Repurposing ideas for medicine cabinet and light fixture

Question

My hubby and I have bought the 100 plus year old home that I grew up in. Everything is extremely dated. My current project is to spruce up the main bathroom! Any ideas on how to repurpose this functional, yet less-than lovely mirrored medicine cabinet and light fixture? DIY ideas on a budget.

Marj MRC Creations · Answer

I have a very similar medicine cabinet that I'd like to change somehow, so I'll be interested in any ideas.

CK · Answer

We had a very similar medicine cabinet and light fixture in our former home. How much 'updating' do you want to do? Sometimes you can do a 'redo' very simply and inexpensively....we did.

Here was our mini-redo:
1. Painted the frame of the medicine cabinet the same color as the wall. (Great time to do it if you're going to repaint the room anyway). It REALLY makes the room look bigger.
2. We had a wall mounted fixture so we switched out our fixture to a 'wall sconce' style. That allowed the doors to open freely.
3. Actually the existing style of fixture is very good for shaving and putting on makeup :-) But to update it, you can take it off, spray paint it (including the chains) to whatever color you'd choose. (Maybe chrome, pewter, brushed nickel, etc.) and put in newer styled globes. Another possibility is to use some Edison-style bulbs without globes if you like that look.

The entire question of 'how do I do this' depends a lot on the style you're going for in the bathroom. It's limited only by your own imagination! Have fun :-)

Chris · Answer

Great ideas! I was thinking along the same lines when it comes to the light fixture. From what I am reading and learning, it seems just about anything can be spray painted. I do want to do something different for the globes so I might try the Edison style bulbs first while I keep a look out for something 'quirky' to use as globes. I am a big fan of all things quirky! I like the painting idea for the inner trim part of the medicine cabinet. I am wondering if I can add something over the exposed wood... Tiles ?, old barn boards ? I just discovered Hometalk and I am already a HUGE fan! Thank you for your ideas! 😄

Tina Pucilowski · Answer

I would take the mirror out, and crackle paint the frame your favorite color, ( I would do white myself ) On the shelf’s in side I would find old glass gars to put cotton balls, Q-tips and so on in. a little plant. Make it look like a shelf. I put my med’s in the kitchen so my kid couldn’t get them and that’s were I take them anyway. But if you need the mirror put one on another wall. Good luck J

Danielle Marceaux · Answer

Like tina says you could use the mirror you could break it and make like a table put some kind of motter holder and put the mirror and and make sure they are down in it thren put glass on top of it has that on that

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Have an old house, too! Like you, did room by room as time and $ permitted. Like the light fixture - looks traditional. To me, the ceiling tiles are the prob. in dating room. Since this is where you are starting to update, I would take the time and $ to repair the plaster underneath, or drywall. You could reuse the moulding and add a wallpaper border under it for more definition. This will make a huge dif. and the mirror won't bug you as much. However, you could always add some trim to give the mirror a dif look - and to add more 'weight' so it is in better balance with the amount of glass.

Kim Alessandro · Answer

I may be in the minority, but I love the old light fixture. Perhaps you could spray paint the finish if that's the issue? You could totally 'Renaissance style' that bath with that light! Seriously, I love it. The mirror I'd toss...I have one, too in the main bath that I am tossing. Those cabinets are cheap and not worth salvaging, in my opinion.

Vero Nishka · Answer

I am repurpusing the  medecine cabinet into a jewlery cabinet .

Leigh Rowan · Answer

After spray painting the fixture to your desired color, You could remove the globes and have small drum shades instead to update the fixture.

Molly · Answer

To a search on diy fixtures there are a lot of people making fixtures out of industrial pipe, if your decor can lean towards that I think that threading the wires through some pipe and attaching mason jars instead of the balls would look great. Leave the mirror as it is great storage paint the trim in a silver, nickel, or get silver leaf from the craft shop and apply that. Pailnting it will do wonders. I agree on the tiles...maybe you can do a board and batten look on them instead of a replace.

Molly · Answer

You can also take the side doors off for open shelves and keep the middle mirror and paint the insides of the open sides a great colour

Mary Yexley · Answer

We updated our bathroom on a shoestring. We painted the contractor grade wood vanity and mirror gloss white, added shiny chrome hardware to update it, and added a beautiful chrome and glass fixture above. We even painted inside the cabinets and drawers so the pieces would not look dingy/shabby when opened. If you're keeping the light fixture you have there it will automatically give a very retro look, as it is very '60's/'70's. That's not 'wrong'......you just need to decide what era you're shooting for.

Grandmaquilts · Answer

I would also beef-up that frame. Box around it so the fame appears to go all the way back to the wall- More built-in look than 'just hanging on the wall' look. So much depends on your decor style. Industrial/traditional etc

Danielle Sallada · Answer

you could chalk paint it, decoupage, or pebble it..(E6000 some little river stones to cover it), I agree with Grandmaquilts, I would beef it up a bit though. a lil crown molding would do the trick as well as add some interest.

Chris · Answer

Oooh... I like! 👍😄

Salvage Sister and Mister · Answer

Decorating on a TIGHT budget is my middle name :). I have purchased many light fixtures from the ReStore if you have one close by. Also, I would look at using the globes, from the light fixture as décor items. Depending on the opening like place on old candlesticks or use them to place succulents in them. If you are taking the cabinet out. You could remove the mirror and paint and use it as a spice cabinet or memory box. If you are using it in the bath, I would still remove the mirror and paint it and possible move it to another wall and place a large flat mirror in it's place.

Eileen · Answer

I would remove the 2 side doors, and use the mirror as the backing on the sides.  Not only would it 'open it up' for display, but add brightness from the reflection of light fixtures.

Molly · Answer

Please be sure to post your finished outcome, love to see it.

Trudy · Answer

I agree with Marion from Canada, the ceiling tiles should go. An easy and not too expensive fix is too put paintable textured paper right over the top. Or take them off and put it on the ceiling, then you won't have to fix all theimperfections left when taking off tiles.
I like the idea of just updateing the light fixture with new shades and edison bulbs. Search Hometalk for a recent industrial cage light post for ideas.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

I saw a post where they used wire cages from a craft store,, @ $9.00 each. used the vintage looking bulbs, painted the dated metal a bit,, It would be perfect for this also..
 will look and find the post

Fbcmemory Makers · Answer

Dollar Tree has trash baskets what are wire mesh. You could replace the glass globes with them- total cost $2.00.....unless you decide to paint them- then just $5.00 more

Denise · Answer

If you have recently painted your bathroom, paint the oak on the medicine cabinet a contrast matching color, like dark grey, dove grey, etc. I agree about ceiling tiles. An alternative is the new textured ceiling tiles, they look custom, and you can paint them, but wouldnt paint them a dark color. Dark ceilings look too heavy, like its coming down on top of you.

Cheryl Aull · Answer

trim mirror out in white ! I just covered a popcorn ceiling in my bathroom with sheets of bead board and added new light fixtures....I had the same light that you have and just replaced it with a single fixture

Pat · Answer

Pendant lights since you have tiles (and access to the wiring)

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