How to Replace a Recessed Medicine Cabinet

Recessed medicine cabinets sit in the drywall.

A new recessed medicine cabinet is one way to update the look of your bathroom.

1. Open the medicine cabinet door and remove all the contents. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws on the inside of the cabinet, which are holding it to the framework.

2. Slip a pry bar between the wall and the medicine cabinet and push gently on the bar. Push just enough to loosen the cabinet, but not enough to damage the drywall. Do this on all four sides of the cabinet until it is loose enough that you can pull it out.

3. Pull out any plywood shams that were used to stabilize the old cabinet. If they were glued down, pry them out with the pry bar. Leave the wood blocking and framework in place.

4. Measure the height of the opening, and the width. Measure the space from the drywall to the interior wall. This will be the maximum depth of your new recessed medicine cabinet. Purchase a recessed medicine cabinet that matches your measurements.

5. Remove the cabinet door from the rest of the cabinet. Slide the cabinet into the hole so the frame sits flush against the drywall. Use an electric drill to drill drywall screws through the holes in the inside of the cabinet and into the framework.

6. Apply a thin bead of caulk around the outside of the cabinet, if there are any gaps between the frame and the drywall. Let the caulking dry according to the package directions. Reattach the cabinet door.