Wall-mounted bathroom cabinet from which material to choose?

Many people believe that in the process of decorating the interior of a bathroom, special attention must be paid to various types of finishing materials, as well as various types of plumbing equipment, but furniture is something of secondary importance.

But in the bathroom there are so many necessary little things that need to be placed somewhere so that they are at hand - shampoos, hygiene items, towels, etc. Therefore, having finished decorating the hygiene room, many people think - where to put it all? And then furniture comes to the rescue, in particular a wall cabinet in the bathroom.

The main types of wall cabinets for bathtubs

Bathroom cabinets can be of the following types:

corner cabinet in the bathroom;
classical;
built-in;
mirror;
open;
closed.

Let's look at each option for bathroom cabinets in more detail.

Corner wall cabinets for bathroom

Corner wall cabinets for the bathroom can significantly save space in this room. The process of installing such lockers is simple; you can easily assemble and install it yourself.

Such furniture will allow you to free up space in an already small room by occupying a corner that, as a rule, is non-functional. Another advantage is that such a cabinet is not dangerous, because it does not have protruding corners.

Classic version

A classic bathroom cabinet is a standard solution in terms of interior design, as well as in terms of the configuration of the room. It is convenient to use such cabinets in the bathroom to store towels, various kinds of soap accessories, and various types of cosmetics. Such cabinets come in various configurations - low, high, pencil cases, wall cabinets. A wall cabinet in the bathroom can be placed above the washing machine, making the most of the space in the room.

Classic wall-mounted bathroom cabinets with lighting and mirrored doors have appeared on the domestic market and are very popular due to their convenience.

If classic cabinets, as a rule, have a standard width of 60 cm, then such a cabinet is usually narrow and hung above the washbasin. Taking hygiene procedures in the morning, you will feel its convenience. Now toothbrushes, razors and other accessories will be at hand, and additional light in a small room is never superfluous.

In such a cabinet, if you place it above the washing machine, you can store washing powder, bleach and fabric softeners, or you can put clean towels there, and they will always be at hand when you are about to take a bath or shower.

Horizontal and vertical options

Horizontal and vertical furniture options for a hygiene room in an apartment or house are also classic. These can be cabinets, in which case they are installed on the floor, and their height is usually standard - 60 cm. A wall cabinet is also classified as horizontal. It usually comes narrower than standard floor options and is less spacious. However, there are also enough options here - such a cabinet can be closed:

with regular hinged doors (options: mirrored or regular);
doors that open like a coupe;
with doors opening upwards.

Other options are an open cabinet-rack, a combined cabinet that contains both open and closed shelves. As mentioned above, lighting is often installed on such cabinets, making it more functional.

Mirror cabinet

Furniture with mirror surfaces is a very convenient option for the bathroom, where literally every centimeter of the floor and walls counts. I want to use the small space of the room as functionally as possible, because it needs to accommodate a bath or shower, washbasin, washing machine, and a basket for laundry intended for washing. It is necessary that all household and hygiene supplies are at hand.

But a woman’s bathroom is a place not only for hygiene procedures, but also for cosmetic ones. Self-care, masks, morning and holiday makeup - a woman cannot live without a mirror. And it’s best - if the mirror is large, full-length - to spin around, refresh yourself, and admire yourself. But if the wall area does not allow you to place such a mirror separately, a cabinet with a mirrored facade will save you. Ideally, a tall pencil case; if it is impossible to install it in a limited space, a wall cabinet with mirrored doors.

The lighting of mirrored wall-mounted bathroom cabinets can be either hidden or external. Modern technologies make it possible to easily create such lighting using, for example, LED strips. You can install lighting on regular bathroom mirror cabinets yourself.

Built-in wardrobes for bathrooms

If your hygiene room has a non-standard shape, in particular, a niche in the wall, you can very conveniently place cabinets in it. Which ones depend on the configuration of the niche and its size. If standard furniture is not suitable for such a niche, then it is possible to make it to order.

This could be a wardrobe with a mirrored door or a set of furniture consisting of a low cabinet in which you can, for example, hide a laundry basket or household supplies. and a wall cabinet for hygiene items or towels. Between them it is possible to place a hanging mirror or open shelves.

The standard height of such cabinets is 60 centimeters, but if you make an individual order, the furniture will be made to your measurements. Place vertical lighting along the edge of the cabinet using an LED strip, and you will get not just a cabinet or a set of furniture, but an original piece of furniture.

In terms of functionality, built-in wardrobes are simply unique. This type of furniture allows you to use the free space of a given room in the most rational way.

