It used to be that when someone said the words bathroom cabinet, they were invariably talking about the same thing. They meant that little, usually metal cabinet mounted on the bathroom wall and used to hold aspirin and other small bathroom items.
Almost every bathroom had some type of small wall mounted metal shelving unit fastened on the wall. The door was also made of white enameled metal and usually had a mirror attached. They were useful all right, but they really had no other appeal to speak of.
All That Has Changed
We use our bathroom cabinets a little differently than we used to and with this change has come a whole new world in terms of bathroom cabinet design, with a lot of different colors, styles and materials now available to consumers which are functional as well as stylish.
The days of “any color you want, as long as it’s white” are gone and there are now bathroom cabinets bathroom cabinets in materials which include wicker, plastic, bamboo, polished nickel and chrome. You have a lot of different styles to choose from as well which allow homeowners to make something which once had only a functional purpose into something which adds favorably to the look and feel of their bathroom.
Understanding Vanity Bathroom Cabinets
We’re all familiar with the bathroom vanity cabinet – the cabinets which house the bathroom sink and sink fixtures, as well as serving the purpose of hiding the pipes and intake valves. There will be a vanity counter top which can be made from tile, marble or any number of other materials. The cabinet also has room for under sink storage, with 2 or more doors placed on the front to provide access to the storage area. Many models of vanity bathroom cabinets will also feature drawers for storing small items.Your vanity cabinet also is a much needed storage space in your bathroom and will typically have two doors for access to this under sink storage. Vanity bathroom cabinets also commonly include drawers which lend themselves well to storing small items.
Most people will pair the floor cabinet with a matching lighted vanity cabinet fixture that hangs above the sink. This cabinet is either mounted flush with the wall or recessed into it and tends to be shallow, but can be as wide or tall as you like. The doors are generally mirrored and there will be shelving inside to store all of the items which often end up as clutter in the absence of a bathroom cabinet.
Size And Style Are Important
There are also a number of different bathroom cabinets that are available to today’s consumers. These storage units can be as small as a tiny box or tall, roomy structures that make wonderful places to house linens and other bath essentials. Many bathrooms are small, so homeowners always like being able to make the best use of limited space with adequate storage which is also attractive and fits the rest of the room’s decor.
American and European Style Bathroom Cabinets
There are two distinctively different styles of bathroom cabinets that include both American and European.
The American cabinets generally rely on face-framing to complete the appearance. This means that the doors, mirrors, or some other type of covering frames the front of the shelves giving it a closed appearance. European-style bathroom cabinets differ in that they have open shelving with only a bare minimum of trim on the framework of the shelving.
Choosing Your Bathroom Cabinets
When shopping for bathroom cabinets there are stock, custom, and modular units to consider. Stock items are those cabinets which have been manufactured on a large scale for the mass market. These tend to be the least expensive, but you will be limited by a much smaller choice of styles and sizes.
You’ll have more choices of size and style with modular cabinets. For the connoisseur who wants a bathroom cabinet that stands out from the crowd a custom piece is the one to choose.
Custom bathroom cabinets are made to the specifications you choose and will be made from your choice of materials in the color, size and style you want.
