Washer and dryer shelving
The Only 3 Laundry Room Shelves You Need!
Looking for laundry shelves or laundry room shelf ideas? Max out the functionality of your laundry space—today we’re sharing the 3 smartest types of laundry room shelving with you!
*This post contains affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you and help us keep this site alive.
Why is The Drawer Queen writing a post about shelves? (If you haven’t read about how I think drawers are the solution to all mankind’s problems, thus we did 100% drawers in our kitchen in lieu of any lower cabinets, you’ll want to check that out!)
The reality is that sometimes—just sometimes!—a shelf is exactly what you need. (Shocker, I know.)
- “How do you know if you need a shelf somewhere in your laundry room?”
- “How deep should laundry shelves be? Should they be shallower than my machines?”
- “What do you put above a washer and dryer?”
- “What different kinds of shelf options do I have (other than floating or laundry room wall shelves)?”
laundry cabinet
We’ll address all of this (and more) with examples of the three different types of laundry room shelving we did in our own space…
…and WHY we chose WHAT we did, WHERE we did!
LAUNDRY ROOM SHELVING#1: Pull-out Laundry Room Shelves Below Washer & Dryer.
You should know…I have a quirky thing about my clean laundry. And it is this:
I’ve never liked how the clean laundry you pull out of the washer and want to move over to the dryer inevitably has items falling out onto the floor. Right? You can’t stop it. You can’t control it. It happens.
One solution would be to keep my laundry room floor perfectly clean all the time, so that clean laundry falling on it wouldn’t phase me, but alas. I do not live in that fantasy floor world. My floors are NOT perfectly clean all the time. (And I’ve embraced that beautiful bit of reality.)
Yet I draw the line at dirty clothes when there’s such a simple laundry room shelf solution. You’ve just gone to the effort of cleaning your clothes; who wants them dirty immediately afterwards?
I’d never had the answer for this laundry-dropping problem until now, when I had the opportunity to actually do something about it. What ideas could I whip up to solve this problem?
BEHOLD!
My glorious laundry room shelf solution!
My must-have of all must-haves!
shelf slides | rug | pulls | laundry cabinet
LAUNDRY ROOM SHELVINGLaundry Room Shelves Under Washer & Dryer:
This glorious solution is in the form of a pull-out, sliding shelf you can extend underneath the washer and dryer, like a barrier between that area and the floor.
(I would think this was REAL MAGIC except for the fact I do have to pull them out myself, which is a tipoff.)
laundry cabinet
So you’re pulling out a bunch of clothes to transfer to the dryer and bam! All the tiny articles of clothing come out with them and fall. Whaddaya do?
similar baskets | pulls | hangers | hooks | linen pants | plant | vase | towels | rug | washer | dryer | laundry cabinet
No biggie now! They’re just on the washer and dryer shelf. Voila! Into the dryer they go and they’re still as pure and innocent as the moment they were washed.
laundry cabinet + shelves
The other major benefit I’ve been finding to this washer and dryer shelf is that the pull-out is also a perfect place to set the laundry basket when you’re pulling out dry clothes.
Two birds with one shelf!
LAUNDRY ROOM SHELF#2: Laundry Shelves Over Washer/Dryer.
Now, I’ve seen many a laundry room with a laundry basket shelf below the washer and dryer, but I specifically wanted that space for something else (read about it here).
laundry cabinet + drawers
Also, another pet peeve of mine:
Laundry shelves over the washer & dryer that have a bunch of “little” things on them.
4 reasons to AVOID laundry room shelves like that:
- If you want to maximize your space above your washer and dryer, you’re going to want extra deep shelving above them (because washers and dryers are extra deep appliances). However…
- …not only are the shelves usually hard to reach, that depth especially makes it hard to reach little things that inevitably get tucked behind each other on those laundry shelves.
- The top laundry room shelf is usually impossible to reach without having to drag a stepstool out of somewhere, and I have better things to do with my time than go find a stepstool—in both the kitchen and the laundry room (yes, I should write another blog post about how I try to avoid needing a stepstool).
