If you’re about to remodel your bathroom or if you’re just looking to upgrade the vanity and cabinetry, be sure to consider a recessed bathroom medicine cabinet. The old style medicine cabinets usually stick out from the wall about three inches and have an outdated look to them. Recessed bathroom medicine cabinets give a cleaner and sleeker appearance to your space. Speaking of space, recessed medicine cabinets are great space savers and offer much needed storage in what is normally a small area of the home.
Picking the Right Spot
Replacing the old medicine cabinet might seem simple enough. Out with old and in with the new; right? Well, in some cases, yes and in others – not so much. Often, do-it yourself-homeowners have been dismayed to find wiring, duct work or plumbing behind the drywall where the previous medicine cabinet once hung. This is normally because bathrooms are small areas and they contain a lot of fixtures that have to get their power and their water from somewhere. The best way to avoid being surprised by a water pipe is to know what’s behind the drywall before cutting it away.
Picking out the Right Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
After you’ve determined the location you’ll be installing your recessed bathroom medicine cabinet, it’ll be time to consider finish, size and style of your new cabinet. Begin by measuring your new or existing vanity so that you’ll be able to be sure the cabinet will fit properly over the vanity. Also, decide if you’ll want a framed or frameless mirror and whether you’ll want any hardware on the door of your recessed medicine cabinet. Finish options are nearly countless so check a few different styles that will either match or otherwise coordinate with your existing bathroom fixtures and furnishings, as well as your personal tastes.
Medicine cabinets can be either plastic or metal inside and may even have glass shelving. Cleaning the metal or glass inserts will be easier than plastic which can sometimes stain.
Doors can be solid wood or other material or mirrored. They can be single, double or triple hinged and can even slide open. For smaller bathrooms, sliding doors take up less space. These sliding doors can also be mirrored.
For reference, take a picture of your existing bathroom space to the stores when you’re choosing your recessed medicine cabinet for reference. Is your bathroom contemporary, traditional, Victorian, modern or eclectic? Take that into consideration when you’re deciding on a proper cabinet.
Before choosing your new recessed bathroom medicine cabinet, be sure to shop around. Look online and in the big box stores as well as specialty stores. Often you’ll find that with a little extra effort, you can save yourself a few dollars. And of course, the more you see, the more informed you’ll be regarding what styles and finishes are available.