Do you need to do homework when choosing a bathroom cabinet?

Yes, it must be done!

Otherwise, you will face the following problems: unreasonable space division, hard to clean corners, easy to mold, nowhere to hide wires ... Life is full of pain points. So how to choose or customize a bathroom cabinet that suits your home? What are the precautions?

Please note that there is a lot of useful information ahead!

//Bathroom cabinet size //

When choosing a bathroom cabinet, you must first determine the size that suits your home. The most common standard size is usually 80cm-100cm long and 45cm-50cm wide (wall distance). The height of the main cabinet of a normal bathroom cabinet is 80-85cm (including the height of the basin). In addition to the commonly used sizes, for large bathrooms, if you want a larger bathroom cabinet, the length can also reach 120cm-180cm.

//Ready-made or custom made? //

Determine the size and then decide the style of the bathroom cabinet according to the decoration style.

Finished bathroom cabinets

Most bathroom brands have ready-made bathroom cabinets. They are beautiful overall, with various styles and convenient to choose. Friends who don't like to worry can consider buying ready-made bathroom cabinets directly. Pay attention to the selection of materials, colors, shapes and sizes to be consistent with other facilities in the bathroom and the overall style of the room.

Custom bathroom cabinets

Nowadays, the trend of overall customization is popular. Many people customize bathroom cabinets when customizing furniture. Customization can make full use of the bathroom space and customize it according to the size of your home. The style, texture and color of the cabinet can be perfectly matched with other furniture.

//Bathroom cabinet form //

Floor standing bathroom cabinet

Floor-standing bathroom cabinet: the bottom touches the ground and is supported by the ground.

Advantages of floor-standing bathroom cabinets:

1. There is no wall restriction for installation and it is easy to carry.

2. It is convenient to store and retrieve items, and has a larger storage space for storing heavy items.

Disadvantages of floor-standing bathroom cabinets:

1. The bottom touches the ground and is easily affected by moisture, so the bathroom needs to separate dry and wet areas.

2. It takes up space and will appear crowded and bulky in smaller bathrooms.

3. It is difficult to clean and the bottom is difficult to clean.

Wall mounted bathroom cabinet

Wall-mounted bathroom cabinet: The bottom is suspended and supported by parts connected to the wall.

Advantages of wall-mounted bathroom cabinets:

1. Leaving a suspended space allows the water on the ground to diffuse, which is more suitable for bathrooms without dry and wet separation.

2. The bottom is suspended, so there is no chance of sanitary dead corners and it is easier to clean.

3. Wall-mounted bathroom cabinets are simpler and neater, and will not appear crowded in a small bathroom.

Disadvantages of wall-mounted bathroom cabinets:

1. You need to choose a load-bearing wall or solid wall to install the bathroom cabinet, otherwise it will not be able to bear the weight of the bathroom cabinet and it is not suitable for placing heavy items.

2. Wall-mounted bathroom cabinets are located high up and have limited storage space.

3. Drainage needs to be taken into consideration. It is best to choose wall drainage, which is more beautiful.

//About drainage //

The drainage method also has a certain impact on the choice of bathroom cabinets. Let Sister Yan talk about it below.

Floor drainage (interlayer drainage)

If your home has floor drainage, it is generally better to match it with a floor-standing bathroom cabinet, which can cover the drain pipe connected to the ground. Otherwise, a section of the water pipe will be exposed, which really affects the appearance.

Wall drainage (same floor drainage)

Compared with floor drainage, wall drainage pipes are more beautiful, easier to maintain, and have no sanitary dead corners. However, wall drainage will add a 90° bend from the wall to the drainage pipe. Because of the addition of the elbow, the drainage speed may be slowed down. If your home has wall drainage, then you can choose either a wall-mounted or floor-standing bathroom cabinet.

//Bathroom cabinet material //

The bathroom is a humid space all year round. What should we pay attention to when choosing the material of the bathroom cabinet? Here is an analysis for you:

PVC bathroom cabinet

PVC bathroom cabinets are made of polyvinyl chloride as raw material and have strong waterproof performance. Even if used in a humid environment, it is not easy to cause the cabinet to mold due to moisture and is durable. PVC material has good reprocessing performance and rich color and style selection. At the same time, the price is relatively cheap and has a high cost performance.

However, since it is made of chemical boards, it contains more harmful substances such as formaldehyde and has poor high temperature resistance. It is easy for toxic substances to volatilize when exposed to high temperatures. It is recommended to choose it with caution if there are elderly people or children at home.

Solid wood bathroom cabinet

Solid wood bathroom cabinets are made of distilled and dehydrated solid wood as the base material, and are processed through multiple waterproofing processes. Natural wood furniture has clear textures and annual ring marks, and has both texture and appearance, but the price is relatively high.

Before buying a solid wood bathroom cabinet, you must understand its factory moisture content (national standard 3.0%-10%), and pay attention to daily maintenance during use. Solid wood furniture is relatively susceptible to moisture, and the bathroom needs to be separated into dry and wet areas.

Panel veneer bathroom cabinet

Most of the veneer bathroom cabinets are based on various types of boards such as density boards, multi-layer boards, particle boards, etc. After the solid wood veneer boards are pasted as a whole, the edge sealing requirements are high and the surface is painted with waterproof paint. The price is much cheaper than solid wood.

Due to the influence of the pasting process and adhesive materials, cracking is prone to occur, affecting the waterproof effect.

