Asked on Sep 12, 2014

Stackable washer/dryer or side by side for max wall storage

Debbie Sadar
by Debbie Sadar
We only have the length of the w/d in a laundry room. Any ideas on which way provides the most wall (cabinet) storage. The side by side placement, or get stackables and have a tall cabinet next to w/d?
  4 answers
  • Hannah V Hannah V on Sep 12, 2014
    I would go with the stackable and a tall cabinet next to it. Anything stable is usually the best solution to saving space.
  • I love stackables- I actually have 2 stackable units on each floor and from my stand point stackables are the way to go. Instead of a tall cabinet I would think about a cabinet underneath for storage, countertop, and then cabinets to the ceiling (just in a kitchen). that way you have room for a laundry basket or space for working. My counter is for cat food and water so the dogs do not eat it. Just a thought. I think this would work great too if you are vertically challenged and tired of reaching for things you cannot reach.
  • Shari Shari on Sep 12, 2014
    I'm sure there is a mathematical way to work out the square footage of storage in both configurations but since math is not my strong suit, I'll let somebody else figure that out for you. My personal preference is side-by-side with upper cabinets and, to maximize storage, cabinets could go all the way to the ceiling. There are a couple other perks to side-by-side that you may (or may not) want to consider besides storage. A bar to hang clothes can be mounted to the underside of the upper cabinets, which is handy if you don't have any other place to hang up items coming from the dryer. Side-by-side placement of the W/D also allows for a counter top spanning the entire width of the washer/dryer for more surface work space, folding etc. Additionally, unless you're tall (I'm not), it just feels like too much of a stretch to have the dryer on top of the washer. The controls are up higher and I think it could be difficult in some cases to fish those stray socks, wash cloths or miscellaneous small items out of the back of a dryer in the stacked position. Hoisting heavy wet clothes from the washer up to the dryer isn't my idea of fun either (up/down/up/down/up/down). I have side-by-side front loaders and I just have to slightly pivot side to side at the waist to move clothes from the washer to the dryer.
  • Allyn Phillips Allyn Phillips on Jun 15, 2017

    We have full size washer and dryer stacked in a small place, works out great.