Do Bathrooms Need Medicine Cabinets?


Are you wondering if medicine cabinets are a necessity for bathrooms? From toiletries to medications, and cosmetics, you want to keep everything organized in one place. However, keeping them on your countertop will feel cluttered. You need to keep these items out of sight but still within easy access. This is where the medicine cabinet comes into play. They are a functional and convenient way to organize and store items.

Do bathrooms need medicine cabinets? If you have a lot of toiletries, medications, cosmetics, and other products that you regularly use in your bathroom, then having a medicine cabinet is an excellent storage and organization option. Having a medicine cabinet means that you can keep items hidden, organized, and within reach. Nowadays, you can find a wide range of stylish medicine cabinets from simple, classic styles to modern features that will suit any bathroom.

Do you have many products that they make your bathroom look cluttered? If yes, then it might be a good idea to install a medicine cabinet for storing all your items. Usually, medicine cabinets are at the top of the vanity area. It is used to organize small items in one place so that the bathroom looks clean and neat. Find out more about medicine cabinets and the benefits that they can provide for your bathroom by reading the rest of the article below.

Do bathrooms need medicine cabinets
Photo by Clayton Bunn from Pexels

Do I Need a Medicine Cabinet in My Bathroom?

Medicine cabinets enhance the functionality and appearance of your bathroom. They provide additional storage for toiletries and medicines that you are regularly using. If you do not want to clutter your countertop with products, your best choice is to install a medicine cabinet. Since medicine cabinets are mounted or recessed on walls, you can save floor space in your bathroom.

Advantages of Installing a Medicine Cabinet

Medicine cabinets are an excellent addition to bathrooms because they provide functionality, added storage, and easy access to every product that you use daily. Moreover, they keep medicines out of reach of children. Having a stylish medicine cabinet can also enhance the look of your bathroom and increase your home value. Let us learn more about the advantages of installing a medicine cabinet for your bathroom below.

Provides Easy Access

Medicine cabinets provide easy access to the products that you need. Because of this, you can save time doing your morning and bedtime routine. Most medicine cabinets are located above the sink area so you can easily reach for them when you need a certain product.

Wide Array of Versatile Designs

Another advantage of medicine cabinets is that they come in a wide array of designs. You have plenty of options to choose from. Some of your choices include colors, shapes, styles, and materials. You can find the one that suits the theme of your bathroom. You can also check out this article titled, how can I update my medicine cabinet without replacing it? We have shared tips on how to upgrade the look of your medicine cabinet.

Offers Added Storage

One of the problems of having a small bathroom is that space is limited and you need to find ways to maximize the space that you have. By installing a medicine cabinet, you can add a practical storage solution without taking floor or countertop space.

Keep Drugs Out of a Child’s Reach

Medicine cabinets can keep medicines out of children’s reach. Take note that children are more at risk when it comes to picking up and consuming the wrong things. They are always curious and they also put objects in their mouths. Hence, you need to make sure that all medicines are hidden from children. Keep medicines in a secure location that a child cannot get into. A medical cabinet that is mounted high on the wall makes it harder for children to get a hold of something dangerous.

✅ Video – How to Organize Medicines & Medicine Cabinet at Home

Bowerspace shared the video below on YouTube. It shows how to organize SOS medicines as well as provides ideas on how to keep medicines accessible. Moreover, how to prevent overstocking of medicines is also discussed. Check out the video for more tips and ideas.

Why are Medicine Cabinets in the Bathroom?

The bathroom is a convenient place to install medicine cabinets. Back then, people stored small chests items to protect them from pests and children. These chests are then stored in the bedroom, kitchen, or pantry. When indoor bathrooms become common, medicine cabinets become popular and it was discovered that hanging a cabinet on the bathroom wall is convenient and keeps items within reach.

