Bathroom Linen Cabinets: Inside and Out
There may not be room for a full size linen cabinet in a half bath, but you definitely shouldn’t miss out on this appealing storage option in your master bathroom. This is the perfect space to store fresh towels, toiletries, and extra paper products.
Open vs. Closed
Open linen storage is simply a recessed area with wood or wire shelving that makes everything easily accessible. This approach is very inexpensive and can be incorporated into bathrooms of any size. This option may work for you if you keep everything super organized. Otherwise, it might simply look cluttered and unfinished.
A closet or cabinet with doors is more elegant and keeps everything out of sight. This gives you a discreet place to store items that you may not want on view. You can also combine open shelves for towels with drawers or closed cabinets for personal hygiene supplies. Make sure the cabinet is positioned so the doors can be opened without obstruction.
Finishing Options
White and ivory are lovely, classic choices for the exterior of a linen cabinet. Use a deep rose, cobalt blue, or lime green for the interior for a surprising burst of color. Don’t use contact paper to line the shelves – it may bubble and peel. Use moisture resistant latex paint instead.
A rich wood exterior is another great look – especially if it ties in with furnishings in your master bedroom. Choose wrought iron or glass drawer pulls and handles for eye catching accents. Make sure any wood veneers are well sealed since bathrooms tend to be humid.
What to Avoid
Some people like to use the bottom half of a floor to ceiling linen closet as a clothes hamper. However, soiled clothing and wet towels can cause unpleasant smells and mildew if they are allowed to sit in an enclosed space for more than a day or so.
That’s one good reason to have a separate, portable laundry hamper in your bathroom (canvas on a wood frame is a nice choice). You can simply transfer the contents to your washer/dryer utility room for sorting at the end of each day.
Related posts:
- Upgrade Your Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
- Integrating A Bathroom With A Master Bedroom
- Universal Design for Kitchen Cabinets
- Pedestal Sinks Slim Down Your Bathroom
- Bathroom Remodels
Tags: Bathrooms
December 10th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
In the third paragraph, I think the word you want is “discreet,” not “discrete.”
There are a lot more options than just a hamper and a built-in linen closet, of course. We got some good bathroom organizers online, a different one for each of our four bathrooms.
My aunt and uncle have laundry chutes in their house, and I’ve always envied the convenience of that. But I think with little kids around that’s always a safety concern.