What material to choose a cabinet from?
When choosing a cabinet made of chipboard, an important indicator of the quality of the material is the degree of formaldehyde emission (the content of harmful substances in the board). According to the degree of their content, chipboards are divided into classes:
- E0 - lowest content
- E1 - average content
- E2 - high content
In the Russian Federation, the use of E2 class chipboard in household furniture according to GOST 6371-93 is not allowed
Important! Formaldehyde is volatile and its odor can be felt, so you should not purchase furniture products with a smell.
When choosing, inspect the edge
The edge not only gives an aesthetic appearance to the product, but also prevents the spread of formaldehyde. That is why all ends of the slab must be closed, regardless of the class of chipboard used.
Edge types:
- PVC (PVC) - perfectly protects from moisture and is resistant to mechanical stress.
- Melamine is more difficult to use. Conscientious manufacturers allow its use only on invisible ends of the product.
Edge thickness ranges from 0.4 to 2 mm, depending on the brand and manufacturer. The optimal option is a thickness of 1 mm; the edge of such an edge is not very noticeable and remains practical. It is not recommended to use smaller thicknesses at visible ends.
The appearance of PVC edges is of good quality. Smart choice.
Important! Regardless of where the cabinet will be located, all elements of the product must be covered with an edge on all sides of the slab.
The board can be covered with laminate, veneer, acrylic film or plastic, glossy or matte varnish. Laminate and veneer should not peel off from the slab. Evaluate the quality of their fit at the corners and make sure that there are no bubbles on the surface.
The slab covering must fit tightly to the base of any shape.
Ready-made cabinet or custom-made?
The most popular is the manufacture of custom-made furniture. This is the best option, since when making custom-made furniture, all taste preferences and some individual wishes will be taken into account, and such furniture will definitely fit perfectly into the interior. The disadvantage of custom-made furniture is the long production time.
The simplest solution is to buy furniture in a store. There are now a lot of stores on the market where you can buy a wardrobe. The most popular are IKEA cabinets.
Sidewalls give the cabinet strength
When choosing a wardrobe for your bedroom, pay attention to the sides. They ensure the strength of the entire cabinet. Everything is simple here: thickness 16 mm is bad, 18 mm is good, 25 mm is excellent. In addition, European fashion now gravitates towards greater thicknesses. The structure of the chipboard also affects the strength of the material. There should be three layers. The outer two are made of small chips and the inner one is made of large chips. The outer layers are denser. Their task is to cope with mechanical stress. The inner layer is looser. It is needed to hold the fittings. Everything said about the material of the sidewalls applies to any element made of chipboard: a shelf, partition or facade.
The sides of the wardrobe ensure the strength of the entire product, so when choosing a wardrobe for the bedroom you should pay attention to the thickness and structure of the chipboard:
- 16mm is an economical option with low strength.
- 18mm - medium strength.
- 25mm - high strength, the best option.
The optimal option for strength is chipboard consisting of three layers. The outer layers of fine chips are denser and protect against mechanical stress. The inner layer of coarse shavings is looser and holds the fittings well.
We choose high-quality chipboard: a middle layer of large chips, side layers of small chips.
Legs with height adjustment are useful for rooms with uneven floors; they are attached to the lower end of the sidewall.
Note! Modern fittings should not have technological holes and fastening elements on the outside that spoil the appearance of the product. Take a closer look at these “little things” and you will understand the quality of the fittings used.
High-quality, modern fittings should not be visible from the outside.
Rear walls: pay attention to unnoticeable things
Types of rear walls according to materials and method of fastening:
Fiberboard nailed or screwed is a cheap option. Over time, the back wall may come away. To eliminate the defect, you will have to move the cabinet.
Fiberboard inserted into the groove. The back wall does not fall out. The manufacturer installs stiffening ribs in the space behind the wall, which give additional strength to the cabinet.
Chipboard is the strongest, most reliable and expensive option.
If the back walls consist of two parts, then they are often held together with a plastic profile, and often not in the color of the back wall. There is a connection with reinforced tape on the back side. It sounds unreliable, but in fact this method is better. The tape holds the parts of the wall together well and is not visible. When choosing any furniture, remember, the fewer fastening elements you see, the better.
