I’m always on the lookout for handy extra storage for my bathrooms. I needed a DIY bathroom cabinet with lots of little shelves. They are convenient for storing medicines and toiletries.
For the loft bathroom, I made a cute upcycled drawer storage shelf. But I needed a bathroom cabinet for the family bathroom.
A friend passed on a gift wine box (unfortunately empty!) for me to add to my upcycling stash. In the past, I have transformed a wine crate into a nightstand for my son.
When I opened this wine box, I saw the little compartments inside. I then knew I could turn it into the handy bathroom cabinet I needed.
The Upcycled Bathroom Storage
I love vintage images, especially from old encyclopedias and picture dictionaries. To give this DIY bathroom cabinet a medicine cabinet theme, I decoupaged a vintage anatomy poster inside the door. You can download and print the image for free (see below).
Also, I wanted to give the plain wooden box some texture and colour. I covered the outside with wooden lollipop sticks to create an interesting pattern. I painted both the inside and outside in colourful chalk paint.
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What You Need For A DIY Bathroom Cabinet
- Old wine gift box – I was gifted mine. I know Costco sells wine in wooden wine boxes like this one. You can always treat yourself to some excellent wine and a box simultaneously.
- Cupboard handle – I bought mine from Anthropologie in the sale a while ago. Any cupboard handles you like will do.
- Chalk paint – Annie Sloan Napoleonic blue & Barcelona Orange. Tester pots of paint are all that is needed.
- Vintage anatomical print – Download it here.
- Jumbo wooden craft sticks
- Gorilla wood glue
- Mod podge and acrylic spray varnish
How To Make An Upcycled Bathroom Cabinet
Step 1: The first thing I did was to add the wooden craft stick pattern to the front of the wine box. I carefully arranged the jumbo sticks on the front of the box in the design I wanted.
Play around with different designs. Once you are happy with one mark, the craft sticks to be cut.
Step 2: Cut the wooden craft sticks to a marked length using a saw blade on a rotary tool.
Step 3: Using wood glue, stick the craft sticks to the front of the wine box. This will give the DIY bathroom cabinet an interesting pattern on the front.
Step 4: Once the glue has dried, paint the outside of the wine box blue. I used a brush to apply the paint to the uneven surface. I then reviewed this paint with a small roller to remove brush marks.
Don’t forget to remove any handles and latches from the wine box before painting. Check out how to paint a box here for more ideas.
Also, I recommend adding a coat of wood wax to protect the finish if using chalk paint.
Step 5: Next, I painted the inside of the cupboard in Barcelona orange. I didn’t need to paint the inside of the lid as I would decoupage it.
Step 6: Next, I printed the vintage anatomical image. I printed the image onto A3 paper on my home inkjet printer. In the advanced printer menu on the computer, I selected the best-quality image option.
Step 7: Using decoupage glue, I stuck the printed image to the inside of the DIY bathroom cabinet. If you want to protect the decoupage, spray with acrylic varnish.
Step 8: Finally, I added the handle to the front to finish the bathroom cabinet.
What I love about this DIY bathroom cabinet is the pop of colour you get when the cabinet is open. I also love the vintage anatomical illustration on the inside of the door.
This is not my first time using vintage scientific illustrations in my furniture upcycles. I used some fabulous insect posters with my chalk paint unique cupboard upcycle.
With their handy little shelves, I think that this DIY bathroom cabinet would also make a great craft cupboard. I’m looking for another one of these wine boxes to upcycle and a suitable vintage image for a craft cupboard.
You might also want to check out my craft cupboard upcycle here. Also, there are many more wooden crates and wine box upcycle ideas.
For more wine crate upcycles, visit DIYideacenter.
Maria
Wednesday 1st of April 2020
Wow I had a bunch of these during Christmas hopefully my hubby didn’t throw out! Lovely
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 2nd of April 2020
Thank you, oh no hang on to them they are great to use as storage.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
Amazing DIY project and so very creative. YOu should get a lot of use out of this project. Thanks for visiting each week at #HomeMattersParty
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 26th of March 2020
Thank you so much. It is a really handy cupboard.
Michelle Leslie
Tuesday 24th of March 2020
Dang girl, I might just have to start drinking wine instead of beer. This is gorgeous!!!! Love the twist inside too. That would make me smile every time I open it.
Claire Armstrong
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
Thank you, Michelle. I do like my vintage images and colour. Hope you are keeping safe.
Michelle
Monday 23rd of March 2020
This is brilliant! We have no medicine cabinet in our bathroom. This looks like the perfect solution! Pinned!
Michelle http://mybijoulifeonline.com
Claire Armstrong
Monday 23rd of March 2020
Thank you so much Michelle, it does make me smile when I go into the bathroom.
creativejewishmom/sara
Saturday 21st of March 2020
Brilliant Claire! I finally got my bathroom cabinets organized by simply buying a whole bunch of pink bins from Ikea, and now at least I know that if visitors open my cabinets ( I have a huge wall to wall one over the sink/toilet) I don't have to be embarassed. I was just thinking that visitors open yours they'll get a little surprise with that old engraving. Thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Claire Armstrong
Monday 23rd of March 2020
Thank you, Sara. I just love vintage graphics and using them when I can. Unfortunately no IKEA for awhile good job you got the storage whilst you could.