Cabinet

As a rule, such cabinets are tall and vertical. Most often - with closed blind or mirror doors. This cabinet is convenient because it can be placed in a small space in the bathroom, for example, between a shower stall and a washing machine, or in a corner. Such furniture takes up little space, but due to its height it is quite spacious.

But small hanging cabinets can also be of a similar shape. 60 cm high, they are ideal for storing various kinds of small items - hygiene items, cosmetics. They are easy to assemble and hang yourself, they do not take up much space, because, as a rule, they have a shallow depth, instead of the standard 60 - there are options of both 30 and 40 centimeters. This makes it possible to place them, for example, above a washing machine or washbasin. Now you will always have all the necessary little things at hand.

Furniture configuration for sanitary facilities

When choosing furniture, I recommend choosing a set of interior items that, firstly, will match each other in style, and secondly, will make it possible to effectively organize the storage of detergents and bath accessories.

The best option is to purchase a set of furniture made in the same style.

There are no universal instructions here, but you can give some tips:

The minimum required set is a cabinet under the sink. It is needed to store various bubbles and disguise the siphon with water connections (if you do not have them built into the walls).
Additionally, you can purchase one or two cabinets. Their design depends entirely on the characteristics of your bathroom. You can purchase wall-mounted, floor-mounted, and corner cabinets. They all cope well with the tasks assigned to them.
The closet must have a place to store dirty linen (basket). In addition, devices (arcs) for drying towels would be useful, especially if the sanitary room is not equipped with a separate dryer.
One or more interior items may be backlit. It is advisable to install lighting fixtures near the mirror to ensure a sufficient level of illumination for performing hygiene procedures.

Option for installation under the sink

To hide all engineering structures such as pipes supplying cold and hot water, hoses for supplying and draining water from the washing machine, they often purchase a cabinet under the sink. This option has a special design because it often does not have a back wall.

But there is an opportunity to make it partially functional. In such a cabinet, depending on the availability of free space, you can put away accessories for wet cleaning - a bucket, rags for the floor, or place a basket in it for laundry intended for washing. If there is space in the bathroom next to the washbasin, you can choose a design with shelves or drawers.

You can purchase wall-hung cabinets for bathtubs, which are intended for installation above a washing machine or under a sink, as well as accessories for them, in absolutely any plumbing stores in your city or in any of the online stores (which, by the way, will much cheaper). The height of such cabinets is usually 60 centimeters.

Advice from interior experts

You only need to purchase special furniture for the bathroom, designed for use in humid air.

And in conclusion, I’ll give you a few more tips that one of my designer friends shared with me:

No need to save. Install only specialized furniture in the bathroom that is designed for use in humid air. Although its price is slightly higher, it is fully compensated by its extended service life and excellent technical characteristics.
You need to choose furniture before starting renovations in the bathroom. This gives you the opportunity to combine interior items and decorative materials used for decoration as organically as possible.
The dimensions of the furniture set must correspond to the area of the bathroom. The smaller the plumbing room, the more compact and elegant the furnishings should be. On the contrary, this rule also works.
Even if you have a very large bathroom in your apartment, you shouldn’t fill it all with furniture. Stick to only functional items that perform a task. It's better to enjoy the space.

About the pros and cons of wall cabinets for the bathroom

The advantages of wall-mounted cabinets that are intended for installation in the bathroom include the following:

Easy to care for. All care for bathroom furniture consists simply of wiping it with cleaning agents specially designed for this purpose;
High level of functionality. Wall cabinets allow you to get additional space in a small room for storing various hygiene and household products, while hiding them from prying eyes;
Significant space savings. Installed on the wall, such cabinets free up space on the floor, thereby reducing the risk of injury to people in confined spaces.

If we talk about the disadvantages of bathroom cabinets, and wall cabinets in particular, then due to the high level of humidity in this room, special attention must be paid to the materials from which they are made.

Design of mechanisms and fastenings

Once you are convinced of the quality of the furniture, you should next pay attention to its mechanisms and fastenings; they must be tightly secured to the furniture.

All doors should open easily and close tightly. Dangling of retractable shelves is unacceptable; over time, this can lead to the detachment of the fasteners.

Also pay attention to holes, notches and cuts. Some manufacturers make them after applying protective layers, which damages the moisture protection.

In the photo there is a girl in the bathroom

Materials for bathroom cabinets

Whatever the external parameters and internal functionality of bathroom furniture, it must be made of high-quality materials. This is required by special room conditions:

high level of humidity;
exposure to steam.

