Most of our fellow citizens cannot boast of the size of their bathrooms. But everyone wants comfort.
Whether your bath will be comfortable depends not only on the installation of modern plumbing, but also on the furniture you choose.
Wooden furniture
Typically, modern design offers furniture made from light birch, ash, and maple wood. But you can order furniture made of cherry or walnut (for lovers of dark wood).
This is important: in any case, all wooden furniture needs to be treated and impregnated with a moisture-repellent agent. Otherwise, it won't serve you for long.
Plastic furniture
Plastic furniture is the most budget-friendly, but at the same time quite durable and very practical option. It is easy to clean, easy to maintain, and convenient to install. Plastic furniture has significantly less weight compared to products made of wood or metal. High-quality plastic has strength and reliability indicators comparable to other materials. Modern plastic furniture is not inferior to other options in terms of visual component.
An important nuance of plastic furniture is the possibility of using abrasive cleaning agents, but they are successfully replaced by cleaning sprays.
Metal furniture
It will be preferred by lovers of hi-tech and minimalism. Fans of country or Provence will also be pleased with the forged whatnots.
Smooth lines, streamlined shape - these are the basic requirements for metal furniture.
Type selection
Bathroom furniture comes in different types depending on the material used.
Wooden furniture has always been popular among manufacturers. It has a beautiful appearance, is very practical and environmentally friendly. The only thing that pushes away from it is the high price, which is affordable even for lovers of eco-style, ethno-style, and classics.
Typically, the following light tree species are used in production: birch, ash, maple. If you want to have dark wood in the bathroom, then it is walnut and cherry.
But such a purchase is worth making only for large rooms with excellent air ventilation, since wood (even covered with oil paint or varnish) does not like hot air and sudden changes in temperature around it.
Metal furniture is an excellent choice of material that will add originality and elegance to a room in a minimalist, high-tech style, while stylish forged products will decorate Provence and country. All metal parts must be treated with special anti-corrosion compounds. And one more thing - there should be no sharp corners! Otherwise, you will end up with a lot of bruises and bruises on your body in the bathroom.
Glass furniture will add lightness and spaciousness to the room. But bathroom furniture in this design must be safe - made of tempered glass without sharp corners. Sometimes even such glass can break from a strong blow. This needs to be taken into account; maybe it would be better to choose the option of colored or transparent plexiglass? There is also one minus: behind the transparent glass, all the contents inside the cabinet will be visible. Are you ready for this?
Plastic furniture is absolutely not afraid of water, and there is a countless collection of color shades. And, of course, a huge plus is the low price. You can come up with the most bizarre shapes for furniture facades, because plastic is a very malleable material.
There are also disadvantages:
- fragility;
- Cracks appear over time, and thin facades peel off.
Chipboard or MDF are good materials; furniture for modern bathrooms is mainly made from them. Such furniture has many multi-colored variations and a low price. To produce objects of strict shapes with a smooth surface, you can use chipboard, and for oval models, take more durable MDF.
To improve protection from water and condensation, such furniture is covered with: acrylic, veneer, varnish, enamel, self-adhesive film.
To prevent moisture from stagnating in the air and damaging furniture, you need to install a good ventilation system in the room.
Glass furniture
Thanks to its transparency, it will give the bathroom more light and airiness, more style.
The disadvantage of glass furniture is that it is difficult to care for. There is a constant need to remove limescale deposits. It is recommended to choose opaque glass for cabinets.
Operational and general requirements for furniture
A fully equipped bathroom set is a set of comfortable, functional and ergonomic furniture.
During the selection process, such structures are subject to a number of requirements determined by operating conditions and the microclimate created in the room; these include the following properties:
- optimal resistance to regular temperature changes;
- maintaining visual appeal and resisting mold growth;
- increased strength and practicality, compact sizes of furniture structures;
- possibility of self-assembly and installation in the room, on site;
- normal level of resistance to periodic increases in room humidity;
- long service life and capacity combined with the absence of deformation.
