Robin Hewitt began freelance writing full time in 2008. She has coauthored books, including the book, "The Joyous Gift of Grandparenting," in which she addresses the nutritional and fitness needs of both grandchildren and grandparents.
SUPPLIES
- Measuring tape
- Stud finder
- Two poster boards
Overview
You're remodeling your bathroom, and the dozens of medicine cabinet styles, designs and sizes is confusing. How do you choose dimensions for a medicine cabinet? The key is to factor in the variables involved such as use, vanity, space and size. By narrowing the field selectively you'll find it isn't as complicated as you thought. Before you know it, you'll have chosen the perfect cabinet and will be well on your way to finishing your project.
Step 1
Consider who will be using the bathroom the most. If it's a second bath that will be used primarily by young children, remember that they will not have a lot of storage needs and will need a lower mirror. On the other side, kids grow fast and in 10 years you won't want to listen to a teenager bemoaning the lack of shelf space. If the medicine cabinet will be in a half bath, you may want to install a small medicine cabinet and a large mirror to give the illusion of space.
Step 2
Measure the vanity and the area above it. This will help you eliminate over-sized medicine cabinets; the medicine cabinet should complement the vanity size so it doesn't overwhelm the room. If you have a window near the vanity, this will also limit the size of the cabinet; if there is an outlet nearby, it may have to be moved to accommodate a larger medicine cabinet.
Step 3
Locate the available studs on the wall where the cabinet will be installed, using a stud finder. While standard walls have studs every 16 inches off center, there may be an odd construction in the area where you plan to install. This will either limit the cabinet size or be cause for an extended project that you may not wish to take on.
Step 4
Cut two poster boards to the dimensions you have decided on, tape them together (if necessary) and tack them to the bathroom wall. This will allow you to confirm you have made the correct choice of size for your new medicine cabinet.