Therefore, for the bathroom you need to choose furniture that:

resistant to temperature changes and the effects of steam and water;
not subject to swelling and delamination;

not subject to mold fungus.

Today you can find bathroom cabinets on sale, which are made from the following materials:

Chipboard and MDF. This is the most common material option for furniture production in general, and for hygiene rooms in particular. Affordable price, wide range of colors - for different types of wood, plain painted. For the bathroom and other rooms with high humidity and other types of environments that are quite aggressive for such materials, you need to choose furniture models that have good moisture resistance, strength, protection from mechanical influences and the influence of steam. Furniture made from MDF and chipboard is often coated with a special varnish or enamel.
Natural wood. Bathroom furniture made of solid wood is suitable for absolutely any interior style of a given room. It is distinguished by a high level of environmental friendliness and is also not afraid of temperature changes. However, the cost of such models is by no means cheap.

Plastic. Wall mounted bathroom cabinets are often made of plastic. At the moment they are considered the cheapest, as well as the most functional. Their main feature is a high level of resistance to moisture. As for their shape, it can be absolutely any, even the most bizarre. The only drawback of furniture and hygiene room items that are made from materials such as plastic is their fragility. For this reason, it is not recommended to overload them too much.
Strained glass. If you choose a glass cabinet, you will be able to significantly expand this room visually. There is no need to be afraid of breaking glass, because only tempered glass is used for furniture; its fragility is minimal, sharp corners, as a rule, are completely absent, which makes such glass light and airy. Such furniture is not afraid of either water or steam, they require a minimum of care, are durable and fit well into any interior in style and color. Some time ago you could find metal bath furniture on sale. However, despite their practicality, not being affected by water and temperature, they are not particularly popular. Most often, metal is used in furniture in combination with other materials. It is only popular in those bathrooms, the design of which is made in a fashionable high-tech style.

Requirements for bathroom furniture

Everyone knows that the bathroom is a specific room in an apartment or private house, which is characterized by high humidity and significant fluctuations in air temperature. In addition, the functionality of this room is clearly indicated - performing hygiene procedures.

Interior items for a sanitary room must meet certain requirements.

Therefore, in my opinion, the interior items that you are going to place in the plumbing room must meet a certain list of requirements. I have prepared a small table in which I cover this issue in more detail.

Requirement	Description
Moisture resistance	All furnishings must be able to withstand use in humid air. Moreover, aggressive external conditions should not have a destructive effect on either the appearance of the furniture or its strength and integrity. If this requirement is not met, cabinets and nightstands may become moldy, crack, become deformed, and even begin to rot.
Special color and texture	The appearance of interior items and the texture of the surface should be such that traces of water drops are as little visible as possible. Modern furniture has matte surfaces and is painted mainly in light colors. This greatly facilitates and speeds up the maintenance of the plumbing facilities.
Quality of coatings and fittings	The furniture used in the bathroom must have reliable and high-quality fittings - handles, door hinges, hooks, and so on. Particularly important is the decorative coating, which protects the metal from corrosion and extends the life of the furniture.
Safety	Bathroom products must have specially treated corners and edges to prevent injury during use. A person may slip on a wet floor and fall, hitting their head on the edge of the countertop. If the latter has a sharp edge, it can lead to dire consequences.

As for the immediate operational properties, I will talk about them in more detail in the next section.

Accessories

The higher the cost of bathroom furniture, the higher quality fittings it will have. It is for this reason that you should not expect to get high quality at a minimal price. In the process of manufacturing wall-mounted bathroom cabinets, the following fittings can be used:

pens;
guide elements;
fasteners;
lifting mechanism;

It is not recommended to purchase bathroom furniture with gold-plated or painted plastic handles. Under the influence of moisture and steam, they will very quickly lose their visual appeal.

It is recommended to give preference to regular or chrome handles. They are the most reliable and also attractive. They are easy to clean, and matte ones get dirty less.

Before purchasing cabinets with doors, be sure to test them by opening and closing them several times. They should move apart and move in easily, without making absolutely any sounds. Check how neatly the drawers are inserted and how easily they move in and out. Are there any gaps or distortions at the doors and drawers?

Choosing bathroom furniture

Modern bathrooms require order, so everything needs to be hidden. Properly selected bathroom furniture will help maintain order. For example, a washbasin should be combined with a long countertop on which you can place bathroom accessories. It’s good to put a closed bathroom cabinet on the side with shelves that will open to the countertop.

The first rule that should be taken into account when arranging a bathroom concerns ergonomics: it is worth checking whether what experts recommend for arranging a bathroom is suitable for the household.

