There is a large selection of sliding wardrobes on the furniture market. They are beautiful and roomy. Cabinets with glass fronts deserve special attention. We'll tell you about the types of furniture glass, their processing, colors and care, how to choose a beautiful design for the bedroom, living room and corridor.
A sliding wardrobe with glass will look stylish in any room of the apartment or house
Pros and cons of glass in cabinets
Sliding wardrobes with glass have the following advantages:
- visually change the dimensions of small rooms;
- the room becomes more illuminated and lighter;
- easy to use;
- enduring relevance;
- are not afraid of moisture.
However, there are also disadvantages:
- fragility;
- the surface must be carefully looked after; traces of hands or insects remain on it (and wiping with a damp cloth will not be enough);
- owners of sliding wardrobes with a transparent facade need to keep the shelves in order so as not to spoil the overall appearance of the room.
When installing furniture with glass elements, take into account the location of all objects in the room so that glare and sunbeams do not interfere with watching TV or working at the computer.
White glossy cabinet with silver metal profile
Mirror in the interior
The mirror has long surpassed the boundaries of its limited location, and now this decorative element is found not only in the bathroom, hallway or on the back wall of the sideboard. Its popularity and demand is explained by the following effects:
- Visual increase in the space of small rooms;
- Additional decoration due to openwork, carved or colored frames, lighting;
- An abundance of shapes and sizes;
- Increased illumination in the room due to the presence of illumination on the mirror and reflection of existing light sources;
- Versatility and ability to use in any interior and style
Types of glass on cabinet fronts
They come in several types. Let's look at each of them in detail.
Glossy glass facade with painted back in beige tones
Transparent
The choice of such glass is justified only if you need to show everyone the contents of your closet. Often transparent doors are installed for a library cabinet. But even in them it is necessary to ensure that the books are laid out beautifully and to regularly wipe the dust on the shelves.
Expert opinion
Svetlana Kolesnikova
Designer
Designers love glass and can offer you the manufacture of a built-in wardrobe with completely transparent facades. It looks nice in the picture, but in reality it can be a problem, especially if you have children - the glass surface will require regular cleaning.
Matte
This option is the most common, as it hides the contents of the wardrobe. In such a closet you can store any items: from clothes and shoes to household appliances.
Mirror cabinet lighting
If you want to mount the backlight, there are several important points to consider:
- Halogen. It gets hot and very hot. If placed on a reflective surface, it will ruin it. She doesn't like overheating. The inside of the cabinet may cause a fire. The light is too bright and harsh. Even the scattering effect will not help here. And if you place the lamp incorrectly, you can get microtrauma to the iris or temporary blindness. Very sensitive to voltage changes in the network. Because of such jumps, it quickly breaks down. Not a suitable option in all respects;
- Fluorescent lamps. Feel free to choose them. The light is quite soft and does not get hot. They last quite a long time;
- LEDs. They emit a pointed bright light. In combination with a mirror, this is not very good. The heating is moderate, so they are not dangerous. Expensive, they also require the installation of a specialized power supply with a switching operating principle. In this regard, it is better to give preference to LED strip.
It is best to place it on top or on the sides. This is the best option without any glare.
Decorating a glass facade
Transparent glass is rarely used, as a rule, only in bookcases and sideboards. Wardrobe systems for storing clothes with sliding doors are usually equipped with facades with decorative inserts or spraying. It can be:
- Mirror coated with protective varnish. When installing such a cabinet, consider the location of other furniture so that the whole room looks harmonious.
- Stained glass paintings. For such a facade, the mirror is treated with sand, then stained glass painting is manually applied with moisture-resistant paint. You can choose a stained glass pattern from the catalog or offer your own design.
- Transparent or tinted glass, onto which a sandblasted pattern is applied. This facade is one of the most durable.
General rules for choosing mirror cabinets
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Types of door opening mechanisms
When choosing a cabinet with a mirror, do not forget about the features of door opening systems. They are classified according to the type of valve movement:
- Swing. Known since Soviet times, when there was simply nothing else. It is inconvenient to open because it requires a lot of space outside. The doors are attached with ordinary furniture hinges, and cannot always withstand the weight of the doors. In the classic form, reflectors were attached inside. Another disadvantage to this option;
- Sliding. Due to the fact that the doors do not overlap each other closely (a gap is always provided), you can mirror the facade completely or partially from the front side without any extra thought. There is, of course, a risk that the door will fall off the rails and your jewelry will break. But this already depends on the correct operation of coupe-type systems and your accuracy. Immediately discard systems with a top stop (mounted and suspended). Increased weight will cause the sashes to fall more frequently and cause additional deformation;
- Foldable. A movable screen made of slats fastened into a single sheet allows for folding to the side according to the accordion principle. You shouldn't get too carried away with mirrors. Typically, such fasteners are quite sensitive to kinks and weight. The reflectors can be made overhead and narrower than the sash. Choose the thinnest options. They will not interfere with the opening process.
