Think vertically

Lack space? Get a stacked washer/dryer or combo unit

With all the gadgets and possessions we frequently add to our abodes and considering how we’re increasingly multitasking our living spaces to accommodate our busy lives, a simple real estate truth prevails: Our homes commonly lack space, and it’s easy for any available square footage to become cluttered and inef ficiently organized.

One solution is to think ver tically, especially when it comes to appliances. And perhaps the best place to star t with the strategy is in the laundr y area, where a dr yer can be stacked atop a washer or a single machine can replace your existing, floor-hogging duo.

“When we are tight for floor space, the only option is to look up,” notes Jackie Schagen, an interior designer in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

“Some people just have no choice but to explore these options, especially renters in small units. Their laundr y room or closet is often too small and won’t accommodate a side-by-side set of appliances,” said John Carey, vice president and co-founder of Designer Appliances in Bedminster,

New Jersey. “Stacking a front-load washer and dr yer set or replacing them with a combination unit not only frees up floor space that can give you more functional room to move around, but it also provides extra area for storage and sor ting and folding laundr y.”

Not ever y washer and dr yer pair can be ver tically aligned, especially if they are dif ferent makes and sizes. Compatible units from the same manufacturer can often be stacked using a special stacking kit sold separately (it’s not recommended to stack your units without a compatible stacking kit). When stacking is possible, the lighter dr yer sits atop the washing machine and not vice versa (imagine the mess if a top-sitting washer leaked).

“The downside of stacking laundr y appliances means you must have front-loading machines. Also, you can no longer use the space atop the appliance to store clothes, soap, or other materials,” Schagen cautioned.

Also, reaching the topmounted dr yer can be challenging for shor ter people.

“In our first home, we had a