1. Intro
A cabinet behind the toilet is not only a fashionable, but also a practical accessory that hides the central sewer pipes and provides more storage space in the bathroom. Built-in cabinets above the installation, mounted during the renovation stage, look like a single whole with the wall. Wall-mounted ones can be installed after finishing. Let’s talk about what materials and style these niches are designed from.
2. Is it worth buying a cabinet for installation?
The main issue in the bathroom is the concealment of pipes, filtration systems, common risers and water meters. For scheduled maintenance, repair or replacement, communication branches must be left freely accessible.
The cabinet can imitate the finish or be visible. The variety of finishing materials allows you to install the structure in any bathroom, and ready-made cabinets – quickly and inexpensively cope with inconveniences without dismantling.
Disadvantages of cabinets above toilets
It is impossible to build a cabinet above the installation without losing space. Externally, this is more noticeable in small bathrooms , but is skillfully hidden by designers with the right color and shape.
The design has few disadvantages, but they are worth mentioning separately:
- Externally, it may seem that a built-in cabinet above the bathroom “eats up” precious square meters. But since the toilet is not close to the wall, about 40 cm is lost. A built-in, hanging or floor-standing rack is installed in this space.
- Over time, cabinet doors may sag due to moisture. To prevent this from happening, it is worth choosing hinges from reliable manufacturers (German systems have proven themselves well).
- A deep wall cabinet installed above the toilet can be inconvenient. To avoid constantly hitting your head, it is worth choosing a narrow version (up to 20-25 cm) or making the structure tiered.
Advantages of installation cabinets
Conventional purposes of cabinets above the installation: plumbing, utility and decorative can and should be combined. Modern storage systems must be stylish and beautiful, even in inexpensive bathroom renovations . We tell you about the advantages of cabinets above the toilet.
- Built-in structures conceal plumbing fixtures and pipes.
- In the niches you can arrange pull-out or rack storage systems, use floor-standing ones to hide household items.
- The materials used to make the cabinets create a noise barrier. For example, wood muffles the sound of a sewer pipe by up to 70%.
- The cabinets look aesthetically pleasing and can be styled in different ways, for example, by creating a false wall, stained glass, gluing on mirror panels or decorating open shelves with flowers.
By the way, indoor plants in the bathroom feel good due to the peculiarities of the microclimate. Flowers with a high content of phytoncides both disinfect and fill the air with aromatic substances. A separate niche or open shelf is arranged for them in the cabinets.
The general appearance of the structure depends on the toilet model and installation system .
Wall-hung toilets are often equipped with built-in cabinets, while for classic floor-standing toilets, there are options.
In modern projects, the niche above the toilet is often a false wall, lined with porcelain stoneware, artificial stone or decorative panels. But the methods of finishing the bathroom do not end there. A stylish addition that hides the unsightly sides of the bathroom can be done in completely different ways.
3. Toilet cabinet: types and features
A bathroom cabinet can be bought, ordered to size or made independently. Its design can also differ and be: corner, rectangular or square.
Whether to make the niche open or closed or combine both options depends on the technical capabilities, dimensions of the room and personal preferences.
Beautiful exterior finish with a well-chosen color scheme in the bathroom
can highlight the cabinet above the installation, making it an art object or “merging” it with the wall. For camouflage, choose built-in models with door finishes in the same tone as the tiles or panels.
Built-in wardrobes above the toilet
Most relevant in separate rooms with a bathroom. The structure looks monolithic with the wall, and with sufficient depth can perform several functions.
In a small room, it is problematic to provide cabinets with shelves for storage. The narrow niche is mainly intended to hide water pipes.
To provide more space and use the section for storage, all communications often have to be moved to another corner of the room, hiding the sewer riser with a tiered structure.
The installation of built-in models is carried out on wooden and aluminum profiles. In this case, built-in installations can be floor-standing or suspended.
Frame structures have more advantages over block ones – such a cabinet can withstand significant loads of facing panels. The installation of a built-in system is carried out at the stage of mounting the toilet and installation.
For a floating effect, the niche is equipped with lighting hidden on the sides of the built-in consoles. But the installation of such models is entrusted only to professionals.
Wall cabinet with doors above the toilet
All you need to know about the wall-mounted model is that it is very easy to fit into almost any bathroom without any preliminary preparation.
If you have thought through the design and managed to renovate the toilet, don’t worry – with a wall cabinet you won’t have to break anything.
The style can be completely different, and among modern shelves of open or closed type you will find different examples: with glass, stained glass, patinated facades.
To avoid making a mistake with your choice, measure the depth of the niche. It should not be greater than the width of the drain tank.
Wall-mounted cabinets are also suitable for wall-hung toilet installations.
But since the installation of a toilet without legs is more complicated, the plumbing systems are usually thought out in advance and hidden by built-in models.
Open shelves and rack systems on supports (floor)
Open storage, combined with a cabinet above the installation, allows you to use the niche in two projections at once: hide what needs to be hidden and put hygiene products in a visible place for quick access: toilet paper, refreshing sprays, liquid soap, etc.
The technique works well in guest bathrooms and small spaces where the walls can be cleared of racks with bathroom accessories.
Shelving systems are an option for the brave, requiring order. Since the entire plane of the wall above the toilet is occupied by the shelf, it becomes easy to place the necessary things.
For neat storage, choose boxes, crates or trays, and hide communication niches behind a plasterboard or plywood partition.
Shelves for bathrooms are made of metal, wood and plastic. In rooms shared with the bathroom, folding structures with a moisture-proof coating are chosen.
The style and appearance are alternative – the models can be made in both ultra-modern ascetic and classic images.
4. What kind of cabinet is suitable for installation, and what should it be made of?
How big the cabinet structure will be depends on the configuration of the installation, its contents and the size of the bathroom. In an area of 2-3 m², where it is impossible to hide the abundance of pipes, a good option would be to move the devices. Therefore, the first task is to measure the area for installation. Then a drawing is created based on the configuration of the room.
If the frame is assembled from wood, it must first be treated with an antiseptic impregnation and paint. The metal profile is painted with powder paint, but aluminum does not require a protective layer.
In rooms with corner toilet installation, the installation is also mounted in the corner. In addition, you can save space in the bathroom using compact toilets and installations with a sink on the tank. On average, the price of such models is only 10-15% higher than the usual ones, but the benefits are incomparably greater.
Some already have a cabinet that hides the toilet and washbasin installation.
The appearance of the cabinets is mainly determined by the facades. Doors can be hinged, folding or louvered. Modern ones are equipped with push-to-open mechanisms , the advantage of which is silent opening and a surface without handles.
Suitable materials for facades include MDF, wood, artificial marble, granite or porcelain stoneware.
If you are going to install a cabinet for installation in a wooden house, we recommend reading about the nuances of waterproofing, ventilation and lighting of bathrooms .
