Washer and dryer in the bathroom - how to combine them?

The positioning of both appliances depends on the space available. Some bathrooms are spacious and have both a shower and a bathtub. In other bathrooms, however, we may have to compromise and choose a bathtub with a bath screen or a shower enclosure. Likewise, it’s not always easy to incorporate a dryer into the arrangement, besides the expectations of household members regarding the interior finish are also important. Definitely the easiest situation is when we have a separate laundry room. Then what we mainly care about is the functionality, not the appearance. On the other hand, if we do laundry in the bathroom, it requires taking into account other activities normally performed in this space.

If we have the comfort of having a spacious bathroom, both appliances can be put next to each other, so they will be on the same level. It’s a good idea to place the washer and dryer under the countertop, in this way they won’t strike the eye, but obviously, this must be a front-load washer. However, it is much more common to find them on top of each other, with the washing machine on the bottom and the clothes dryer on top of it.

Yet another option is to use a recess. If the bathroom has quite a spacious recess, some people decide to install a shower unit in it. Others opt for cabinets. We can also create a kind of laundry area and place a washing machine and dryer there.

It could happen that someone would really want to have a dryer, but it’s impossible to place it in the bathroom. Then the washing machine could stay in the bathroom and the dryer may go somewhere else. This may be the hallway, kitchen or dressing room. It’s worth considering a built-in dryer as in this way it won’t strike the eye. However, if it’s possible, it’s more ergonomic to place both appliances in one room, then there’s no need to move the wet wash from one room to another. This is more convenient and saves time.

The most common solution used to save space is placing the washer and dryer in a vertical arrangement. In this configuration, the washing machine is always on the bottom. This is because washers are heavier than dryers, so they should be at the base. When searching for appliances, it’s a good idea to check if the washer and dryer are a set. The dimensions of each model are different, so we need to take a good look before buying. It’s best to focus on appliances from one manufacturer as in this way it will be easier to pair them.

For the sake of visual appeal, the washer and dryer in the bathroom or other mentioned space can be built-in. But laundry means water. If the water doesn’t have an outlet, the humidity levels will increase and mold and fungus can grow. This means that we need to think about ventilation when opting for a built-in installation. Each manufacturer has slightly different recommendations, but most often there should be a 2cm gap on the sides between the appliance and the cabinet. In the case of a wall, this is between 5cm and 10cm. There is no objection to the dryer being fully integrated, but the cabinet should be open during operation. If we would like the dryer to be completely closed during operation, then there should be a gap of at least 5cm in front and on the sides, and ventilation holes on the side of the cabinet will be necessary.