Cabinet designs and their features
Not the last criterion for the final choice is the type of cabinet itself:
- Corpus. It has its own functional frame consisting of a frame, a back wall and a facade system. When installed, it is simply placed along the wall or instead of it (a good option for studios). This reliable and durable furniture allows you to decorate yourself with mirrors according to any principle (inside, outside). Since it is manufactured in advance, and you see the option already planned for you, the reflectors are usually already included. Any DIY changes will cost you some cash;
- Built-in. In such cabinets, the frame is completely absent (this role is played by the walls), or is replaced with false strips. The main element is the façade, which can be mirrored from floor to ceiling. However, this does not prevent you from placing a dressing table, mirror and much more inside. After all, furniture of this type is always made according to the personal wishes of the customer. You can also choose what type of material you need and how best to decorate it.
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Another important point is the shape of the cabinet. For the rectangular option, it is better to choose cuts with regular geometric shapes. This will help avoid style differences. Or stick to elongated oval shapes. The mirror may also have slightly rounded corners (an elongated polyhedron). Large dimensions allow you to decorate all or part of the doors with reflectors. Whereas it is better not to visually overload small corner ones. Stop at the internal narrow version.
How to choose a wardrobe with a glass facade
First of all, inspect the room, the design of the walls, ceiling, and other furniture. Take a photo of it on your phone, draw a diagram with dimensions and go to the store.
In the regions, the choice of furniture is very poor: they often offer cabinets of mass-produced models with a limited range of colors, and you can forget about glass facades. Therefore, buy online and have it delivered to your home, or visit the office to order according to your own design.
Expert opinion
Victoria Chernikova
Decorator
For example, a cabinet with a bright shiny facade is unlikely to suit a classic style. Conversely, for a modern room they rarely choose the classic version of furniture with a mirror and painting.
Consider the purpose of the cabinet. If there will be a lot of personal items in it, then it is better that the facade is closed. Transparent doors are suitable for books, souvenirs or other items that can be put on display.
Popular models are collected in a table:
Types of matting
- Sandblasting is carried out by mechanically impacting the surface of the mirror with an abrasive substance. Sand grains under high air pressure leave a mark on the mirror, creating a pattern or forming an overall matte layer. You can matt the entire mirror or its different parts.
- Chemical etching occurs using a special paste containing hydrofluoric acid. Most often, mirrors are matted using this method to create an artistic image. If it is necessary to make a full-length mirror matte, then sandblasting is used.
“Wardrobe with frosted mirror” photo
How to clean different types of glass
It is enough to wipe ordinary glass with a dry cloth and glass detergent. Once a week will be enough.
Covered with Lacobel film, it is resistant to moisture, dirt, and scratches. Any cleaning agents, including alcohol-containing products, are suitable for the care and cleaning of lacobel. It is not recommended to treat the side with the applied varnish with abrasive materials.
ORACAL film requires more delicate handling. Conventional detergents are not suitable for cleaning it. The surface of such a film is very thin, scratches appear on it even from rough fabric. Therefore, wipe it only with a dry soft cloth without detergents.
To care for the sandblasted surface, you will need a soft damp cloth, lint-free wipes, foam sponges, and soft brushes. You can use soap solution, dishwashing liquid and glass washing liquid.
After cleaning, do not forget to remove any remaining drugs from the surface and wipe it dry. Do not use solvents, washing powders or any abrasive chemicals. Do not allow grease to come into contact with the matte surface.
What to remember
Sliding wardrobes with glass or mirror facades look stylish and beautiful. They can be selected to suit any room design, purchased ready-made or ordered according to your wishes. But you have to pay for beauty with money and careful care.
Before visiting the store, carefully consider:
- The purpose of the cabinet and who you are buying it for.
- General concept and design.
- Sizes and type of wardrobe.
- What price are you willing to pay.
If you still encounter any difficulties, write questions in the comments, experts will advise.
