Our main bathroom has gone through two configurations: open shelves with a frameless mirror, then a recessed medicine cabinet. The open shelves looked better in photos and worse on a Tuesday morning. Every item was visible at all times — curated when I'd staged it, cluttered by Wednesday.
Why I Came Around on Medicine Cabinets
The medicine cabinet closed the storage loop in a way open shelves never could. Everything with packaging went inside. The counter cleared. The room looked clean without any effort. The mirrored front gave me the same function as the frameless mirror — better, actually, since I can open both sides and see the back of my head. The design I chose has a thin matte black frame that matches the fixtures, recessed flush with the wall. It looks like a considered design choice, because it was.
My verdict: open shelves are for naturally tidy people. Medicine cabinets are for everyone else, and they've improved enough that you no longer sacrifice aesthetics for practicality.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are medicine cabinets out of style?
Recessed medicine cabinets are actually having a moment — they provide hidden storage without floor footprint, and the mirrored front serves double duty. Recessed options with clean frames read as modern and intentional.
How deep is a standard medicine cabinet?
Standard recessed medicine cabinets are 3.5-4 inches deep — enough for most toiletries without protruding into the room.
Do medicine cabinets add value?
Yes — recessed medicine cabinets are viewed favorably by buyers because they add storage without consuming space.
