An easy and inexpensive way to hide ugly water lines and laundry plumbing hookups while maintaining easy access.

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Find all the tools and supplies

needed for this project

HERE.

Quick & Easy DIY Shelf to Hide Laundry Plumbing Hookups

Hiding Washer Hookups

I’m probably not the only one out there that can’t stand the look of all the laundry pipes behind their washer and dryer. When we bought our house our laundry room and downstairs bathroom was combined. We have plans to create a dedicated laundry room in the future, but I needed a solution that would work for the in between. I needed something that would be affordable, relatively simple, and allow access to everything on the back wall.

Laundry rooms don’t need to be a pretty space to be functional, but creating more aesthetic appeal in a laundry room can make it more enjoyable while doing more mundane tasks like laundry.

When searching for easy ways to hide laundry plumbing pipes, I found a lot of creative ways that involved building a false wall or pipe covers in front of the hookups. However, since we also have a light switch behind our laundry area I needed something more accessible.

Creating a beautiful and functional shelf to hide laundry room plumbing

Not only did I want an easy solution to hide the ugly box and plumbing fixtures, but I also wanted to create practical solutions for storage. We don’t have a lot of storage in the room, so things like laundry sheets and dryer balls would get thrown on the dryer or the floor.

I searched Facebook Marketplace for years looking for a cabinet I could install above the washer and dryer with a decorative curtain underneath to hide the laundry pipes but could never find one the specific size I needed. Eventually, I decided to use scrap wood from other projects to build my own shelf.

Building a DIY shelf to hide Laundry Plumbing Hook ups

I wanted the shelf to look like an old mantel top.  The first step was to gather my supplies.  I used a 1″x12″ board for the top, some scrap 1″x1″ boards, left over underlayment that was ripped to 4″, and salvaged molding from when I tore out the drop ceiling in our current living room. You can see more of that room restoration HERE.

The tool that made this project so simple was my battery powered CORDLESS brad nailer from Greenworks.  Not requiring an air compressor and long hose to use a brad nailer was a total game changer for me!  Not only did it make this project way easier, but I’ve also been going around the house finishing little projects that I’ve been procrastinating for years!  Adding the two nails that were missed when installing our shiplap and re-securing the toe kick board in the kitchen were a breeze with my cordless brad nailer.

Making a Quick and Easy Laundry Room Shelf

This shelf can be used to hide plumbing for both front loaders and top loaders. Since the shelf is only 12″ deep and can be positioned at whatever height you want, it won’t get in the way of how the appliances function at all.

The detailed trim and molding made my shelf DIY more complicated and required more time and tools. It can also add extra cost if you don’t already have the materials on hand. However, this project can be made much simpler!

To simplify this shelf, you can use a single shelf board attached to the wall with metal brackets. Then, simply use screw in hooks to attach a curtain. This version doesn’t require any tools but a screw gun would make it a bit easier. You can ask the hardware store (like Home Depot) to cut the shelf board down to the size you need if you don’t have a saw.

What you need to build a DIY Shelf to Hide Washing Machine Hookups

You can find specific links to all the tools and supplies needed for this project HERE.

Tools

Saw I used a chop saw, but a table saw or jig saw would also work.  If you don’t have a saw, you can ask the hardware store to cut your board down for you.

Screw gun or screw driver A screw gun will make it quicker and easier to attach the shelf brackets, but a screw driver could also be used.

Measuring tape This comes in handy for several steps of the project, but especially to know how long you need your shelf to be for your space.

Pencil To mark your measurements

Stud finder This is optional if your shelf won’t hold heavy items but I find it very helpful to have.

Brad nailer A brad nailer (like my battery powered cordless one) is only required if you are creating a shelf with trim and molding to create more of a mantel top look.  For the simpler version of this project you won’t need this tool.

Caulk gun A caulk gun is also not necessary for the simpler version of this project.

Supplies for Shelf and Curtain

Wood The amount, types, and length of wood varies for this project.  At a minimum you will need a wide 1″ board to use as the main shelf.  I used a 1″ x 12″ board, but the depth and length of the shelf is based on your preference and the space you’re working with.  If you want to create a decorative trim the hides the top of the curtain you’ll need additional pieces.  Alternatively, you could purchase a shelf kit, like this one.

