Bathroom cabinets: the most interesting ideas and useful tips.

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.

DIY assembly instructions

Making a closet in the toilet is not difficult. To be confident in your abilities, you can take note of the action plan presented below.

The first point is preparation.

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We choose the type of furniture and type of decoration.
We determine what the shelves and doors will be made of.
We take measurements, and, most conveniently, create a drawing, marking all the details and dimensions on it.
We carry out preliminary calculations on the amount of required materials.
We purchase the necessary goods.

Stage two - preliminary work

To protect against moisture, we open the wooden elements with varnish or other special means.
We mark the wall for the future frame.

The third stage is installation of the structure.

We make a frame for the cabinet from bars measuring approximately 30x30 mm. You can connect using corners.
We attach the manufactured frame to the wall using the marks made earlier. Please note that the frame is the basis of the cabinet, which will have to support the weight of the shelves with all their contents. Therefore, we choose reliable fastenings.
We install holders for shelves. These can be various corners, wooden beams, furniture pins.
Let's move on to the shelves themselves. Cutting sheets of chipboard, plywood or other material into shelves will not take much time. The main nuance at this stage is the cutout for the sewer pipe, if it will pass through the cabinet.
When installing shelves, it is no longer necessary to fasten them. This has its positive aspects: in case of emergency, disassembling the structure will not be difficult.

Stage four - doors and fittings

Although a plumbing cabinet is being made for the toilet, the insides of which are not visible, the fittings must be selected of high quality. This type of furniture will be used no less than any other. If hinges, handles or magnetic fasteners are cheaply made, they can lead to dire consequences at the most inopportune moment.
Having screwed the hinges, all that remains is to hang the doors.

Please note that doors should be decorated with film, tiles and other materials before they are installed. This can be done at the preparatory stage.

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.

Types of toilet furniture according to installation method

To determine what type of useful design should have, you should first look on the Internet for a photo of the toilet cabinet. Already having an idea of what the result should be, you can interpret the option you like to suit your room. The closet in the restroom can be placed as a separate piece of furniture, built-in or hung on the wall. Learn more about each type.

The first option is a free-standing structure, or a cabinet with legs. An interior item made in this way is usually U-shaped. The shelves in it can be completely open, hidden behind the door, or of a mixed type. The opening in the cabinet is designed to be installed above any toilet.

This is the simplest solution in terms of installation, which does not require calculations, effort and a lot of time. When choosing, you should only take into account the dimensions of this cabinet: its width and height should correspond to the room, and its depth should not protrude above the toilet cistern. Alternatively, you can remake old unnecessary shelves - decorate them and attach legs to them.

If you don’t have the opportunity or desire to do it yourself, you can always buy a ready-made cabinet or one made to individual parameters. The only downside is that the plumbing fixtures must be hidden in the wall or in some other way, otherwise they will be visible.

A wall cabinet is the most popular type of furniture for toilet rooms, which is available in a wide range. It can be mounted directly above the toilet or in an already organized niche. The modular system allows you to focus your attention only on design and size when choosing. But, like the first option, it doesn’t reach the plumbing.

The built-in wardrobe remains a universal solution. With its help, three tasks are performed at once: organizing a convenient and functional niche, hiding sewer and water supply systems, and creating a unique design for this small room.

In terms of organization, this method is the most labor-intensive and requires attention to some details:

When choosing materials, you should give preference to moisture-resistant ones. This type of cabinet is located close to the pipes, and condensation or small leaks can have a bad effect on its condition.
Before starting work, you should make accurate measurements and markings.

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.

Using mirrors

The main positive feature of such furniture is that it is functional not only inside, but also outside. A large mirror on the door will help men when shaving and women when applying makeup. Of course, you can purchase these two furnishings separately from each other. But why should you spend extra effort and time searching if you can buy an inexpensive and functional mirrored cabinet for your bathroom.

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It is worth noting that such furniture is often cheaper than two separate pieces of fittings. Such elements do an excellent job of enlarging a small room due to the mirror surface. In addition, all things that are inside are securely hidden from prying eyes. With one small shelving unit you will make the room much more spacious and deeper.

This type of cabinet above the bathroom comes in two types: the door can be made entirely of mirror material, or the mirror part can only occupy a small section of the door. Such an item has two or three departments, where regular and mirrored doors are combined.

Today, designers make such fittings with built-in lamps. Of course, this is very beautiful and decorates any design, but to install such furniture you will have to call in specialists.

It is also worth noting that a bathroom cabinet with lighting will cost you a little more than a regular cabinet without a mirror. In addition, you must move very carefully in a small bathroom with mirrored cabinets, because at any moment you can hit the door and break it, injuring yourself or your loved ones.

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.

Bathroom cabinet designs

By design, bathroom furniture is divided into:

open (cabinet without doors, separate shelves);
closed (with doors, drawers, curtains);
combined, where there are open and closed storage modules.

The doors can be broken, like those of old trolleybuses and buses, folding, hinged, sliding, double. Access to the cabinet can be done both from the front side and from the end (there are built-in cabinets where the doors open on both sides, for example, simultaneously into the bathroom and toilet). The design of the cabinet largely depends on the materials that were chosen for its manufacture.

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.

Product material

Particular attention should be paid to the production features. Whatever object you choose: floor, wall, mirror, corner, ordinary, you will still have to face the issue of increased humidity in the bathroom. Experts recommend using different types of wood to make indoor furniture.

The next option will be absolutely useless in the restroom. The tree will quickly swell, crack, and begin to rot. Expensive protective coatings and water-repellent varnishes will not help. They will not protect the fittings from the effects of dampness. Photos of a wood bathroom cabinet before and after indoor use can provide you with a comprehensive picture of the extent of the problem.

Use chipboard or MDF. Such materials can be coated with a water-repellent agent. Plastic cabinets are perfect for a boudoir. An additional pleasant feature of plastic furniture is that such fittings have an unusual shape, appearance, and original design. As for metal or glass, they are rarely used in bathroom designs: such material is quite difficult to care for.

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.