Bathroom Vanity and Medicine Cabinet Considerations

We've all been in bathrooms that are cluttered and disorganized, whether in our own homes or in someone else's. Brushes, makeup, razors, hair products and more can litter a countertop and make the bathroom a frustrating, unproductive place to get ready in. But a well designed bathroom can be a place of both serenity and utilitarian function, with the help of a vanity or medicine cabinet.

Installing bathroom vanities and medicine cabinets will get all of those products off the sink, create storage space for towels and washcloths, provide the proper lighting for shaving or applying make-up, and greatly improve the bathroom's appearance. Aside from offering storage capacity, vanities also mask exposed plumbing to give the bathroom a more finished look.

When selecting bathroom vanities and medicine cabinets, you can choose from a range of styles, materials, and finishes. However, before settling on a particular vanity or cabinet that fits your personal style, you need to consider some of the practical purposes of these items.

How much do you need to store? Is it just for you? Is it for a bathroom shared by your kids? All of these questions will determine the type of vanity or medicine cabinet that is best suited for your bathroom, and they will affect the installation process.

Most medicine cabinets are as easy to place on a wall as a picture. However, the support has to be in place to hold the medicine cabinet up when it is full. The cabinet can get quite heavy depending on how much you're storing in it and how many shelves you use. Be sure to hang your medicine cabinet from a wall stud, or to use drywall screws and other bracing hardware, if necessary.

As with all design elements in the bathroom, you should seek to merge form with function. Lighting around the mirror should complement the design of the room, but ultimately, it needs to make it easy for you to perform your daily routine in front of the mirror every morning. In the same respect, the bathroom vanity can add real style to the room, but it does need to have ample storage capability.

If you're looking for the perfect marriage of design and practicality, consult a professional contractor before you kick off your bathroom design project. A skilled pro can help you with every step of the process and ensure that your vanities and medicine cabinets have the look you want and fulfill the purposes you need.