Many people assume that a cabinet is a cabinet — what will hold rice and pasta in your kitchen must work just as well for towels and extra toothbrushes in your bathroom, right?

Wrong. There are significant differences between these two types of storage solutions.  Cabinets are generally categorized by three elements — design, construction, and finish. Bathroom cabinets differ from those in the kitchen in all three categories.

Design

You may never have consciously noticed this, but bathroom cabinets are not the same size as their kitchen cousins. The difference is small, but perceptible once you know to look for it. The next time you’re standing at your kitchen and bathroom counters, lean against them and mentally note how far away you are from the wall.  You’ll likely notice a difference of about three inches.  Bathroom cabinets are also shorter by about 3 inches. This allows the home dweller to easily navigate around the cabinets in the smallest room of the house, while still having plenty of room for towels and bath products.

Another design difference between the bathroom and the kitchen is the popularity of wall-mounted lower cabinets in the bathroom. These have a sleek look and allow easy cleaning underneath. They wouldn’t make sense in a kitchen, where other appliances reach the floor, and maximizing storage space is a priority.

Construction

Your bathroom cabinets stand a higher risk of being exposed to water than your kitchen cabinets do. For this reason, it’s essential to carefully choose the construction material. The three usual options are; plywood, MDF, and solid wood. MDF (medium-density fiberboard can warp on direct contact with water, and it can’t be repaired. This isn’t the right choice for the cabinet directly next to your shower. Our in-home consultation can help decide how likely you are to get water damage, and this can inform your bathroom cabinet decision.  Plywood is sturdy and in the mid-range, price-wise.  It’s less likely to warp, is repairable, and does not expand when it comes into contact with humidity, making it a solid choice for any bathroom.  Solid wood is the final choice of construction material. This does tend to be a bit more costly than plywood or MDF. It can expand and/or warp when it gets humid. However, unlike MDF, it can be repaired. Solid wood is a fantastic design choice and suits the decor of any home. Many of our customers choose something from our line of solid wood cabinets because they know they will last for years and years to come. At least, as long as they have proper protection, which brings us to the last difference to consider between kitchen and bathroom cabinets: finish.

Finish

Cabinets that will be used in a bathroom must be properly painted and sealed in order to last.  If you’re planning to paint your cabinets, we advise using a semi-gloss paint. This will reflect light and help your bathroom gleam.

Now that you know all about the difference between kitchen and bathroom cabinets, you’re ready to hit our showroom! Or perhaps you’d rather we come to you? Whatever your preference, we look forward to sharing our knowledge to make your home improvement project fun and easy.