Do you want to provide additional storage space to your bathroom? Medicine cabinets are the perfect choice. Though these cabinets are basically designed to store medicine, they can also be used to store toiletries and other personal essentials. 


The main advantage of medicine cabinets is that they help keep all your essentials well organized. You need not clutter the whole bathroom with medicines and toiletries as the cabinet helps store all these essentials and keeps them away from small children. 

What are the different types of medicine cabinets?

  • Recessed medicine cabinets

These are medicine cabinets that are built into the wall, thus creating an aesthetically pleasing design. Since the cabinet is flushed against the wall, it also creates a spacious look in the bathroom. Recessed cabinets are best for those bathrooms that are small in size. 

  • Surface-mounted medicine cabinets 

As the name suggests, these cabinets are mounted onto the surface of the wall. Thus, they stay projected from the wall. The sink should be placed below the cabinet in such a way that it does not interfere with your activities. Since the surface mounted cabinets stand projected from the wall, it is not suited for small bathrooms. 

  • Vintage medicine cabinets

This is an antique-style medicine cabinet that follows the old-school design. Unlike the wall-mounted cabinets that we see today, these types of cabinets are freestanding ones that can be placed on any side of the bathroom. Vintage medicine cabinets are best suited for large bathrooms designed in vintage style. 

  • Mirrored medicine cabinets

These are also surfaced mounted cabinets but come with a mirror on the front. This type of cabinet serves the dual purpose of storage and personal grooming. 


What are the things to consider while purchasing a medicine cabinet?

  • Size of the cabinet

The cabinet you buy should fit into the available space. Thus, before purchasing the cabinet, you should first measure the space available on the wall. 


First, you should measure the space between the vanity light and the top of the vanity. This will be the height of the cabinet. The width of the cabinet should be the same as that of the vanity. Make sure that there is enough space on either side to open the cabinet freely. 

  • Type of installation

Medicine cabinets are available with three types of installation - surface mounted, recessed and corner. If you are opting for a recessed cabinet, make sure that there is provision on the wall for mounting the cabinet. You might require professional help to install this type of cabinet. 


Surface-mounted and corner cabinets are easy to install and you can do so without much professional help. 

  • Design of the cabinet

Medicine cabinets are available in two designs - with mirror and without mirror. What type of cabinet to go for is purely your personal choice. However, if you have a small bathroom, it is best to go for mirror cabinets, as it can create an illusion of space. 


Mirrored cabinets are also available with and without frames. Which one to go for, again, depends on your choice. 

  • Shape

There are four shapes in which medicine cabinets are available - while rectangular and square are the most popular ones, arched and oval-shaped cabinets are also available in the market. All these cabinets are fixed in an elongated shape so that if you opt for a mirror on the front, you get a full view of the image.  

  • Type of door

The most popular type of door is a swinging door, which can be opened outdoors. The door can be right or left opening, depending on the space available. Opening doors are best suited for large bathrooms with a lot of space. 


Another type of door is sliding door which can be slided to a side for opening. This type of door is mostly used in small bathrooms that does not have enough space. 

  • Number of shelves

The number of shelves required inside the cabinet is another important factor to consider. This depends on the purpose for which you are using the shelf. Are you using the shelf exclusively for medicine storage? Or do you plan to use it for other purpose as well? These are a few of the things to consider while deciding on the number of shelves. 


Medicine cabinets are a wonderful addition to any bathroom. It provides an aesthetic look to the space and at the same time lets you organize all your medicines and personal belongings more systematically.