Bathroom Cabinet Buying Tips

Buying bathroom cabinetry or a vanity is a similar process to buying kitchen cabinets. Before you start shopping, make sure you have a well-thought-out plan for your bathroom renovation. You should have a clear vision of what your new bathroom will look like, after exploring various bathroom designs and layouts and planning out space and storage. Finally, you should have a budget to work with.

Cabinet Sourcing Bathroom Cabinet

Cabinet Drawers
Make sure to choose a well-constructed cabinet with drawers at least 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch thick, especially on the bottom. Avoid stapled construction. Ensure drawers are snug in their box, open quietly and glide smoothly. They should not sag when extended fully. Solid wood sides and dovetail joinery marks quality construction practices but substrates, such as plywood, particleboard and medium density fiberboard (MDF) with doweled joinery is a suitable and affordable alternative.

Cabinet Materials and Finishes
Bathrooms receive considerable wear and tear and it's important to choose materials and finishes that can withstand heat, water and excessive moisture. Typically, cabinetry is constructed of a plywood, particleboard or medium density fiberboard (MDF) box with solid wood door and drawer faces. The number of available material and finish options increase with price point. Manufacturing network of Cabinet Sourcing offer a breadth of painted, stained, glazed, antiqued and distressed finishes and an expansive selection of woods and laminates.  

Cabinet Doors, Accessories and Hardware
Door style and decorative enhancements drive the look of bath cabinetry. Doors may be flush or have an elevated or inset central panel that could be squared, arched or rounded. From craftsman to modern, a number of door styles are available at every price point.

An assortment of decorative accessories such as posts, pilasters and wainscoting further customize the look. Drawers and doors typically look best when coordinated or identical. The same applies to their hardware, including hinges, knobs and pulls. It's important to thoroughly consider each of these items as an entity before committing. But bath cabinetry isn't all about looks. Consider accessories for ease of use. Mid and high-end cabinetry offer an abundance of features, such as pull-out hair dryer drawers with electrical outlets installed inside doors and wire clothing hamper drawers.

Cabinet and Vanity Styles
Consider first what you'll be storing in cabinetry before deciding on a design. A double sink vanity offers more storage while a narrower vanity allows more floor space. Another trend is custom designed vanities suspended above the floor. Wall-hung vanities  show more floor beneath, lending bathrooms a larger sense of space. Freestanding vanities and cabinetry detached from walls on either side are especially popular in powder rooms or half baths.

Cabinets sold specifically as bathroom cabinets are generally 32 inches tall and 18 to 21 inches deep. However, kitchen cabinetry suits bathroom applications, differing only slightly in height and depth. 

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