9 Dishwasher Placement Solutions for Your New Kitchen

Written By: Anne Ellard, Houzz Australia Contributor
Thursday, June 22, 2017

Although every kitchen layout is different, there are >

Place it next to the sink. As a kitchen designer, I usually recommend that a dishwasher be positioned next to the sink. There are two reasons for this: The first is that it will make plumbing much easier and less costly, and the second is behavioral. People generally use a "scrape, rinse, load" method to load their dishwasher. This involves scraping leftovers from dishes into the trash located to one side of, or under, your sink, then giving dishes a quick rinse before loading them into the dishwasher. Consequently, the best placement is on the opposite side of the sink from the scraping area.

There are many dishwashers on the market that dont require dishes to be rinsed before theyre loaded.

Choose a side. If you decide to position your dishwasher next to your sink, the next consideration should be whether to put it on the left or right. There is no correct answer; a right-handed person typically will hold a dish in the left hand and use the right hand to scrape or wash the dish, therefore making it easier to load dishes into a dishwasher positioned to the left of the sink. The opposite applies to a left-handed person.

Photo by Carnells Design - More modern kitchen photos

Having said that, people are often creatures of habit, so I sometimes find clients prefer to put the dishwasher on the same side of the sink that it was on in their old kitchen, regardless of whether they are left- or right-handed. The overall layout of the rest of the kitchen and the location of other appliances is also important to consider, so try not to become wedded to left or right at the expense of creating a poor layout in other respects.

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Ensure the dishwasher is close to drawers. Always make sure the drawers or cabinets where flatware, glasses and dishes are stored are close to your dishwasher. This kind of functionality and practicality is essential to any kitchen design. The location of all kitchen appliances in >

Note the distance to nearby cabinets. Aim to have a maximum of one steps distance between your dishwasher and the storage areas where you are placing dishes and utensils. Your dishwasher can be adjacent to these cabinets and drawers or opposite them; it doesnt matter as long as you dont need to move far between them.

Check movability within your space. Freedom of movement is an important consideration when designing a layout. This is especially >

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When planning your kitchen, visualize yourself carrying out daily tasks such as loading and unloading your dishwasher. Try not to position your dishwasher in a location that will block off a main walkway when its open. It is also important to consider the location of other appliances, such as a cooktop, in >

Having appliance or cabinet doors clash when they are opened is often unavoidable, particularly in an L- or U-shaped kitchen. However, its worth ensuring that your dish, cutlery and glassware drawers and doors can be fully opened at the same time as your dishwasher door is open to make unloading easy.

If your dishwasher is beneath an island counter. In a kitchen with an island, you will probably find the island becomes the spot where dirty dishes are dropped as they are cleared away from outdoor entertaining areas, the dining table or the breakfast bar.

Photo by Kitchen Capital WA - Look for traditional kitchen design inspiration

For this reason, locating your dishwasher here is a good idea. Dishes can be quickly cleared from the island countertop, rinsed in the sink if preferred and then loaded into the dishwasher without having to move to another area of the kitchen.

However, it may not always be possible to locate a dishwasher in the center of a room due to plumbing restrictions, particularly if a home is built on a concrete slab. It is worth speaking with your designer and plumber about this at the planning stage because it may be prohibitively expensive.

Photo by ANA Building Group - Search contemporary kitchen design ideas

Consider integrating your dishwasher. If you have an open-plan kitchen, you may want to think about concealing your dishwasher, particularly if it could be visible from your living area. In this instance, consider an integrated dishwasher - that is, one specially designed to sit behind a panel that matches the rest of your kitchen cabinetry.

There are two main types of integrated dishwashers. One is a semi-integrated, as pictured here, where just the top control panel is visible, with the lower part covered by a cabinetry panel.

The other option is a fully integrated dishwasher, as pictured here, giving the illusion that a cabinet or bank of drawers lies behind the cabinet front. In this case, the controls of the dishwasher are located along the top edge of the door and are only visible when its open.

Or hide it away in a walk-in pantry. Walk-in and butlers, or working, pantries are becoming more popular in kitchens, particularly in new homes. As a kitchen designer, I get regular requests from clients that their dishwasher and a second sink be located in their pantry. This is so that all dirty dishes can be taken straight there after a meal, and all large pots and pans can be washed there, leaving the main kitchen neat and tidy and the sink empty to rinse glasses or wash hands.

Photo by kitchens by peter gill - More contemporary kitchen ideas

Busy families and larger households might consider having two dishwashers, one in the kitchen for everyday use, and one in the butlers pantry for extra dishes or on those occasions when guests come over.

Think about elevating it. If you dislike bending down to load and unload your dishwasher, this may be the solution for you. Building your dishwasher into a taller cabinet mdash; similar to how you would with an eye-level oven mdash; will be easier on your back.

Photo by Seacute;verine Kalensky Architecte d Inteacute;rieur - Discover modern kitchen design ideas

Incorporate a drawer that can be used to store anything from dishwasher tablets to plates or chopping boards below the dishwasher, to make use of the extra space. You can finish the height of the cabinet at the top of the dishwasher or continue it to a higher level with additional storage mdash; or even a microwave space mdash; above the dishwasher. Ensure that the dishwasher is installed correctly and fixed into place to avoid any movement.

Also See:

  • Kitchen Sinks That Match Your Dishwasher
  • Create Your Own Dishwasher Strategy Here
  • Contact Kitchen and Bath Remodelers Near You




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