Recessed Oval Medicine Cabinet

Chloe Hughes Interior Design Expert

Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.

Updated 15/06/2022

When wall space is limited in the bathroom, look no further than a recessed oval medicine cabinet. Both easy on the eye and space-saving, this type of medicine cabinet adds a soft touch to its surroundings while simultaneously offering out-of-sight storage for your self-care essentials. On top of that, it has a less bulky appearance than wall-mounted medicine cabinets given that it’s installed directly inside the wall. See for yourself in this carefully selected collection of oval medicine cabinets!

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Our Picks

Oval mirror medicine cabinet with beveled edges

Available in both clear and yellow tints, this recessed medicine cabinet flaunts an oval beveled mirrored door that opens up to reveal a sturdy, rust-resistant cabinet made of steel. Inside, the sides are mirrored and fitted with two adjustable glass shelves.

Designer Advice:

Thanks to its classy look, this medicine cabinet looks just as flattering in a traditionally styled bathroom as it does in a contemporary one. Plus, its gentle curves are great for breaking up boxy fixtures like square sinks and straight bathtubs. Have it match with other rounded decor elements, such as cylinder wall sconces, a circular vanity tray, or a bud vase to create a cohesive setting.

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Gold medicine cabinet

Glass Warehouse

This one boasts a pill-shaped frame in a gold-like color, taking the medicine cabinet from functional to chic. It is also offered in black and white. Aside from that, it includes a tempered glass shelf that can be adjusted to your liking.

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Medicine cabinet with oval mirror in a classic style

Pegasus

Infused with old-fashioned charm, this rust-resistant medicine cabinet showcases an oval mirror enclosed in a beautiful oil-rubbed bronze frame constructed from aluminum. In addition, it features two glass shelves, a mirrored interior, and slow and soft close hinges.

Designer Advice:

Although it is common for oval medicine cabinets to have a sleek, modern design, this one proves otherwise. More than just functional, it looks right at home in cozy vintage, farmhouse, and traditional bathrooms alike. And, the good news is that it only requires a small amount of wall space because it only measures 30” tall by 20” wide.

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Davenport Oval Aluminum Medicine Cabinet 21 X 31

Frameless oval medicine cabinet

Ebern Designs

A simple but elegant wall accessory, this recessed medicine cabinet with mirror is made of high-quality aluminum, ensuring resistance against rust and water. What’s more, the door is reversible for left/right opening and has a magnetic catch for safe closing.

Designer Advice:

Easy to install without any assembly, this cabinet can either be recessed or surface-mounted, although we recommend the former for a seamless and uncluttered appearance. The good news is that you can easily tuck it into the wall without needing a timber frame since it already comes with convenient recessed brackets. If handiness isn’t your strong suit, you might want to consider hiring a professional to help.

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Recessed Framed 2 Doors Medicine Cabinet with Adjustable Shelves

Horizontal oval mirror cabinet

Glass Warehouse

This recessed medicine cabinet takes on an interesting design shape, featuring a large framed mirror with three sneaky dual swing doors. Unlike other oval mirrors, this one lies horizontally and is packed with 6 glass shelves in total, with 2 being fully adjustable.

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Recessed Oval Medicine Cabinet

Buying Guide

A recessed oval medicine cabinet is not the usual choice for a bathroom because of the more common rectangular or square shape. But it fits in well with certain necessary and desired decor arrangements.

What are the benefits of a recessed oval medicine cabinet?

A recessed oval medicine cabinet has several important upsides:

The bathroom appears larger
Medicine cabinet that is recessed has a subtler profile than a wall-mounted one
Hinges on the medicine cabinet are hidden by the mirror of the recessed frame to give a more attractive look
Oval shape complements an item such as a pedestal sink because the mirror has negative space at the corners and the sink as well has negative space around the pedestal base. Another reason a mirror of this shape goes well with a pedestal sink is that both have curved lines.

How to determine the right size of a recessed medicine cabinet?

Generally, the mirror for a vanity should not be as wide as the vanity. The recommendation is to keep it two inches to four inches narrower than your vanity, which includes the sink, counter and storage space around it. The point is to make the medicine cabinet appear to be smaller than the vanity. Keep in mind too that if you want to show a fuller view of yourself in an oval mirror, it needs to be a little larger than a square or rectangular one.

The storage space that a recessed oval medicine cabinet has depends on the amount of space between your walls. Most walls will accept a medicine cabinet that’s recessed four inches. An older home might be able to accept a recess that is a little deeper.

Your installer can tell you whether you have enough space for a recessed medicine cabinet. One that’s approximately 21 inches x 31 inches will yield a fairly good amount of space for keeping items. If you will put the cabinet in place yourself, attach it to a stud and make sure you don’t hit any electrical wiring, plumbing or other vital systems.

How does an oval mirror impact bathroom design?

A recessed oval medicine cabinet can soften the lines in a bathroom. It’s neither as obtrusive as a large round one nor as bold as a rectangular one. An oval mirror can be either simple or ornate, as is one that might remind you of an intricately detailed frame from the Victorian era.

The frame for an oval medicine cabinet can be made of materials such as rust-resistant metal, stainless steel, plastic or a combination of these. You can also purchase a frameless mirror. It goes well in a bathroom in the contemporary style or in one that has a minimalist look with not a lot of competing decorating elements. This kind of mirror has a lower profile than one with a frame.

A recessed oval medicine cabinet serves the important function of giving you a place to put the items you need for grooming. But don’t forget that it is also an important design element that can help make your bathroom stand out as an impressive space.