What Is a Recessed-Mount Medicine Cabinet?

A recessed-mount medicine cabinet is a medicine cabinet that is installed into the wall. It has a purposeful, built-in design that provides a sleek look. Recessed cabinets require more planning to avoid outside walls or walls with plumbing, but this flush silhouette also provides space-saving perks. Read on to learn what a recessed-mount medicine cabinet is.

What Is a Recessed Medicine Cabinet?

A recessed medicine cabinet is defined by its unique design that allows it to be installed directly into a wall. Due to its mounting type, the door or mirror of a recessed medicine cabinet sits flush to the wall instead of jutting out above your bathroom vanity. Recessed medicine cabinets require a hole in the wall of your bathroom to give them their characteristic built-in look. Many homeowners prefer recessed cabinets for bathroom remodels due to their sleek, space-saving design. They are the perfect hidden storage solution for tucking away medicine, toothbrushes, skincare, and first aid supplies – keeping your bathroom clutter-free.

Types of Medicine Cabinets: Recessed vs. Surface-Mount

There are three common types of medicine cabinets that differ in terms of their mounting style. This can influence their aesthetic appearance in your bathroom and the complexity of their installation. Here are the key differences:

• Recessed: Recessed-mount medicine cabinets are installed in a wall cavity with only the door frame visible on the surface. The mirror sits flush to the wall with the storage hidden behind it to give a more seamless, modern appearance.

• Surface-Mount: Surface-mount medicine cabinets are hung directly on the surface of the wall. They are more straightforward to install as they do not require cutting into drywall and working around electrical or plumbing work. Unlike recessed medicine cabinets, surface-mount designs jut out from the wall and have finished sides because they remain visible.

• Corner-Mount: In rare instances, a corner-mount medicine cabinet is appropriate. Good for especially tight spaces like half-baths, a corner mount can offer additional storage when both counter space and wall space is limited. Installed similarly to a surface-mount medicine cabinet, corner-mount units are placed in the corner of two adjacent walls and sit on the surface of the walls.

Benefits of Recessed Medicine Cabinets

Recessed medicine cabinets not only save space, but they are more aesthetically pleasing in modern bathrooms because they blend into the surrounding architecture. Since the mirrors sit flush to the wall, recessed medicine cabinets can make a small bathroom feel more spacious because they don’t jut out from the wall. Plus, they usually have the capacity for deeper shelves over a surface-mount model so you can maximize your storage space.

Recessed cabinets offer a more custom, built-in look in your bathroom. They're the perfect choice for a bathroom renovation project because a considerable amount of construction is already involved. The best part of a recessed-mount medicine cabinet is that you won't hit your head on its frame when you lean over the sink to wash your face or brush your teeth.

Tip!

Now that you know what a recessed-mount medicine cabinet is, read our related guides to help you buy, install, or organize the perfect cabinet for your bathroom:

• Types of Medicine Cabinets: How to Choose the Right Storage for Your Bathroom
• How to Install a Medicine Cabinet
• How to Organize a Medicine Cabinet

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