A Study on Residential Bathroom Storage Cabinet Trends with Focus on Storage Space in the Bathroom Package of Domestic Companies

A Study on Residential Bathroom Storage Cabinet Trends with Focus on Storage Space in the Bathroom Package of Domestic Companies

(Background and Purpose) In the midst of the recent economic growth and consequent improvement in the quality of life, there is a growing interest in residential space as a place for relaxation of modern people who are facing changes in their everyday life. Accordingly, a bathroom space inside a house is no longer considered as a space for merely satisfying an individual’s physiological needs. It is a space for relaxation, psychological stability, and restoration therefore, many people find themselves spending an increasing amount of time insidethe bathroom. This has consequently led to people not only requesting for functional requirements (e.g., convenience and safety), but also aesthetic qualities that bathrooms may offer. Despite its small footprint, a bathroom space needs to accommodate various items for storage. For this reason, the objectives of this research are to study the current trends in bathroom storage cabinets that are suitable for limited bathroom space with various convenient functionalities for the users,and to establish basic data that can be used by bathroom companies and one-stop interior design agencies for their bathroom cabinet design as part of their bathroom packages. (Method) The methodology of this study is significant in that it has analyzed the research data regarding bathroom and bathroom cabinets since 2010. It first conducted a survey on bathroom cabinet products as part of the bathroom packages from five companies by visiting their websites and showrooms, as well as examining their product catalogues. It then categorized the bathroom cabinets by installation location and analyzed them based on three key elements (shape, purpose, and functionality), as well as material and color. (Results) The cabinets that were classified according to installation location were as follows: upper cabinets included 40 door cabinets, 10 flap cabinets, 12 slide cabinets, and 26 open cabinets lower cabinets included 12 door cabinets, 2 flap cabinets, 5 drawer cabinets,and 3 open cabinets and special cabinets included 4 tall cabinets, 1 turnstile cabinet, and 7 system and module cabinets. Based on the analysis result regardingtheir functions and uses, the upper cabinets mostly had a guide bar to prevent stored items (e.g., towels, toiletry, and toilette papers) from falling, and facilitated various uses and functions for outlets and dryer stands. The lower cabinets complemented the narrow storage space in the bathroom with convenient door cabinets for storing detergent and cleaning articles, and a drawer for storing small articles. The special cabinets were built for convenient storage with tall turnstile cabinets, but they also required more space for installation. The modular system cabinets were conveniently combined with toilets, washbasins, and showers. The analyzed materials included water-resistant polystyrene (PS) as the main component of the trunk, shelf,and door, and the main color was gray. (Conclusions) It is expected that the shape, purpose, functionality, material, and color of the bathroom cabinets that were presented in this study will contribute to the bathroom cabinet designs by the bathroom companies and one-stop interior design agencies in this fast-expanding bathroom market.

(Background and Purpose) In the midst of the recent economic growth and consequent improvement in the quality of life, there is a growing interest in residential space as a place for relaxation of modern people who are facing changes in their everyday life. Accordingly, a bathroom space inside a house is no longer considered as a space for merely satisfying an individual’s physiological needs. It is a space for relaxation, psychological stability, and restoration therefore, many people find themselves spending an increasing amount of time insidethe bathroom. This has consequently led to people not only requesting for functional requirements (e.g., convenience and safety), but also aesthetic qualities that bathrooms may offer. Despite its small footprint, a bathroom space needs to accommodate various items for storage. For this reason, the objectives of this research are to study the current trends in bathroom storage cabinets that are suitable for limited bathroom space with various convenient functionalities for the users,and to establish basic data that can be used by bathroom companies and one-stop interior design agencies for their bathroom cabinet design as part of their bathroom packages. (Method) The methodology of this study is significant in that it has analyzed the research data regarding bathroom and bathroom cabinets since 2010. It first conducted a survey on bathroom cabinet products as part of the bathroom packages from five companies by visiting their websites and showrooms, as well as examining their product catalogues. It then categorized the bathroom cabinets by installation location and analyzed them based on three key elements (shape, purpose, and functionality), as well as material and color. (Results) The cabinets that were classified according to installation location were as follows: upper cabinets included 40 door cabinets, 10 flap cabinets, 12 slide cabinets, and 26 open cabinets lower cabinets included 12 door cabinets, 2 flap cabinets, 5 drawer cabinets,and 3 open cabinets and special cabinets included 4 tall cabinets, 1 turnstile cabinet, and 7 system and module cabinets. Based on the analysis result regardingtheir functions and uses, the upper cabinets mostly had a guide bar to prevent stored items (e.g., towels, toiletry, and toilette papers) from falling, and facilitated various uses and functions for outlets and dryer stands. The lower cabinets complemented the narrow storage space in the bathroom with convenient door cabinets for storing detergent and cleaning articles, and a drawer for storing small articles. The special cabinets were built for convenient storage with tall turnstile cabinets, but they also required more space for installation. The modular system cabinets were conveniently combined with toilets, washbasins, and showers. The analyzed materials included water-resistant polystyrene (PS) as the main component of the trunk, shelf,and door, and the main color was gray. (Conclusions) It is expected that the shape, purpose, functionality, material, and color of the bathroom cabinets that were presented in this study will contribute to the bathroom cabinet designs by the bathroom companies and one-stop interior design agencies in this fast-expanding bathroom market.