How to organize your bathroom space
It all depends on the size of the room and the tastes of the owners. Often you need a linen closet in the bathroom, since it is important that everything is at hand: towels, terry robes, underwear. This bathroom can easily accommodate a washing machine and clothes dryer. Of course, this is a spacious room, since it fits so many things.
If the bathroom is small, it is better to choose a small closet for things and necessary bathing accessories and store only the most necessary things in it.
Competent design project: everything is in place
Yes, it happens that the bathroom has dimensions commensurate with the area of the living room or kitchen. But you must admit, such a layout is rare, and in apartment buildings it is only possible as a result of a radical redevelopment, for which you still need to obtain permission, and this is a separate topic.
How can you make sure that a small bathroom does not cause a feeling of negligence, but only gives rise to bright thoughts? Yes, of course, a competent design project is important. And due attention is always paid to furniture, and the bathroom is no exception.
Unique bathroom furniture
The difference between this room is that there is always high humidity in the bathroom. Even if the owners constantly ventilate it, and the room itself has excellent ventilation, moisture accumulates on the surfaces after each water treatment. Therefore, it is very important to carefully choose a cabinet for the bathroom and it is advisable to make it to order.
Another rule is that the product should be easy to clean from dirt and not absorb moisture. Such qualities directly affect the durability and wear resistance of the cabinet.
Types of structures and selection of materials
High humidity in the bathroom, temperature changes, the need to meet hygienic standards - all this places special demands on the accessories and fixtures that will be installed there. Modern bathroom cabinets fully meet these criteria.
They can have different designs:
- open - without doors or with separately mounted shelves;
- closed - equipped with reliable doors, curtains or hermetically sealed drawers;
- combined - with the joint use of closed and open cells.
To make cabinets original, manufacturers provide a wide variety of door designs. They can be of standard geometric shapes, broken, folding or sliding.
Several solutions are also used for access - from the front side or from the end. At the same time, the mounting method itself gives a wide range of choices:
- mounted;
- built-in;
- with separate installation;
- with installation of plumbing equipment and fixtures in the structure.
Standards and Configurations
All cabinets are divided into standard products and made to order. An ordinary bathroom cabinet is 60 cm, or 40 cm or 80 cm. This one fits everything needed for use in this room.
Often toilet paper, towels, shaving accessories, and products for home cosmetic procedures are stored in plastic boxes on closet shelves.
What can it store?
Thanks to its considerable spaciousness, a wardrobe in a bathroom can hide household appliances. Behind the doors there may be: a water heater or boiler, a washing machine and a dryer. It is important to install a power supply line for each device in advance, install sockets with covers, residual current devices, and provide access to water supply and drainage communications.
Household appliances are securely fastened, and there should be gaps between the sides of the furniture and the body for free air circulation.
The rest of the cabinet space is filled with shelves, drawers, baskets, hooks, rods, and holders. A variety of functionality is used to accommodate:
- cosmetics;
- household chemicals;
- towels;
- underwear;
- dressing gowns;
- bath accessories.
Wall cabinets
A wall cabinet in a bathroom is one of the most common pieces of furniture for this room. Attached to the wall. It is important to hang the product on a load-bearing wall and mount it as firmly as possible.
There are vertical models - elongated in length; horizontal wall cabinets - wider - are also available for sale. The choice depends on the size of the room and the preferences of the owners, as well as the location of the product.
It is better to combine a wall-mounted structure with a floor-standing bedside table made in the same style, or hang the cabinet above the sink. For a large bathroom, experts advise purchasing several wall cabinets and shelves made in a single design solution.
Cabinet care
The service life of the cabinet can be extended only with proper use and timely maintenance. No matter how moisture-resistant the material is, it is still not suitable for prolonged contact with water.
An additional measure of insulation of the cabinet and the water source is screens, curtains and partitions. Chrome fittings should be wiped with a soft cloth that does not leave scratches or marks. Denatured alcohol or glass cleaner can help clean up the mirror.
To save space
For this purpose, corner cabinets in the bathroom come in handy. If the room is spacious, it is worth purchasing a couple of designs. One such cabinet will fit perfectly in a small bathroom. Both wall-mounted and floor-mounted corner storage products are convenient to use.
The pencil case looks very nice. You can make a set of wall-mounted and floor-mounted structures, then the furniture in the bathroom interior will look more monolithic and harmonious. It is convenient to place a wall cabinet above a corner sink.
Material
To make bathroom furniture, we use material that is resistant to moisture and high temperatures.
- Chipboard with laminated or plastic coating. Not the most reliable, but not a bad option either. An additional layer protects the material from water and dirt, extending its service life.
- MDF is more reliable than chipboard.
- Plastic. Inexpensive and completely moisture-resistant material. But plastic products are easily susceptible to mechanical damage.
