Where to put washing machine?

[ClutterDrawer]

I have attached a very rough drawing of my tiny kitchen. At the moment the washing machine is in a brick outhouse in the garden, but awful memories of last year when the water kept freezing has made me rethink that plan. We definitely need a dishwasher (disabilities) but as that takes up the space where a washer would normally go, I am stuck where else to put it.

Can washers go under a draining board? It's a rented property so I can't do anything structural like move the fuse box etc. Alternatively, would anyone recommend a table top dishwasher that can maybe sit on top of the draining board (can't be too tall though as there is a wall cupboard above it) so the washer can slot in to it's normal place?

Or any other suggestions please?

Your choices are limited.

Both the dishwasher and washing machine need water services, so those are probably only going to be around your sink area unless you extend the pipework somewhere else.

I don't see why a washing machine can't go under a draining board but obviously depends what is there already and how the pipework is. It may be difficult to plumb it in and slot it in.

Our washer dryer at our old house was under the draining board.

The sink eats up space in the cupboard underneath it, but the draining board sits flat, so you don't have the same issue.

My concern would be the space that the pipes take up at the back of the dishwasher/washing machine. What is the other side of the wall with the sink on?

It's the external wall, just a side passage.

@ClutterDrawer that should be fine then, they could potentially run the pipes externally with lagging to save some space behind the units.

I think your landlord might be a bit upset about losing a kitchen cupboard to make way for a washing machine.

Could you put it near the bathroom? We have ours upstairs next to the bathroom.

Another vote for the draining board

Dishwasher under the draining board (the top panel can be unscrewed if it needs to be under 80 cm high. Washing machine where the dishwasher used to be.
Then you can double up the inlet/outlet taps and pipes for the washing machine, an easy DIY job.
In that case be careful to run your machine s at a different time because the washing machine “sucks” from the drain area as it’s spinning and you don’t want dirty dishwater in the bottom of your washing machine!

Is your bathroom big enough to take the washing machine? This arrangement is common is most European homes (although admittedly they usually have larger bathrooms than we do in the UK!). But if you do happen to have a bigger bathroom, it might work, as the bathroom is already plumbed for water supply and drainage.

@Geneticsbunny I would have to ask for permission first (HA) but I think it should be ok. I would probably have to agree to put back to normal if I ever move out, but that isn't likely to be honest as this is an adapted property which I need. Absolutely no room upstairs sadly.

@Sgtmajormummy that's what I am thinking - swapping the washing machine and dishwasher over. I can go for a slimline dishwasher as the cupboard under the draining board is only 50cm but the washer will definitely fit. Just need to save up to get the works done now!