Shelf brackets I used simple metal shelf brackets to attach my shelf to the wall.  These will be covered by the curtain so they don’t need to be fancy.

1/2″ screws These are used to attach the metal bracket to the underside of the shelf.  They have to be short enough so that they don’t come through the top side of the shelf.

Longer screws for securing brackets to wall.  The ones I used were 2 1/2″ because that’s what I had on had.  They have to be long enough to attach the shelf bracket to the wall and ideally catch a stud.  If you don’t hit a stud, you may want to use plastic anchors.

Fabric Use any fabric of choice.  I used simple cotton muslin for my curtain.  Cut the fabric double the length you need to fold the fabric over the curtain rod.  This eliminates the need to sew a pocket for the curtain rod.  Be sure to add extra length to sew a hem if you want a finished look.  You can also create a hem using fabric glue.  I cut my fabric about double the width of each shelf to create a pleated look.

Sewing machine or hem adhesive To create a finished hem use a sewing machine or hem adhesive.  You can leave the edges of the fabric raw, however they will frey badly in the washer if left un-hemmed.

Curtain or dowel rods I used a long curtain rod for my shelf and dowel rods for the shorter sides.  You could also use a tension rod. The rods won’t be seen, so it doesn’t matter what you use as long as it’s the length you need.

Screw in hooks These will be the easiest way to attach your curtain to the shelf.

Paint, Spray Paint, or Stain Use paint or stain in your color choice to add a finishing look to your shelf.

Caulk This is only necessary if you are adding trim and molding. My favorite caulk is DAP Extreme Stretch.

Brad nails These are only necessary if you add the trim and molding.  I used 1 1/2″ & 1/2″ brad nails for my shelf.

Be sure to watch the related video to see more details related to the tools and supplies I used to make my shelf.  This will be helpful in determining what style shelf you want to make and the exact supplies you’ll need.  This shelf can be made to different sizes to accommodate your specific space.

The Easiest and Quickest way to make a Laundry Room Shelf to Hide Water Lines

The easiest way to make a shelf that hides the laundry room drain pipe and plumbing but maintains easy access is to secure a shelf board to the wall using metal brackets. If you’ll be storing heavy items on the shelf it’s a good idea to use a stud finder to determine where the brackets should be placed.  You could also purchase and install a pre made shelf kit like this one.

Next, install screw in hooks underneath the board.

Cut your fabric for the curtain double the length and width you need. Be sure to account for hemming if you want a finished edge. Simply fold the fabric over the dowel or curtain rod.

Next, secure the dowel or curtain rod to the hooks installed under the shelf.

Building a shelf with more detail

If you want your shelf to have more detail and hide the top of the curtains you can use a brad nailer to attach more decorative pieces of wood around the sides. You can see more details of how I did this in the project video. While the added decorative detail does add a nice touch, it’s not necessary for hiding the washing machine hook-up.

Decorating a Laundry Room

Laundry rooms are one of the hardest working rooms in a home, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful too! The goal for my DIY laundry room shelf was to create a decorative element to the room that also served a purpose.

As a lover of antiques, I’ve been collecting laundry room decor items for years in anticipation of being able to display them together one day. Building this DIY shelf in our laundry room has provided the perfect place to display my vintage washboards, wooden clothes pins, and other decorative items along side things like laundry detergent and dryer balls. I would also like to incorporate a vintage wall hung drying rack in the space.

How to display everyday items in a pretty way

Something I’m always trying to do is to create beautiful spaces that are also functional. Often times, this means finding creative ways to disguise everyday objects – just like this DIY laundry room shelf hides ugly plumbing.

Sometimes items can be hidden, but sometimes items can be displayed for a more utilitarian design approach. For example, I use a small vintage wicker basket to store our laundry detergent sheets. Our wool dryer balls are stored in a vintage glass canister. This allows these items to be out and easily accessible but still beautiful.

Another advantage to this shelf is now the top of the dryer can be used to store empty laundry baskets. Since we don’t have a counter top in our laundry room every bit of extra storage space is helpful!

Not only did this project drastically improve the overall design of our laundry room, but it created a cohesive look between this room and our house. It no longer feels like a room off of our house and more like a part of it. This simple project has inspired me to do a full laundry room makeover in the near future.

If you’ve been wanting to disguise your washing machine’s hoses I hope you found this post helpful in figuring out how to do so easily.

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