Our decoupaged medicine cabinet DIY is the jewel in the crown in our little powder room. It’s a striking decor piece that acts like artwork. But while it adds beauty, it’s also a functional way to add more storage in a small space.

You may have seen the powder room makeover we posted last year. Today we’re focusing on how to build just one of the elements, the decoupaged medicine cabinet, right into a wall. At Birdz of a Feather, we’re all about upcycling so when it came time to renovate our small powder room, we wanted to do it as sustainably as possible.

IBC – Door Do Over Challenge

It’s time for another International Bloggers Club (IBC) challenge and this month our theme is Door Do Overs.

The IBC is a group from all over the world who challenge each other every month to make something using a common theme. You’ll find our friends’ Door Do Over ideas at the very bottom of the post. So don’t forget to check them out before you go. And if you don’t have time to browse today, pop back in later in the week to pick up where you left off. Last time we participated in the IBC was the Ceramic Craft challenge and we made this ceramic tile mosaic.

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Recessed Medicine Cabinet DIY

Since Hubs was going to use the bathroom to get ready in the morning, he needed storage space for his toiletries. A cabinet door we found at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore for only $2 is the starting point,  like the one shown below.

With a bit of creativity and some recycled materials (plywood, 1×4’s and free calendar pages) we built a box and turned it into a one-of-a-kind piece that added much needed storage. You can’t get more sustainable than that!

Next time you’re buying wall paint, check to see if they’re giving away free calendars. That’s what I used to decoupage the door. Who knew when I bought wall paint that it would morph into this project?!

Step 1: Materials for Medicine Cabinet DIY

Refer to the table above for the material cut list we used; however if you build your own you’ll likely need to adjust your cut list according to the size of the door you use. You will need:

• 1 x 4’s (frame)
• 1 x 2’s (face frame)
• Plywood for backing (3/4″ thickness)
• Plywood for shelves (3/8″ thickness)
• Plastic edging (to fit edges of 3/8″ shelves)
• Pin nailer + pin nails
• Wood glue
• Old calendar with interesting pictures
• Craquelure crackle medium (2 part)
• Tinted glaze
• Paint brush (I used a foam brush for this project)
• Decoupage medium such as Mod Podge
• Clear water based varnish (we used low sheen for the interior wood but high gloss on the door)
• Paint
• Wood putty
• Recycled Cabinet Door (ours was 29 3/4″ long by 13 1/2″ wide)
• Knob
• Hinges (2)
• Narrow wood trim
• Primer
• Wood screws

Step 2: The Frame and Shelves

Cut your top, bottom and side pieces for the frame of the box to the dimensions on your own cut list (yours will vary according to the size of your door). Our cabinet door was 29 3/4″ long by 13 1/2″ wide so we built our box (the frame) 31″ long by 14″ wide (exterior dimensions) – some of which would be covered by the face frame (which was 32″ long x 15″ wide; also exterior dimension).

Since we don’t have too many fancy tools, we simply glued and pin nailed our box together. However, if you have carpentry skills, you can dovetail the joints.

We spaced the two shelves 9″ apart, glued along the edges, clamped and then pin nailed them through the sides of the frame through the centre edge of the each shelf. You have to have a steady hand when the shelves are so thin!

Cap off the shelves with the plastic edging by slipping it over the ends.

Step 3: Add the Backing and Face Frame

On the plywood backing, transfer the position of the shelves onto the wood with pencil so you’ll be able to pin nail through the centre. If you own a plunge router, you can create a recess around the frame and drop the backing in flush with the frame.

Glue along the edges of the box and shelves, then position the plywood backing in place. Pin nail around the perimeter and along the lines marked for the shelves. Keep the nailer dead straight or the pins may poke through the front of your box! The inside of the box gets a clear coat to protect it; use a few coats of low sheen water based varnish.

Face Frame

The exterior dimension of our finished face frame is 32″ long by 15″wide to fit over our box (see picture below). We built it by butting the edges together, then gluing and pinning as we did previously. Before attaching the face frame to the box, we primed it.

Once the backing is on, attach the face frame (shown below). If you have a pocket jig, such as a Kreg, you can position the face frame, clamp it together and drill pocket holes – then fasten together with screws. Again, we didn’t have a pocket jig so simply glued and pin nailed through the top of the face frame. We puttied and sanded any indentations then touched up with spot primer.

