How in the world can make this washer and dryer look nicer? ?

Brooklyn Balius
by Brooklyn Balius

I am moving into a new rental and it's ok other than this. The kitchen is unpleasant anyways, but at the least I have got to find a way to hide the washer and dryer. I cant move them or add a shelf. Any other ideas?

  12 answers
  • Gk Gk on Sep 08, 2018

    Maybe you could cover them with a pretty sheet while they are not in use. Of course that might be like ignoring the white elephant in the room--you are still going to know they are there! This would bother me too! Be glad you have a washer and dryer in your apartment that you don't have to share with anyone else or you don't have to go to the laundromat. I wish I could think of something better to help you out!

  • Katie Katie on Sep 08, 2018

    Since you can't hide them, just try to blend them into your whatever color scheme you settle on by doing something inexpensive like attaching fabric or vinyl panels from fabric store using magnets. Get creative with 'repositionable ' vinyl cut outs; maybe include the side panel of the fridge in the scheme. Also you could dress up the cabinets with large DIY painted wooden knobs (inexpensive at Lowe's, etc) Save original knobs for when you move, so you can take yours with you. Make it your own, while you're there! Good luck.

  • TheHoneycombHome TheHoneycombHome on Sep 08, 2018

    Maybe something like this: https://vintagerevivals.com/diy-plywood-waterfall-countertop/ but instead of the feet, use wheels so you can roll it away when you need to get to the top loader.

  • Christierei Christierei on Sep 09, 2018

    I would definitely base a plan around the vintage revivals link above. I'm not sure what it means that you can't have a shelf ? I would cheerfully 100% Ignore the landlord if they meant you can't put anything in the wall to support something to cover this up. There is also a lot of wasted space. Reaching the top cubbards over the washer and dryer is not feasible unless you are well over 6 feet tall. I would remove 2 of the upper doors and cover everything inside with removeable white paper / drawer liner. Use this for cheerful display. A throw rug, curtain over the washer dryer, display shelf and maybe baskets on top of the cabinets would keep your eye moving so that you won't be staring at the washer dryer. ( Moment of Gratitude : at least they are not really old and brown or green.) A weird idea I have would be to run curtains across the whole section. Ikea sells wire that you can run from the ceiling or walls and hang the curtains on. Pretend it is a wall.

    • Brooklyn Balius Brooklyn Balius on Sep 09, 2018

      That is exactly what I was thinking with the cabinets too! Taking off all the doors, putting in nice paper. And adding removable wall paper for backsplash and countertops. Yes, I was told I cant drill holes or anything to put up a shelf. But also with the washer being a top loader I didnt think a shelf would work. I like the idea of opening the cabinets above them for decor though, hadnt thought about that. Thank you!

  • Maureen McAteer Vasily Maureen McAteer Vasily on Sep 09, 2018

    I just saw a talented DIYer put green stripes on the front of her machines by (measured & marked) simply putting painter's tape (comes in green or blue) in stripes on the front of both machines... I'm going to copy this idea myself.

  • Joanne lueke Joanne lueke on Sep 09, 2018

    You can buy a rolling clothes rack online at Amazon, or watch Craigslist to buy which would fit over both the washer and dryer. It is a chrome inverted U shape with a wheeled platform on both sides, similar to what you would see in a department store. You could use a cool shower curtain attached using shower curtain hooks to cover the washer and dryer when not in use, and open and rotate to the side, use to hang clothes out of the dryer and roll back to cover the washer and dryer when done with laundry. That's the best I can come up with and hope it helps. Best wishes.

  • Within the Grove Within the Grove on Sep 13, 2018

    It would be a bigger home project, but you could always paint the cabinets white. The washer and dryer will become a part of the space and blend in some. This way you also won't be blocking the door to dryer with curtain.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Sep 27, 2018

    Any hardware that you use to mount the curtain from the ceiling will have to be installed directly into the ceiling 2x4's. If not, the whole lot will come down very easily, likely taking out chunks of the ceiling drywall/tiles with it. You will then have a worse problem on your hands with trying to repair the holes in the ceiling.

  • Karen Brunck Karen Brunck on Sep 27, 2018

    I'd take the waterfall method one step further by adding a piece of plywood over the entire front of the machines, paint it to match the cabinets, even add matching hardware, so it looks like a continuation of the existing cabinets. Can you get into the cabinet under the sink? Ugh landlords!

  • Darla Brown Darla Brown on Sep 27, 2018

    The answer i have for you is going to sound like alot of work but its really easy...make a wood cover for them that rolls...you can make it from plywood which is not very expensive...and you can decorate it as you like on the outside facing u...i would make it so that when it was in place over the machines it has a slot to the right like a mailbox and a bin inside behind the wood to deposit dirty laundry into until laundry day.no dirty layndry showing in the kitchen which is a plus..on my daughters i made three slots with laundry baskets behind them ones for darks lights whites..but she had more room beside hers and its hard to tell the distance of your space from the picture..then when u roll it out to get to the machines..u will add a shelf inside machine height for folding and a rod across the top for hanging...i know its sounds complicated but if u sit and draw my idea out its really not...i did it with my daughters apartment but have since taken it apart long ago so no pictures...also on yours you can put shelves or cork board or chalkboard anything you want on the side facing you.just measure carefully..allow for the wheel height...hope this helps..