- It looks cluttered.
Hmmmmm, so…less-than-ideal both functionally and visually? Remind me why people do this to themselves? 😂
SOLUTION: Put something up there that
1) is on the large side and won’t get lost (a.
k.a. easy to reach) and
2) looks clean and uncluttered.
similar baskets | laundry cabinet
For me, this solution was a laundry basket shelf above my raised washer and dryer. (Well, technically it’s two laundry shelves, and I have two baskets on each shelf.) I can grab my baskets easily and this area looks crisp and clean. No fuss, no drama, and no cutesy signs telling me to do my laundry.😂 (I already know, sign!)
➥ LAUNDRY BASKET TIP:If you’re going to go woven, make sure it’s a smooth weave with no “splinters” sticking out. (Those might enjoy grabbing onto bits of your clothes.)
similar baskets | laundry cabinet
Do I want to see my laundry detergent, however pretty it might be compared to others, on display above my washer and dryer? No, I do not. Which brings me to our final Shelf Discovery…
LAUNDRY ROOM SHELVING#3: Full-extension Laundry Room Storage Shelves.
At some point, many of you wondered where I ended up keeping my detergent and his friends. Come on over to the left side, dear reader, and I’ll show you.
We have two sliding laundry shelves that pull out. Why did we have them pull out? I’ll show you that too.
(You already know why if you know about my mostly-hate relationship with deep shelves, such as when I talked about the mudroom in this post or in our laundry room video.)
purifying bag | pulls | towels | baskets | washer | laundry cabinet
Washers and dryers are DEEP. They go way back. So we had to build everything in this laundry room to the depth of the washer and the dryer (so that it wouldn’t feel awkward, right?).
Plus, think of how awesome it would be to have the drawers below be extra deep! And the shelves above to be extra deep! So that meant all the storage to the left would be extra deep too.
our favorite non-toxic detergent | spray bottle | lemon oil | shelf slides | washer | laundry cabinet
THE PROBLEM:
I knew I wanted laundry room shelving for our non-toxic detergent and other bottles (years ago I started moving over to using all-natural cleaning products…another story).
But extra long static laundry room shelves = extra long pain. I mean, can you imagine having to reach back 3 feet to try to get a certain bottle that rolled or got pushed back there over time?
No thank you. Homey don’t play dat. So…
THE SOLUTION:
We used full extension drawer slides on these laundry room shelves, to allow you to pull them out fully. We used this one.
What I also love about these shelf extenders is that I still feel like I have so much room to spare! We have all our laundry “stuff” on these shelves, and there’s still more space when you pull it out.
baskets | pulls | hangers | hooks | linen pants | plant | vase | towels | purifying bags | rug | dryer balls | washer | dryer | laundry cabinet
(The ball you can see above in our dryer is one of a set of these dryer balls we love using. We say no thank you to dryer sheets. And yes, of course we buy ones that are made from New Zealand wool!)
laundry cabinet + drawers & shelves
➜ NEW! Matt spent weeks putting together our Laundry Cabinet Plans for you guys! An ambitious beginner can DIY them, or you can hire someone to build them for you in a weekend if you don’t want to be bothered.
😆 Get them HERE!
If you missed the full tour, you’ll want to check out our 7 laundry room must-haves! Or maybe you’re wondering why we have a laundry “wall”? Click HERE to see why!
If you’ve already caught up on those, you might enjoy seeing our other home solutions, such as
- Why did we rip out our new kitchen?!
- Grout-free at last! Fashioning our solid-surface shower.
- A (before) tour of our servantless downstairs!
- Why’d we choose white? 7 strategies for choosing interior colors.
- How we got our high-end bathroom floor tile for (almost) free!
PS: You can view every single one of our house projects HERE!
To see the shelves in action, check out this video we made of them!
