How to Choose Bathroom Cabinets

If you thought bathroom cabinets were just square boxes used to hold toiletries, go ahead and try choosing new ones. We dare you. Which base material, surface and color do you want? Raised or flat panels? Exposed or concealed hinges? The list goes on.

We always suggest mapping out your priorities in cabinet design and function before beginning to browse for ideas. On a blank slate, your needs will stand out. In the middle of a showroom, the bling may blind you to the cabinetry pros and cons.

When installing furnishings in a new home or remodeling your master bath, you might purchase a built-in vanity, cabinet and sink, with an attached or separate medicine cabinet. If your bathroom has storage space, a linen closet and overhead storage cabinet will be most efficient. If not, select a space-saving model that frames the toilet area.

As you decide which cabinets you need, consider:

• Who will use them
• What will go in them
• Benefits of different materials
• Risks associated with different styles

Who Will Use Your Bathroom Cabinets?

Consider the end user in your bathroom remodel, even when purchasing prefabricated cabinets. Those pesky details we mentioned—materials, style and hardware—perform differently for different people. Body size, age and physical capabilities all play into how well your bathroom cabinets will serve you and your family.

For instance, very small or tall people may warrant low or high placement of cabinets of appropriate size. Elders appreciate less reaching and smoother hinges and drawers. Young children will keep fingers unharmed with slow-closing door hinges.

Personal habits can guide consumers toward convenience. If you are deciding between a modern vanity/cabinet/countertop combo and an old-fashioned sink cabinet, ask yourself who will use it. Someone who likes to fill a countertop with shampoos, soaps and sundries will run out of space atop a sink cabinet.

Unlike built-in vanities, these free-standing items resemble furniture pieces. Sink cabinets usually have a chest-style cupboard with doors or drawers below, and a wash basin and faucet above. These are popular with homeowners who are going for a retro, picturesque effect, and who prize looks over easy care or accessible storage.

Who makes use of your bathroom cabinets can help you determine even the smallest details. Knobs, handles and drawer pulls should be friendly to the hands that use them. Do sliding mirrored doors above the vanity need handles? They do if small, sticky fingers are their best customers.

What Function Will Your Cabinets Perform?

Simple wood cabinetry or fancy stone countertops work better for some purposes than others. Are you remodeling a busy area or a guest bathroom? Lots of traffic may dictate sturdy, water-repellent materials. A retreat for visitors can lean more heavily toward aesthetics.

Busy bathrooms need to be easy to clean and efficient in layout. An all-in-one vanity cabinet would be a better choice than separate sink, storage and countertop pieces. Tall vanities with drawers, enclosed shelves, a medicine cabinet and/or mirror, and overhead lighting panel are popular. Choose overlay rather than flush cabinet doors for extra strength under heavy usage.

Boutique bathrooms can be more refined and more extravagant. These are all about quality materials, thoughtful design and eye appeal. With the kids safely out of the way, you can choose that expensive stone countertop and cherry wood cabinet. Know what tasks your cabinets will have to perform, and then decide on the materials.

Benefits of Wood, Stainless, Stone and Solid Surfaces

Now for the hard part. Here is where form meets function: hardwood versus wood veneer, laminate versus solid surface, marble versus granite versus quartz. This is where a trip to the home decor showroom will help.

The majority of ready-made bathroom cabinets are made of wood. Your budget will dictate whether you choose solid wood or veneered products. National brands such as Armstrong and Ameriwood offer styles with different features, colors and door details.

Search for local cabinet makers who may offer prefab lines of higher quality or style. You can also choose custom cabinetry from a local crafter, so you can create to the look you want. Hardwood imparts warmth to your decor and accommodates any type of countertop material. Wood composite and veneer facing are both less sturdy than solid wood.

Manufacturers and distributors of stainless steel cabinets, countertops and sinks are harder to come by. And you may have to pay for custom work, depending on your space requirements. Stainless can be accented with other materials, such as solid-surface Corian, for greater function and form. Stainless steel looks great but can be hard to maintain.

Countertop materials for vanity cabinets are subject to the “who will use them?” rule. For ease of cleaning and a like-new look, laminates, solid surfaces and engineered quartz are best. For beauty that evolves into a patina, marble, granite and concrete vie for the title.

Risks in Making the Wrong Choices

Many of the risks in choosing cabinetry can be eliminated by working with a good bathroom cabinet contractor. Correct measurements plus a knowledge of the working space and available materials give your remodeling project a sound boost.

Contractors who perform many bathroom installations can give you ideas and tips as well as steer you away from bad choices. Research the materials that interest you before buying, and you’ll improve your bathroom—and your home’s value—with a great investment in cabinetry.