Bathroom Medicine Cabinets

Repacing an outdated medicine cabinet and new vanity lighting can go a long way in updating a bathroom that is dated and looking a little behind the times.

While bathtubs and toilets are fixtures that will fit with many changes in decor and style, other elements of your bath need more frequent updating. Replacing an old medicine cabinet and vanity lighting and giving your bathroom a fresh new coat of paint in a different color can often do just what is needed to spruce up that old bath.

Framed medicine cabinets are back in style

For a number of years few framed medicine cabinets were installed, and the frameless look was in. That has changed in the last few years, and homeowners are again favoring medicine cabinets that are framed and reflect a particular style.

You will find a wide array of medicine cabinets with frames of metal or wood and in all the popular styles.

Many younger homeowner favor the simple contemporary styles that have very clean lines and little or no detail.

But if you favor reflecting a certain more traditional style there are cabinets in many wood tones and a wide variety of styles. You will find Art Deco, Vintage, and Shaker just to name a few.

Medicine cabinet features

Adjustable shelves are a feature most anyone will want, in order to arrange placement as needed. Many cabinets offer the Snap-fit feature which secures your shelves in place.

Reversible doors are another handy feature. This way you can have the door open either left or right, whichever is most convenient. Cabinets should have good hinges especially if the door is very heavy. Piano hinges are a desireable feature. Many also have hidden hinges which streamline the appearance of the cabinet.

Mirrors both on the exterior, and the interior are a feature that makes items inside more visible, looks good and adds light.

Check out what is currently available, and select good lighting fixtures that will co-ordinate well with the style of your new medicine cabinet, give your bathroom some fresh paint, and your whole bath will experience a relatively inexpensive facelift.

Think how essential your medicine cabinet is to you on a daily basis

for your grooming needs, and your daily routine.
For small and modest sized bathrooms, a medicine cabinet fulfills a variety of functions. While this bathroom furnishing may not seem that large, just open it and see how many items are stored there that are frequently used. And they are right where you need them and readily accessable.

Most medicine cabinets have a mirrored front that is very handy while we are grooming and preparing for the day, and may be framed, lighted or unique in style adding to our bathroom decor.

Review the different options in medicine cabinets that are available
before making a final selection and purchase.

• Will you want a recessed medicine cabinet or a surface mounted medicine cabinet? This will depend on your wall structure and whether the area where it will be mounted is a bearing wall or not.
  
  A recessed medicine cabinet offers a more sleek design and will protrude less, but a surface mount medicine cabinet can be installed on any wall
  where space allows, and is an easier installation.




• Size is another feature to consider. You will need to determine
  how much space is available, and where you will put vanity lighting. The width and number of doors is also important. If you have the space, a tri-view medicine cabinet will give you a lot of mirror space.
  The height of a faucet may be something to consider if you opt to
  install a faucet with a tall gooseneck.




• What is your style preference? Medicine cabinets are available in
  all the popular styles. Whether you prefer Art Deco, Country,
  Contemporary,Shaker, Vintage, or Traditional you will need to
  coordinate this with the rest of the decor in your bath.




• Would you like a framed or unframed medicine cabinet? You will
  find framed medicine cabinets in a wide variety of wood tones suck as
  cherry, oak and walnut. Simple color choices are also available, white
  and black being among the most popular.




• Will your bathroom better accomodate a corner medicine cabinet.
  These are a good solution where space is limited, and a good choice for
  a powder room, offering a more unique look.

Other medicine cabinet features to consider


You can choose between doors that swing open, or doors that slide.
Shelves need to be adjustable to allow for any changes you may need to
make in your storage options.



Deeper medicine cabinets are available that can accomodate the storage
of grooming items such as curling irons or hair dryers, and some even
feature built in plugins.



Fogless mirrors and lights that are embedded in the mirror are features
you may find appealing. Other lighting options are available as well,
with lights being part of the cabinet either down the side, or mounted
above.



Good hinges are essential to support the weight of heavy mirrors. Piano
or scissor hinges are recommended.