Have you ever tried installing built-in laundry cabinetry, only to realise you’re unsure if you’ve chosen the right materials or laid out your space correctly? It’s more common than you’d think. Getting it right the first time isn’t just about aesthetics—your cabinets have to handle heat, moisture, and heavy use, all while staying functional and looking sharp.

Today, we will look at people’s regular mistakes in installing built-in laundry cabinets. More importantly, we will walk you through how to avoid these traps, saving time, money, and aggravation. Our advice can help you towards a laundry room that looks as good as it sounds, whether you are designing a new build or renovating an old space.

Here are the five common mistakes to avoid when installing a built-in laundry cabinet:

1. Skimping on Moisture-Resistant Materials (Warping is Coming for You!)

Picture this: You’ve just had your built-in laundry cabinetry installed. It looks fantastic—sleek doors, smooth finishes, and plenty of storage. But a few months later, something feels off. The doors don’t close properly, the shelves have started bowing, and there’s a musty smell creeping in. Sound familiar? That’s the price of choosing the wrong materials.

Laundry rooms are moisture traps. Between the heat from the dryer and the constant exposure to damp clothes, this space sees more humidity than almost anywhere else in the house. Using standard MDF or cheap particleboard, we’re practically inviting warping, swelling, and mould to move in.

Here’s what we should look for instead:

✔ Moisture-resistant MDF or Plywood – These materials handle humidity without soaking it up like a sponge.

✔ Laminate or Polyurethane Finishes – Sealed surfaces keep moisture from sneaking into the wood.

✔ ABS Edge Banding – This barrier stops water from seeping into exposed edges.

A few dollars saved on budget materials today can lead to costly replacements. If we want cabinetry that withstands the daily grind, we must build it with moisture in mind.

2. Ignoring the “Laundry Flow” – Poor Space Planning

Ever tried to juggle a full laundry basket while wrestling with a cabinet door that won’t open properly? Or squeezed past a dryer to reach the detergent? These aren’t minor inconveniences—they’re the kind of daily frustrations that turn a laundry room into a stress zone.

Good cabinetry isn’t just about looks. If we don’t think about how we move through the space, we end up with storage that’s more of a hassle than a help. Before installing built-in cabinetry, we need to ask ourselves:

• Where do we sort dirty clothes? If the hamper is across the room from the washer, we’ll regret it every wash day.
• Can appliance doors open fully? A cabinet that blocks a front-loading washer or dryer is a disaster waiting to happen.
• Is there enough room to fold clothes? If we don’t plan for a bench or folding space, we’ll balance laundry on the washing machine.
• Are frequently used items easy to reach? No one wants to grab a step stool every time they need detergent.

A good rule of thumb is to map out a simple workflow: dirty clothes go in, get washed, dried, folded, and put away without us having to backtrack or struggle with storage in the wrong place. If we get this right, our laundry routine gets smoother. We’ll curse our cabinets every time we load if we don’t.

3. Underestimating Ventilation – The Silent Cabinet Killer

Imagine opening your laundry cabinet one day and being hit with a musty smell that clings to your clothes. Or worse—pulling out a detergent bottle and spotting mould creeping along the edges of the shelf. That’s what happens when we don’t take ventilation seriously.

Laundry rooms trap heat and moisture like a sauna. If there’s nowhere for that damp air to escape, our built-in cabinetry becomes a breeding ground for mould, mildew, and swelling panels. And once moisture gets into the wood, there’s no turning back—it warps, softens, and eventually falls apart.

Here’s where things go wrong:

• The cabinets are sealed too tightly. No gaps for air mean moisture gets trapped inside.
• Appliances are boxed in – Washing machines and dryers need breathing space, or they’ll overheat and pump condensation straight into the surrounding cabinetry.
• No venting strategy – Relying on an exhaust fan alone isn’t enough if the cabinets have no airflow.

So, how do we fix it?

✔ Leave space around appliances – At least a few centimetres between cabinetry and machines allow heat to escape.

✔ Add discreet vents – Small cut-outs in cabinet doors or the toe kick let air flow without ruining the look.

✔ Choose moisture-resistant finishes – Sealed laminates and treated timber hold up better against humidity.

Skipping ventilation might not seem like a big deal—until we’re dealing with swollen cabinets, smelly shelves, and a headache we could have avoided. A little airflow today saves us from a costly mess tomorrow.

