Hey everyone! My wife and I need some ideas for building a shelf that can hold all our laundry essentials like detergent and dryer sheets, positioned between our washer and dryer. We're not looking for something permanent since we rent, but it does need to be sturdy enough to hold everything and allow for the top loader to open easily. I have some technical skills for building but not a lot of creativity. Any suggestions on how to go about this?
3 Answers
You could definitely build a shelf system using plywood. For durability, I'd suggest birch or maple, since they handle moisture better. Use dados and glue for construction, and finish it with oil-based poly before you assemble it to simplify the process. Just keep in mind that you might want to use metal for holding liquids like detergent to prevent leaks from ruining the wood.
It really depends on how elaborate you want your shelf to be. You can build it from scratch or modify some ready-made options from places like IKEA. What tools do you have? A miter saw should suffice for basic shelves, but if you’re thinking about a larger cubby system, a circular saw might be a good investment. Just be sure to discuss your budget with your wife since materials can vary in cost quite a bit!
You could go for a simple shelf above the washer and dryer, or even a cubby system if you prefer. Using birch or maple might be worth the extra cost since it'll last longer than pine. Just make sure there's enough clearance for the top loader to open and for placing folded items on the dryer.
That’s a good point about maple lasting longer. I'll definitely consider the clearance for my top loader when planning this out!