Stainless steel bathroom cabinet

Stainless steel bathroom cabinets are made of high-quality stainless steel plates and processed by technology. They have a strong metallic texture. Stainless steel bathroom cabinets not only have good wear resistance and moisture resistance, but also have certain environmental protection performance. They are not easy to produce formaldehyde, benzene and other gases that are harmful to the human body, creating a safer and more comfortable home bathroom life.

However, stainless steel is also prone to leaving water stains and loses its original luster over time, so it requires regular cleaning and maintenance.

//Cabinet structure //

The cabinet structure of bathroom cabinets can be fully enclosed, semi-enclosed or open. Sister Yan thinks that you can choose according to your personal usage habits.

Fully enclosed

The fully enclosed bathroom cabinet can store more things, avoiding the embarrassment of placing private items outside, and looks neat and tidy. At the same time, it is also more waterproof.

Semi-open

The semi-open bathroom cabinet has a partially exposed shelf where you can place some commonly used items, which are convenient to take, but you need to pay attention to proper storage.

Open bathroom cabinet

Strictly speaking, the open bathroom cabinet cannot be considered a cabinet, but more of a wall-mounted partition. It has a strong sense of lines and conforms to the current minimalist design style, which is more in line with the preferences of young people.

//Inside the cabinet //

Add separator

Some of the partitions inside the bathroom cabinet are very rough, so you can add storage frames and compartmentalized storage boxes by yourself. Especially for the drawer closest to the countertop, adding compartmentalized storage boxes can store small items in different categories for easy use.

Built-in socket

The built-in socket in the bathroom cabinet is really practical. Your mobile phone, beauty instrument, hair dryer and other small appliances can be charged in the cabinet to avoid the mess of external stacking.

//Basin //

The types of basins combined with bathroom cabinets mainly include above-counter basins, under-counter basins, semi-embedded basins, integrated basins and other types. Sister Yan will talk about them one by one below.

Above counter basin

The above counter basin has a wide variety of shapes and beautiful appearance. There are square, round, oval, and even various artistic shapes. It needs to be matched with a high faucet. The disadvantage is that it is easy to accumulate dirt. For example, the circle where the basin contacts the countertop needs to be cleaned frequently to keep it clean. In addition, glue is needed where the basin contacts the countertop, which is prone to mold over time.

The height of an above-the-counter basin is generally between 10-20cm, and the total height of the bathroom cabinet and the basin is generally about 85cm. Therefore, if the bathroom cabinet is equipped with an above-the-counter basin, the height of the bathroom cabinet countertop should be about 75cm. In addition, since it is an above-the-counter basin, the faucet should be matched with the basin to avoid choosing the wrong height.

Under counter basin

Under-counter basins are usually installed under the countertop. The advantage is that it is very convenient to clean the countertop. For example, water stains and dirt on the countertop can be wiped into the basin to keep it clean. Under-counter basin craftsmanship generally requires the use of silicone glue between the countertop and the basin, and that circle may turn black over time.

The height of the bathroom cabinet with an under-counter basin is generally about 85cm. Of course, if you want the height to suit the family members, you can also customize it. The depth of the under-counter basin is generally 55-60cm, which is more suitable. The under-counter basin is also a widely used form.

Integrated tray

The integrated basin is a basin and a countertop that are seamlessly connected. Integrated basins are now quite popular, with a clean and neat appearance. The basin can be made as large as possible, covering the entire bathroom countertop, eliminating dead corners to the greatest extent, and being hygienic and easy to maintain. There is no need to use glue on the surface, and there will be no problem of glue aging and unsightly appearance caused by long-term use.

Semi-embedded basin

If you have a narrow bathroom and the size is not enough, you can choose a semi-recessed basin. Due to its special craftsmanship, the semi-recessed basin has certain shortcomings in appearance. The recommended width of the bathroom cabinet for a semi-recessed basin is 35cm.

Double Basin

If the space is large enough, the double basin design is obviously better. For example, when a family needs to get up early and go out at the same time, it can improve life efficiency, and the picture of two people washing together is also very warm.

//Bathroom mirror //

For bathrooms, you can choose between mirrors and mirror cabinets. From the perspective of practical storage performance, Sister Yan still recommends that you choose mirror cabinets.

//Faucet //

Regarding the faucet, Sister Yan strongly recommends using a pull-out faucet. When it is not pulled out, it is the same as an ordinary faucet. When it is pulled out, it can be used as a handheld shower head, which is very convenient to use for washing your hair.

//Things to note when buying bathroom cabinets //

gap

The gap between cabinet doors, drawers, and bathroom cabinet doors should not exceed 3mm, and the left and right door panels should be neat and consistent. If it is a push-type drawer, the distance between the drawer edge and the cabinet body should not exceed 3mm. If the gap is too large, it is easy for water vapor to enter and corrode the items in the cabinet, but the gap cannot be too small, otherwise the opening and closing will not be smooth and affect the user experience.

guide

During acceptance, it is also necessary to check the drawer rails. Good guide rails can move in and out freely and without noise after a reasonable load.

Door hinge

The door hinges should open and close freely, and should not be too loose or too tight. In addition, you should also pay attention to whether the installation position of the door hinges is reasonable and whether it will affect daily use. Finally, check whether the door hinges are rusty.

Support feet

When placing the bathroom cabinet, you need to check whether the four supporting feet of the cabinet are stable and whether they are on the same horizontal line. Avoid unstable four feet, which will affect the use experience and life of the bathroom cabinet.

Is the amount of information today a bit overwhelming? In fact, what Sister Yan wants to say most is that you must not make do with decoration. Whether it is the bathroom or other spaces in the home, you must carefully choose furniture and supplies to bring comfort to your future home life and avoid problems such as re-ordering and renovation.