Bathroom furniture and selected fittings should be equipped with comfortable, functional and safe fittings.
An important requirement remains ease of maintenance and the absence of complex measures for cleaning and washing all surfaces, the absence of sharp corners and surfaces that absorb moisture and condensation well.
Furniture made of chipboard and MDF
It looks like wooden furniture, but has a much lower price. The downside is that it is less durable and requires special processing of the holes made during installation.
Classic style - classic is the standard of taste. She is timeless. Traditionally, natural pastel colors are used in decoration. It is recommended to choose fairly light shades of tiles. The color of the furniture may be darker.
Fusion style - its main feature is to combine what is incompatible. This style is characterized by bright colors and the use of materials with different textures and textures. This style is loved by extravagant people who love to surprise.
Country style - it emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. This style reflects the desire to bring a rural spirit into a city apartment through the use of wood, stone, wrought iron and other natural materials. Retro-style brass fixtures can be the highlight of a country-style bathroom.
Ethnic style - it is similar to country style, but differs in the presence of features inherent to a particular nationality. Such furniture must be ordered; it will be difficult to purchase it in a regular store.
Plastic
The advantages include: unusualness, moisture resistance, strength and durability, does not require special care products. The versatility of plastic, proven by everyday use.
Facades, countertops, cabinet bodies, bedside tables are made from plastic; they can be made in a variety of colors. It is much easier to apply pecking designs to a plastic surface.
Sink selection
Conventional sinks that do not have a cabinet are divided into those that can be installed on brackets and tulip sinks that stand on their own legs.
The size of the sink depends on the size of the room. Installation height and inclination are important. The sink is installed at a level convenient for all household members and always with a slight slope.
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Sinks with a cabinet can be built-in or overhead. The presence of a cabinet is very practical, as it acts as an additional cabinet.
What furniture do you need?
In most cases, the bathroom must have a cabinet under the sink - this is a universal piece of furniture that allows you to rationally use space and hide communications.
A sink with a cabinet can be purchased together or separately; the sink can be either built-in or tabletop. Another popular and spacious option is a pencil case. In the bathroom, it will solve the storage problem by 80% - taking most of the cosmetics, towels and necessary accessories.
If there is not enough floor space due to plumbing, use walls. Wall cabinets are not inferior in capacity to floor structures. They are usually placed above the toilet or sink. If you purchase modules with mirrored facades, you will solve several problems at once.
Open storage spaces - shelves and racks.
The first ones can be built-in or mounted. This solution is best suited for small bathrooms - the shelves do not take up much space, but can accommodate many items. However, to reduce visual noise, everything will have to be stored in baskets or containers.
Floor or hanging shelving promotes functional use of space in corners. Corners often remain empty, so organizing storage in this area is equal to gaining free space in the room.
The photo shows a white bathroom set
Choosing a storage method
We can place everything we need:
- in the cabinet. Its doors should open freely, the presence of drawers is welcome;
- in a hanging cabinet. This saves floor space. Unlike open shelves, the contents of the cabinet are hidden from prying eyes. It is recommended to place several open shelves above the bathtub or on the wall of the shower stall for storing shampoo, gel, etc.;
- in the pencil case. It combines the advantages of cabinets and cabinets. You're lucky if your bathroom is big enough to install it.
How to arrange furniture?
The layout of a small and large bathroom is very different from each other. Let's look at the secrets of arrangement for each.
The photo shows a symmetrical bathroom layout
Small bathroom:
- Engage the walls. Hanging furniture is more compact than floor furniture, so it is ideal for small spaces. Instead of a pencil case, for example, install a cabinet above the toilet.
- Use corners and niches. Corner models are more compact, and the niches seem to be designed for storage.
- Hang hooks. If you are not afraid of open storage, then instead of an additional cabinet, attach several hooks - they are convenient for hanging textiles, baskets with cosmetics and other accessories.
- Choose shallow options. Narrow cabinets take up less space, but are almost as spacious: after all, something important is rarely stored in the depths of the shelves.
