Adding two cabinets in laundry room?

I reused old kitchen cupboards by removing the doors and painting the cabinets. The open shelving was wonderful, with bins to keep everything organized. With your setup, I would find the shelves more useful in the middle.

Conventional lower cabinets (with the basic one shelf) are not the easiest to get into and retrieve items from, especially things farther to the back. If you do decide to go with them (irregardless if they are in-between the W and D, or at the sides,) I would highly recommend getting sliders at the same time. This will facilitate accessing heavy items such as extra jugs of liquid laundry soap, jugs of bleach, etc. without having to take out items in the front, and putting them on the floor.

Another thing to consider with standard cabinets is the doors. You always have to open the doors and go around them to access the items in the interior. If the cabinets were in the middle of the W and D, I can see the doors getting in the way of the dryer door, and, as they also take up floor space when open, getting in the way of a laundry basket that may be on the floor in front of the dryer.

For this reason, I would recommend to put one cabinet on the right side of the appliances, and one cabinet on the left side, with the doors opening against the side walls, rather than in between the W and D.

I think the shelves between the cupboards will look good. Nice and balanced with the shelves as a focal point. We did this in our kitchen and it looks great. https://www.frugalfamilytimes.com/2015/10/kitchen-update-for-way-less-cash-how-to/

If it were my home, I'd want the cabinets on either side, with shelves in between. I assume you're planning the install of "upper cabinet" size that are less deep, otherwise there'll be a lot of shelving area unreachable without a step stoool.

Cabinets on the sides and shelf/shelves in the middle. Easier to access the items you use more often on the shelf/shelves.

I prefer the cabinets on each side and shelf in the middle!

If I had to put a shelf up I would put it in the middle. I would prefer 3 cabinets, more storage, and doors to close, so nothing looks messy.

I love the idea of centering shelving between the cabinets. then you could store laundry essentials that are pretty out in the open and those that are not behind closed doors.

it all depends on how you plan to use the cabinets - I personally prefer the shelf in the middle

Would definitely go for the idea of having cabinets on each side and shelf in the middle.

I think it really depends on how it'll best function for you first, then you can consider aesthetics after.

Agree with Adrienne cabinets on each side and shelf in the middle. That looks more balanced.

Hi Lucretia,

Cabinets to the outside with shelves between would be better use of space and more pleasing to the eye!

I would make sure the cabinets are over the washer and dryer. That will give you supplies directly above the machine while enabling you to "hide" them. Nothing worse in my experience than shelves holding your detergent and other items. So I think in the middle would be better.

I vote for the shelf in the middle

I think whoever is doing the laundry the most should decide this.

I would do it the way you suggested, especially if you'll be the one doing the laundry!

I agree with the way you suggested.

One other thing to consider, where are the studs in the wall?

Bottles of liquid laundry detergent, softener & bleach add up to significant weight.

In my case, I had to screw 5/8” plywood to the studs so that I could screw the cabinets in where there were no studs.

Another thought:

Mount horizontal pre-painted 2X4 lengths to studs across wall for hanging/installing cupboard AND shelf mounts. IF 2X4's are overkill cut 3/4X3or4 lengths of 3/4" plywood to wall-width length, paint and attach as stated before. Hint - use of stud finder recommended.

AVOID use of wall anchors which can very easily pull through wallboard over time if too much weight is stored in cupboard, or on shelves.