Asked on Jan 01, 2014

Hiding the Washer and Dryer plumbing

Carole
by Carole
Hi. My washer and dryer are in my bathroom. This year I want to repaint the bathroom (in white and light blue) and I would really like to hide the plumbing. Does anyone have a bright idea? The only idea I came up with was to put a curtain hanging from under the cupboards but any other idea would be welcomed. Thanks and Happy New Year to Everyone. :)
  29 answers
  • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Jan 01, 2014
    Raise your washer and dryer. That can also be some extra storage on the bottom. The do sell the pedestals for front loaders. My laundry room looks almost like yours but mine connectors are a bit lower so you can see it easily.
  • I would put a counter top all the way across the top and then on top of that fabricate a removal box which could double as a shelf across the back for any access you will need.
  • Mona$ Mona$ on Jan 01, 2014
    Fake wall, access remains, in case of an emergency
  • Trish C Trish C on Jan 01, 2014
    I put up a shelf that has an over hang in front that helps to hide it without actually covering it up for access. Hope this helps. Trish
  • Cyndie S Cyndie S on Jan 01, 2014
    How about a basket of greenery, maybe on a pretty placemat so you can still access the shutoffs? Or a spring rod with a curtain? Or a half depth shelf just above the shutoffs with some accessories and a bit of cascading greenery?
  • Wanda Booth Wanda Booth on Jan 01, 2014
    Peg board on the wall...using the board to hang things and possibly something decortave to hang over the pipes from the holes in the board.
  • Debbie Harris Debbie Harris on Jan 02, 2014
    Either a shelf that sits on top of the w/d with a board on the back that fills the gap beneath the cabinets and is either painted or covered with fabric you can make a skirt to cover just the washer and dryer OR a curtain to hide the whole inset.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 02, 2014
    Make a shelf that sits on top of the w/d with an upright back splash deep enough to cover the plumbing. It would make a great folding table and could be set off if you had to work on the plumbing. It could be stabilized with a couple of "L" brackets Before you do that, please go to the big box store and buy those re-enforced water hoses!
  • Debby Debby on Jan 02, 2014
    We installed a formica counter top over the washer/dryer area and had a matching box made to cover the fixtures. The box just sits on the counter top (against the wall) so we can still get to the fixtures when needed. The counter top is GREAT for crafts and folding laundry.
  • Carole Carole on Jan 02, 2014
    Wow - thank you so much everyone for all the great ideas! I will post pictures when I complete the project.
  • put another washer & Dryer stand under them!
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jan 02, 2014
    my hubs made a platform for the dryer so that I don't have to bend to get clothes out.we didn't want to pay the high cost of buying the platforms. Our homemade works great and raises w&d which covers the hoses.
  • Cynthia E Cynthia E on Jan 02, 2014
    Since the pedestals are so expensive for the front loads, my Husband made me custom pedestal base 18" high from 2x 4's and plywood, so I didn't have to bend down to transfer clothes. This was high enough to hide the connections yet he can still reach behind them if needed. You could put a counter top on them you can make one from plywood with wood trim edge and faux wood trim back splash edge --(stain/paint or cover with granite film --very inexpensive http://www.instant-granite.com/ ) this will hide most of the connection then hang a laundry sign or picture or something decorative in front of spigots.
  • Dana Dana on Jan 03, 2014
    I had that problem at another house; I got a spring-type curtain rod and made a colorful curtain just long enough to go a few inches below the top of the washer and dryer. It matched the curtains on the window and look really nice!
  • Carrie Carrie on Jan 03, 2014
    I'll be following this because I pretty much have the same set up-
  • Nancy Hinds Nancy Hinds on Jan 06, 2014
    I like the folding shelf to hide them, but leave enough room for emergency turn off for large man hands... I would love an extra shelf, but I have a stack w/d in the garage...
  • PattyV PattyV on Oct 26, 2014
    I'd add 3 2x4's across back wall and then take a peg board and screen into wood. Prior to screwing toto 2x4's, I would measure and cut a little access panel to reach plumbing. I would then take two more 2x4's and screwed into the walls on either side of the equipment and place a solid piece of pywood across. I would then paint the whole thing while and add wire shelving in whte (or black) to the peg boaard to hold none heavy items such as dryer sheets, spot removers. Then I would find a nice glass jar to hold my liquid or powered washing soap. Yea, that's what I would do.
  • Michele McGinty McHugh Michele McGinty McHugh on Dec 25, 2014
    How about a piece of canvas wrapped art? you could even cut out 2 notches on the back of the wooden frame for the hoses to fit into - so the pix would still hang flat to the wall
  • Lori Lori on Jan 19, 2015
    You may be all done by now but a quick and easy and useful idea ia a
  • Lori Lori on Jan 19, 2015
    Sorry- is an L shaped shelf resting on two L brackets on the wall. Just lift off when needed. The shelf face would go right down to the top of the W/D
  • Terri Rivers Pelletier Terri Rivers Pelletier on Feb 05, 2015
    I also have the same problem so I'll be watching for updates on this, I was wondering, on the canvas idea, would the print uphold to the steam from the shower?
    • See 2 previous
    • Gail Gail on Jul 19, 2015
      Look like front loading machines just put vase of flowers either real that like humidity or artificial. Also looks like they are in their own little nook could you put bi-fold or sliding doors to cover the washer and dryer. I would have to be able to easily get to the faucets because I turn mine off after I do laundry. Those hoses have been known to burst. Good luck.
  • Debbie Fontenot Debbie Fontenot on Feb 22, 2015
    I would make a wood valance to hang from cleats above your plumbing. You could use the top as a shelf and would be able to remove it quite easily by lifting for access to the plumbing.
  • Barb Burnham Barb Burnham on Feb 26, 2015
    Two little hinges on a thin piece of plywood with two little arches routed out to go around the water lines. Install hinges above the plumbing box. Paint or paint and then decoupage something nice on the outside on the part you will see above the top of the machines. Will be inexpensive, as decorative as you choose and not curtain grabbing laundry lint.
  • PattyV PattyV on Mar 09, 2015
    I would suggest framing in the backwall and putting in a sheet of beadboard. Cut out the area on the beadboard that would cover the hoses and then make box with beadboard to cover the hoses. Then take a nice piece of wood and make a top to over the appliances. stain and varnish.
  • Pam Pam on Mar 11, 2015
    Put the drawers under them, gives you more room to put and mine look great
  • Bill Tapia Bill Tapia on Nov 29, 2015
    They make a storage compartment that these will sit on top of for you. This will raise them above your fittings and also give you some more storage. Sorry Pam but wanted to elaborate on this a little more.
  • Cca77336239 Cca77336239 on Jan 23, 2023

    I changed paint from beige to light blue. Covered washer connections with white plastic basket cut to fit frame and two 3M hooks (Target total $10). The basket was cut to fit with hacksaw. Changed electrical outlet cover from ivory to white and simply moved "warning" tag down a little. Love the clean, crisp look of blue and white!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 16, 2023

    Cover with a box you can lift off if necessary. Cut spaces for the pipes to pop through. Try a cardboard box first, you can always paint it to suit the room. Maybe a plastic tub would do as it only needs to be small. Otherwise form shelves. One on top and one under the bottom. They could go across the wall, and once you have your items on them they will not be noticable.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 03, 2023

    Love the idea of a platform to raise the height of the washer and dryer. I am getting older and my back reminds me that bending over to get stuff out of the dryer could be made easier by raising the height of the washer and dryer.