Bathroom Medicine Cabinets

The bathroom medicine cabinet is another of those bathroom amenities whose proper functional use will enable the designer to impart more personal style into the rest of the room.  The medicine cabinet has the distinction of being elevated so that it is a safe area for storage of personal items and other items that might be unsafe for children.

Today’s bathroom medicine cabinets are multi-tiered and often have lights inside and out.  Both sliding doors and traditional hinged doors are used to close the cabinet.  Your decision about cabinet size will usually be determined by the size of the vanity and the amount of available wall space.  Some medicine cabinets have provisions for electrical outlets on the exterior.

Medicine cabinets are usually the storage place for smaller, personal toiletries.  Despite its name, the medicine cabinet is not the preferred storage place for medications, which should be kept in a high, dry and cool location. 

Items like razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, aftershave, shaving cream, deodorants or other facial products that might be applied in front of the mirror are stored in the cabinet.  The key to proper usage of the medicine cabinet is pretty simple.  Identify those products that are personally used in front of the mirror and near water and store them in the medicine cabinet.

A popular trend in today’s bathrooms is the use of recessed medicine cabinets.  The recessed cabinet assures a smooth transition along the wall and allows the cabinet to become part of the bathroom rather than appear as an after thought.  Recessed cabinets require a bit more carpentry work but are relatively easy to install and add a very crisp and seamless feel to the bathroom.

The purpose of the medicine cabinet is to reduce the clutter in the bathroom and to safely store personal items.  Proper planning and use will make the bathroom a more inviting space in which to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

There are also great shelving options for the wall space above the toilet or even in the shower stall.  Again the functionality of these spaces keeps the deck clear and items stored in accessible places.  Bathroom storage must always be planned around the heat and humid conditions that typify bathing areas.  Once these extra storage areas are in place and in use, you may be amazed with the decorative options that present themselves in terms of seating and lounging possibilities.  It all begins with maximizing storage and creating free space along the way.