Built-in wardrobe in the bathroom

The small size of bathrooms is increasingly forcing owners to pay attention to built-in furniture models. Their very high capacity makes them a desirable object in small areas.

Built-in wardrobe in the bathroom - features and advantages

Using a built-in cabinet in the bathroom can solve a number of related problems:

Capable of holding many things at once. Increased capacity is the main advantage of this type of furniture;
Takes up less space. This is very important when planning in small areas;
Maintaining order will become much easier. Rid yourself of clutter and mountains of bottles and vials;
Bright personality. Only a project taking into account all personal needs. You can choose everything yourself. From basic material to decor.

There are of course also disadvantages. Such furniture is distinguished by strict reference to the installation site. Moving it to another place or transporting it becomes an irrational activity that wastes a lot of money. But in its rightful place, you can hide literally everything from towels and other textiles, to cosmetics or a washing machine behind the doors.

Floor model

A floor-standing bathroom cabinet is being purchased for a spacious room. The model is spacious and easy to assemble. But it is very important to carefully consider and calculate the free space for it before installing it.

The base cabinet looks great freestanding or next to the sink.

A floor-standing cabinet-column is installed in a small room. This is a narrow model from floor to ceiling.
A cabinet with legs is mounted under the sink. It is used for storing things and hiding communication pipes. A woman stores her cosmetics on a cabinet like a cabinet.
A cabinet with drawers at the bottom, similar to a cabinet under the sink, is installed under the bathtub.

What to consider when choosing a cabinet for your bathroom

Before you start designing a built-in cabinet in your bathroom, think about several mandatory criteria:

High humidity levels. All materials from which the cabinet will be made must be resistant to water. If the material itself is afraid of water, then you will have to take care of its additional water-repellent protection. Otherwise, the furniture will last unreasonably little;
Regular temperature fluctuations. Cool air is constantly replaced by hot steam and heating. Small dimensions make this especially noticeable and tangible. Make sure that your closet is “indifferent” to this. This can again be achieved by selecting neutral materials;
Ventilation. This is a must for all rooms with high levels of condensation. Regular ventilation will save you from problems with water settling on walls, furniture and damage to paintwork.

Posting rules

The main conditions for placing a wall cabinet are:

The height of its lower edge is at chest level. An exception is made for vertical samples. Shifting the body up or down makes it difficult to operate the cabinet;
Leave room for open sashes. An area that is too narrow will block the doors;
Mirror and glass options are hung away from the bathtub. You will be tortured to wipe off splashes and drips.

Installation of built-in wardrobes, installation options

The single most noticeable design difference between the built-in options is the complete absence of an individual frame. Instead of standard sidewalls and other things, niche walls will protrude. An exception is made for semi-built-in variations. They have one sidebar. The internal content is compiled according to all the usual rules of the same elements. Installation methods include:

Along the wall. This is the simplest approach;
In a niche. You will need careful measurements and preparation of all surfaces. As a result, there should be no distortions left. If they are insignificant and you are too lazy to screed or level with plasterboard because of such a trifle, then use false strips. With their help, you can get rid of differences in level within 3 cm;
Angular. It will not only save space, but also benefit the usually empty area. Looks quite original in the interior.

How to choose the front of a built-in cabinet in the bathroom - materials, designs, decor

A properly selected façade plays an important role in the design of a hidden cabinet in the bathroom. It can be of several types:

"Deaf". The best option for difficult bathroom conditions. The canvas is a solid piece of one material with given dimensions. The absence of joints reduces the risk of moisture penetration into the material;
Frame. Another reliable method is to “pack” not the most suitable particle boards. The entire perimeter of the door is edged with a stable profile made of PVC or aluminum. It will last a long time. Original appearance, reminiscent of a photo frame;
Slotted. A slot of the desired shape is made in the desired part of the door. Next, a mirror, porcelain or other decorative elements are cut into it;
Composite. For the bathroom, options made of glass, polymers or mirrors are suitable. They are cut into pieces of the required shapes and joined into a single sheet using thin fixing profiles. This approach provides the sash structure with the required rigidity. Original appearance. Good strength indicators.

The following materials are suitable as the main material for the facade:

Lacquered boards (LMDF, laminated chipboard). Despite the fact that these types of wood boards are more resistant to moisture, they will require additional protection;
Plastic. Good durable material that does not react to water and heat. It looks a little monotonous, but this can be compensated for by the richness of the color. Do not clean with abrasives. The surface will quickly become covered with a network of small scratches. Do not overload plastic shelves with heavy objects;
Glass. You need to choose products made from thick fireproof glass plates with impact protection (special film). In this case, you will not face the risk of breaking the sash. Also note that you cannot place more than 5 kg on a glass shelf. If the rules are followed, the furniture will serve faithfully for a very long time;
Synthetic glass substitutes. This is the well-known hardboard or more modern volumetric acrylic. Good appearance, resistance to water and household chemicals, durability. Not prone to breaking;
Metal. Only options that are not prone to the formation of corrosive processes are suitable. Choose options using stainless or chrome steel or aluminum. They are distinguished by good service life, durability, and reliability. All of them interact very weakly with moisture. Indifferent to heat.