It is assumed, for example, that the upper edge of the washbasin should be at a height of 75–80 cm from the floor. We need to conduct an experiment: let all your loved ones “try on” this height. The same goes for other parameters. Take, for example, the space in front of the sink.

Theoretically, to be comfortable, you should leave 65–110 cm of free space. But a bachelor can remove a few centimeters. A family with children, on the contrary, can add a dozen centimeters; the same goes for older people with limited mobility.

Custom-made bathroom furniture will contain exactly the parameters that users need.

And now the mirror - it must be hung so that the face is reflected in the center of the glass. But what to do when people of different heights use it? It is recommended to use large glass, starting at the level of the sink, and the upper edge should be adjusted to the height of the tallest member of the family.

Main features of assembly and installation of wall cabinets for bathrooms

The installation procedure for wall-mounted bathroom cabinets cannot be called complicated if you have ever held a hammer and drill in your hands. You can't do without them or a screwdriver.

Before drilling holes in the wall and screwing in screws to hang the cabinet, use a building level or a horizontally stretched string to check that the holes for the fastenings are located at the same level, and the distance between them strictly corresponds to the distance between the fastenings or holes located on the back wall of the cabinet . You won’t be able to fit or store anything in a cabinet that hangs crookedly, and you’ll have to make an extra hole in the wall.

During the installation of wall-mounted bathroom cabinets, it is necessary to ensure that the electrical wiring under no circumstances runs in line with the mounting points of the bathroom cabinets.

Furniture that increases space

Since bathroom storage furniture comes in a variety of styles and sizes, consumers can always find something that suits their needs. Narrow wall cabinets, ideal for jars and bottles, allow you to use the most inconvenient corners. A tall cabinet or rack will provide a lot of space, while taking up very little floor space. With bathroom furniture you make the most of your space. And, of course, manufacturers offer not only furniture, but also baskets and containers for organizing the internal volume of cabinets.

Care

Regardless of the materials your bathroom furniture is made from, if you want it to last as long as possible, you need to take care of it. It is better to remove traces of moisture immediately after they appear. Particular attention should be paid to the fittings.

It can be wiped using various types of special cleaning products, as well as a dry cloth. Then the chrome parts will sparkle, pleasing to the eye. For mirrors, you can use special glass cleaners. Mirrors are also susceptible to moisture and steam, so try to keep them dry at all times.

Durable and moisture resistant

Apart from bathroom furniture design, there are a number of other important things to consider. So, for furniture to last a long time, it must be made of materials that are resistant to temperature changes and the accumulation of water vapor in the bathroom, that is, it must be moisture resistant. It is worth asking the seller about this before purchasing, because cheaper collections do not always meet this requirement.

The weak point of furniture is also the gluing of edges to its edges. You need to make sure they are done carefully. Manufacturers fix high-quality cabinets with polyurethane varnish, and their backs are installed so that they do not touch the wall against which they will be installed. Then the steam condensing on it does not cause mold to form on the “backs” of the furniture.

Also, before choosing bathroom furniture, you should check whether the hinges, handles and guides work correctly and whether they are made of materials that are not susceptible to corrosion.

Furniture can be veneered, that is, covered with fragments of natural wood. The most commonly used wood is beech, ash, walnut and pine. Such furniture can have a variety of finishes, from glossy to matte. Veneered furniture must be protected with a special varnish.

Laminated board is extremely resistant to high temperatures and damage. However, it is worth remembering that it can delaminate under the influence of water.

Acrylic furniture has a high gloss. It is abrasion resistant and extremely easy to care for.

Furnishings

Everyone sets the rules for choosing suitable furniture and creating an interior for themselves. There are many different styles of room design and it’s simply impossible to cover everything, so let’s look at just a few as an example:

Classic style

The concept is very broad and includes several “substyles”. General: one or two primary colors (most often pastel) when decorating, color accents are transferred to accessories. For example, a snow-white bathroom, sink, furniture, light purple or light emerald walls, yellow accessories. It is possible to use stone in furniture. Classic style is good everywhere, but is especially preferable in small bathrooms.

Modern style bathroom

Modern style features a lot of chrome and glass, so choose cabinets and accessories to match. Natural tiles on the floor and walls will give the room more order and harmony. It is necessary to avoid rounded shapes; rectangles and squares are modern figures. The strong contrast in the color scheme is also good.

Provincial style

Comfortable and convenient, the main finishing material is wood. Wooden panels on the walls can be painted with textured paint with a cracked surface effect. The sink should be on a stand, and don't forget about the foot bath.

