. After that, connect the machine to the utilities. If building the machine into a cabinet isn't possible, then another option is installing a washing machine under the countertop It will be the most suitable for you. And most importantly, install the cabinet with the washing machine in the kitchen so that the hoses reach the connection point and the electrical cord reaches the outlet.

So, you can buy a ready-made cabinet for your kitchen washing machine, but choosing the right one will be difficult. Therefore, it is better to order the cabinet from a craftsman and not try to build it yourself. A custom design will be optimal in price and ideal in size and design.

   

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