The IKEA Hack That Perfectly Hides Your Washer And Provides Laundry Room Storage

Some household appliances are designed to be shown off, while others are better kept out of sight — like washers and even portable washing machines. These are handy appliances to have at home, but their appearance is another story. Some homes have designated laundry closets or laundry rooms, but your floorplan may require you to keep your washer out in the open. Luckily, there's an IKEA hack that can help you hide your washer in plain sight using IKEA's SEKTION high cabinet frame. 

Measuring 90 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 24 inches deep, the IKEA SEKTION cabinet is the perfect place to store your washer — and even your dryer, if you have a stackable set. Priced at just under $200, this cabinet can fit any washing machine that measures under 30 inches wide, meaning many compact and traditional-style washers will work. Ideally, you'll want a washer with a 24-inch depth or less for this cabinet, but if yours runs a little longer, you can modify the cabinet by removing the backing or cutting a larger opening to make room. Either way, you'll need to make cuts in the back of the cabinet to attach your washer's water hookups.

For the doors, you'll want to grab two 15-by-30-inch ENKÖPING doors from IKEA, either in white or brown walnut, for the top portion. For the bottom section, use two more ENKÖPING doors in the same finish, but measuring 15 inches by 60 inches. This setup will split your DIY washer-hiding cabinet into upper and lower compartments. To finish off the project, you'll also need four UTRUSTA hinges (one per door) and one or two of IKEA's UTRUSTA shelves, measuring 24 inches deep and 30 inches wide.

To get started, begin by assembling your SEKTION cabinet according to the instructions that come with it. Once the frame is built, attach the doors, using one set for the washer section below and another for the top storage area. Position the cabinet against the wall where your washer will sit, then measure and mark where you'll need to cut the back panel to allow the washer's cords and hoses and hoses to pass through. Using a jigsaw, cut a square large enough for the hoses and plugs to feed through to the wall comfortably.

Next, note your washer's height measurement and insert the storage shelves in the upper part of the cabinet. The number of shelves you can fit may depend on what you plan to store, so consider spacing carefully. Luckily, the cabinet comes with pre-drilled holes, so you can easily adjust the shelf height as needed. Just make sure your shelves are aligned with the top cabinet doors so they won't look too awkward. Once your shelves are in place, slide the cabinet back toward the wall and feed the plugs through the cutout, making sure everything connects to the washer securely. Once your cabinet is finished and the washer installed, you can load the upper shelves with laundry essentials or add small baskets to organize supplies.

The IKEA SEKTION is a pretty versatile unit, so you don't have to fully enclose your appliance. You can just build the sides and top, using the cabinet as more of a shell to disguise the washer that you'd rather keep hidden. Skipping the back panel and doors will keep the space open for plugs and cords while leaving the front easily accessible, which is ideal for washers with a depth larger than 24 inches.

The SEKTION cabinet comes in bright white from IKEA, which is suitable for homes that boast a clean and minimal design. But if you'd rather add some color or texture, there are plenty of ways to customize it. You can hand-paint the cabinet to match the color scheme of your space — using a good primer is the trick to painting IKEA furniture's difficult surface. Another option is to add texture to one or both sides by gluing or sticking on wall paper or decorative wall panels, such as pole wrap. These come in different finishes, colors, and textures, and you can apply them before or after painting.If you decide not to attach doors, you can still conceal the front of your washer using a curtain and tension rod. The rod should fit a width of 30 inches (the same as the cabinet), and the curtain should be about 90 inches long so it extends from top to bottom.