BATHROOM CABINET BUYING GUIDE

When most people think of creating a focal point for a bathroom, they probably picture a clawfoot tub or an ultra-modern glass-walled shower. However, there’s nothing like a new bathroom vanity to shake up the look of your bathroom and make it truly one-of-a-kind.

Not sure how to choose the right cabinets for your bathroom space? Check out our bathroom cabinet buying guide to get started.

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE REPLACING YOUR BATHROOM CABINET

The world of bathroom cabinets is a wide one. When it comes time to upgrade your cabinets (or install cabinets in a new bathroom), the number of options can be overwhelming. However, you can easily narrow your choices when you consider three key limiting factors:

• Your budget
• The size and layout of your bathroom
• The amount of storage you need

Here’s a closer look at each factor and how it can help shape your decision.

Budget

Before you delve too deeply into our medicine cabinet buying guide, you should set a budget. If you don’t have a definite budget in mind before you start shopping, it can be very easy to spend more than you mean to. Once you have a general sense of how much bathroom cabinets cost, you can decide on a spending limit.

There are certainly outliers, but bathroom cabinets usually cost from about $500 on the low end to $2,500 or more on the high end. Cabinets for smaller bathrooms tend to be less expensive because you have significantly less space to furnish.

If your budget is limited, there’s no need to worry. It’s still entirely possible to find high-quality, long-lasting cabinets for very affordable prices.

Your Layout/Sizing

There are some decisions you can make without measuring anything. For instance, no matter how much you might like to have a double-sink vanity, it’s not practical if your bathroom is just80square feet.

When it comes to choosing cabinets, you’ll need to measure for both a vanity and a medicine cabinet. Check out these pro tips to get your measurement exactly right.

Measuring for a Vanity

Most bathroom vanities have a width of 24 to 60 inches. The width you choose will depend on the size of your bathroom and how much space you need for your tub, shower, toilet, and other essentials.

Choosing the height of your vanity can be a little more complicated. Most are 31 to 32 inches high, but it’s also possible to find shorter or taller vanities. Here are some general height guidelines:

• For taller adults, a vanity height of about 36 inches (or greater) will be comfortable
• Children and shorter adults will be more comfortable with a vanity height of about 30 inches
• Wheelchair users will generally be more comfortable with a vanity height of 29 to 34 inches
• Average-sized adults usually do best with 32 to 36 inches

The size of your bathroom might also influence your choice of vanity height. As a general rule, a shorter vanity will make a small bathroom look larger. In a larger bathroom (and especially one with higher ceilings), a taller vanity will look more natural.

Measuring for a Medicine Cabinet

When you choose a medicine cabinet, the width of your vanity is a limiting factor. In virtually every case, medicine cabinets should be narrower than the width of your vanity — or at least the same width. A wide medicine cabinet can easily make the whole room look unbalanced.

Medicine cabinet height is largely a matter of personal preference. However, before choosing, you should measure the distance between your faucet and the overhead lights. You want to make sure you have ample clearance above the faucet and below the lights.

How Much Storage Do You Need?

Some bathrooms need more storage options than others. If you only have a handful of toiletries, you might be perfectly fine with a regular medicine cabinet.

However, if you want to store more toiletries, extra towels, and other items, you might choose a vanity that matches your medicine cabinet and offers more storage. Even a smaller single-sink vanity will usually have multiple shelves and drawers, so you should have no trouble getting space for everything you need.

How Much Storage Space Should I Have?

In most cases, you can’t load all of your toiletries into a given medicine cabinet or vanity until you’ve already purchased it. So how do you determine your storage needs before buying? These are some factors to consider:

What Do You Need to Store?

It can be difficult to get an accurate picture of how much storage space you need, especially if most of your items are currently in storage. The best way to visualize how much space you need is by listing what you need to store, including towels, shampoo, other toiletries, and more.

Try to get a picture of what you have to store. Once you have an idea of your storage needs, choosing the right cabinets for your bathroom layout should be significantly easier.

How Many Bathrooms Are in Your Home?

Generally, if your home has several bathrooms, each individual one will need less storage. However, if you have only one bathroom to store all of your towels and toiletries, it’s worth considering vanities and medicine cabinets that offer expanded storage options.

How Many People Will Be Using the Bathroom?

If you’re a single person, you’ll likely need less storage space than a couple. Similarly, a couple with no children will need less space than a growing family.

You should also think of the future before making your final decision about storage options. Do you hope to one day live with a partner or spouse? Are you planning on having children in the future? If so, it’s safest to choose a cabinet that gives you more storage space than you currently need.

Are You Running Out of Storage Space in Your Current Bathroom?

If you’re buying new cabinets for a bathroom renovation, any current storage issues you’re having can inform the decisions you’re making now. For example, perhaps your current bathroom is starting to look cluttered because you mostly have open storage. In that case, a more closed option could give you a minimalist aesthetic while still offering ample storage space.

The Materials

No bathroom cabinet buying guide is complete without a mention of available materials. You want materials that will be durable, and it’s especially important for them to be capable of withstanding repeated exposure to high humidity.

The last thing you want is for your beautiful new cabinets to start warping and developing mold. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of some of the most common bathroom cabinet materials, along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Solid Wood

If you want a material that offers classic good looks that work nicely with virtually any aesthetic, natural wood is a great choice. Natural wood can be susceptible to changes in humidity, so most manufacturers will opt to use hardwoods like oak or birch.

Solid wood has an unmistakable look of quality, and the huge variety of available grains and stain options means you can find something for nearly any design style. However, it tends to be expensive, so it might not be the right option for everyone.

Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)

If you want something more affordable than solid wood but of a higher quality than particleboard or plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is worth considering. This material is sometimes called engineered wood, and it’s made from wood fibers, resin, and wax pressed together. The result is a supremely durable product that looks a lot like solid wood.

However, medium-density fiberboard does have some disadvantages. When it’s exposed to heat and humidity over time, it can gradually lose its strength. However, some types of MDF are made with special finishes that make them more moisture-resistant, and these varieties do very well when used for bathroom cabinetry.

Laminate

Laminate cabinets are made from inexpensive types of wood and then covered in a laminated coating. That coating seals out moisture, which is great for use in bathrooms. Because it’s a cost-effective alternative to wood, laminate is often used in projects where budget is a concern.

However, it does have disadvantages. Over time, the coating on laminate cabinets can start to peel. These cabinets can’t simply be sanded and refinished like solid wood cabinets can. They aren’t easy to repair, so many homeowners replace them when they start to show wear. Laminate medicine cabinets and vanities also don’t have the high-end look of solid wood or MDF cabinets.

Particleboard

If you’re looking for a very budget-friendly option, particleboard is worth considering. As the name suggests, it’s a material made by pressing multiple particles of wood together. If cost is your primary concern, this might be an acceptable material. However, with particleboard, you really do get what you pay for. It’s considerably weaker than every other option on our list.

If you plan to use a vanity top made of quartz, marble, or another dense material, particleboard should be out of the question. It simply lacks the strength to hold materials like these. Over time, it can start to sag or even break.

Aluminum

When you think about the different types of bathroom cabinets, you probably didn’t consider metal. However, if you want something supremely durable that also fits in with almost any modern bathroom, metal cabinets are ideal. Aluminum is a great choice because it’s incredibly strong, but it’s also light — much lighter than stainless steel.

Aluminum won’t be affected by exposure to heat and humidity, and it’s very resistant to corrosion. However, it can dent more easily than stainless steel can.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cabinets are super durable, and they’re commonly used in outdoor kitchens. They resist both dents and corrosion, but they’re much heavier than aluminum. This means they need greater support when being installed. However, if denting is a major concern, steel cabinets are still worth exploring.

Finish Options

When it comes to finishes, you can incorporate almost any type you want. Many homeowners will choose to paint a vanity cabinet in a color that contrasts with the countertop. For instance, black cabinetry is commonly used with white or light gray quartz countertops. If you have medium-density fiberboard or solid wood cabinets, natural stains or finishes are common.

At Vintage Tub & Bath, we specialize in two finishes that work equally well in classic and modern bathrooms: white and natural aluminum. White cabinets can create a striking contrast with darker walls, but they also can be used to establish a monochromatic look with white or ivory walls.

Natural aluminum has a decidedly modern appearance. However, because it’s a neutral option, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised to find that it works with most colors.

Other Features to Consider

The best bathroom cabinets combine beauty and functionality. And if you browse our selection, you might find that there are more types of bathroom cabinets than you’d previously realized. Here are some additional features you might consider before making a final decision.

Recessed Cabinets

Any truly thorough bathroom cabinet buying guide will discuss recessed cabinets as an option for those looking to renovate their current bathroom or design a new one. These are cabinets that partially extend backward into the wall.

Recessed cabinets give you ample storage space, but they don’t jut too far forward. The result is a great storage solution that takes up minimal space and makes it easier for you to create a sleek, modern aesthetic. As a bonus, a recessed cabinet is much less likely to become detached from the wall over time.

Freestanding vs. Floating Vanities

When choosing your vanity, it’s understandable that you’d focus first on its material, finish, and built-in organizers like shelves and drawers. There’s another important decision to make during this time, though: whether you want freestanding or wall-mounted vanities.

Freestanding vanities are of course easier to install. However, wall-mounted (or floating) vanities can give your bathroom a more modern look. In some cases, they might even make smaller bathrooms look more spacious.

These vanities have no legs, so they appear to be “floating” above the floor. If you choose this option, adding lighting underneath can really shape the overall ambiance.

Lights

Most people use their bathrooms as a place to get ready for the day. This means that the right kind of lighting is essential. Your overhead lights may be all you need, but if you choose a medicine cabinet with built-in lighting, you’ll enjoy the convenience that comes with additional, focused lighting.

Speakers

If you love to listen to music as you shower or get ready in the morning, you might consider getting a medicine cabinet that comes equipped with speakers. We offer cabinets that feature Bluetooth and USB connectivity, as well as optional FM radio functionality.

The speakers that come with bathroom cabinets are specially designed to withstand the heat and humidity a bathroom will be subjected to. You can be confident that your speakers will enhance your bathroom experience for years to come.

Doors

In the context of an entire bathroom remodel, deciding whether you want your new medicine cabinet to have one door or two is a minor choice. This is mostly a matter of personal preference, but there are a few things to consider.

For instance, single-door options tend to be a little easier to install, so they are sometimes better for DIY remodels. They also take up less space, meaning they do better in smaller areas. On the other hand, a double-door medicine cabinet will also usually offer you more storage space.

Maybe you prefer to keep your counter space clear without affecting the accessibility of your toothbrush and other everyday toiletries. If so, and if your bathroom is big enough to accommodate a larger cabinet without things looking too cramped, you might decide that a double-door medicine cabinet is the better option.

Medicine cabinet doors almost always have mirrors on them, so double-door selections will effectively give you a larger mirror. This isn’t always necessary, but it can be nice to have.

Picking the Right Cabinets

undecided after taking a look at our bathroom cabinet buying guide, we’re here for you. Get in touch with us to chat with a bathroom cabinet specialist.