And here are the slides in action! 🙂
Shelves Over Washer And Dryer Design Ideas
view full size
Laundry room features blue shelves over a gray washer and dryer, blue cabinets and white mini brick tiles.
Geoff Chick
view full size
Laundry room features stacked shelves over a gray Whirlpool washer and dryer, white scale tiles and white cabinets with nickel pulls.
Amy Storm and Company
view full size
White floating shelves are stacked over an enclosed black front loading washer and dryer placed on white and gray mosaic floor tiles.
Lux Decor
view full size
All white basement laundry room completed with modular shelves and a window above white front load washer and dryer set.
Soledad Alzaga
view full size
Closet washer and dryer sits under white hidden cabinets with white built in shelves.
LC Interiors
view full size
Vintage cottage style laundry room features stacked industrial shelves with metal bins over a black washer and dryer lit by a vintage cage flush mount light and a wooden barn door.
Kristina Crestin Design
view full size
Black and white contemporary laundry room includes a silver front load washer and dryer set enclosed with a black countertop surrounding white built in shelves.
Brianna Michelle Interior Design
view full size
Whirlpool silver front load washer and dryer enclosed with black countertops around white shaker cabinets and built-in storage shelves.
Brianna Michelle Interior Design
view full size
A gray bench sits on a gray runner beneath a glass leaf chandelier and between stacked clothing rails and white built-in shoe shelves.
Geoff Chick
view full size
A stacked white front loading washer and dryer are enclosed beneath light gray green cabinets.
Brooke Wagner Design
view full size
An enclosed washer and dryer sits on gray hexagon floor tiles beneath a wooden countertop fixed under a wood floating shelf lit by two Aerin Clarkson Small Single Pivoting Sconce.
Elizabeth Lawson Design
view full size
Spacious closet features a washer and dryer and white built in shelves.
LC Interiors
view full size
Gray thin herringbone pattern floor tiles accent a laundry room boasting an enclosed stacked silver front loading washer and dryer.
Reena Sotropa
view full size
White floating shelves are stacked over an enclosed white front loading washer and dryer fixed beneath a countertop.
Steenhaus Studio
view full size
Wonderfully styled family features a blue velvet curved sofa draped in a blue Hermes Avalon blanket and placed on a beige rug facing black and tan poufs.
A List Interiors
view full size
A stacked white front loading washer and dryer is hidden in floor-to-ceiling mint-green cabinets.
22 Interiors
view full size
A silver Whirlpool washer and dryer sits on gray floor tiles beneath a black quartz countertop accenting white shelves fitted beneath a white drawer.
Martha O'Hara Interiors
view full size
A silver front loading washer and dryer is enclosed beneath a honed marble countertop and between beige cabinets accented with brass hardware.
Kitchen Lab
view full size
Brass sconces fixed to a peacock blue wall light a row of wooden hooks fixed over peacock blue shiplap trim.
raili ca design
view full size
Master closet and laundry room combo features white hidden cabinets over a washer and dryer, white built in shelves and white cabinets with nickel pulls.
LC Interiors
view full size
Well-appointed mint-green contemporary laundry room and pantry combo features pantry shelves and pull out drawers hidden beside a stacked washer and dryer and behind mint green cabinet doors.
22 Interiors
view full size
Vintage green bins sit on a white floating shelf over a drying rod mounted above a stainless steel laundry room sink paired with a satin nickel gooseneck faucet mounted to a white quartz countertop over white shaker cabinets finished with nickel and glass pulls.
Andria Fromm Interiors
How to install a tumble dryer on a washing machine: installation options, instructions
Installing a tumble dryer on a washing machine is a laborious task. But it’s worth the effort, since the so-called column seriously saves space in the room and simplifies the use of household units.
Dryer above washer options
Both washer and dryer are large. In a cramped apartment, there is usually simply not enough space for horizontal installation of devices. Therefore, they practice the installation of the column, put the dryer on top of the washer. There are several options.
