Apr 25/14
A difficult problem to solve in almost all cramped bathrooms is the question of where to place everything so that it is convenient and does not clutter the space. Of course, if you have space for large and spacious bathroom furniture with all kinds of cabinets and shelves, then the problem of storing bathroom accessories disappears. But if there is simply nowhere to put the closet, then you need to look for unused space. This is exactly what the area above the toilet is considered to be, especially if the tank is not hidden behind a partition, but rests against the wall. If you place a cabinet above the toilet or place a compact rack there, or simply hang a few shelves, then they will not interfere at all - after all, they do not hang above your head, but above the cistern.
In this review, “Dream House” suggests looking at ideas for arranging storage space in a bathroom or toilet above the toilet - what cabinets, racks and shelves can be used for this, what can be purchased, and what can be done with your own hands.
Wardrobe over toilet
What to store on the shelves or in the closet above the toilet
It would seem that you can store it in the bathroom? In fact, for daily hygiene procedures and home cleaning, you may need a lot of things. Towels, shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, bottles of perfume, shaving accessories, washcloths, cotton swabs, napkins, toilet paper, air fresheners, detergents and cleaning products... Tell me where all this goes put it in a small bathroom? Multiply almost everything by the number of family members, and you get even more jars, or do you all wash your hair with the same shampoo and use the same washcloth? That's right, and if there are small children in the house, then there are much more hygiene products.
Shelves above the toilet
By placing several shelves or a cabinet above the toilet, you can solve not only the issue of storage, but also additional decor for the bathroom. Free space on the shelves above the toilet can be filled with your family photos, framed pictures, decorative or scented candles, vases and figurines.
Shelf on the toilet photo
Wooden shelves above the toilet
Cabinet above the toilet: successfully hides all communications
In addition to storage, the cabinet above the toilet can also serve to hide the flush tank, meters and water filters. In this case, in the lower part of such a cabinet, all this will be covered with doors, and on the upper shelves you can already arrange the necessary accessories.
Equipping such a cabinet can be very convenient - in order not to open the cabinet door every time to flush the tank, a small space is left on top. This is possible if you have a tank with a top flush button, which is now used in almost all modern toilet models.
Cabinet above the toilet photo
Cabinet above the toilet photo
What material is it made from?
When you decide to make a closet for your toilet, the question immediately arises of what material to make it from. If we talk about furniture, there are the following options:
- laminated chipboard (LDSP);
- laminated MDF;
- wood.
Furniture for the toilet can be ordered from a furniture shop
The cheapest material in this category is chipboard. MDF is four times more expensive and wood is even more expensive. If you assemble doors from edged boards or lining with your own hands, it may not be more expensive than MDF. But such work requires at least minimal carpentry skills. If it is not there, you will have to pay for the work of a specialist, which can significantly increase the final cost of the product.
If you are going to cover the cabinet with tiles, wallpaper, vinyl, plastic, you can use materials other than those listed above:
- plywood;
- GVL (gypsum fiber sheet);
- OSB;
- sheet MDF.
All of the materials listed are quite suitable for constructing a cabinet in the toilet. The only doubt may be about the GVL: will it crumble at the place where the hinges are attached? If large loads are not expected, it is quite possible to use this material.
Frosted glass and mirror are also possible options for facades for a closet in the toilet
Now the question is whether it is worth using moisture-resistant materials. The closet for the toilet can be made of ordinary material, provided that it is only a toilet and not a combined bathroom, i.e. There will be no high humidity in the room. An exception is the situation when the ventilation of the bathroom is done using a flow window through the toilet. Such schemes still exist in houses with old layouts. In all other situations, the use of moisture-resistant materials is optional.
Related article: Ideas for the interior of a small kitchen 4-8 sq.m. (26 photos)
Closed or open cabinets?
Shelves or a cabinet installed above the toilet can be either open or closed.
The need for closed shelves above the toilet most often arises in combined bathrooms, where it is important to hide toothbrushes and other hygiene products from possible bacteria and odors.
Cabinet above the toilet with doors
Closed cabinets can be equipped with doors, and mirrors can be installed on them for convenience.
Wardrobe above the toilet with mirror
Also, the shelving above the toilet can be closed with thick curtains, as in this photo.
Wooden shelving with curtains above the toilet
If the toilet is separate or the ventilation issue is resolved in the combined bathroom, then the shelves can be open. This solution makes it possible to implement various decor ideas and turn the bathroom into a cozy room.
