How do I make my medicine cabinet look better?

Gizelle
by Gizelle

I was prepping painted my bathroom to be painted and I taped around the medicine cabinet. I wasn't able to paint it for two weeks and by then the tape did a lot of damage to the cabinet. I don't know how to make the cabinet look any better, your help would be appreciated

  8 answers
  • What did you use to tape it off?

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Feb 23, 2019

    In the future use blue painter's tape instead of masking tape. I can't see the damage in the photo, but I would suspect that you will need to apply stain that matches you cabinet.

  • Lael Lael on Feb 23, 2019

    I don't see the flaw but if it is real wood, clean it and make sure there is no soap or other residue. Then stain it. You can get wood stain, even in smaller bottles, in light, medium and dark. You might need two coats as the stain is wipe on, wipe off. Then polish it with a wax for wood. I get these products at Lowes Home Improvement but I'm sure other places carry it. If it's plastic, I have no idea. Hope I've been of some help. Best of luck.

  • William William on Feb 23, 2019

    YEP. Should have used blue painters tape. Removed some of the fake paper wood grain All you can do now is paint. Lightly sand the damage with a green kitchen scrubby. Prime with Kilz primer and paint. Seal with three coats of a water based polyurethane.

  • CJ CJ on Feb 23, 2019

    Did the masking tape remove the finish of the cabinet or leave a residue? It's hard to tell which from the photo.


    Unfortunately you learned a lesson the hard way, use actual painters tape next time. I also learned that lesson the hard way. For me it left tape residue that I eventually was able to clean off. I just can't remember how I did! : (

  • Oberlinmom Oberlinmom on Feb 23, 2019

    It's hard to tell if it's color removed with the tape or residue left behind. If it's residue try something like goo gone or even veg. oil. If part of the covering came off and it's a vinyl like cover you'll need to come up with something creative. You buy some wide wooden trim and try to stain it to match. Personally I don't like the two colors of wood I'd paint the body, not the doors, a color that went with the rest of the decor.

  • Gizelle Gizelle on Feb 23, 2019

    If I paint it what color would be the best?

    • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Feb 24, 2019

      You could probably use paint match the wall color, but I would prefer to stain the cabinet. Best bet is to remove cabinet from the wall when you do it. There should only be a few screws holding it in place.

  • Jonathan Miller-Piche Jonathan Miller-Piche on Feb 26, 2019

    Before painting or staining I would suggest getting 100 to 150 grit sandpaper and smoothing it out. Where the tape pulled the finish off you want to make sure nothing else will flake off. Since you have brown walls I wouldn't suggest painting it the same color. It would probably look better if you painted it white. On cabinets like those there tends to be a gap between the mirror and the door trim. If you don't want to put tape on the mirror try sliding a piece of printer paper in that small Gap. Paint the door trim and remove piece of paper. I personally don't use painter tape in any situation because I find it to be more work. If you press your brush against a flat surface and drag down slightly, it creates a thin blade that you can Edge in with and not worry about touching anything else.