Ethnic style

The emphasis is on finishing materials: wood and stone, the processing of which maximizes their natural texture. Rich browns and grays. It is clear that an ethnic “Japanese” bath will be fundamentally different from an ethnic “Indian” one.

Spa style

Cool tones and smooth finish. Predominantly used: limestone, marble, glass, chrome or steel. The color scheme is dominated by aquatic colors: shades of blue and green.

"Brutal" style

Massive furniture, angular shapes and materials with a durable texture, such as stone. Colors – white, black, grey. Everything is very simple, no frills.

Accessories and decorations

There are no limits to perfection here: contrasting, monochromatic, combined in shape or theme - whatever you like.

Why not create a sea corner in a white and blue bathroom? Seashells, pebbles, starfish and other beauties brought from vacation will be of great use. You can put them on shelves, on the side of the bathroom, decorate a frame for a mirror, a cup for toothbrushes with small shells, or create some other craft...

Hanging from the ceiling, fish made of glass or clay will both please the eye and, if you remember the rules of Feng Shui, increase the positive energy of qi. An anchor or a steering wheel painted with acrylic paint on the door, a pair of striped vest-like towels, shell soap dishes, a rug on the floor, a curtain in the appropriate style - and a seaside corner in your home is ready. You can apply a thematic design on both tiles and panels. The main thing is to choose the right paint. You can come up with a lot of items for decorating a bathroom: a bath broom on the wall, a wooden bowl on the floor that would perfectly fit shampoos, sponges or a headrest, figured soap, bouquets of dried flowers, clay floor vases, scented candles, an aroma lamp. If the bathroom has a window, then It’s quite possible to decorate the room with flowers (moisture- and shade-loving). If not, you will have to do without “green friends”. Mosaics with a variety of images from small pieces of colored tiles, which are glued to chipboard, hardboard, wood and hung on the wall like a painting, decals... It’s not worth talking about towels - soft, fluffy, all kinds of bowls for soap, cups for toothbrushes .

Signs of quality

The standard set of bathroom furniture includes: a washbasin-cabinet, a wall cabinet (most often with a mirror), or a “moidodyr” that replaces them, a pencil case. If there is no longer enough space for a closet, then shelves and hangers of a wide variety of configurations are at your service.

Furniture for small bathrooms is assembled using modules of various sizes, from which you can always choose the ones that suit you.

A bathroom is simply impossible without a mirror. There are special, albeit quite expensive, “anti-sweat” mirrors: you don’t need to wipe anything when getting out of the shower. A mirror, among other things, has one useful property - it increases space. So it won’t hurt to hang a large, full-length mirror next to the bathroom; besides, the owners of the house will always have to be on their toes. A few words about “moidodyrs”. They come with bases (installed directly on the floor - simple, but there is a risk of moisture accumulation under them), on legs (also simple) and with suspension (installation is more complex, but there are no problems with cleaning). The most affordable in price and ability to fit into the environment are models made of polyurethane, which is particularly moisture resistant and superior in this regard even to plastic, with glass and mirror doors, plastic inserts, and wood and metal trim.

In second place are the countertops: a disk (made of marble, MDF, glass) with a hole cut for the sink. More expensive and stylish furniture models that require careful consideration of the interior: made of wood, with stone or metal trim. Modern processing allows such furniture to “hold its face” even in conditions of high humidity. It is difficult to advise anything - there is too much choice. It is worth paying attention to the number of open shelves. The fewer there are, the better - you don’t have to constantly clean up the mess. Replacing a regular bathtub with a sit-down, corner or shower stall will significantly save space in the bathroom. Before purchasing a bathroom set you like, you need to check it for strength and quality. First of all, you need to see how smooth the paint is and whether there are any smudges. And also pay attention to the fittings.

A good sign is the hinges, handles, and legs made of chromed metal.

Conclusion: If one of the listed rules is not met, then the furniture in front of you is not of the best quality and you need to discard it. Plastic handles with chrome or gold plated on bathroom furniture will lose their appearance after a few months of use. If everything is in order with the fittings, then you can carry out further inspection.

The next stage is the sink.

As a rule, reputable companies equip cabinets with Western-made sinks, because... domestic analogues are not yet up to par. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, you need to carefully look at the sink in the light: there are no dents or chips on it. If no chips are detected by eye, then to be more sure, you need to check the sink by ear. If you hear a pleasant ringing sound, you can buy the model you like. But a dull sound is a sign of internal cracks and it is better to abandon this sink.