Large bathroom:
- Place large furniture. Compact models will simply get lost in a large area; choose the right size.
- Zone it. Open shelving is a great element for dividing a room. For example, these are used to separate the shower from the toilet.
- Add seating. Sometimes in the bathroom there is not enough space to sit down: you can remedy this situation by adding a chair or banquette.
- Move away from wet areas. To make furniture items last longer, place them away from hygiene areas such as the shower or bathtub.
The photo shows a built-in sink with a cabinet opposite the window
Additional recommendations
If there are heated floors, the furniture must stand on legs.
Place any furniture at a distance from the bathtub itself to prevent it from being damaged by continuous wetting.
If the bathroom is small, bedside tables with sliding doors and the use of wall cabinets will help save space.
How to choose a bathroom interior?
What do you prefer - discreet classics, or daring high-tech, or are you a fan of the soothing Japanese style? The choice of tiles and furniture depends on this. For example, frescoes on the walls and the use of porcelain stoneware floor tiles will help create a unique and beautiful bathroom in a classic style. Calm colors, chrome surfaces, oddly shaped mirrors, a minimum of details - and your modern bathroom will also certainly receive compliments. And if you have a bathroom with a window, then the flight of imagination is truly limitless. The next step is to draw a sketch. It is better to entrust this to an experienced designer. This way you can imagine where communications will be laid and furniture will be located. Be realistic about the size: You can often hear clients complain about the small size of the room. Builders often increase the area of residential premises at the expense of the bathroom and toilet. However, professionals also have several secrets that allow you to visually increase the space of even a small bathroom and fit everything you need.
Manufacturing of custom furniture
In stores it is quite difficult to find cabinets, cabinets, shelves and pencil cases that would optimally combine and fit into your bathroom. The ideal option is custom-made furniture. Do not forget to warn the master that this is bathroom furniture.
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Then it will be treated with special means to protect it from moisture, and all metal parts will be coated with an anti-corrosion compound.
The right choice of furniture will turn your bathroom into a place of relaxation that will give you pleasure every day.
Choosing furniture for the bathroom layout
Part of the room is occupied by plumbing with water pipes. Therefore, they often resort to unusual forms of designer furniture and hanging elements in order to make the most of the remaining space.
As a rule, bathrooms with a small area have less space than bathrooms that are spacious. There is not enough space for a variety of household appliances and furniture. However, there are options for a suitable environment for them too.
Small room
The furniture set for a small bathroom is limited to a few storage items. The size of the room is visually increased by selecting decoration and furnishings in light colors with a minimum of decorations.
For small bathrooms, large mirrors or glossy furniture fronts are recommended. Above the plumbing fixtures are placed cabinets (open shelves), a water heater, and a dryer.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
To save space, the space under the sink is often used, where there is often a cabinet or washing machine.
Instead of a bath, some owners install a modern shower stall.
Floor furniture is placed close to the bathtub. To protect against moisture, you can install a plastic or glass partition between them.
Narrow bathroom
Some tips for decorating small rooms apply to rooms where the length exceeds the width. Here, objects are often placed along the walls.
Also in such a room you can place corner furniture and install a sink built into the cabinet. Tall, shallow cabinets and shelving will fit into such rooms.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
It is recommended to make furniture doors sliding rather than swinging - then they will not interfere with free movement around the room.
Do not overload the space with a large number of objects. Additional places for necessary things can be organized under the sink, above the plumbing.
Bathroom with window
The design and arrangement of furniture in a room with a window depends on where it faces: to the street or to the next room. In the first case, it is customary to use the opening as an additional source of lighting and ventilation.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
Original stained glass can be inserted into the frame if it is compatible with the design style.
If the window is not intended to be opened, it can be covered with a decorative screen. Some bathroom owners make doors on window openings and install narrow shelves inside the resulting niche for storing household chemicals and care products.
