Not Just a Drawer
From the simple cabinet to present-day intricate design, washroom furniture has evolved greatly over the years, discovers Arti B Rau
Furniture plays a significant role in washroom design. Today, with washrooms evolving as one of the key spaces of all modern residences, the choice of the furniture to be used here is important, as it either contributes to or takes away from the functionality and design of the space.
“The bathroom is an important room in the house – on par with the kitchen – so furniture and bathroom design follows the latest trends for interiors in style, colour, shape and texture. We recognise the need for comfort and the strong trend towards more individuality,” says Asutosh Shah, Managing Director, Duravit India.
Though the requirements of the inhabitants are the primary factor governing the choice of washroom furniture, there are a number of variations that can be made within those boundaries.
Storage scale
A key feature that dictates the choice of furniture for the washroom is the kind of storage space needed. Take, for example, a family washroom, which, for obvious reasons, needs a lot more storage space than for the guests’. The choice of furniture should be such that it not only enables things to be easily accessible but also lends a neat look to the space.
“With every bathroom having at least one basin, vanity units offer a 2-in-1 solution for hiding pipework and providing storage. Floor-standing units and wall-hung vanity units alike are in favour of our customers, with the final choice always depending on personal needs and the infrastructure of buildings. Both styles create a spacious look in the bathroom and provide valuable, practical and attractive storage space, whatever the size or layout of your room, ” says Shah.
Flexibility in furniture design adds to space in the washroom, a boon in an era of small areas. Cabinets are essential for storage, but they often occupy too much floor space, giving the interiors a cluttered look. Some designs allow them to be hung on doors, making them real space savers in the washroom. Here, the use of walls and doors are very workable options, as they imply getting additional storage without losing floor space. Some modular shelves are designed to fit under staircases and other areas that conventional shelving solutions might not allow. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of using wall-hung or modular shelves.
Other space-saving options include attaching sink stands or vanities to the wall, allowing the use of the floor space underneath.
“In terms of design, wall-hung furniture continues which gives the room a feeling of space. However, modern floor-standing units on elegant feet make an ideal alternative to wall-hung furniture and create a similar spacious look in the bathroom,” says Shah.
Never mind the essentials, flexibility in furniture design allows for the addition of a dash of green to the washroom with wall-hung planters.
Colours and surfaces
The colour of the furniture in the washroom contributes greatly to the final look of the space. Though lighter shades add a touch of subtlety, washroom furniture in a contrasting colour from the surrounding area lends a fresh touch to the room. Be it light, neutral or bold shades – the hues will have to blend with those of–the tiles, walls and other areas of the washroom.
The same can be said for the choice of material used for the furniture. There are generally two types of materials used to manufacture bathroom furniture, one being natural like wood and cane and the other, manmade materials. Like all others, both types come with their share of benefits and disadvantages.
Apart from its aesthetic appeal and the warmth it lends to the space, wood has a uniqueness of design as no two pieces will be identical. Though it lends a traditional look to the furniture, wood can also be used for more contemporary design.
From a price point of view though, real wood washroom furniture is more expensive than the manmade equivalent, as it calls for a higher level of workmanship and the raw materials used are more pricey.
Real wood comes with a set of minuses, including the fact that all timber matures with time, resulting in a change in the colour and strength of the grain. Wood may fade with strong sunlight and be adversely impacted by water spillage.
Washroom furniture item is also made from manmade material such as fibreboard, to which colour and finishing touches can be added by the use of manmade lacquer, paint or PVC foil layer on the external surfaces. Though a less expensive option than real wood, the quality of this furniture is not substandard, apart from which it is durable and water resistant. Being manmade, this furniture is available in a wide variety of colours.
“Nowadays, natural wood finishes are popular in light and dark shades; they add texture and softness to white sanitary ware. Pastel shades in matt and high gloss finishes are also proving popular with to be on trend due to its light, contemporary style a vast choice of colours in everything from Stone Blue, Jade to Apricot pearl, ” says Shah.
Other angles
One option in furniture design which optimises storage is the combining of different types of drawers and storage spaces to meet different requirements. One example can be seen in the use of open spaces for towels, together with more spacious drawers and narrower ones for smaller items.
Mirrors with a back cabinet offer the utility of a mirror and make the space visually bigger, and also another space which can be used for storage.
Today, there is a vast array and variety available in furniture design. However, adequate care needs to be taken to see that the washroom furniture remains functional while retaining its aesthetic appeal.
Furniture plays an important role in contributing to the look and feel of the washroom, and this aspect is believed to be amplified in the coming years.