You can build your own vintage looking medicine cabinet perfect for a retro bathroom. There are many different antique medicine cabinets to tae inspiration from when building your own reproduction medicine cabinet. This particular piece is meant to hang on the wall and can work as a mirror or cabinet on a sidewall in the bathroom.
To Build This Reproduction Antique Medicine Cabinet you will need:
Plywood
Saw
Screws
Mirror
Screws
Knob
Trim Molding
Finishing Nails
Wood Filler
Sand Paper
To get started you want to measure the space on the wall that you want to hang your medicine cabinet in the bathroom. This can be made in any size, so custom fit it if you can.
I will be giving instructions for a simple medicine cabinet with finished measurements of 18 inches wide and 22 inches tall.
Go ahead and out your sheet of plywood to 17 inches wide and 21 inches tall.
You will also need to cut a second piece for the front of the cabinet, but this one will be 18 inches wide and 22 inches tall.
To create the sides of the medicine cabinet you will need a 1X6 board.
Cut two pieces to 22 inches tall. 2 more pieces will need to be 17 inches wide.
You will need 2 pieces 17 inches long from a 1X4 board. These are the shelves.
Now, on to assembling.
Go ahead and lay out two 1X6 boards (the 17 inch wide pieces out horizontally on your table. The 22 inch pieces will be the sides. Lay out the 17X21 inch plywood board on the table.
Line the two vertical sides up and pr drill holes into the sides. Screw into place. You can also run a bead of wood glue before you attach the sides of the vintage medicine cabinet.
Repeat with the top and bottom piece. They will slide into place.
Now, install the two shelves in the middle this way as well. You can place them as you wish. These can all also be drill into place form the back y pre drilling holes as well.
Now, install the front sheet of 18X22 inch plywood on the front using hangers. This will be the door of the vintage inspired medicine cabinet.
Have a sheet of glass cut to 18 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Glue onto the front center of the medicine cabinet. Trim out with wood trim if wanted.
Now, paint the whole piece out. You can pre drill a hole for the knob in the front and use a reproduction vintage knob to add detail.
A latch can also be added by using reproduction eye hooks! This will add rustic touch as well. Screw in on the door and the side near the knob.
Finally, to hang your vintage medicine cabinet in the bathroom you want to pre drill a hole through the inside back of the cabinet. One in the four corners about 2 inches in from the corners.
Line this up on the wall and screw into place using wall anchor, toggle bolts, or by drilling into a stud in the wall!
Tip: Paint before installing the mirror to save time edging the paint details.
