Mike posted on December 05, 2008 14:53
The Importance of Bathroom Cabinets
One solution to storage problems in a bathroom is choosing the right bathroom cabinets. Having sufficient cabinets in the bathroom is essential to keeping the clutter off of the countertops, window sills, and even the floor. Bathroom cabinets can house towels and washcloths, spare toilet paper, beauty and hygiene supplies plus a rubber ducky or two for the kiddies.
Choosing Bathroom Cabinets
Choosing bathroom cabinets doesn't have to be a tough job. First you need to decide if you will use stock or custom made cabinets. Then you need to decide what will be stored in the cabinets. If that is determined before you put the cabinets in, you are more likely to choose the correct size cabinets for your needs. Finally, you need to choose the style, color and material that the cabinets will be.
Stock Bathroom Cabinets vs. Custom Bathroom Cabinets
If you are choosing stock cabinets, it is good to know that they typically start at 9 inches wide and can get as wide as 48 inches. Usually stock cabinets get wider by three inch increments so you can choose 9 inches, 12 inches, 15 inches, etc. Their heights can vary. Stock cabinets can usually arrive from the manufacturer fairly quickly. If you need cabinets that are not a standard size, you will need to choose custom made cabinets. Usually custom cabinetry is necessary if you have a space that isn't the same measurements as a stock cabinet or if you need to store an item that doesn't fit into a stock cabinet. Custom cabinets are more expensive than stock cabinets and take longer to arrive. However, they can make the difference between a room looking finished and a room looking simply like it came with the house.
Bathroom Cabinet Materials
The material that the cabinets are made from can make a big difference in the cost. Better woods can be very expensive, but there are usually laminate alternatives that imitate better woods yet are still affordable. In addition to wood, bathroom cabinets can be made from metal. Once a material is decided on, its time to choose the style and a color if necessary.