How to Find the Best Medicine Cabinet for Bathrooms

There are a few factors that you need to consider to find the best medicine cabinet for your bathroom which include materials, storage space, style, and color and finish. You also need to decide between a mounted and a recessed medicine cabinet. Furthermore, you need to consider the form and function of the medicine cabinet. Below are more details about these factors that you need to consider.

Surface Mounting vs. Recessed

Would you like your medicine cabinet to be mounted on the surface or recessed on your walls? Surface-mounted medicine cabinets are those that are fixed to the wall. On the other hand, recessed medicine cabinets have their interior fitted into the space between the wall studs and the cabinet door sits flush on the surface of the wall. We have also shared this article titled, what to do with medicine cabinet hole? You can check out the article for tips and ideas on what you can do to cover a medicine cabinet hole.

Materials

One of the things that you need to consider is the material of the medicine cabinet. They are usually made from water-resistant materials which include molded plastic, metal, glass, and sealed or painted wood. Make sure that you choose quality materials that are durable and last for a long time. Do not sacrifice the quality of the material just to save on your budget. Thin plastic can turn yellow over time and become brittle which leads to cracks. Moreover, cheap door frames allow steam to leak behind the mirror which can cause the silver backing to separate from the glass and damage the mirror.

Style

Another thing that you need to consider is the style of the medicine cabinet which usually depends on the material. A wooden cabinet can be painted, stained, or have a bare finish. On the other hand, a mirrored cabinet has a mirror attached to the front portion. When choosing a mirrored cabinet, you need to decide if you want the edges to be beveled. The mirror should be framed or frameless. Furthermore, there are single-door, double-door, and three-door medicine cabinet options that you can select from. Modern medicine cabinets are equipped with in-built lights and other high-tech features that make the cabinet a beautiful decorative piece. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses if medicine cabinets are outdated. Check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Storage Space

You also need to consider the storage space of the medicine cabinet. Standard over-the-sink medicine cabinets are usually shallow with an interior depth that measures about three to five inches. This means that you can only store smaller items. The interior shelves of medicine cabinets are commonly made from glass. In some models, the shelves can be adjusted according to your preferred height to easily accommodate taller items. On the other hand, you can also find medicine cabinets with more shelf depth of about five to eight inches.

Color and Finish

Consider the color and finish of the medicine cabinet. Since it will be visible to anyone who enters your bathroom, you need to install one that will complement your theme and decoration. Aside from the mirror, choose between a wooden and a stainless steel cabinet. See to it that the finish of the medicine cabinet matches with your other decors and accessories.

What is the Standard Medicine Cabinet Size?

There is no standard size for medicine cabinets. The size usually ranges from 14 inches wide up to 65 inches wide. For the height, it ranges from about 22 to 40 inches. Taller models are also available for bathrooms with ceilings that are 9 feet or higher. We have also shared this article titled, what can I replace my medicine cabinet with? Check out the article for alternatives that you can use when a medicine cabinet is not an option.

What to Have in a Medicine Cabinet?

Medicine cabinets are used to store many household essentials which include toiletries, cosmetics, and medicines. Toiletries include mouthwash, toothpaste, lotions, shampoo, and conditioner. Cosmetics include lipstick, foundation, and makeup brushes. Medicines include pills and vitamins. You can also use it to store first aid kits with a variety of bandages, antibacterial ointment, small scissors, and alcohol. It is also used to store Calamine lotion which is a topical relief for bug bites and other minor skin irritations. Make sure that your medicine cabinet is organized so that you can easily find what you need.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed if bathrooms need medicine cabinets. Regardless you have a small or a big bathroom; medicine cabinets provide storage additions and functionality. They make the bathroom free from clutter and also provide the convenience of organizing frequently used products. Furthermore, it is a convenient way to store medicines while keeping them out of reach of children. If you are planning to remodel your bathroom or install bathroom medicine cabinets, you need to consider the different types of cabinets that you can choose from and the factors that you need to keep in mind before making a purchase. Thank you for reading!

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