A large room
It's easy to implement many ideas in a spacious bathroom. You can purchase for her a set of several cabinets, cabinets, with a table and mirrors. Often, owners choose a spacious bathtub and install it at some distance from the walls.
Only small pieces of furniture do not look good in a spacious room. It is better to avoid them, since they will be barely noticeable against the background of the others.
Photos of the best new bathroom furniture
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Style selection
In order for the bathroom to attract with its comfort and coziness, you need to determine in what design style it will be decorated.
Classical
Owners with conservative views will like this room. A variety of materials are used to decorate it, including stone and wood. Furniture items are selected in an antique style, including a crystal chandelier and handmade elements.
Fusion
This interior is a combination of several styles and the result is a rather interesting style - bright, colorful, original. Fusion is suitable for spacious bathrooms, especially in country houses. Preferably with a large window opening so that there is as much sunlight as possible.
The style provides for a complete lack of zoning of the room, many small elements, curved lines. For example, the ceiling takes on uneven shapes using plasterboard, the bathtub has a corner model, and there are arched transitions. The curtains are made in a classic style and a combination of different materials is allowed. Fusion style furniture is also the result of a combination of styles: a modern cabinet made of natural wood, but with many original patterns.
Country
A wonderful style for a private, tranquil bathroom environment. It is advisable to use natural materials for decoration. Various forged products are welcome. Furniture made of glass or plastic is absolutely unacceptable.
Ethnic style
Furniture of this style is determined by the direction you have chosen for your bathroom:
- "African" room. The shape of the furniture is the simplest, without curvature. Materials of manufacture: carved wood, forged metal, wicker rattan.
- "Indian" room. Material – metal, teak wood. Lots of geometric patterns.
- "Scandinavian" room. A distinctive feature of the furniture is the naturalness and simplicity of its forms. Light wood species are most often used.
- "Japanese" room. There should be a minimum of furniture, but there are many recesses for storing decorative items and necessary accessories. Bamboo furniture will look good.
Furniture that increases space
Since bathroom storage furniture comes in a variety of styles and sizes, consumers can always find something that suits their needs. Narrow wall cabinets, ideal for jars and bottles, allow you to use the most inconvenient corners. A tall cabinet or rack will provide a lot of space, while taking up very little floor space. With bathroom furniture you make the most of your space. And, of course, manufacturers offer not only furniture, but also baskets and containers for organizing the internal volume of cabinets.
Types of coatings for moisture-resistant MDF/chipboard
If your choice fell on furniture made from MDF/chipboard, then you should note the variety of coatings:
- Self-adhesive film. The cheapest and most impractical option. Despite the wide variety of colors and attractive textures, over time it quickly loses its original color and begins to peel off the facade.
- Acrylic sheet. Ideal for bathroom climate conditions. But this applies only to high-quality furniture.
Recommendation: before purchasing a set, check the quality of the acrylic filling between all sheets of the assembled structure - this determines how long the furniture will last you in its original form.
- Veneered coating. This is an excellent option for those who would like to have wooden furniture, but the amount to purchase is only enough for moisture-resistant MDF/chipboard. A veneer imitating the structure of wood fibers is glued onto the surface; such facades are less susceptible to temperature changes and moisture than their wooden counterparts.
- Enamel and varnish coating. The best practical solution. Such furniture has a pleasant shine, better withstands direct exposure to moisture and is cheaper than acrylic and veneer in the price range.
Any furniture for storage in the bathroom
Your bathroom will be more spacious, beautiful and tidy with clever storage combinations. Most domestic manufacturers of bathroom furniture have an excellent quality-to-price ratio. Also a huge range. You can find everything you need - mirrored cabinets for toiletries, open shelves and tall cabinets for towels and other bulky items. There are cabinets of various designs and sizes, there are entire series in different styles and from various materials - wood, metal, glass. There are also cabinets for the sink in various series, so that the bathroom will have a finished look.