Layout in the living room
After choosing the type of cabinet, you need to decide where it will be located. There are some rules that should be followed so as not to spoil the design of the room:
- A large closet should become the center of the living room, with other items distributed in relation to it. Here you should maintain symmetry to make the room seem spacious.
- If the model is round with original decor, then it can be installed in the center of the living room.
- With a massive version up to the ceiling, the emphasis is on low furniture, but in a beautiful design. This will prevent an overload effect.
- Choose the sofa upholstery or small pillows with a cover to match the color of the cabinet.
Select a wardrobe based on its internal contents
The main function of the closet is to store clothes. At the same time, clothes should not wrinkle; any item should be easily removed and returned to its place. There are two groups of filling wardrobes:
- Shelves and partitions made of chipboard.
- Metal baskets, rods and holders.
Shelves
The shelves in the closet differ in thickness and method of fastening. It is placed on shelf holders or pulled together with fittings from the side, becoming a stiffening rib for the cabinet.
The shelves give the cabinet additional strength by fastening the sides together.
Inner drawers
Internal drawers are used to organize space inside the cabinet. It is important to pay attention to the presence of a soft closing function.
The inner block of drawers is a chest of drawers hidden behind the front of the cabinet.
More about filling
In addition to the usual hanger bars, you can install elevators (pantographs), baskets for shoes and linen, tie holders and trouser holders. When choosing these options, pay attention to the quality of materials and their processing, the strength of the connections, the smoothness and evenness of the moving parts.
To prevent things from getting wrinkled, use specialized internal filling.
Wardrobe lighting
Modern LED cabinet lighting is beautiful and convenient. Interior lighting of the cabinet can be done using overhead lamps or recessed into a shelf or side panel. There are interesting technical solutions where the light turns on automatically when the facades of the product are opened.
When choosing, you can visually evaluate the appearance of the lamps and the quality of installation, and check their functionality.
LED lighting built into the shelf is a good choice.
Made to order
Recently, many companies have appeared that produce custom-made furniture. This is a useful service that allows you to use your imagination and buy exactly what you need. True, you will have to pay well for this. The company’s employees will take into account the features of the room, make the required number of shelves, and select the appropriate material.
The catalogs of these companies contain many different photos of wardrobes that will help you decide on the exact option.
Important: discuss in advance with the contractor what type of wood should be used for production and additional accessories.
What are the best doors to choose for a closet?
The beauty of the cabinet is determined by the facades. They are made from laminated chipboard or MDF, which is painted and varnished, veneered or covered with fabric. MDF provides more opportunities for decorating the facade: using inserts and milling handles, for example. It will not be possible to do this in material thinner than 22 millimeters, and a slab of such thickness is quite heavy. But weight is not a problem if at least five hinges are installed. A soft-close feature is standard on modern cabinetry, but it's best to make sure it's included before purchasing.
Important! Pay attention to the gaps between the facades. High-quality hinges require a distance between doors of 2-3 mm. Large gaps look bad and allow more dust into the cabinet (or out of the cabinet, depending on who you choose). To reduce dust, a strip is used (a strip of soft plastic that closes the gap between the facades).
The cover closes the gap between the facades and protects from dust.
Materials
The material is the most important component. The service life of the cabinet depends on its quality. Each type of tree has its own characteristics. Oak, cedar, and pine are considered light materials, while cherry, walnut and mahogany are considered dark.
In most cases, solid wood is used for manufacturing. This is because it will last much longer.
The choice of a wardrobe should be approached with special responsibility, because you are choosing an item for many years to come. Every little detail needs to be thought through. Remember that you cannot skimp on such things. Price is the key to quality and longevity.
Chipboard and laminated chipboard are used for cabinets. Modern designers very often combine several types of materials.
How to choose a cabinet color
Buy only blue cabinets. This is a joke, of course. The choice of a specific color depends only on your preferences. Therefore, there is no point in recommending a specific color for all occasions. The color of the cabinet installed in a niche is determined by the facades. If the cabinet is located against the wall, then do not forget about the color of the outer sides. The time for identical brown furniture has passed: some manufacturers offer a wide palette of colors, others are ready to paint it in any shade of your choice. In general, there should be no problem matching the color of the cabinet to the interior.
