Searching for ways to spruce up old medicine cabinets

Submitted by rebeccaelder93 t3_yg6l8e in DIY

Hello good people of DIY!

We have purchased a home that has all 1970s era mirror/light/medicine cabinet combos with the shaver spot to boot. They are very outdated, but for the time being we will need to use them.

They have two florescent light bulbs about a foot long on either side of the mirror. They are covered by a plastic cover that has yellowed.

All things considered they are in good shape, but I can't find a solution anywhere online. I've search via Google lense to see if I can even find a similar DIY to no avail. Any suggestions?

Photo here: https://imgur.com/a/7e2v182?s=wa

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malvare4 t1_iu7bswn wrote

We recently renovated our bathrooms but kept the old medicine cabinets. Applying a matte black finish (spray paint) made it look great!

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Steve4505 t1_iu93vy4 wrote

Yes this works. I have a worn bronze themed bathroom. I was able to recreate same look by spray painting different bronze and copper colors on the exterior white metal surfaces. Probably best to take cabinet out, to do this as this took a lot of spraying.

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TallImprovement830 t1_iu76q4f wrote

If you can post a picture we can give you better recommendations. I refinished old cabinets in my kitchen, put shaker trim on them, painted, etc. they looked better but when all was said and done it may have been easier, cheaper and faster to just knock them out and install new HD ones.

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AndromedaFire t1_iu78cja wrote

You used to be able to buy replacement diffusers but the only place I saw online stopped a few years ago.

It is possible to order custom acrylic diffusers but maybe costly.

May be prudent to change the light fittings. You could also paint the covers with a thin coat or some type of paint? Car paint maybe. Do it in a light colour so at least it looks like it’s meant to be like that instead of clearly just aged

I know you said you can’t post a photo but not sure why as it would make a massive difference here

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rebeccaelder93 OP t1_iu79bs3 wrote

Looks like I found some place that does it! https://www.1800ceiling.com/products/antique-bathroom-vanity-lighting-cover-4112le-103?variant=40248147214380&gclid=Cj0KCQjw--2aBhD5ARIsALiRlwBXK0NToNh1tI29v8VDpEKaBHvS49Ux0ROkbOBhnMITY4WT4oxVhbUaAo2wEALw_wcB only issue is it's circular and our attachments are square

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AndromedaFire t1_iu7cte3 wrote

this place Looks like they will do them. You will probably need to contact them with all the sizes etc after you take one off or send them one to copy but they carry loads that aren’t on the website and will make/ adjust for you.

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vasjpan02 t1_iu7c2tk wrote

our original 1965 cabinets had a textured paint that looked flaking, so we relined with formica. i've also seen vinyl and ceramic tiles. i also put plexiglas shelving and small drawers in

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hybridhatch_74 t1_iu7h4lu wrote

I took out old and put in PVC shelves walls and trim. 100% white silicone the gaps and its ready for my daughter to take 4000 degree showers and turn our bathroom into a rain forest daily.

If you want to see pics send me a DM and id be happy to share. They came out great IMHO

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jamesl80 t1_iubkgi7 wrote

Turn them into a small lapdesk, then do cocaine off them, always a conversation starter with new house guests.

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