Tip #1. Choosing a bedside table for the washbasin
Surely, even in the smallest and most compact bathroom there is room for a bedside table that is installed under the sink. In fact, this is the only way to make good use of this space, since there is no other way to arrange it. And the cabinet has the function of not only storage, but also of direct support for the sink itself.
First of all, you need to pay attention to the material from which the bedside table is made . So, the now popular chipboard is not the best option, which will always have to be protected from the influence of moisture, which is basically impossible in a bathroom. Otherwise, within a year or a year and a half, such a bedside table will lose its pleasant appearance and partially functionality. A much more reliable material will be MDF boards, the production technology of which is slightly different from chipboard, which makes them a little more resistant to moisture. By the way, the use of protective films and coatings can extend the life of such a product.
The fittings also deserve attention : it is better to choose products with chrome handles, hooks and other elements. Otherwise, after a few years, constant exposure to moisture will make itself felt, and all these elements of the bedside table, which previously served as decoration, will turn into ugly, rusty parts.
It is better if the bedside table, like other pieces of furniture in the bathroom, is on legs . In this case, it will last much longer, since its base will not be affected by moisture, which can fall on the bathroom floor and form small puddles. It’s easy to imagine what can happen to a bedside table that is constantly under the direct influence of water, and even if the room is unventilated.
The number of shelves and their very location in the bedside table may vary, and here you should rely on your own preferences and ideas about convenience. So, a bedside table may have several drawers, there may simply be doors behind which hide shelves of different heights, or even laundry baskets. If there is not much space in the bathroom, then you can put the sink in the corner and install a corner bedside table : this saves space and allows you to use it more usefully. By the way, if the shelves in the cabinet can be adjusted in height, this is a huge plus, because you can always adapt this piece of furniture to the size of any detergent or cleaning product. Thus, the bedside table turns from a simple way to hide all communications into a spacious and functional storage space where you can put a lot of accessories used in this room.
Furnishings
Everyone sets the rules for choosing suitable furniture and creating an interior for themselves. There are many different styles of room design and it’s simply impossible to cover everything, so let’s look at just a few as an example:
Classic style
The concept is very broad and includes several “substyles”. General: one or two primary colors (most often pastel) when decorating, color accents are transferred to accessories. For example, a snow-white bathroom, sink, furniture, light purple or light emerald walls, yellow accessories. It is possible to use stone in furniture. Classic style is good everywhere, but is especially preferable in small bathrooms.
Modern style bathroom
Modern style features a lot of chrome and glass, so choose cabinets and accessories to match. Natural tiles on the floor and walls will give the room more order and harmony. It is necessary to avoid rounded shapes; rectangles and squares are modern figures. The strong contrast in the color scheme is also good.
Provincial style
Comfortable and convenient, the main finishing material is wood. Wooden panels on the walls can be painted with textured paint with a cracked surface effect. The sink should be on a stand, and don't forget about the foot bath.
Ethnic style
The emphasis is on finishing materials: wood and stone, the processing of which maximizes their natural texture. Rich browns and grays. It is clear that an ethnic “Japanese” bath will be fundamentally different from an ethnic “Indian” one.
Spa style
Cool tones and smooth finish. Predominantly used: limestone, marble, glass, chrome or steel. The color scheme is dominated by aquatic colors: shades of blue and green.
"Brutal" style
Massive furniture, angular shapes and materials with a durable texture, such as stone. Colors – white, black, grey. Everything is very simple, no frills.
Floor furniture
The furniture design can be made with a plinth or on legs.
The option with legs is more practical, since water falling on the floor does not affect the furniture. However, furniture with a plinth will allow you to hide communications, such as a siphon, connections and hoses.
Bathroom furniture. Types and material. Features and Application
Most apartments and houses in older housing stock have rather cramped bathrooms, so careful interior design is required to ensure maximum comfort. In this case, you need to use not only moisture-resistant, but also functional bathroom furniture that is highly compact. Excessive massiveness in such a cramped room is useless. In fact, decorating a bathroom, despite its minimal dimensions compared to other rooms, is even more difficult than decorating a bedroom, hallway or living room, since you need to calculate how to rationally use every free centimeter of space.