For modern cabinets, manufacturers choose a neutral color for the interior filling. It does not depend on what the cabinet looks like from the outside, and is always the same. Pay attention to the matching shade of the edge and the surface of the chipboard. Due to the fact that edging and laminate are made by different manufacturers, their colors may not match. This is especially annoying on shelves and partitions because they are always in front of your eyes. It's bad when the back wall has a different color. The finished look of the cabinet can only be obtained if all the elements of the internal content do not have noticeable differences in color.
Internal filling in one decor - this is fashionable now.
Types of Living Room Cabinets
- Classic wardrobe, doors open outwards;
- Model with a sliding design, can be built into a niche;
- Compact pencil case;
- A secretary where shelves and a writing desk are connected;
- Display cabinet, glass doors, even the walls can be glass;
- The slide is tightly closed with doors from below, and may have glazing on top;
- A sideboard with a bar for alcoholic drinks, usually storing dishes in it;
- Buffet, a universal cabinet for storing various items and things.
If one cabinet is not enough, choose a group
When one cabinet is not enough for all things, the buyer selects cabinet groups - compositions of several products installed together. There are two principles of their construction: the combination of individual modules and the “endless cabinet” principle. In the first case, you choose ready-made cabinets and the order in which they will be installed in the room. To give the structure strength, they are fastened to each other with special ties, for installation of which it is necessary to additionally drill the sides of the cabinets. This method is gradually becoming obsolete. Nowadays the “endless closet” principle is in fashion. Its essence is to attach one internal set to another through a common sidewall. And you can do this ad infinitum.
The principle of the “endless cabinet” is very simple: elements are placed through the inner sides until the space runs out.
On the outer sides of such a set of kits, outer sidewalls with a finish finish are installed, and the inner sidewalls have the same finish as the rest of the interior filling.
1) the cabinets are placed next to each other and fastened with ties, 2) the connection through one side creates a durable cabinet.
In fact, the principle of an endless cabinet is used to assemble one cabinet, and not a composite cabinet group. Its design is much stronger than bonded modules. In addition, the use of one sidewall allows you to reduce the gap between the facades.
How to choose a closet size
The size of the closet is closely related to its placement in the room. Often it occupies the entire width of the wall or is installed in a niche. The depth for all manufacturers will be approximately the same - about 60 centimeters. This is due to ease of use. Height varies from 2 meters 10 centimeters to 2 meters 40 centimeters. A mezzanine is often placed on low cabinets to increase storage space; in high cabinets this space is already rationally used. The standard width of a single-door cabinet is about half a meter, and a double-door cabinet is about a meter. When you need to choose a large wardrobe for your bedroom, you won’t be able to optimally fill the free space with meter-long and half-meter-long wardrobes. That's why good manufacturers offer modules in larger and smaller sizes, not just standard widths. And very good ones can also shorten a serial product by the required amount. In this case, choosing a cabinet by size will not be difficult.
Choose functional cabinets
Modern cabinets are no longer a collection of rectangles. In pursuit of beauty and convenience, manufacturers are developing modules that vary in form and functionality. An attached shelf is useful for storing small items. A module with space for a TV solves the problem of placing this family friend in the bedroom. Radius elements soften the severity of the cabinet lines. They look impressive along the edges of the cabinet group. When there is little space, a closet combined with a bedside table comes in handy - you get a niche for magazines, books and a telephone; you can put cosmetics in the drawer; the rest is a regular closet.
An attached shelf keeps small items within easy reach.
There is not enough space, you need a closet and you want to watch TV. So we need to combine all this. The rotating TV panel makes viewing comfortable.
Another way to save space is to build a nightstand into a closet.
Choosing a cabinet to match your interior style
When arranging the living room in a certain way, we must not forget about the correct selection of furniture and various decor.
Therefore, when buying a cabinet, you need to know what style it will suit:
- The simple look of the model is suitable for minimalism. These can be modular or coupe options. There should be no decorations on the facade; geometric regular shapes are welcome. The color scheme is consistent throughout the furniture.
- High-tech adheres to modern designs. For example, glass inserts, chrome elements.
- Classic is wooden furniture with carvings and gilding on the doors. Bronze and stained glass are also suitable. Mirrors on the front of the cabinet will create a luxurious look.
- A model with an original pattern in the form of ornate lines, mirror inserts - all this is modern.
- The country style will be complemented by a cabinet made of antique wood.
- Provence provides decoration with floral patterns on the front of the cabinet. Carving on the doors is welcome.