Towel holder above the toilet
Shelves in the niche above the toilet
Wall cabinets
Above the toilet you can hang a regular wall cabinet of suitable width and height. This could be part of a kitchen unit or part of a hallway. You can find a suitable example in any modular collection. You will only have to cut holes in the back wall for sewer and water risers, but this modification is not difficult.
Wall cabinet above the toilet: heights and fronts are different...
If you are concerned that the exposed cut may be damaged by moisture, you can take self-adhesive melamine furniture edge and apply it to the cut. A simpler option is painting or coating with a water-repellent sealant.
The height of the cabinet above the toilet may vary. As you can see in the photo above, the models can be hung on two or three shelves (total height is about 70 cm) or on five to seven shelves (total height is a meter or more). The most important condition is that the cabinet should not block the ventilation hole . The second point: it should not interfere. That is, there must be access to the flush button, and while sitting on the toilet you should not hit your head on the door. Based on these considerations, the dimensions of the wall cabinet in the toilet are selected. Since the parameters of the toilet bowl, cistern and installation of the entire structure are different, the depth of the cabinet can be from 35 to 60 cm.
Related article: Layout of a 1-story house with three bedrooms - choose a project to suit your taste
Shelving above the toilet: convenient, practical and affordable
Today, easy-to-install and very compact racks that are placed above the toilet have become quite popular. Their peculiarity is that they have stable legs, and the shelves start higher, above the toilet cistern. Such racks can also be open or closed, many of them are equipped with doors. In particular, among wooden shelving you can find closed models.
Rack cabinet above the toilet
Rack above the toilet photo
Wooden shelving above the toilet photo
Closed shelving above the toilet photo
Cabinet above the toilet photo
Metal racks look more elegant; openwork ones, with all kinds of curls, are especially interesting. But there are also very simple folding models with shelves. This is a simple budget option, but it is no less effective in terms of solving the storage issue in the bathroom.
Openwork shelving above the toilet photo
Folding metal rack over the toilet
Metal rack above the toilet photo
Metal rack above the toilet photo
Doors are a separate issue
The shelves are mostly invisible. The main thing is that they are as comfortable as possible, different in height. But the doors for the closet in the toilet should be thought out in advance. After all, they will serve not only as access to things and communications, but also as the main part of the interior.
According to the opening mechanism, the following types are distinguished:
- Swing doors are the familiar single or double doors that are attached to hinges.
- Sliding, like wardrobes.
- Sliding or roller blinds.
- Hinged, when the door opens horizontally down or up.
When choosing a swing door, it is important to know how to adjust the hinges on the cabinet doors, because over time, due to frequent use, they move a little. To adjust, sometimes it is enough to just screw in the fastening screw, and sometimes it is necessary to replace the entire mechanism.
It is better to choose based on considerations of whether it will be convenient to get something from the shelves, or whether you will have to hold the doors with one hand. The material from which the doors are made plays an important role in the design. For example, a mirror surface will visually enlarge a very small space. When creating a loft-style interior, metal is often used.
Ceramic door lining will help make the built-in plumbing cabinet almost invisible. To do this, the same tiles are glued onto the frame made of beams and plasterboard as on the walls of the toilet, thus creating the effect of the integrity of the tiled covering. You can also make glass doors. In this case, taking into account the humidity of the room, it is better to take tinted glass with a special matte coating.
Plastic blinds will also be affordable and lightweight. And the simplest and most traditional bases are wood, chipboard and plywood. These materials must be treated with moisture-proofing agents so that the doors do not become unusable. Decorative design is created using paint, self-adhesive film, false panels, etc.
In the desire to disguise the unpresentable sides of the bathroom, the main thing is not to forget to leave quick access to metering devices and water supply control units.
Sometimes their location is such that it is necessary to make special doors, which are usually called inspection hatches. Finished products are sold in different sizes and types: plastic, metal, for painting or for tiles. You can make a hatch for the closet yourself.
Built-in cabinets and shelves above the toilet
In modern bathrooms, where communications are usually hidden in a partition or false wall, it is possible to install built-in cabinets and shelves above the toilet and sink. This design option is not only convenient, but also looks more aesthetically pleasing. Firstly, the toilet cistern is also hidden behind a false wall and does not spoil the appearance, and secondly, in this case there is certainly nothing hanging above you.
Niche above the toilet with shelves
Built-in wardrobe above the toilet