What kind of bathroom furniture is used?
When arranging bathrooms, the following are usually used:
- Floor cabinets.
- Hanging cabinets.
- Cabinets.
- Shelves.
- Countertops.
- Tables.
Not every bathroom room can accommodate such a large set of furniture, so often owners of cramped apartments and houses have to give preference to a minimal set that will more or less provide the required level of comfort.
Base cabinet
The cabinet is not the most common bathroom furniture. He is tall and quite bulky. It is usually used in larger rooms, the dimensions of which allow the installation of a washing machine. Often it hides inside the closet. Thanks to this, the external appearance of the room looks very organic. When it is necessary to wash, the cabinet door opens and laundry is loaded into the machine. Typically, such furniture consists of two halves. The lower one has a large compartment for a washing machine, and the upper one consists of shelves for folding towels, household chemicals and other accessories.
The floor cabinets used in bathrooms are quite massive, especially if they involve installation inside a washing machine, since its seating dimensions are 60x40x85 cm. Such furniture can also include a section for a basket with dirty laundry.
Hanging cabinets
Hanging cabinets are also used in bathrooms. They are usually installed above the sink. They store hygiene items such as razors, dental care items, cotton swabs, lotions and other cosmetics. Hanging cabinets are quite functional bathroom furniture, which often additionally serves as a mirror. It is attached to the door; sometimes the mirror is placed on the side of the cabinet panel to the right or left of the storage box. Designers recommend selecting cabinets according to the width of the sink. Sometimes they have built-in lighting that is turned on by a cord. For simpler furniture, the light is turned on using a small switch.
Cabinets can be equipped with one or two doors. They are thin and often have a thickness of only 15-20 cm. If a floor cabinet can only fit in a fairly spacious bathroom, then a wall cabinet is suitable for absolutely any bathroom. It is mounted above the sink, so it does not take up useful floor space. At the same time, you can store hygiene items in it, protecting them from high humidity.
Cabinets
This is also a popular bathroom furniture that is found at least as often as cabinets. They are available as floor-standing or hanging. Often, cabinets are installed under the sink, so they also do not actually take up useful space. You can store towels and household chemicals in them. Sometimes cabinets have a compartment for dirty laundry. Although outwardly such furniture looks quite massive and roomy, it usually does not have much free space. The fact is that when you open the doors or drawer, you can see a siphon coming out of the sink, which usually covers half of the entire space. To increase the capacity of the cabinet, you can use a compact siphon designed for installation on flat sinks that are placed above washing machines.
The easiest way to install a floor cabinet. Some manufacturers offer adjustable legs, which will allow you to level the furniture if the bathroom floor is uneven. Floor cabinets are more spacious, but look rather ordinary, so when arranging the interior in modern styles they are often ignored. Hanging furniture holds less space and also requires competent installation. It should not be used if the fastening will be carried out to a plasterboard wall or built from foam concrete. It must be taken into account that the fasteners will have to support not only the weight of the furniture, but also the person who will lean on it.
Shelves
This is inexpensive but functional bathroom furniture, which is represented by a huge assortment that differs in size. Thanks to this, you can choose a suitable shelf for a bathroom of any size. The shelves can be flat or angular.
Corner is used for installation in the corner of the wall directly above the bathtub. It is designed for arranging soap, shampoo, shower gel and other hygiene products that will be needed directly when bathing. Such furniture is usually made of steel in the form of mesh, glass or wood with perforations. This is necessary for quick drying, since the shelf often comes into contact with water.
Straight shelves are less common because they take up the same amount of space as wall cabinets, but are inferior to them in practicality and convenience. They are often provided with hooks for hanging dry towels and bathrobes. Straight shelves can be single or consist of several tiers. They are usually hung higher and used to store things that are rarely used. For example, detergents for the bathroom or toilet, glass washing liquid, and so on.
