Home Improvement Skills & Specialties Carpentry & Woodworking

How to Build a DIY Medicine Cabinet With a Mirror

Timothy Dale

Published on 07/27/23

Bathroom with mirrored cabinet — John Keeble / Getty Images

In This Article

Before You Begin
Safety Considerations
Instructions

Project Overview

Working Time: 3 - 5 hrs
Total Time: 4 - 6 hrs
Yield: Mirrored medicine cabinet

Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $100 to $150

Adding a mirror to the front of the medicine cabinet enhances the convenience of this addition to the home. Homeowners can choose between a surface-mounted look or they can go with a recessed design to increase the amount of storage space without the medicine cabinet protruding out of the wall.

New and experienced DIYers looking for a simple project can learn how to build a DIY medicine cabinet with a mirror for the bathroom.

Before You Begin

Have a general plan for how you want the medicine cabinet to look before starting this project. A simple DIY medicine cabinet installation can be accomplished relatively easily by purchasing the material to build a cabinet box and door. However, if space is an issue or you just prefer the look, you can opt for a recessed medicine cabinet design.

Mounting the cabinet directly to the wall is the most straightforward method, but the entire box sits on the surface of the wall, protruding out into the bathroom. By cutting a hole in the bathroom wall just above the sink, you can install a pre-built cabinet niche insert or build a recessed cabinet to fit between the wall studs. Decide on the best design choice for the bathroom before starting the project so that you have all the necessary tools and material to complete this job.

Safety Considerations

For this medicine cabinet project, have closed toe shoes, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, safety gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, and a mask to avoid inhaling sawdust when you are preparing the construction materials.

Clean and prepare the work space ahead of time. Plan the area where you will work and set up power tools and extension cords in such a way that will not inhibit your movement or create a tripping hazard. Open a door or windows, and consider setting up a fan to improve airflow through the area.

Equipment / Tools

Tape measure
Stud finder
Drywall saw
Miter saw
Drill
Caulking gun
Brad nail gun
Pocket-hole jig
Paint brush

Materials

1 2x4x8 lumber
Screws
2 1x6x8 lumber
1 1/2-inch x 2-foot x 3-foot plywood panel
4 3/8-inch x 4 1/4-inch cove molding shelf Supports
Door hinges
Construction adhesive
Mirror
2 1x4x2 clear pine rails
2 1x3x3 clear pine stiles
3/8-inch cove molding mirror trim
1 1/4-inch x 18 1/2-inch x 26 7/8-inch HDF mirror backing
Brad nails
Pocket screws
Paint or stain

How to Build a DIY Medicine Cabinet With Mirror

Mark the Cabinet Installation Location

Start by deciding where the medicine cabinet will be installed. If you are mounting the medicine cabinet directly to the wall, use a stud finder to locate the studs in the area to ensure that the medicine cabinet will be properly supported.

For installing a recessed medicine cabinet, use the stud finder to determine if the cabinet will fit neatly between two studs or if you will need to build and mount a frame to support the weight of the medicine cabinet using just one stud.
Measure and Cut Out the Cabinet Niche

Once you have determine the area for the new medicine cabinet, use a tape measure and a pencil to mark the location. If you plan to recess the cabinet, you can take this opportunity to cut out the drywall with a drywall knife. The opening in the wall should be wide enough for the pre-built cabinet niche or custom built cabinet box to fit. Use a miter saw to cut two 2x4s to frame the top and bottom of the recessed opening. Secure these 2x4s using a drill and long wood screws.
Measure and Cut Cabinet Pieces

The next step is to prepare the cabinet and cabinet door pieces. Use a miter saw or a circular saw to cut the pieces for this project. Start by cutting two 18 1/2-inch pieces of 1x6 lumber for the top and bottom of the frame. Next, cut two 30-inch pieces of 1x6 lumber for the sides of the frame.

You will also need to cut a 1/2-inch plywood panel to about 18 1/2 inches in width by 28 1/2 inches in height. This will serve as the back panel for the medicine cabinet. For the inside of the cabinet, you will need to cut four 4 1/4-inch pieces of 3/8-inch cove molding to serve as the shelf supports and two 18 3/8-inch pieces of 1x6 lumber for the shelves.

The door of the medicine cabinet is made using rails, stiles, high-density fiberboard (HDF), and cove molding to trim the mirror. Cut two 15-inch pieces of 1x4 rails and two 28 3/8-inch pieces of 1x3 stiles. Next cut the 1/4-inch HDF mirror backing to 18 1/2 inches wide by 26 7/8 inches in height.

The 3/8-inch cove molding for the mirror should be cut to fit around the perimeter of the mirror, so the exact measurements depend on the size of the mirror.
Build the Medicine Cabinet Box

With all the pieces cut to the correct size, you can begin to construct the medicine cabinet box. Keep in mind that if the medicine cabinet will be recessed, then it must fit tightly into the opening in the wall.

Use a caulking gun with construction adhesive to glue the top, bottom, and back of the cabinet to the sides of the cabinet box frame, then fasten each piece together with 1 1/2-inch brad nails.

3/4-inch brad nails should be used to secure the four pieces of 3/8-inch cove molding to create shelf supports on the inside of the medicine cabinet box. The cabinet shelves should slide into the space and sit on top of the shelf supports without need for additional fasteners.
Build the Medicine Cabinet Door

Use construction adhesive and clamps to secure the door rails between the door stiles. When these pieces are clamped together, use a pocket-hole jig and 1 1/4-inch pocket screws to secure the rails to the stiles.

Next, position the HDF mirror backing in the frame and fasten it with 1/2-inch brad nails. Apply adhesive to the back of the mirror, then lay it in place on the front of the medicine cabinet door. Position the 3/8-inch cove molding so that it fits around the mirror inside the door frame, then glue the molding in place with the construction adhesive.

At this point, you can paint the medicine cabinet door and box before proceeding. The paint or stain will help to preserve the wood and protect it from moisture-related damage. Alternatively, you can wait until the medicine box is installed before painting.
Attach the Medicine Cabinet Door

The door of the medicine cabinet can be installed before or after the medicine cabinet is mounted depending on the preference of the DIYer. To attach the medicine cabinet door, you will need to line up and secure the door hinges.

This is relatively easy with a wood medicine cabinet door and box. Simply use small screws to attach the door hinges to the medicine cabinet door, then attach the hinges to the inside of the medicine cabinet box. Open and close the door a few times to ensure that the hinges are securely attached before proceeding.

It's also a good idea to install a magnetic catch on the upper inside of the cabinet and on the back of the mirrored door to ensure the door remains closed when not in use.
Mount the Medicine Cabinet

With the medicine cabinet completely constructed, you can mount the medicine cabinet to the wall or to the inside of the recessed opening. If you are mounting it directly to the wall, use a drill to secure the medicine cabinet to the wall studs with 2-inch wood screws.

If you are mounting the medicine cabinet inside the recessed opening, then slide the box into the opening and secure it by drilling 2-inch wood screws into the 2x4 frame through the sides, top, and bottom.
Fill Gaps and Paint

Recessed medicine cabinets may have a gap around the cabinet box that needs to be sealed to prevent water from seeping into the wall. Use waterproof caulk to seal the gap. For gaps that are too big or noticeable, consider installing molding around the outside of the medicine cabinet to cover up these openings.

If you haven't already, now is the time to paint or stain the medicine cabinet. You can use a transparent stain or finish the cabinet with a suitable paint for the bathroom. Just make sure that the wood medicine cabinet is properly finished with a waterproof paint or stain to avoid mold, mildew, and rot.