How to install a washing machine in the kitchen and bathroom

Ingenious ideas from designers and technicians in home furnishings allow for the functional and efficient use of every square centimeter of space. This is all thanks to the advent of built-in appliances. For example, installing a washing machine in a bathroom or kitchen can enhance the room's design. We'll describe how this can be done in this article.

In the kitchen or in the bathroom: where is better?

There's no definitive answer to the question of where it's better to install a washing machine—in the kitchen or the bathroom. The main reason is the apartment owner's preference. Some people, for various reasons, may be categorically opposed to placing a washing machine in the bathroom or, conversely, the kitchen. And even the size of the room or the washing machine itself can't change their mind.

But let's approach this issue from a technical point of view and formulate the pros and cons of building a washing machine into these rooms.

The advantages of placing the machine in the kitchen are as follows:

• Firstly, all the main household appliances will be located within one room, which will allow you to simultaneously control the washing process and the baking of a pie in the oven or the heating of food in the microwave;
• secondly, thanks to the free space in the kitchen, which will be allocated for the washing machine, you can free up space in a small bathroom;
• thirdly, The choice of a washing machine for built-in installation in the kitchen is practically unlimited in most cases, Even in a small room there is plenty of room for a free-standing machine of standard dimensions.

But there are also disadvantages to having the machine in the kitchen:

• After washing, the machine door needs to be left slightly open, which is not aesthetically pleasing and will disrupt the design of the room;
• in a machine built under the countertop or in a free-standing one, it will not be possible to store dirty laundry, as it will be visible;
• Another drawback is that detergents stored in the kitchen next to the washing machine release harmful substances that can settle on food.

Placing a washing machine in the bathroom also has its advantages:

• By building a washing machine into the bathroom, you can save space in the kitchen for a large table;
• The toilet and bathroom are the sanitary area of ​​the apartment, so it is perfect for storing dirty laundry and washing it; it is also possible to store powders and conditioners here;
• In the bathroom, the machine is less audible, especially if you close the door, so it won’t distract you from household chores or eating;
• In the bathroom, you can keep the hatch door open at all times without fear of ruining the aesthetics of the room.

The disadvantages of building a washing machine into the bathroom are as follows:

• High humidity is dangerous for electrical appliances, so when installing a washing machine, you will have to carefully consider the electrical wiring and connection;
• Choosing a machine for the bathroom can be difficult. For example, in most standard apartments, the doorway to the bathroom is narrow, ranging from 55 to 60 cm. This means that a machine with a depth of 60 cm will no longer be able to fit, and you will have to choose something smaller.

So, when choosing between a kitchen and a bathroom, you need to focus on the most basic thing: which room needs more usable space?

Choosing a washing machine for built-in installation

All machines can be divided into three groups:

• free-standing;
• with the possibility of embedding;
• fully built-in.

Any washing machine, even a freestanding one, can be built-in. The only difference is the installation method. A fully integrated machine is installed in a special niche in the kitchen cabinetry, with the countertop attached in a special way in place of the top lid, and the front door covering the drum is secured to brackets mounted on the front of the machine.

Built-in dishwashers don't have these fastenings. These machines only have a removable top cover. However, they can be hidden inside a standard kitchen cabinet, and the front door can be screwed to the side walls of the cabinet. You can read more about this type of dishwasher in review of built-in washing machinesA freestanding machine can be similarly hidden in a kitchen cabinet or installed under a countertop.

When choosing a washing machine, many people focus not on its built-in capability, but on its dimensions. After all, if the kitchen cabinets were prefabricated, any machine won't fit into the niche reserved for it. For a bathroom, the size of the washing machine is even more important, especially if the room is very small and the door is located to the side of the bathtub.

Modern washing machines have become significantly more compact. The market offers a wide range of narrow units, with depths ranging from 32 to 45 cm. Furthermore, there are special machines that vary in height, allowing them to be installed under a bathroom sink. This height mini cars no more than 65 cm.

When planning to install a washing machine under the kitchen countertop, consumers are also interested in the color of the washing machine. Currently, the following colors are available:

• white;
• silver;
• black;
• red;
• gray-blue;
• green;
• golden;
• lilac.

Particular attention should be paid to the loading method of washing machines. They can be either top-loading or front-loading. Top-loading machines are ideal for bathrooms due to their compact size. Their width is almost 20 cm smaller than that of a standard front-loading machine.

It's not very convenient to have a top-loading washing machine in the kitchen, as you'll have to give up the extra countertop, or install a folding countertop that can be raised when needed.

Machine placement options and room design

There are several options for placing a washing machine in two rooms. Let's look at these options illustratively.

The easiest placement option is to place the washing machine in a free space in the kitchen.

The most common option is to install a washing machine under the kitchen countertop. The color of the washing machine is crucial. Ideally, it should match the color of other appliances, such as the refrigerator, microwave, or stove.

The optimal way to install a washing machine in the kitchen, from a design perspective, is to integrate it completely into the kitchen cabinetry. This will expand the design and color options for the kitchen. The washing machine is out of sight, and everything is kept in a unified style.

Here are a couple of original ideas for placing a washing machine in the kitchen.

As for the bathroom, even there, regardless of its size, you can place the washing machine in different ways. For example, you can build it under the sink.

Build the machine under the countertop.

Build the machine into a niche.

If there is space, place it separately.

An excellent option is to build the machine into furniture.

When placing a washing machine in the bathroom, it's important to consider the overall room design. This way, the machine will become a fully-fledged element, not a conspicuous blank spot.

The technical side of the issue

Connecting a washing machine in the kitchen and bathroom is fundamentally the same. In both cases, you'll need to follow roughly the same steps. Here's a list:

1. arrange a water pipe outlet to connect the inlet hose;
2. install a siphon with a drain for waste water;
3. extend the electrical wiring and install a moisture-resistant socket;
4. pre-position the machine so that all communications can be connected;
   

   At the same time, check whether the hoses are long enough to allow the machine to be freely pulled out of the built-in niche.

5. connect the machine to the water supply and drain pipe;
6. Place the machine in the designated place and adjust the legs.

When deciding to install a washing machine under a countertop, you need to accurately calculate the dimensions of the niche where the machine will be located. Be sure to leave a gap between all cabinet walls and the machine to prevent vibrations from hitting the walls. For more detailed installation information, see the article on how to build a machine under the countertop.

Thus, Today, a washing machine is not just a household appliance that makes our work easier, but also a design element of a bathroom or kitchen. The space allocated to the car will determine both the functionality of the room and its aesthetics.

   

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