For those who like to read in the bath or use a laptop, a removable shelf bar will be useful. It is not a wide board laid on the sides of the bathtub. This shelf serves as a small table top. It is worth noting that it scratches the surface of the sides, since it has a metal frame. Its use is appropriate for cast iron and steel bathtubs. It is better not to use a crossbar on acrylic ones, since this material does not tolerate contact with hard objects.
Tabletops
This is a rather rare piece of bathroom furniture because it takes up a lot of space while providing minimal benefits. In fact, the tabletop can be replaced by a free-standing cabinet. Such furniture is an inexpensive solution for decorating the surface above the washing machine and dryer. You can put a basket with laundry under it, but everything will be visible, since it does not have doors. Sometimes countertops are used to mount small designer sinks in the form of bowls. In practice, such furniture is only suitable for installation in separate bathrooms, and is not very suitable for a compact bathroom.
Table
It is used quite rarely and only in spacious rooms. The functionality of the table is identical to the tabletop, but it is equipped with legs that can get in the way. Its advantage is that it does not need to be attached to the wall. Tables have a higher load-bearing capacity than countertops. Sometimes you can find tables that have 2 legs on the front, while the back is attached to the wall. Designer sinks are usually installed on tables.
Materials for bathroom furniture
The more compact the bathroom, the more moisture-resistant the furniture should be. This is due to the fact that in a small room the relative humidity when opening a water tap rises much faster than in a spacious room.
To furnish a bathroom, furniture is made from the following materials:
- A natural stone.
- Glass.
- MDF.
- Tree.
- Drywall.
- Metal.
- Plastic.
Furniture made from natural stone is the most expensive. It is heavy and requires special care, especially if it is made of marble. It looks good in spacious rooms where expensive plumbing fixtures are used. Such furniture is very durable, wear-resistant and impact-resistant. Only countertops are usually made from natural stone.
Glass is a very good material for use in the bathroom. It is absolutely not afraid of moisture, but requires long-term washing using specialized products. Tempered glass is shock resistant. It is usually used to create shelves. Countertops and even cabinets are made from frosted glass.
MDF is the cheapest material. It is covered with water-repellent films, thanks to which such furniture lasts a really long time in moderate humidity. Of course, in appearance MDF is inferior to other materials except plastic. Products made from it in a higher price class have a completely acceptable appearance, especially if they are covered with a polymer film by vacuum pressing.
Natural wood looks luxurious and is expensive. It does not tolerate high humidity well, which does not allow it to be used in bathrooms with condensation on the mirror. In this regard, you should not choose furniture made from natural solid wood if the room area is only 3 m².
Bathroom furniture can also be made from plasterboard. On top it is covered with ceramic tiles or mosaics. Epoxy grout is used to fill the seams, which allows you to completely isolate the plasterboard sheet from moisture penetration. At first glance, it seems that this is the most economical furniture option, but the actual cost of epoxy grout with tiles is often higher than a cheap MDF furniture set. Drywall is usually used to make countertops, as well as open cabinets with shelves.
from metal , as well as racks for glass furniture. If its surface is covered with a high-quality layer of chrome, then the product is completely protected from corrosion. More expensive metal furniture is made of stainless steel. Such products are durable and compact. They fit well into a modern interior.
Furniture made of plastic belongs to the cheapest range. Typically, shelves are made from this material, as well as light cabinets with drawers. Furniture made of plastic is inferior to all other materials in appearance, but it is very light and is not at all afraid of moisture.
Related topics:
- Bathtub for the bathroom. Kinds. How to choose. Material
- Bathroom accessories. Types and features. How to choose
Installation methods
Installation can be floor, suspended, combined, corner.
Wall-mounted is more complex than floor-mounted. It provides for fastening cabinets and cabinets to the wall. Suspended structures cannot be mounted on walls made of plasterboard, wooden floors, or clay, because they simply cannot withstand heavy loads.
The easiest installation is floor-mounted. With this installation method, the customer will be able to rearrange the room at any time. When installing objects on legs, the floor must be level, since rolls and instability are guaranteed on an uneven surface. The mixed installation method is equivalent to the hanging one with the only difference - the elements have decorative legs.