On special supports
Since the installation of units in a column is very popular, manufacturers usually offer special shelves for fixing the dryer above the washing machine. It looks like a flat board made of durable plastic, but it is used as follows:
- is placed on top of a washing machine installed on the floor;
- is securely fixed to the surface with clips and a screw in the back;
- put the dryer on top;
- push the legs of the unit into the holes provided for this;
- test the design for strength.
Some tumble dryers are already equipped with a column attachment when purchased. But even if the board is not included in the set, it can be purchased additionally without any problems. It is only necessary to measure the washing and drying units in advance in width and depth.
Factory-fitted column mounts fit washers and dryers of the same sizeImportant! A sliding shelf is provided in special fixtures for installing the column. You can put a basin with laundry on it for more convenient loading of things into the dryer.
Rail Mounted
Metal rail mounting is not the most popular column mounting option. But sometimes you have to resort to it. If the devices differ in width and depth, and you want to install the dryer on a narrow washing machine, you will not be able to use a specialized fixture for the column.
The main disadvantage of the design is that the slats are less reliable, there is always a risk of collapse. When using slats, they are fixed on the wall directly above the washing machine and form a kind of shelf, on which the drying unit is mounted in the form of a column.
The advantage of this design is the ability to freely select the diameter.
When mounting a shelf for mounting a dryer in a column, the load on the structure must be carefully calculated. The rails must confidently support the weight of the device not only at rest, but also during operation with strong vibration.
Attention! When installing the shelf, make sure that the weight of the dryer does not damage the integrity of the wall itself. Rails cannot be installed on fragile thin partitions.
In a niche
If there is enough free space in the bathroom or utility room, you can make a niche for the plasterboard column. In this case, between the washing machine and the dryer there will be a sufficiently strong and reliable layer of building material, which will take on the role of a shelf. An additional advantage of a niche is that the whole structure will look more compact. In this case, there will be no extra unoccupied space on the sides of the column.
Niche - the most reliable and neat option for installing a column In addition to drywall, metal corners and fasteners are needed to make a niche to give strength to the structure, as well as putty or tile for finishing.
Before installing the column, you need to think in advance how convenient it will be to put forward household appliances if necessary. Communications and wires will be located in the back of the niche. They will need to be kept accessible in case of emergencies.
Tip! A variation of a niche is the installation of a drying machine in a cabinet; hinged doors are mounted in front of the structure, allowing you to hide household appliances.
In a rack
Another option for installing household appliances offers to purchase a rack for the column, consisting of two or more compartments of suitable dimensions. A washing machine is placed in the lower part, a dryer is placed on top, the weight of which is taken by a solid wooden shelf.
Spacious rack allows you to place household chemicals and other accessories next to the units The design is quite convenient. If a sturdy rack is equipped with wheels, then to gain access to communications in the rear, it will be enough to roll the entire column to the side.
This will be much easier than pulling out a washing machine or lifting a heavy dryer from a height.
What you need to install your tumble dryer
The materials and tools required to mount your tumble dryer depend on the type of installation you choose. The easiest way is to use special fasteners, in which case you only need the factory shield itself from the manufacturer and instructions for it.
In other cases, for installing household appliances in a column, you need to prepare:
- strong metal rails for fixing to the wall;
- chipboard or wooden shelf to create a stand;
- dense plasterboard - in case you plan to create a niche;
- screws and self-tapping screws for fixing parts of the structure;
- a screwdriver with interchangeable tips and a screwdriver for the job.
Important! To install the washer and dryer in the column, you must purchase a rubber seal. It is placed under the upper household appliance to dampen vibration.
How to correctly install a clothes dryer on a washing machine
Regardless of the chosen method, there is a general algorithm for the correct installation of household appliances in a column one above the other.
The tumble dryer is always installed on top of the washing machine, not vice versa. The reason is that the unit is lighter, and, accordingly, the design is more reliable. At the same time, the washing machine below is set strictly according to the level, even if it visually seems that it is evenly located anyway. The slightest deviation from the plane will lead to unnecessary vibrations, hum and, ultimately, to the instability of the column.