Decorations for the facade in the bathroom should have an additional protective function and not be afraid of moisture. The following are good for this purpose:

Painting or varnishing. The most accessible and inexpensive way to give your closet an updated look. Apply products in several layers. The result should be a completely smooth and shiny surface. Select only samples of enamels that are resistant to temperature changes;
Airbrush. Perhaps the only way to add a pattern to the bathroom. It is done with automotive paints using a special tool. Hire a professional. You need to know how to handle such equipment. And you will have to draw without stencils;
Fusing. A rather young type of decor using glass. Multi-colored pieces are placed in a panel, which is fused into a single layer under high temperature. Next, this artistic “casserole” is transferred to adhesive film. The last step is to attach the masterpiece to the door. It will last a long time. Will create a unique flavor in the design;
Decorative glass. Not everyone likes the fact that the contents of the shelves are visible through the glass slats of the facade. If you fall into this category, then use frosted glass. If you also don’t like slight roughness, then take a closer look at the milk option. It is etched with acids until it completely or partially loses its ability to transmit light. But, at the same time, the natural gloss is preserved. The glass can also be painted on the inside. The color can be any. Each of the listed types will fully retain all the properties of the material.

Additional equipment

Despite the fact that you can choose any type of lamp, the most natural one is still recommended for illumination. Halogen gives a bluish light, LEDs are bright white. The best option is LED strip or low-power fluorescent lamps.

When installing lamps and sockets, consider the following requirements:

Each system must have a separate inlet. Do not mix sockets, lighting and household appliances in one pile. The fewer fasteners there are between the wires, the safer the wiring will be;
It is recommended to install an RCD. This is a device that will de-energize any device when there is a current leak;
Even when installing low-power LEDs, grounding is required. Treat yourself and lighting fixtures with care;
Throw away junction boxes. Only high-quality sealed terminals and good insulation.

Door opening mechanisms

Pay attention to the features of the door opening system:

Swing. Movable furniture hinges serve as fasteners. The doors can be opened by pulling them towards you. When plowed open, they take up a large amount of free space. So organize an approach in front of the closet. If you avoid extreme loads on the hinges, the doors will last a long time without any problems. If noise occurs, the fasteners must either be replaced or lubricated;
Sliding. The compartment system is the best option when access to the closet is difficult. Open by sliding to the side. In this case, the doors overlap the neighboring ones. Low noise level. They are afraid of distortions and collisions with foreign objects. When selecting rollers, make sure that the carriages are made of water-resistant materials. Then you won’t have to change them often;
Foldable. The doors can be attached to each other in pairs (book) or as a single sheet (accordion). In the first case, the doors move from both edges to the center. In the second - sideways movement. You have to be very careful. Avoid sudden jerks. This method involves installing only the upper rollers, and the loops are significantly smaller than those of swing rollers.

Hanging structures

They mean objects that are mounted on the wall. A wall cabinet is a smart choice for small bathrooms, because the space on the floor remains free for placing other utensils. At the same time, the room does not look cluttered.

Manufacturers offer a huge range of sizes and various ways of finishing cabinets. Closed, open and combined designs are available for sale.

The first type assumes the presence of two hinged or one hinged sash. Open cabinets are used for decorative purposes; vases, ceramic figurines and cute trinkets are placed on their shelves.

Combined models are most widespread. Hygiene products and replacement towels are placed inside, and shelves are used for arranging cosmetics.

Internal filling - what can be placed inside a built-in wardrobe in a bathroom

When organizing the filling, keep in mind that the smaller the shelf, the more weight it can withstand. If a 50 cm shelf can support 50 kg, then a meter shelf can only hold 10. And although you don’t need to store very heavy objects in the bathroom, large shelves reduce capacity. Also consider a few subtleties of placing things:

Place textiles in the center of the closet. Steam always rises, creating a high degree of humidity there. After cooling, the water moves down, settling as condensation. Only in the middle between these two zones are clothes and towels least likely to become damp;
Place cleaning and detergents at the bottom. This way they won’t get on other things if the bottle is damaged. Also at the bottom is the coldest temperature;
Place things you rarely use at the top;
Care products, fragrant oils and other cosmetics can be placed in any accessible convenient place.

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.

Features of operation and rules for caring for bathroom cabinets

When installing a built-in wardrobe in a bathtub, learn to take care of it in advance. This way you can significantly extend his life:

Take care to remove the niche from all sources of splashes. This way you will reduce the risk of shelves swelling and heaving. The risk of destruction of the niche lining (most often plasterboard) is also reduced;
Do not use abrasives for cleaning. Even coating materials that are resistant to them will lose their appearance. The rest will simply stop performing their functions, starting to let moisture in;
Protect all cuts well with edging or multi-layer varnish. If there is noticeable damage, do not hesitate to make cosmetic repairs;
All elements of movable fasteners (holders, brackets, hinges) experience heavy regular loads. Do not weigh down the doors with unnecessary decorations. Let good things happen in moderation. If rust is found on the fasteners, clean with lubricant. In case of severe damage, it is better to install new ones;
Provide ventilation. This will reduce the risk of mold or damp smell.

Photo of built-in cabinets in the bathroom

Built-in furniture is rightfully considered one of the best options for rooms with small dimensions. A competent approach to planning and selection of suitable materials will provide you with convenient and functional storage of everything you need at hand.

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.