If you prefer the traditional design of a medicine cabinet-mirror combination, there are generally two options. The first is a recessed medicine cabinet, where the mirror lies flush with the wall but requires adequate space behind the wall for the cabinet itself. The second is wall-mounted, where the cabinet hangs like a fixture on your wall. We spoke with Normandy Designer Becca Ruggiero about the pros and cons of both types of medicine cabinets, which depend on your style preferences and structure of your bathroom.

Recessed Medicine Cabinet Pros and Cons

Pros: “Recessed medicine cabinets allow you to take advantage of an unused joist pocket behind the wall for extra storage space,” Becca says. Custom designs allow you to create unique storage for your household, such as hidden charging outlets for everything from your phone to toothbrushes. “Other features available now include automatic lighting when you open the door, and other integrated options like make-up mirrors,” Becca says. “Medicine cabinets are not always known for their aesthetic qualities, but new designs are able to give you the elegance of a beautiful mirror and a seamless way to disguise the mess.”

Cons: “These medicine cabinet designs can be costlier in general, especially if this space behind the wall doesn’t already exist. Sometimes gaining that space can require rearranging HVAC or plumbing, or even building a secondary wall,” according to Becca. Recessed cabinets also aren’t a good fit on an exterior wall, because they generally won’t allow for enough insulation. “Be careful when selecting your medicine cabinet option, as some newer models are not able to be fully recessed into the wall, so be sure to do your research,” Becca adds.

Wall-Mounted Medicine Cabinet Pros and Cons

Pros: If the place where you want to install your medicine cabinet is on an exterior wall, or if there are mechanicals behind the drywall, a wall-mounted medicine cabinet is a better option for your space. “Mounted medicine cabinets are also a good option if you are opting for a design element like a pocket door, which will require that pocket in between the wall for its mechanism,” Becca says. This type of medicine cabinet is also generally lower in price, so it can be kinder to your budget.

Cons: “Most wall-mounted medicine cabinets have a fixed design, and can stick out quite a bit into the bathroom space,” Becca says. You want to be mindful when selecting on of these to make sure the depth is not to obtrusive to you sink and lighting space. But Becca points out that Kohler and certain specialty home decor stores have some beautiful, wall-mounted medicine cabinet designs now available.

Choosing where and how to store your medicine is just one small piece of your bathroom remodeling puzzle. If you’d like to meet with Becca to discuss more about your bathroom remodel or any other home remodeling project, schedule a free consultation. For updates on projects and to find more design inspiration, you can follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. We’ll even bring the latest in remodeling right to your email inbox, just sign up for our newsletter.