4. DIY Installation Disasters – When Pinterest Dreams Go Wrong

We’ve all seen those home renovation videos that make cabinetry installation look like a breeze. A few screws here, a bit of glue there, and boom—picture-perfect built-ins. But let’s be real: in the hands of a first-time DIYer, a laundry cabinet install can go south fast.

What looks level in the morning might be sagging by the afternoon. Cabinet doors that seemed fine on day one suddenly won’t close. And that shelf we thought was secure? Let’s say it’s now on the floor—along with our laundry supplies.

Here’s where DIY installations usually fail:

• Cabinets aren’t level – Floors and walls are rarely straight, which means even a small misalignment can throw everything off.
• Weak support: If cabinets aren’t properly anchored, they won’t be able to support the weight of heavy laundry essentials.
• Misjudged measurements – A few millimetres off, the washer suddenly won’t fit, or the doors won’t open fully.
• Cheap hardware – Flimsy hinges and weak screws lead to wobbly doors and sagging shelves.

If we insist on a DIY install, we need to:

✔ Triple-check measurements – Getting one number wrong can throw the whole project off.

✔ Use a spirit level – What looks “straight” to the eye is usually not.

✔ Invest in quality hardware – Strong hinges and brackets make a difference.

✔ Secure cabinets properly – Screwing into studs instead of just drywall ensures everything stays put.

A laundry cabinet should last for years—not collapse the first time we load detergent and towels. If we’re not 100% confident in our skills, this is one job worth leaving to the pros. One wrong move, and we could end up with an expensive lesson in why cabinetry isn’t as easy as it looks.

5. Overlooking Future Storage Needs – Cabinets That Can’t Keep Up

We’ve all been there—excited to install new cabinetry, thinking we’ve nailed the design, only to realise a year later that we’re running out of space. What seemed like enough storage at the time is now a cluttered mess of detergent bottles, laundry baskets, and cleaning supplies crammed into every inch of the cabinets.

The problem? We designed for right now, not for what’s coming next.

Laundry rooms don’t just store washing machines and dryers. They need space for:

• Bulk detergent and cleaning supplies – Because who wants to buy small bottles every week?
• Extra linens and seasonal clothing – Where do the winter blankets go when summer hits?
• A drying rack or ironing station – Folding clothes is one thing, but what about items that can’t go in the dryer?
• Pet supplies, shoes, or household tools—Let’s be honest: The laundry room often doubles as storage for random household essentials.

So, how do we avoid a storage disaster?

✔ Go bigger than we think we need – We’ll always accumulate more than we expect.

✔ Use adjustable shelving – Fixed shelves lock us into a layout that might not work later.

✔ Add hidden pull-outs – A fold-out ironing board or a slide-out laundry basket saves space when not in use.

✔ Think vertical – Tall cabinets use every centimetre, keeping clutter off the floor.

Storage needs change over time. What works today could feel cramped in a few years. If we don’t plan, we’ll kick ourselves when there’s nowhere to put the bulk pack of washing powder or the extra set of sheets.

Avoid These Mistakes & Get a Flawless Finish

A well-designed laundry is about working right rather than only appearances. Cutting shortcuts, ignoring ventilation, or undervaluing storage will cause daily annoyance and costly repairs.

Built-in laundry cabinets are an investment rather than a quick weekend effort. It must manage daily commotion, large loads, and ongoing dampness. Should we make a mistake, we will have warped doors, awkward layouts, and insufficient storage.

So, let’s make sure we’re avoiding these typical errors before we start drilling holes or ordering cabinets:

✔ Choose materials that won’t warp – Standard MDF won’t survive the humidity.

✔ Think about how we move in the space – Poor layouts make laundry a headache.

✔ Keep airflow in mind – Trapped moisture leads to mould and damage.

✔ Know our limits – DIY can cost more in the long run if we don’t have the skills.

✔ Plan more storage than we need – Because clutter creeps up quickly.

If we get it right, our laundry will be a smooth, efficient space that makes washing clothes feel less like a chore. If we get it wrong? We’ll be cursing every cabinet door that won’t shut properly.

Need expert advice or a professional touch? The team at Bathroom Renovations Mornington can help bring our laundry vision to life without costly mistakes. Give us a call and get it done right.