He Raised His Washer and Dryer and Turned the Space Underneath Into Storage
Washer and dryer doors sat close to the garage floor, while four wall cabinets occupied the space above them. Laundry supplies had no dedicated storage near the machines, and transferring clothes meant bending down each time.
Reddit user u/iSniffMyPooper decided to raise both front-load machines on a wood structure instead of buying separate appliance pedestals. The new base puts the doors higher while turning the added height into two open cubbies and a deep pull-out drawer for laundry supplies. The creator said avoiding so much bending was one of the main reasons for the project.
Existing Cabinets Set the Height Limit
Four gray cabinets were already mounted above the LG washer and dryer, so the new base could not raise the appliances without accounting for the space overhead. Water connections also sit on the wall behind the machines, another point the new surround had to accommodate.
The original setup left both appliances on the garage floor. Raising them would bring the doors closer to standing height, but the available distance beneath the cabinets determined how tall the pedestal could become.
Lumber Frame Supports Both Machines
The base started with a 2×4 frame divided by a series of vertical supports. Rather than relying on long unsupported spans, the builder placed framing beneath both appliance positions to spread their weight across the structure.
According to the creator, 3/4-inch plywood was used across the base, while pocket holes joined parts of the frame. The project was his first major woodworking build as a homeowner beyond a floating shelf.
Plywood Turns the Pedestal Into Storage
Plywood panels cover the top, ends, and interior sections of the frame. Instead of closing the raised base into one solid box, the construction preserves the space below for storage.
Three openings take shape across the front. Two broad compartments sit beneath the washer and dryer, while the narrow center section provides room for a pull-out drawer.
Paint and Plywood Finish the Storage Base
The frame was clad with plywood before the exterior received white paint. The top, front rails, and side edges were painted, while the interiors of the three storage openings were left as exposed plywood.
Two wide cubbies sit beneath the appliance positions, with a narrow center opening built to accept the pull-out drawer.
Wood Top Creates a Full Appliance Surround
Once installed, the base raises both machines and white side panels extend from the pedestal to the wood top. The washer and dryer now sit inside one fitted structure instead of resting as two separate units on the floor.
The wood top runs across both appliances beneath the existing cabinets. The creator designed the side panels with maintenance in mind: each side is held with one screw and can be removed when access to the machines is required. Water and gas connections remain accessible from behind the lower cubbies.
Center Drawer Keeps Detergent Under the Machines
The center section pulls out into a deep narrow drawer that can hold detergent bottles and other laundry products upright. Open cubbies on both sides add space for items that do not need to stay concealed.
The builder also applied a spar urethane topcoat to the base to help repel standing water in case of a leak.
The finished stand solves two problems at once, but it also sparked a debate. Commenters questioned vibration, clearance, and repair access, while the builder noted that the side panels can be removed when needed.
Higher doors mean less bending when loading and unloading, one reason appliance pedestals are common with front-load machines.
Does the extra storage make this build worth the added concerns about vibration and repair access?