When installing the column, it is necessary to calculate in advance whether the cables from household appliances will reach the socketsIt is best to install the dryer on the washing machine on concrete or on tiles. A good option is also a wooden floor, which can be further reinforced with slats. But on linoleum, thin laminate, and even more so on a carpet, the column cannot be mounted, a soft coating will not allow to achieve the desired stability of the structure:
- A special tray or a self-made shelf is installed on top of the washing machine.
It is strictly forbidden to mount devices on top of each other closely, without an intermediate layer. This will create an extra load on both the washer and dryer. A layer of sealing material is placed between the lower unit and the pallet, which absorbs the vibration of the column during operation. - A commercial or homemade stand is bolted securely. It should not move forward, backward or sideways, it is necessary to achieve absolute immobility of the column.
- A dryer is placed on a makeshift shelf or stand from the manufacturer. If we are talking about using a special shield, you need to make sure that the legs of the unit fit exactly into the recesses intended for them.
At the end of the work, both devices remain connected to communications and the mains. When using a column, it is recommended to start the dryer and washing machine in turn. This will not only avoid unnecessary vibrations, but also reduce the load on the home network.
Conclusion
Installing a tumble dryer on a washing machine requires careful attention and compliance with all safety rules.
To mount the column, it is necessary to use special devices that create a layer between the surfaces of two household appliances.
For washing dryers in the category "Appliances and electronics"
Universal connecting plate for docking a washing machine with a tumble dryer, with a pull-out shelf 9Ol000 322 UAH
161 UAH
Buy
Lavaggi online store of acidic after-butane chemicals
HL4000.2 Kit for connecting two washing machines, a dryer and a dishwasher to a siphon.00 HL40
Delivery in Ukraine
1 753 UAH
1 297.22 UAH
Buy
TOV "VELLDAN KOSASAN"
Electrolux dryer/washing machine 1321073049
at the warehouse
, 9000 2 159 GRN.
In a warehouse in Odessa
Delivery in Ukraine
460 - 490 UAH
from 2 sellers
460 UAH
Buy
Servis - Market "PRO100DIY" for evolving techies in Ukrainian
Sending. ) for washing machine and dryer on rollers AquaPur Germany
Delivery across Ukraine
950 UAH
Buy
DOMBYT
Laundry fragrance for washing machines and dryers Winni's Profumatore per Bucato Patchouli & Argan 250 mlOl000 Presco 250 ml
In stock in Khmelnitsky
Delivery across Ukraine
322 UAH
161 UAH
Buy
Ol000 ⭐️ spare parts for household appliances ⭐️
Bearing SKF BA2B 633667 for washer-dryers Bosch, Siemens
In stock in Kyiv
Delivery across Ukraine
672 UAH
Buy
Proservice: components for washing machines and household appliances
Denkmit Wäscheduft Blossom Dream rinsers of linen for drying and washing machines 400 ml
in warehouse
22 Buy
15000 156.
5000 156.5000 156.15000 156.56.56.56.56.56.56.15000 156 "In-dom" Internet shop for home goods at Inni
Stand for washing machine and refrigerator on wheels Washing machine stand for the movement of household appliances
in a warehouse in Kyiv
Delivery in Ukraine
627 - 697 UAH
from 8 sellers
801 UAH
627 UAH
Buy
Online store Yellowshop
MODUL (Management) MODULA for Western, Western, Western, Western. Bosch drying machines, Siemens 00640002
In a warehouse in Odessa
Delivery in Ukraine
1 780 - 1 880 UAH
from 2 sellers
1 870 UAH
Parts for repairing household appliances in Naessa. Service - center "Rembyttech".
Saturn capacitor Double for washing machine - spare parts for washing and drying machines Saturn
in a warehouse in Kharkov
Delivery in Ukraine
140.