- Steel. It is used for individual elements, and not for the entire structure, but there are exceptions. Products made from it are the most expensive.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
Furniture made from DPS is not suitable for the bathroom: this material is not resistant to moisture, so the cabinet will quickly swell and lose its original characteristics.
Bench cabinets that are installed in front of the bathroom bowl
If the interior style of this room is Provence or romantic, it makes sense to decorate it with a small bench, which will also become an indispensable storage place for everything necessary for taking water procedures.
This product perfectly combines comfort and functionality. It is appropriate to equip such a cabinet with lighting, which will make the bathroom truly unique.
Specifics of the retractable system
A retractable wardrobe in a bathroom also has a second name - cargo. It is a structure that moves on specialized rails. Unlike ordinary boxes, you can see all the contents at once. The operating mechanism is durable, quiet and smooth.
The structure consists of:
- baskets with side sides;
- guides;
- facade.
The fittings must be of very high quality, then the system will be used for a long time without interruption.
Models can be very different in height and contain several tiers. The retractable cabinet that reaches to the ceiling is particularly spacious. It will make it possible to organize a storage system for all the necessary things. However, if you are the owner of an apartment with large ceilings, then you can order a model of optimal sizes.
The drawers are additionally equipped with closers and devices for smooth closing.
The baskets are fixed to the side rack or bottom. The choice is determined by their sizes. Side fixing is used for narrow cabinets with a front width of up to 300 mm. In other options, the lower fastening option is used. It has high reliability. This happens thanks to a pair of stabilizing rollers.
There is an option in which the part is pulled out after lightly pressing the facade.
Moisture-resistant chipboard type
The option is budget-friendly and quite good due to the large assortment of colors and sizes. Chipboard cabinets, which manufacturers make specifically for bathrooms, are coated with a melamine-based water-repellent solution. The joints of the surfaces are covered with tapes so that moisture does not get inside through the edges and the material does not swell.
Requirements for bathroom cabinets
All products, regardless of their size, design and materials of manufacture, must meet several criteria:
Moisture resistance. The bathroom is a place where the microclimate changes frequently. Furniture comes into contact with drops of water and steam.
Therefore, its surface must be reliably protected with polymer coatings that are not afraid of such exposure. The best option in terms of price-quality ratio is facades made of chipboard, MDF or plastic.
Tightness. To prevent dampness and moisture from penetrating inside and spoiling the contents of the cabinet, the doors must close without gaps, as tightly and securely as possible.
Anti-corrosion properties of metal elements. Fittings, including handles, hinges, and opening mechanisms, must resist oxidation and rust.
Capacity and practicality of cabinets. Due to the small area of the room, the organization of storage of things must meet the requirements of compactness, accessibility and convenience.
Aesthetics. The design of the cabinets should follow the style of the bathroom. The color palette is dominated by calm pastel colors - white, cream, pale blue or soft green. They go well with plumbing fixtures.
But you can play with contrast by installing bright red and orange products. The facade is decorated with photo printing, milling or spraying.
Cabinet made of glass or with glass inserts
A very practical and winning option for the bathroom. A cabinet made of darkened glass looks great. But the most interesting are the structures made entirely of this material. Such a product becomes a stylish piece of furniture, an exquisite decorative element, which also accommodates the necessary accessories.
Glass is highly resistant to moisture, but it requires special care. To prevent stains and stains from remaining on the surface, it must be treated with special solutions for glass and washed very carefully so as not to scratch it.
MDF
A more expensive analogue of chipboard, it is covered with a special substance or film to protect it from moisture.
It will last much longer than chipboard if no chips are formed during installation where moisture can get in. Good value for money.
Mirror of the soul and soul
A mirrored cabinet in a bathroom is a truly designer solution. A variety of models, including mounted ones, are convenient and very practical. The cabinet replaces or complements existing mirrors, which is very useful for a small bathroom.
Some designs are equipped only with mirror doors, which is also functional because it eliminates the need to purchase a large mirror.
Closed, open and combined cabinets
A closed cabinet completely hides the contents behind the door. This will save the items located there from moisture if the doors are sealed. Plus, in general, visually everything will look neat and not cluttered.
Open cabinets are often used as decorative space and are great for spacious bathrooms.
Combined ones are convenient because you can arrange items conveniently, according to the frequency of their use, for example.
Metal bathroom cabinet
This product is appropriate in any interior. Looks especially great in modern, loft, hi-tech, and classic styles. It is important that the cabinet is made of stainless steel, or its structure is coated with a water-repellent composition. To make the product lighter, manufacturers combine it with plastic inserts. And it often looks very attractive and not so cumbersome.
Colors and shapes
Classic colors of bathroom furniture are white and blue. But modern designers offer many other options. You can find a wall cabinet with a mirror for any interior.
Models in dark tones and metallic colors are suitable for a high-tech bathroom, gray and beige for a minimalist interior, and bright, muted ones for country and Provence. If the main part of the cabinet is occupied by a mirror, you can choose a model with side walls to match the decoration of the room or other furniture.
