An important part of your bathroom that often goes overlooked during a remodel is the storage. Ample storage is essential in your bathroom. Your cabinets need to not only fit the dimensions of your bathroom, but they also need to be large enough to hold all of your sundries and match the overall design of your bathroom. When purchasing, you will also want cabinets which are easy to clean and to maintain.
Stock, semi-stock and custom are three terms which you will hear when shopping for your cabinets. They simply describe how the cabinets are made.
Stock cabinets are the most common type that can be found. They are typically the least expensive are normally ready to assemble straight from the store. These types of cabinets are normally made from particle board with a laminate or wood veneer as a finish. These are convenient because matching filler pieces can be used in order to change the dimensions of a standard cabinet so that it will fit the dimensions of your bathroom.
Semi-stock cabinets normally will cost a bit more than standard stock cabinets. These types of cabinets are usually of a higher quality and made of a high quality wood such as oak, cherry or maple. Semi stock cabinets come in many of the same sizes as their stock counterparts. These however are not available in nearly as many odd shapes and sizes making it more difficult to make these fit an odd shaped bathroom. Expect longer delivery time with these types as many makers are not located locally and will need to ship the cabinets.
Customer cabinets are normally the most expensive type of cabinets you can invest in. These cabinets are custom made to exactly fit your useable space and provide the most versatility for your bathroom remodel. What's more, these cabinets can be made of exotic wood such as mahogany or teak.
Whatever style of cabinets you choose, see to it that they are sealed on the inside or fully lined with melamine and have a catalyzed finish on the outside. This will protect the wood from the inherent moisture of the bathroom and ensure that your new cabinets can endure the harsh environment of the bathroom.
Handles
The main distinguishing features of many cabinets are the handles. A handle should be easy to grip and easy to clean. You should also ensure that they do not clash with the designs of the bathroom and at the same time, give your bathroom a unique and stylish feel.
Many stores offer displays of the handles which they offer, giving you the change to see how it will feel in your hand and how it will look when mounted. Make sure that there are no points which will end up jabbing your hand. Unusual shapes may be hard to grasp making it difficult to open you cabinets.
As the handles will be placed in the bathroom, you will want a handle that is easy to clean, thus reducing the amount of grime and germs that are prevalent in the bathroom. Handles that are "D" shaped are a good choice due to the fact that they are easy to clean and normally do not have the crevices which can hide germs and make it difficult to clean. Try to stay away from any handles which have an overly ornate design to them. These types tend to accumulate dirt and germs and are harder to clean.
The right handle, properly chosen for your bathroom, can add a great feel to your bathroom and aid you achieving the aesthetics that you seek. Handles can also give you some flexibility to add your personal touch to your designs. If designing a children's bathroom, there exist several handle styles, in the shape of animated animals and other cartoon characters which can be purchased in order to give the bathroom a more playful feeling.
Before making a final decision on the handle type for your bathroom, get the opinion of several others. Try making a list of your top choices and see what others think. You may find their insight to be a valuable tool in making your final decision.
Medicine Cabinets
Medicine cabinets are a great addition to any bathroom. They are extremely useful not only in the storage of medicine, but also in also in storing other toiletries and sundries.
Medicine cabinets come in two mounting varieties, wall mounted and recessed.
Recessed cabinets are sunk into the wall. Their size is limited due to the fact that it must fit between the studs in the wall. These can be beneficial in bathrooms that do not have much space. These can be a great way of adding more storage space without intruding on any existing space. Depending on where you want to place your medicine cabinet, you may not be able to select one that is recessed; plumbing and wiring can prevent the installation of a recessed cabinet as it can be very expensive to move these items.
A wall mounted cabinet is attached directly to the surface of a wall. These can be placed almost anywhere and they are easily removed if needed. These come in many different shapes and sizes and can give you a higher level of customization for your designs.
Medicine cabinets are made in many different materials so it is easy to find one that will match the rest of your bathroom.
If you do not believe that you bathroom currently has the space for a medicine cabinet, you may want to consider replacing your current mirror with a large, wall mounted medicine cabinet with a mirrored face. This type of unit is great at integrating both style and function without having to sacrifice any features of your current bathroom.
No matter what type of cabinets you choose for your remodel, don't rush into anything. The last thing that you want is to regret your decision after you spend the money and take the time installing it. If you have any doubts on how to install your cabinets, be sure to ask a professional. By so doing, you will be able to make certain that they are properly installed and save yourself the headache of having to replace your cabinets before their time.
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