How to Design a House Medicine Cabinet
A medicine cabinet is typically a simple design with three or four shelves. However, the cabinet can be purchased or built with amenities such as hidden storage areas and three-way mirrors. The bathroom, where a medicine cabinet is usually installed in most homes, will dictate the space available and much about how the cabinet will be designed. Most homeowners plan to install a medicine cabinet above a sink vanity, for example, but it's perfectly acceptable to place a medicine cabinet on a side wall. It can be placed on a wall at a right angle to a sink vanity, which means the vanity area can look more spacious and uncluttered. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tools
- Sketch pad
- Graph paper
- Medicine cabinet catalogs
- Home design books
Instructions
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Measure the wall space available for the medicine cabinet. Design the cabinet to look artistically correct on the wall. Avoid using a cabinet smaller than 15 inches wide by 22 inches high, if placed directly over a sink basin, or the cabinet will look too small. Sketch the room on graph paper and draw the cabinet in various places. Sketch it over the sink or on a wall away from the vanity area. Be sure to center the cabinet over a sink space. Design the bottom edge to be at least 12 inches above the highest part of the faucet. Allow 4 inches between the outer edge of the cabinet and a wall corner.
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Look for pre-made vanity cabinets that have an interior depth of at least 4 inches. A depth more shallow than 4 inches creates a risk for pill bottles and toiletry items to fall out. Consider installing a cabinet that is deeper inside by recessing part of it into wall framing. Include features in the design, such as a fake sliding wall for hiding pain or expensive medications. Plan to place a small lockbox on the cabinet, attached with screws, that can be opened with a lockbox security code if desired.
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Sketch a medicine cabinet with either glass shelves or wooden shelves. Include at least four shelves in the design to keep bottles and other items separated. Plan to install small attached bins on the swing-out door if the door will be constructed of solid wood. Reserve one top area of the cabinet for first-aid supplies in small bins or boxes. Design the bottom shelves to hold frequently-used items, such as medications or toothpaste.
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Consult with a carpenter about securing the cabinet to the house framing. Avoid having the cabinet fall from too much weight by installing with screws versus nails. Plan to use wooden doors and framing for heavy mirrored sections installed since mirrors can easily pull loose from faux wood materials.
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Design door hinges or buy a cabinet with pre-installed door hinges that are heavy duty. Keep the cabinet doors from screeching, especially during the night, by using hinges that can be oiled to stop the noise. Consult consumer guides to rate various brands of pre-made cabinetry on durability and satisfaction.
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Tips & Warnings
Study medicine cabinet catalogs and home design books to gather ideas.
Purchase a lighting accessory to fit above the cabinet. The medicine cabinet should have plenty of light, especially during late hours or the night, to ensure proper medications are selected.
Consider installing a shelf under the medicine cabinet to hold drugs or other items pulled from the shelves. Avoid having medications fall into the sink by having a secure shelf area with a lip built around all four sides.
Avoid placing the cabinet over a commode since items stored there might fall into the water.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit medicine image by trickyphoto from Fotolia.com
