Recessed 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 24/05/2022

If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing alternative to bulky surface-mount cabinets, a recessed medicine cabinet could be just what you need for your next bathroom renovation project. For one, it has a sleeker appearance, being tucked into the wall instead of sticking out. This makes it a great space-saver, yet still provides you with decent space for your products. From sleek, modern designs to classic wooden options, you’ll find it all in this collection!

Our Picks

Cothran Recessed Framed Medicine Cabinet with 2 Adjustable Shelves

Simple wooden medicine cabinet

Winston Porter

Appreciated for its simplicity and versatility, this medicine cabinet in white features a rust-resistant steel body and mirrored face, framed with solid wood. When the door swings open, it gives access to two tempered glass shelves that can be adjusted to hold different items.

Designer Advice:

Indeed, recessed medicine cabinets take up less visual space in the bathroom. That being said, they aren’t the easiest to install and often require a professional contractor to get the job done. This is because you’ll need to clear the wall of any obstructions, such as electrical cables and pipes—which need to be rerouted before the installation process. Only then can you begin setting up the frame inside the wall.

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Traditional beveled mirror medicine cabinet

Dasen Beaded Recessed Framed Medicine Cabinet with 3 Adjustable Shelves

Traditional beveled mirror medicine cabinet

House of Hampton®

Showcasing beveled edges adorned with delicate beading, this medicine cabinet serves as a stunning accent all the while being functional. Not only does it brim with glam style, but it also opens up to reveal three adjustable shelves inside. The gorgeous champagne color is the cherry on top!

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Upscale medicine cabinet with LED lighting

Anganette Recessed or Surface Mount Framed 1 Door Medicine Cabinet with 4 Adjustable Shelves and LED Lighting and Electrical Outlet

Upscale medicine cabinet with LED lighting

Latitude Run®

This innovative recessed medicine cabinet takes bathroom furniture to the next level with its high-tech features. It includes a demister pad to prevent condensation, a charging station inside the cabinet, and dimmable light surrounding the mirror, not to mention the interior lights up as well!

Designer Advice:

This piece is great for anyone who wants to create an elegant, high-end ambiance in their bathroom. It provides excellent lighting for getting ready and winding down routines without appearing too harsh. And, the best part is that it’s water-resistant! To clean your lighted cabinet, simply spray with a glass cleaner and wipe with a microfiber cloth, just as you would do with a regular mirror.

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Contemporary recessed medicine cabinet with mirror and open shelf

Jeyceon Recessed Frameless 2 Door Medicine Cabinet

Contemporary recessed medicine cabinet with mirror and open shelf

Orren Ellis

Crafted from manufactured wood, this medicine cabinet flaunts a clean-lined, minimalist silhouette in either light gray, black, or white. It comes frameless with dual doors and offers a wide-open shelf at the bottom for easy access to what you use daily.

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Drakeford Surface Mount Framed 1 Door Medicine Cabinet with 2 Adjustable Shelves

Farmhouse rustic medicine cabinet

Birch Lane™

Farmhouse meets rustic with this medicine cabinet. This one sports a lovely wood frame with distressed detailing and grain texture. It comes available in 6 different natural-looking finishes and has three shelves with a weight capacity of 2 lbs each.

Designer Advice:

This wood medicine cabinet is a perfect choice if you prefer something cozy over futuristic. Match it with your bathroom decor, floor, vanity, or door—either way, it will grace your walls with a focal point you will surely adore! Even better, you can choose whether you want it recessed or surface mounted because it includes both metal L-brackets and hanging hardware.

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Modern two door recessed medicine cabinet

39.5" x 26.13" Recessed or Surface Mount Frameless Medicine Cabinet

Modern two door recessed medicine cabinet

Fresca

This medicine cabinet screams modern elegance with its frameless design and clean look. The doors are soft close and mirrored inside and out for added convenience. At 39.5'' by 26.13”, this piece is guaranteed to make any bathroom feel larger.

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Buying Guide

What can I store in a medicine cabinet apart from medicines?

A medicine cabinet is a multi-purpose storage space for your bathroom that can eliminate clutter on the counter. It’s not just for medication, a first aid kit, and your vitamins despite its name.

The privacy a medicine cabinet provides makes it a great place to keep personal hygiene items you don’t want your guests to see or touch. This can include tweezers, toothpaste, floss, or feminine hygiene products. If you have an extensive skincare routine, you can also store these products in your medicine cabinet to avoid exposure to UV light.

It’s also a good idea to keep items you might overlook otherwise in your medicine cabinet, where they’re readily accessible during your morning routine. For example, a face moisturizer with an SPF should be applied daily. Place this cream right next to your toothpaste in the medicine cabinet so it becomes part of your daily self-care ritual.

You aren’t limited to placing a medicine cabinet in your bathroom. A wood recessed medicine cabinet makes a stylish addition to your kitchen for storing spices, to your laundry room for keeping sewing items, or in your craft room for organizing small art supplies like paint, ribbon, tape, and pens.

Is it hard to install a recessed medicine cabinet?

A wood recessed medicine cabinet will require a high skill level to install, as you’ll need to cut into the wall to make it happen. You’ll need to avoid electrical lines and water lines, which are both likely to be in the vicinity of your sink. Unless you’re highly experienced with both plumbing and electrical work, it’s best to have professionals tackle this instead of making it a DIY.

What can I store in a medicine cabinet apart from medicines?

Medicines are not the only thing you can store in a medicine cabinet. You can keep other items too.

Adhesive bandages are important because they form a physical barrier for an open wound. A nasal aspirator bulb would be useful for clearing mucus from your little one’s nose. Sunscreen is an important component of the medicine cabinet to help counter the risk of sunburn.

Place a standard digital thermometer so you can quickly check when you or someone in the household is catching a fever. Keep scissors, nail clippers and tweezers on hand for those times you need to remove splinters.

A toothbrush would be safer from aerial contamination when in the medicine cabinet than elsewhere in the bathroom. Petroleum jelly is a necessary jack-of-all-trades. It prevents chafing, relieves dry skin, treats diaper rash, rehydrates dry nails and accelerates wound healing.