Most products are dominated by strict geometric shapes, but there are also options with round or oval mirrors and rounded shelves.
Plastic
Perhaps the most practical and durable material from which bathroom cabinets are made. The plastic is lightweight, not susceptible to moisture, easy to clean, and very suitable for hanging structures.
However, this type of product is very fragile and can easily be deformed or scratched. In addition, it is better not to store many large bottles of shampoo or shower gels in such a cabinet. It won't support much weight.
But a few towels, shaving accessories, a couple of jars of cream, that’s enough. Plastic is afraid of sunlight. But almost no direct rays enter the bathroom of an apartment or house, so there is no need to worry in this case.
Rules of operation and care
The service life of the product depends on compliance with the rules of operation and maintenance.
The condition of the furniture in general and the operation of the sliding mechanism will be positively affected by the presence of forced ventilation. In its absence, you will have to regularly ventilate the room and closet.
The movement of the door leaves should be smooth, without jerking. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the lower guide and rollers, clean and replace damaged parts in a timely manner. The main problem is dust, hair, and pet fur. What is wound around the wheels is cut off, and then the debris is removed with a vacuum cleaner.
The lower positioner also suffers from dirt and needs to be cleaned every 3-5 months. If you do not do this, the door will stop springing, begin to jump and make a rumble.
Schlegel is wiped with a damp cloth. If it peels off, remove the residue from the surface of the profile with alcohol, and then glue the sealant with a suitable composition.
During cleaning, it is allowed to use products that do not contain aggressive components and abrasives. To remove drops of moisture and condensation from the surfaces of cabinets and metal profiles, a soft cloth made of flannel, cotton fabric or microfiber is best suited.
Wooden designs for the bathroom
It is worth choosing cabinets made of durable types of wood. They are more expensive, but more wear-resistant. Manufacturers treat such models with special agents for better water repellency.
It is only important to remember that wooden cabinets are more appropriate in large bathrooms, as well as in classic, loft, and Provence styles.
Examples of successful bathroom design
In order to choose the right furniture and understand in advance whether a particular model is suitable for the layout, it is recommended to look at photographs of suitable options in the assembly.
Basic recommendations for selection
First, you need to decide on the size of the product, as well as its shape and type of construction (floor-mounted, wall-mounted, corner, pencil case, etc.). Next, it is important to think about the material from which it is made, as well as how to secure it. Outline the installation location of the product and check all the practical aspects: what will be stored in it, how to arrange it so as not to constantly bang your head against the corner of the cabinet.
It is advisable to purchase a product that comes with a warranty. The style and color of the model must match the overall design of the bathroom.
Which option should I choose?
Bathroom furniture can decorate any room. But the choice for small rooms is somewhat limited. It is necessary to choose those options that best suit both the overall design and the availability of free space.
Choosing the best option for spacious bathrooms is not difficult - there are many types of cabinets, both in design and in the method of fastening and placement.
How not to overpay
Often, the buyer can choose from quite expensive models of bathroom cabinets, positioned as exclusive. But in reality it turns out that this is just a marketing ploy.
The product is made of low-quality materials, it just looks very expensive and beautiful. Therefore, you need to carefully check the materials from which the cabinets are made and check whether there is water-repellent impregnation. On site in the store, check the integrity of the structure, the operation of opening parts, and the reliability of fittings.
Manufacturers and prices
There are a large number of companies engaged in the production of specialized cabinets for bathrooms, so it is difficult for the buyer to quickly make a choice and navigate the price. The cost of furniture largely depends on the popularity of the company and the country of production.
Products from the following brands are available on the modern market:
- domestic TMs – Onika, Bricklayer, Santa, Aquaton, Aquarius A+ and Bellezza;
- foreign brands - Roca, Edelform, Vicenza, Ferrara and Dreja.
For example, bathroom cabinets TM Aquaton, depending on needs and personal preferences, can be purchased in the price range of 7,500-10,000 rubles.
Roca furniture products are more expensive - from 10,500 to 11,000 rubles. They also pay attention to budget models from VELVEX, the price of which varies from 4,400 rubles. If necessary, you can buy a pencil case of better quality and configuration for 15,000 rubles.
Photos of bathroom cabinets
Features and design of retractable systems
The cargo system is distinguished by the fact that when opened, the entire contents of the section are pulled out. This is facilitated by telescopic guides. The mechanism is complemented by closers and shock absorbers. When the facade width is 20-25 cm, side fastenings are used, which are easier to install and adjust. If the cabinet has larger dimensions, a roller carriage is installed in the lower part. This option is designed for heavy loads, but is more expensive.
The interior space consists of several tiers with high sides. The shelves are securely fastened between the back panel and the front.
The module can be removed completely or partially. The first option guarantees a good overview and full access to the content, but is more expensive in financial terms.