On the cabinet door itself we filled all previous holes with wood filler (our handle and hinges are now in different positions). We primed the entire door and then painted the perimeter of the front and the back with grey paint (the same colour we used for our walls. We also applied the same grey paint to the face frame of the box and some narrow wood trim that I used in the next step. Once all the paint was dry we positioned and predrilled holes for the hinges and door knob.

Step 4: How to Decoupage on Wood

I could have left the cabinet door plain but I wanted to add a one-of-a-kind touch, so I cut up old calendar prints and decoupaged four of them onto the front of the door using a brush to apply Mod Podge. I wasn’t too fussed about the cut edges because I covered them up in the last step with trim.

The calendar I used for this project was one I happened to get free when I purchased my Benjamin Moore paint for the bathroom! Ever since then, I’m always on the lookout at thrift stores for new or out-of-date calendars with interesting images that can be used for decoupage, like shown below.

To further embellish the decoupage, I pressed some leftover venetian plaster I already had on hand through an assortment of nautical and nature-inspired stencils and let it dry thoroughly. Use fine sandpaper to knock back any rough spots on the plaster.

Medicine Cabinet DIY Crackle Finish

After the decoupage is dry, I used a two step craquelure to apply a clear crackle finish. Tinting the second part of the application gives it depth and reveals the crackle.  Don’t you love how the original colour of the calendar to show through the cracks? Follow the steps on the particular brand you purchase and apply both coats evenly allowing them to dry between coats.

Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures of each step of the crackle process, but I’m sure I’ll do another project at some point which I’ll be sure to detail for you and I’ll link it back to here!

Once dry, I put two coats of high gloss varnish over the decoupage/crackle finish.

The final step is to glue on the previously painted pieces of wood trim to cover the edges of the four calendar scenes. I carefully clamped the trim pieces in place while they dried, taking care not to mar the decoupage.

Step 5: Install Hinges and Mount Door

Before installing the decoupaged medicine cabinet, it’s easier to mount the hinges onto the door and face frame first so you don’t have to work vertically.

Spread the hinges out evenly then measure and mark and door. Drill pilot holes and screw in place. Place the door evenly onto the face frame (it’s easier if you have someone to help!) then transfer the hinge holes with a pencil. Predrill the holes in the face frame and complete mounting the hinges by screwing in place.

Remove the door again for the next step so the cabinet box will be lighter to maneuver.

Step 6: Mount the Decoupaged Medicine Cabinet

To mount the decoupaged medicine cabinet, we used a stud finder to find the studs. We lined our markings up with a stud on the right side of the cabinet. We marked the dimensions of our hole on the drywall making sure our lines were level and plumb then cut a hole in our drywall. We added some additional framing for support along the left side and the bottom since the cabinet was narrower than the distance between our studs (which should be 16″ on centre).

We mounted our box – now a full fledged cabinet – into the drywall between the studs, flush with the drywall opening.

One thing to note: our cabinet was mounted in an interior wall. If you are placing the cabinet on an exterior wall however, just make sure that you replace and seal up any insulation removed when you cut into the wall.

We drilled some pilot holes through the side frame and into the studs and used small head wood screws to fasten the box into the opening.

Step 7: Load Up Your New Medicine Cabinet DIY

Reattach the door and it’s now ready for all your stuff to be placed on the shelves!

Step 8: Final Reveal

In the picture below you can see the final outcome of the cabinet reflected in a vintage mirror we rescued from our own basement.

Drill a hole to add a small door pull on the outside.

Then and a rubber bumper on the inside of the door and you’re done!

By making a box to accommodate an old door, add personality into any bathroom with a medicine cabinet!

Intrigued by the crackle paint? Here’s one more medicine cabinet that has a crackle paint finish. But it’s not what you would expect!

Pin Medicine Cabinet DIY

For more crafty ideas, check out our Craft Rehab category.

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Door Do Over Challenge

Be sure to check out these creative door do over projects from the rest of the IBC team!

1. Magical Upcycled Faux Wood Fairy Door
2. Wooden Steampunk Christmas Tree
3. Cabinet Door Art (that’s us!)

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