Identifying high-quality bathroom furniture: Tips and tricks
High-quality bathroom furniture that impresses thanks to its durability, functionality and attractive design is a worthwhile investment. Several factors play an important role when identifying furniture like this.
Firstly, the quality of the material is decisive. Robust materials are essential. Furthermore, metal parts such as hinges and handles should be stable and resistant to corrosion.
The finish is another indicator of quality. Pay attention to clean edges, uniform gaps and precisely fitting connections. Well-made furniture has stable connections and no visible screws or nails. The surface coating should also be of the highest quality. It must be sealed well and resistant to water in order to prevent moisture damage.
The design and functionality of high-quality side cabinets, tall cabinets and washbasin cabinets go hand in hand. High-quality furniture not only offers sufficient storage space, but also practical functions such as soft-closing drawers that close smoothly and quietly. Sophisticated design ensures that the bathroom furniture is both visually appealing and practical.
BUT WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WHEN BUYING BATHROOM FURNITURE?
Bathroom furniture has to meet some special demands in order to cope with the prevailing conditions. Below are some of the most important properties and challenges that must be addressed:
- Moisture and dampness: Bathrooms are often humid and can steam up,particularly after a shower or bath. As a result, bathroom furniture should be made of materials that are moisture-resistant and do not swell up or deform. Surface coatings and water-resistant materials of the highest quality are crucial here.
- Fluctuating temperatures: The temperature in the bathroom can vary greatly, from warm and humid following a shower through to cool when the window is open. Bathroom cabinets must therefore be temperature-resistant and must not become warped or damaged as a result of these fluctuations.
- Chemical resistance: Cleaning agents, cosmetics and other chemical products may end up on the surface of the bathroom furniture. These surfaces should be able to withstand such chemicals and must not become discoloured or damaged.
- Mechanical loads: Bathroom furniture is in use every day and must therefore be robust and stable. Drawers and doors should work perfectly, even after being opened and closed many times. High-quality fittings and hinges are important here.
- Scratches and impacts: Minor accidents where surfaces are scratched or bumped can occur in everyday use – particularly during the morning rush. Scratchproof, impact-resistant materials contribute to the durability of the furniture.
What do I have to watch out for when I'm buying bathroom furniture
There are three particularly important factors when choosing furniture for the bathroom – the base material, the surface and the fittings.
High-quality material
Wood is the most common material for bathroom furniture, usually in the form of MDF boards, chipboard or solid wood. Depending on its composition, wood will react differently to moisture in the air and thus varies in terms of suitability for bathroom furniture.
- MDF boards consist of decomposed wood fibres that are mixed with glue and pressed. The material is often used in combination with foils or finished with a varnished surface. MDF boards are much heavier than chipboard and also more expensive.
- Chipboard in its raw form is unsuitable for bathrooms because it swells irreversibly when exposed to moisture. This can, however, be avoided with good surface sealing. The quality of bathroom furniture with chipboard as the base material thus depends on the surface and how well it is processed.
- Solid wood expands swiftly when exposed to moisture if it is not treated. It is thus important to seal the surface and to treat and care for bathroom furniture made of solid wood correctly. Furniture made of solid wood is expensive due to the complex manufacturing process.
Moisture resistance
Moisture-resistant bathroom furniture can withstand the effects of moisture without becoming damaged or losing functionality and stability. In particular, this means that the furniture does not swell up or become unstable, deformed or discoloured when regularly exposed to water, high levels of humidity or steam. Nevertheless, water should be removed from a surface as quickly as possible.
High-quality surfaces
As chipboard is not particularly attractive as a base material, it needs a suitable coating. There are all kinds of different variants.
The quality and sealing – particularly on the edges – are a decisive factor here. Cheap coatings on bathroom furniture are usually very thin, tend to peel off and are less durable. Scratches can quickly damage the surface. This makes the furniture susceptible to water damage. High-quality, thick foils, on the other hand, such as the ones Geberit uses, are robust and easy to maintain.
- Melamine is a laminate made of resin, decor paper and a transparent top layer. The material is extremely resistant to moisture and scratches – and thus a good choice for the bathroom.
- Real wood veneer is glued onto chipboard or MDF boards as a layer of wood around one millimetre thick. The look is similar to furniture made of solid wood. Parts with real wood veneer must be protected against moisture with a coat of varnish, for example
- Varnish provides the popular high-gloss or matt effect for bathroom furniture. After varnishing, the surface has to be ground and polished. Varnish is an elegant coating and offers the advantage that the surface becomes even, homogeneous and seamless. This relatively complex manufacturing process is costly.
- Glass is used as a design component on bathroom furniture, usually in combination with a coated MDF board or chipboard.
High-quality, sturdy and stainless fittings
High-quality, sturdy and stainless fittings are essential for guaranteeing the durability and reliability of bathroom furniture. Below are some of the best and most common options:
- Stainless steel: Stainless steel is known for its durability and resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel fittings are ideal in bathrooms as they are not only robust, but also aesthetically appealing. They are available in different versions from matt to glossy and fit with virtually every design.
- Aluminium: Aluminium is another corrosion-resistant material. It is lightweight, yet also strong. Aluminium fittings often come with a special treatment that increases their durability and resistance against moisture and chemicals.
- Chrome-plated brass: Brass is naturally corrosion-resistant, and this is further enhanced with the addition of a chrome finish. Chrome-plated brass fittings have a smooth, high-gloss finish that not only looks good, but is also easy to clean.
- Powder-coated steel: Steel can be protected against rust with the addition of a powder coating. This gives the material an additional protective coating that increases the service life of the fittings and makes them more resistant against moisture and chemicals.
- Plastic fittings: High-quality plastics such as nylon and polypropylene are corrosion-resistant and are well suited to applications in moist environments. They are lightweight and inexpensive, but are sometimes not as visually appealing as metal fittings.
- Zamak: Zamak is an alloy consisting of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper. It is robust, resistant to corrosion and is suitable for fittings that require high levels of precision and attention to detail.
- Titanium: Titanium is extremely corrosion-resistant and lightweight, but also more expensive than other materials. While it is used rarely, it is an excellent choice for high-quality fittings on bathroom furniture.
Frequently asked questions about bathroom furniture
Why is Geberit a good choice when it comes to high-quality bathroom furniture
The Geberit brand is synonymous with high quality, ease of use, simple design and easy installation. As a result, Geberit bathroom furniture is characterised by the following benefits:
- More storage space: The lack of trap cutout results in added space in the drawer.
- Moisture resistance: The three-layer chipboard is made of highly compressed material, with the coating offering outstanding moisture resistance.
- Convenient furniture functions: Geberit furniture features practical soft closing or the elegant push-to-open mechanism.
- Clever arrangement systems: Sophisticated drawer inserts optimise the space available in the washbasin cabinet.
