What To Consider Before Installing Laundry Room Cabinets

If you're deciding on setting aside a room in your home for your laundry, then you've probably thought of all the benefits. You get less laundry clutter all over your home, better organization of your supplies, an easier and more convenient process, and potentially better resale value for your home. Having one is a great idea, but there are quite a few things you should consider before installing or moving a laundry room. One of them is your choice of laundry cabinets. You might be thinking of heading over to IKEA or the nearest furniture store to get the cheapest ones you can get your hands on. Nothing too fancy — it's a laundry room, after all. Unfortunately, thinking like that could cost you more in the long run. 

The problem with bargain hunting for cabinets is that your laundry room can get very wet. You're going to be washing and drying a lot of clothes in there, which will keep the humidity at a high level. This can lead to musty odors and mold growth, plus it can wreak substantial damage to your laundry cabinets, depending on the materials used. If you're thinking of shopping from IKEA, you should probably note that fiberboard, the material IKEA cabinets are made of, is susceptible to moisture damage, especially as they wear with age. Fiberboard isn't the right choice for laundry cabinets, that much is clear. But have you considered hardwood?

When going through lists of beautiful laundry room cabinet ideas, one common theme you get is that wood is bad and highly susceptible to moisture. However, that isn't exactly true. Light or porous wood can warp under heavy water exposure, but sturdy hardwoods like oak or walnut generally possess higher water resistance than softwoods like pine or fir. So, by going for hardwood, you can get all the perks of wooden cabinets for your laundry room. Your stylish laundry room wouldn't be complete without the timeless look of some sturdy oak cabinets. These cabinets have a natural beauty, thanks to the grains, whorls, and natural textures of hardwood, making your laundry room more inviting. 

Hardwood cabinets can be easily customized to fit the specifications for your laundry room. This versatility is complemented by how durable and long-lasting solid wood cabinets are. Hardwood laundry cabinets can last for decades, which is good to know when it's finally time to let go of your home, as they can also add to the resale value. If you still have doubts about the moisture capabilities of hardwood, it can be enhanced when the hardwood is treated with epoxy. The epoxy resin creates a dense, bonded covering over the furniture that helps keep water out. This way, you can get all the benefits of hardwood laundry cabinets and worry even less about moisture.