The medicine cabinet is a staple in most bathrooms and has been for a long time. It’s where people traditionally kept medicine, and today it’s where people store medicines, toiletries, hygiene products, and so much more. This storage space can become invaluable in a bathroom, but it’s only effective if used properly. In this guide, we’ll cover the details behind the medicine cabinet and how you can choose the perfect style for your bathroom.
To find the best medicine cabinets, you have a lot of different things to consider. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it on your own. Read on to learn all about medicine cabinets and what they offer, as well as how to find the perfect one for your bathroom to create the balance of style and function you need.
The Benefits of a Medicine Cabinet
First, let’s talk about the benefits of having a medicine cabinet over your bathroom vanity. This cabinet gives you a convenient space to store everything in an area that doesn’t get a lot of traffic. You can keep toiletries, medications, and other items stashed out of sight but right at hand when you need them. These cabinets also come in every size, style, and configuration imaginable, giving you the perfect storage solution for your space.
Most medicine cabinets also have mirrors, a necessary part of the bathroom for many people. Several designs and styles are available, including wall-mounted cabinets and recessed cabinets. The recessed option is popular in many older homes and new construction. Still, many models are built to be wall-mounted today, making it easy for anyone to incorporate this into their design.
The storage is probably one of the best aspects of this piece. It offers a place for all those small items that you keep on hand every day: toothpaste, brushes, floss, small bottles, combs, and other items that you use daily. Having a place to keep these items can make it easier to enjoy your bathroom routine and avoid a cluttered mess.
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Vanderbilt Triple Door Medicine Cabinet
Are Medicine Cabinets Outdated?
Some people question whether these cabinets might be a bit out-of-date. However, the fact is that they’re only as outdated as their style. The actual medicine cabinet fixture still has a place in almost every bathroom. Although some homeowners will opt to put up a simple mirror without a cabinet, that space will have to be made up for elsewhere when it’s unavailable.
These cabinets can still add a modern, stylish touch to any bathroom space. Your bathroom can be a space that adds a “wow” factor to your home, and with the right medicine cabinet, you can create the ideal look.
Medicine cabinets will never be outdated. However, the styles and designs will continue to change over time, and that’s what you need to pay attention to.
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Arched Single Door Medicine Cabinet
Medicine Cabinet Storage Rules
Of course, we can’t talk about the wonder of the medicine cabinet without considering storage. You don’t need a hard-and-fast list of what you put in this cabinet, but you can’t just toss everything in there and call it a day. This cabinet should be used for things like:
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Floss and other oral care items
- Combs and brushes
- Tweezers, nail clippers, and other hygiene tools
- Other daily use items
Three Mirrored Door Medicine Cabinet
In addition to this list, there is then the list of items you should never store in your medicine cabinet. This is probably the more important list of the two. Some of the items might even surprise you, but here are the top items that you should put elsewhere:
Medications: The moisture in the bathroom can cause the pills to become less potent. It also creates the risk of easy access for children and visitors, a safety hazard you want to avoid at all costs.
Open packaging: A bathroom is a place of moisture and heat. If you have items that aren’t sealed, they could be damaged by the constant exposure. You will want to store open items in a drier space free from humidity and the constant heat of the shower or bath.
Light-sensitive items: The cabinet is going to be opened time and again. If you have vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide-based substances, and other items that are affected by exposure to light, this is the worst place to keep them. Consider a dark cabinet or closet that doesn’t get opened as often, preferably somewhere away from moisture.
Razors: This one confuses many people because you use them regularly enough that razors should be on hand. However, exposure to moisture and heat can cause them to rust too soon, and you’ll find yourself replacing razors more often than necessary.
If it can be affected by the heat and humidity of the bathroom, you shouldn’t store it in the medicine cabinet.
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Metro Single Door Stainless Steel Medicine Cabinet
What if You Opt to Go Without One?
No law says your bathroom has to have a medicine cabinet. If you don’t install one, you could just hang a mirror on the wall and call it a day. But where do you put your toiletries and medications? Well, you can use the vanity cabinet storage (if you have a sink with a cabinet or drawers) or install a cabinet or shelving above the toilet, for a couple of examples.
Essentially, you can create whatever space you want as long as you take the time to check out the options and find what works for you. Medicine cabinets can be a great addition to your space and give you more room for storage. They can also do much more for your design than you might realize. Take a minute to explore the best medicine cabinets on the market today and see what they can do for your space.
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Resources
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