Corner designs are suitable for small showers. A cabinet with a sink in a corner version takes up only 50-70cm. Hanging models are mounted by attaching to the wall. Floor-mounted ones are installed using a combined method - floor installation + wall mounting.
What material should you prefer when choosing furniture and accessories for the bathroom?
First of all, you need to pay attention to the fact that any piece of furniture must be made specifically for the bathroom - no matter how great the temptation to add a shelf that remains unnecessary after renovation, you should not give in to it. It is unlikely that a cute little thing will withstand temperature changes and high humidity and, most likely, will very quickly lose its beauty and functionality. For the same reason, it is better to avoid bathroom furniture made from solid natural wood, even if it is covered with a protective film (such film often peels off). Veneer (wood sheets no more than 3 mm thick) used for external coating is more resistant to adverse influences. Bathroom furniture made from chipboard and MDF is widespread today. MDF is significantly stronger (and significantly more expensive) than chipboard. Both materials can be given special properties (for example, water resistance) during the production process, which is actively used by manufacturers. However, with all their advantages, which include the relatively low cost of products, neither chipboard nor MDF are absolutely environmentally friendly materials. Bathroom furniture, shelves and accessories made of plastic are very popular. Thanks to the variety of shapes and colors, these products are able to embody unusual ideas and bold fantasies. Plastic is light, but, alas, not durable. Unsightly scratches remain on things made from it; a bright shelf can break if dropped from a meter height. On the other hand, the low cost of this material makes it easy to purchase a new piece of furniture to replace one that has fallen into disrepair, so if you like variety and frequent changes of interior, then feel free to opt for plastic. Separately, it is worth noting acrylic, bathroom furniture made from which is persistently gaining positions in the market. This material is quite durable, resistant to both temperature and humidity changes, as well as physical influences. Caring for acrylic products is very simple, and their appearance is beyond praise. Glass and chromed metal are optimal for the bathroom. To achieve the best result, these materials are combined both with each other and with others. You just need to remember about the compatibility of the elements. For example, an acrylic cabinet with glass doors can be a very elegant piece. When purchasing or ordering bathroom furniture from a manufacturer, you should definitely pay attention to the fittings. The best option would be fittings made of anti-corrosion alloy. You should also carefully check the joints and end faces. Uniformity of color and texture of the coating, reliable fastening of handles, absence of gaps when closing the door are essential properties of a quality product. A moisture-resistant coating must be applied over the entire surface. Particular attention should be paid to furniture drawers - they should move back and forth easily, without effort, but any movement to the sides, even if the drawer only “walks” slightly, is unacceptable. Open shelves – for example, “corners” – are suitable for washcloths, as well as glass and plastic packaging. You can place tubes of toothpaste, pumice stones or bottles without labels on them. Manufacturers offer a variety of bathroom furniture models, from strict high-tech to bright, cheerful products with doors made of colored glass or plastic. You can choose an unusual stained glass window, thin transparent glass, or tinted glass, leaving only the outlines of the contents hidden behind the doors visible. And opaque (including mirrored) doors will hide intimate hygiene items from prying eyes. Strict rectangular shapes are no longer mandatory - it’s all about your taste. The shelves can be stylized as sea shells and in shades of mother-of-pearl or decorated with intricate patterns. Increasingly, buyers prefer rounded lines and asymmetrical outlines of bathroom furniture and sanitary ware. Children will love the colorful drawings, appliqués or figurines of sea animals and fairy-tale characters. Bathroom furniture is sold separately, and the buyer has the opportunity to choose the set of items that best suits him. Combination cabinets are very convenient, including both open and closed shelves. A common option is where shelves with doors are located in the middle, and semicircular open niches on the sides. But you can place an order from a manufacturer who produces custom-made variable models. And the most demanding clients will benefit from the services of a designer and workshops specializing in designer furniture.