Hidden Medicine Cabinet Mirror DIY Project: Stylish and Functional

Hidden Medicine Cabinet Mirror DIY Project: Stylish and Functional

Anyone living in an older home or a small apartment will agree that bathrooms often do not have enough storage. Keeping toiletries and bottles of beauty and hair products on your countertop can leave your bathroom cluttered and disorganized.

However, creating a functional and stylish solution is easier than you think! Follow our guide to build a hidden medicine cabinet with a mirrored door to solve all your storage issues.

build a hidden medicine cabinet with a mirrored door to solve all your storage issues. Shop-O-Rama carries all of the necessary pieces of lumber, materials, and tools needed for this simple project so you can enjoy more storage and space in your bathroom.

Tools needed:

• Safety glasses
• Hand saw, miter or circular saw
• Drill
• Hammer
• Measuring tape
• Sandpaper
• Paint brushes
• Pencils
• Stud finder
• Drywall knife
• Clamps

Materials needed:

• 1 piece of 2x4x8 lumber
• 2 pieces of 1x6x8 lumber
• 1 piece of ¹⁄₂” x 2’ x 3’ plywood panel
• 4 pieces of ³⁄₈” x 4-¹⁄₄”
• 2 pieces of 1x4x2 clear pine rails
• 2 pieces of 1x3x3 clear pine stiles
• ³⁄₈” cove molding mirror trim
• High-density fiberboard (HDF) mirror backing
• Hinges
• Paint or stain
• Nails
• Screws
• Mirror
• White or clear caulk
• Wood glue

How to Build in Nine Simple Steps

1. Mark the location of the cabinet

First, use your stud finder to mark the spot on the wall where you want to remove drywall to create a recessed medicine cabinet. The cabinet should fit neatly between two studs. Use the pencil to mark the space on the wall that will be removed.

2. Cut out the drywall

Using the drywall knife and wearing safety goggles, cut out the drywall that you have previously marked.

3. Measure and cut the lumber

Using the miter, hand, or circular saw, cut two 18-¹⁄₂” pieces of 1x6 lumber to create the bottom and top pieces for the frame. Then, make the sides of the frame by cutting two 30” pieces of 1x6 lumber.

Cut the ¹⁄₂” plywood panel to about 18-¹⁄₂” (width) by 28-¹⁄₂” (height) for the back panel of the cabinet.

For the shelves inside the cabinet, use the four pieces of wood in ¹⁄₄” size from the ³⁄₈” cove molding as the shelf supports and 18-³⁄₈” pieces of 1x6 lumber.

Cut the ¹⁄₄” high-density fiberboard and cove molding to fit the mirror.

4. Build the box of the medicine cabinet

Use the drill and screws to create the medicine cabinet box. Sand the screw holes and rough edges on the wood.

Use ³⁄₄” brad nails to secure the four pieces of ³⁄₈” cove molding to create the shelf supports on the inside of the cabinet. The cabinet shelves should slide into place and be supported well.

5. Build the mirrored door

Use the adhesive and clamps to mount the HDF to the mirror backing. Mark the spots on the mirrored door and the medicine cabinet box for where the hinges will sit.

You can use additional frame pieces around the edge of the mirror that are glued on to make the mirror look more like a fixture in the bathroom and create a hidden medicine cabinet.

6. Paint or stain the medicine cabinet

Paint and stain all the cabinet pieces inside and outside the box and the rear piece of the door.

7. Attach the mirrored door

Using the drill and the short screws, add the hinges onto the medicine cabinet first and then the back of the mirrored door.

8. Mount the medicine cabinet

Mount the cabinet to the recessed area you cut into the bathroom drywall. Use the drill to secure the medicine cabinet with 2” wood screws into the frame through the sides, top, and bottom.

9. Fill the gaps around the cabinet

Use white or clear caulk to fill all the small gaps around the medicine cabinet and the wall. The caulk will also help create a waterproof seal against the bathroom’s humidity.

Now it’s time to enjoy your new hidden medicine cabinet! Place all your toiletries inside and close the door to enjoy the excellent aesthetic boost to your space.