Do you have your white goods in the bathroom or utility room, and do you want to hide that ugly washing machine and dryer neatly out of sight? More and more often, people choose to build their washing machine into IKEA cabinets. Tall METOD kitchen cabinets or PAX wardrobes seem ideal for this, because of the sleek doors.
It can look beautiful, but building a heavy, vibrating machine into a light chipboard construction brings risks. Read here how to do it safely.
Why a Standard Cabinet is Not Suitable
A washing machine can generate enormous forces during spinning (at 1400 or 1600 rpm). A standard IKEA (bottom) shelf is designed to carry a few pans or clothes at most (approx. 20 kilos), not a bouncing concrete-block-filled machine of 80 kilos.
If you put a washing machine directly on an IKEA furniture shelf:
- The shelf will eventually bend (or break off immediately).
- The entire cabinet structure vibrates apart. The dowels break, the screws tear out, and the doors hang crookedly within a week.
How It Should Be Done: The 'Cabinet-around-Machine' Method
The safest way to use IKEA furniture is not to use the cabinet as a load-bearing structure, but only as an 'envelope' (visual shell).
The washing machine on the floor
Always place the washing machine directly on the hard floor, or on a special, reinforced metal washing machine plinth. Then slide the frame of the tall IKEA cabinet (from which the bottom shelf has therefore been removed or cut out) over the machine. The cabinet rests on the floor around the machine, but does not touch the machine itself anywhere. Ensure you level the machine so it vibrates minimally!
Ventilation space
A washing machine produces heat (and sometimes moisture) during use. Never build it in too tightly. IKEA recommends keeping at least a few centimeters of clearance all around and ensuring adequate ventilation, for example by leaving grilles or a gap open in the bottom/plinth. If a machine cannot dissipate its heat, it will quickly break down due to overheating or condensation in the electronics.
Building Washing Machine and Dryer on Top of Each Other (Stacking Kit)
Do you want to place the dryer on top of the washing machine in one tall cabinet?
- Always place the washing machine on the (hard) floor.
- Put the dryer on top, but always use an official, certified intermediate kit (stacking kit) from the manufacturer (often with an integrated tension strap or pull-out shelf).
- Never put the dryer on an IKEA shelf in the cabinet above the washing machine, unless you have built a solid wooden, wall-to-wall load-bearing structure with beams in the wall.
Reinforcing the cabinet
Even if the machine does not touch the cabinet directly, it can sometimes 'walk' during spinning and bump against the side of the cabinet.
- Anchor the cabinet: Anchor the IKEA cabinet very firmly to the back wall, with multiple heavy (steel) corner anchors instead of just the supplied plastic bracket. This prevents the entire piece of furniture from resonating (vibrating) along with it.
- Sound deadening: Stick sound-absorbing egg-crate foam plates on the inside of the cabinet walls to further reduce the noise.
Overview: Do's and Don'ts
| Aspect | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Machine placement | Directly on hard floor or reinforced plinth | On an IKEA shelf |
| Ventilation | Keep clearance + grilles/gap | Build in too tightly |
| Dryer on top | Use official stacking kit | On an IKEA shelf |
| Cabinet anchoring | Multiple steel corner anchors | Only the plastic bracket |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I put a washing machine on an IKEA shelf?
No. A standard IKEA shelf is designed to carry at most about 20 kilos, not a bouncing machine of 80 kilos. The shelf will bend or break, and the entire cabinet structure vibrates apart. Always place the washing machine directly on the hard floor or on a reinforced metal washing machine plinth.
How much ventilation does a built-in washing machine need?
A washing machine produces heat and sometimes moisture during use. Keep at least a few centimeters of clearance all around and ensure adequate ventilation, for example by leaving grilles or a gap open in the bottom/plinth. If a machine cannot dissipate its heat, it will quickly break down due to overheating or condensation.
Can I place the dryer on top of the washing machine in the cabinet?
Yes, but always use an official, certified intermediate kit (stacking kit) from the manufacturer. Never put the dryer on an IKEA shelf in the cabinet above the washing machine, unless you have built a solid wooden, wall-to-wall load-bearing structure with beams in the wall.
Building in washing machines safely?
Building a custom washing machine cabinet or 'utility room' with IKEA cabinets requires creativity, precision, and insight into safe constructions. Sawing and reinforcing the standard panels is precision work.
Do you want to be sure that the construction is safe and the doors still hang dead straight after half a year of spinning? Ask the specialists at Montage Vandaag to expertly build and anchor your IKEA washing machine cabinet. Check our quote page immediately.