Countertop above the washing machine in the bathroom

The countertop above the washing machine in the bathroom is an excellent work surface, perfect for storing household cleaning supplies and leaning against. It also provides excellent protection from water drips from the shower or faucet.

But where can you find such furniture, and most importantly, how do you choose and assemble it correctly? Read all about it in this publication.

What are they like?

There are a huge number of countertop styles, each with its own unique characteristics. How can you choose the perfect piece of furniture from this variety? First, you need to understand the different types of countertops and how they are classified. This information will help you understand the wide variety of options, which will, in turn, lead you to a more informed choice. So, what types of bathroom countertops are available?

1. Lightweight wall-mounted. These countertops typically have a simple design, are attached with special brackets, and take up very little space. However, they are not designed to support heavy loads, so placing heavy objects on them is not recommended.
   
2. Floor-supported countertops. These are more substantial and robust countertops capable of supporting significant loads. These countertops often feature both floor and wall support points. They also often feature cabinets and hanging drawers, which are ideal for storing various useful household items.
3. A heavy, solid cast countertop. For large and medium-sized bathrooms, a luxurious solid ceramic or stone countertop under the washing machine, with a built-in sink, cabinet, and drawers, is ideal. The modules of such countertops are not changeable, and the countertops themselves cost a fortune.
4. A countertop with a lily-shaped sink. To be precise, this design is more like a sink with a countertop, rather than the other way around. The countertop here acts as a supporting element—an extension of the sink. You can read more about lily-shaped sinks and other unusual bathroom sinks in the article. Washing machine under the sink in the bathroom.
   
5. A countertop with built-in sink option. This piece of furniture can be any size, but it has one remarkable feature: a cutout for a specific sink model. There are even countertops with a standard cutout that can be adjusted to fit a specific sink.

In rare cases, you can find bathroom countertops integrated with shelves and even shelving. Such furniture can be mass-produced or custom-made.

Requirements for a piece of furniture

A countertop for a washing machine is a piece of furniture that is interconnected with a household appliance, and therefore, both the washing machine and the countertop must match each other. The countertop should be positioned at such a height that a washing machine can fit underneath it, and there should be a gap of at least 1 cm between the countertop cover and the top cover of the washing machine.

The countertop under a bathroom washing machine should accommodate the entire machine. It's unacceptable for the washing machine's body to protrude beyond the lid, as this will minimize the countertop's protective function. The countertop should not obstruct utility connections, and these same utilities should be securely hidden behind the cabinetry.

Keep in mind that the countertop will be constantly exposed to temperature fluctuations, high humidity, and significant vibration, meaning special requirements apply to the material your future countertop is made of. Fiberboard, chipboard, and drywall are unsuitable for countertops, but textured plastic panels or engineered stone are perfectly acceptable. Natural marble is certainly an option for a washing machine countertop, but that would be prohibitively expensive.

It would be desirable to have some furniture elements attached to the countertop that would allow you to store a basket of dirty laundry near the washing machine in a closed form, as well as small shelves for powder, conditioner and bleach.

Important! The countertop installation site must be prepared in advance: utilities must be installed, surfaces must be finished, and dimensions must be calculated.

Which washing machine should I choose?

To securely hide a washing machine under a bathroom countertop, it's not enough to simply ensure the cabinet itself meets certain requirements. The washing machine also needs to fit under the cabinet. Understandably, it's not difficult to create a countertop that will cover even a standard-height washing machine and still leave some space, but what are the dimensions of that cabinet? Let's take a look.

• A standard non-built-in washing machine is 85 cm tall. The gap between its lid and the countertop is 1 cm. Add to this the thickness of the countertop material—2 or even 5 cm. This results in a height of 88-91 cm, making it difficult to use the countertop or sink at this height.
• Next comes depth. A standard washing machine is 60 cm deep, meaning the countertop width will be around 62 cm (including the necessary overhang at the front). While this might seem like a reasonable width, it's not. The width of the countertop should be larger, since the body of the washing machine does not fit tightly against the wall due to the hoses and power cord located at the back. So, we leave a gap of at least 10 cm, which means a countertop at least 72 cm wide. How aesthetically pleasing is the question, but how much space will it take up in the bathroom?
• And finally, width. A washing machine is 57-60 cm wide. The wider the width, the longer the countertop will be and the less space there will be for cabinets and shelves. Therefore, it's better to choose washing machines that are as narrow as possible; in this case, every centimeter is worth fighting for.

Given the above, it follows that the washing machine should be as small as possible so that the countertop doesn't take up too much space in the bathroom. However, while we might achieve a neat bathroom cabinet by installing a small washing machine, we'll lose the appliance's functionality. After all, what is a small washing machine? First of all, it's a maximum load capacity of 3 kg, and what is three kilograms, even for a family of three? That's right – nothing! So a compromise is needed.

There's no such thing as a perfect undercounter washing machine. You'll inevitably have to live with some drawbacks. Be prepared for this.

It is clear that a standard-sized washing machine will not be suitable, but compact models are also suitable There's no need to rush. So, you need a washing machine that's slightly smaller than standard, but large enough to hold a substantial load. It will be both functional and easily fit under a normal-sized countertop.

We're talking about narrow washing machines, such as the BEKO WKB51031 PTMA. This particular model is 83 cm tall, allowing for a slightly lower countertop. The depth of this machine is only 35 cm, which allows you to make a bathroom countertop of a normal width and significantly reduce the overall dimensions of the furniture. At the same time, the equipment itself has good characteristics: a drum with a capacity of 5 kg (not all 3), a spin speed of 1000 rpm, 11 washing programs and a digital display.

So, to ensure you're happy with your future bathroom countertop, you need to choose not only the piece of furniture itself but also the appliances it will go with. Find a balance between aesthetics and functionality, and you'll definitely be proud of yourself. Happy choosing!

   

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