Bathroom furniture is essential for storing towels and toiletries. They can be found from cheap options to custom design furniture. Here you will find some tips to choose the perfect furniture for your bathroom.
The ergonomics of the furniture must be designed to serve the need. They should be chosen according to the space available, the need for storage and the configuration of the bathroom.
You also have many styles to choose from, modern, rustic, contemporary or minimalist, as well as different materials and finishes, assemblies and accessories.
Open
Open bathroom cabinets do not have doors or drawers. For this reason they are particularly suitable for storing products that are used several times a day, such as toothbrushes, combs and hairbrushes, etc. They are installed at user height for easy access.
With drawers
Bathroom cabinets with drawers require space to open them. The drawers must be accessible and should be placed at a height between 80 and 110 cm for greater comfort.
With doors
Furniture with doors is multipurpose. The height of your installation determines the type of accessory that will be stored there (towels at the bottom, daily accessories at user height, for example.
Shelves
Whether hanging or standing, straight or angled, low or tall, bathroom shelving typically offers between two and five shelves.
Column cabinet
The column-type cabinet is compact, occupies optimal space and offers a large storage capacity. It can be hanging or not, and it can have drawers, doors or open spaces, its configuration will be chosen according to the design of the bathroom. The lower compartment can be used to place the washing machine, while the upper part can be a storage space for toiletries. The bathroom column can be fixed to the wall for greater stability.
Vanity unit or undercounter
The vanity unit can carry the built-in sink or it can simply be under the wall-hung sink. Its dimensions should not exceed the depth of the basin or sink. It can carry drawers, doors or shelves. It must allow access to the drainage or siphon system.
Mirror cabinets
They can have different configurations: one or more doors or mirrors, drawers or shelves, lighting (with LED, halogen tube or light bulb). Of variable dimensions, it must be hung over the washbasin and is shallow.
Towel rails
The towel rails can be placed on the doors of the furniture or on the wall.
Suspended or hanging furniture
Suspended bathroom furniture frees up space and makes cleaning easier. They adapt very well to small bathrooms, their installation height depends on their format and the use made of it.
On the floor
This type of furniture occupies a space on the floor and therefore reduces the useful area. Small bathrooms will seem even smaller, so they are not recommended.
If it is equipped with wheels, and, provided it is sturdy, it can be used as a stool. Usually designed with one or two drawers, it can be housed in a corner or at the bottom of a piece of furniture.
Materials for bathroom furniture
Bathroom furniture can be made in different materials, from natural wood, MDF, melamine, rattan, wrought iron or glass. But the two main materials that stand out in the manufacture of bathroom furniture are solid wood and slab composite materials. Composite materials allow for more modern and uncluttered forms. Their price is also generally lower, however, their quality is lower and their manufacturing process has an impact on the environment.
Namely, natural wood is easier to handle than MDF. Aerated structures are more difficult to clean and the fragile nature of glass must be taken into account when choosing a shelf.
Materials that are easy to clean are recommended.
Solid wood
Solid wood furniture can be of different species, however, we observe that exotic woods predominate due to their intrinsic properties: ease of maintenance and resistance to rot. Most solid wood bathroom cabinets are made from teak, eucalyptus, mahogany, or bamboo.
However, it is advisable to apply oil, lacquer or varnish on the wood, which will guarantee its protection.
Melamine or particle board
Bathroom furniture in melamine or chipboard are the most common and cheapest. Made of pressure-glued wood particles and covered with laminate in different decorations: white, anthracite, walnut, beech, wenge, pine, etc. Melamine can be lacquered with a modern paint in colors such as red, green, aluminum, etc. and have a glossy, metallic, satin or matte finish.
Some care must be taken so that they do not get too wet, as they can swell and lose their original shape.
MDF
It is a heavier and more resistant composite material than melamine. Made of wood fiber and a binder, MDF is manufactured under high pressure and temperature. Like melamine, MDF is covered with decoration and most often lacquered. It is more expensive, it is used for better quality furniture.
Dimensions
The dimensions of the furniture depend on the available space and it is recommended not to oversize the furniture. Oversized furniture in a small bathroom is unattractive and gives a feeling of confinement.
Maintenance of bathroom furniture
Bathroom furniture in composite materials, melamine or MDF, can be cleaned with a sponge or a damp cloth and soapy water. Ammonia degreases the surfaces of these pieces of furniture well.
Exotic wood furniture such as teak can be cleaned with water and a brush. If the wood is really stained, you can lightly sand it and then reapply oil.
In both natural wood and composite materials, do not use aggressive products and be sure to rinse well after cleaning.
