A medicine cabinet may not be the most glamorous purchase in a bathroom remodel, but neither is discovering that your toothpaste, moisturizer, razor, and contact solution have formed an unruly countertop civilization. The best medicine cabinets in 2022 combined a useful mirror, practical storage, moisture-resistant construction, and a design that did not make the bathroom look like a doctor’s office from 1987.
This retrospective guide examines standout medicine cabinets available during the 2022 market period, including affordable surface-mounted models, sleek recessed cabinets, fog-free mirrors, and furniture-inspired options. Because models, finishes, prices, and inventory can change, confirm current specifications before placing an order.
Quick Look at the Best Medicine Cabinets in 2022
- Best overall: Kohler Verdera 24-Inch Medicine Cabinet
- Best budget option: Glacier Bay 16-by-20-Inch Frameless Medicine Cabinet
- Best traditional design: Pottery Barn Kensington Recessed Medicine Cabinet
- Best minimalist design: West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet
- Best wide cabinet: Croydex 30-Inch Frameless Aluminum Medicine Cabinet
- Best fog-free model: Home Decorators Collection Fog-Free Medicine Cabinet
- Best for a small bathroom: Zenith 16-by-26-Inch Beveled Medicine Cabinet
- Best open-and-closed storage: West Elm Mid-Century Open Medicine Cabinet
Why a Good Medicine Cabinet Matters
A well-designed bathroom medicine cabinet performs several jobs without demanding additional floor space. It replaces a standard mirror, moves everyday toiletries off the vanity, and keeps small items at eye level. In a compact powder room or apartment bathroom, that combination is particularly valuable.
The right cabinet also improves the morning routine. Adjustable shelves can accommodate tall bottles, mirrored interiors make it easier to see items tucked in the back, and reversible doors help the cabinet work with different room layouts. The wrong cabinet, by contrast, may collide with a nearby wall, provide shelves too shallow for your shaving cream, or require a remodeling adventure that begins with a drill and ends with an emergency plumber.
The Best Medicine Cabinets of 2022
1. Kohler Verdera 24-Inch Medicine Cabinet: Best Overall
The Kohler Verdera earned its place as a strong all-around choice by balancing clean styling with genuinely useful interior features. The 24-by-30-inch version included three adjustable tempered-glass shelves, a full-overlay mirrored door, and a mirrored interior. Its two-way adjustable hinges opened to approximately 108 degrees, providing comfortable access without requiring the door to swing halfway across the bathroom.
The cabinet could be recessed for a streamlined, built-in appearance. Surface installation was also possible with the appropriate mirrored side kit. That flexibility made the Verdera suitable for both major renovations and simpler bathroom upgrades.
Best for: Homeowners seeking a durable, versatile cabinet that works with modern, transitional, or traditional bathroom decor.
Consider before buying: Surface mounting may require additional side panels, while recessed installation requires a suitable wall cavity.
2. Glacier Bay 16-by-20-Inch Frameless Cabinet: Best Budget Choice
The Glacier Bay frameless medicine cabinet was proof that bathroom storage did not have to consume the entire renovation budget. Its compact 16-by-20-inch format worked well in powder rooms, rental units, guest bathrooms, and other spaces where a large cabinet would overwhelm the vanity.
The model featured a simple beveled mirror, a rust-resistant plastic cabinet body, and three fixed interior shelves. It could be installed as either a recessed or surface-mounted cabinet. The plastic body was not as luxurious as aluminum, but it offered a practical advantage in humid rooms: it would not rust.
Best for: Budget renovations, rental properties, and small bathrooms that need basic mirrored storage.
Consider before buying: Fixed shelves offer less flexibility than adjustable glass shelves, particularly for tall skincare or hair-care bottles.
3. Pottery Barn Kensington Recessed Medicine Cabinet: Best Traditional Design
The Kensington cabinet brought furniture-like character to a product category often dominated by anonymous mirrored rectangles. Its framed design and choice of metal finishes made it especially attractive in traditional, vintage-inspired, farmhouse, and transitional bathrooms.
A commonly available version measured approximately 21 inches wide, 5 inches deep, and 34 inches high. Inside, the cabinet provided three adjustable tempered-glass shelves and about 3.5 inches of usable interior depth. The recessed body kept the cabinet visually slim even though it offered enough height for a useful assortment of toiletries.
Best for: Bathrooms with decorative faucets, framed mirrors, classic hardware, or vintage-inspired fixtures.
Consider before buying: This was a recessed-only design, so installation required cutting into the wall and confirming that plumbing, wiring, and framing would not interfere.
4. West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet: Best Minimalist Design
For bathrooms with clean lines and contemporary finishes, the West Elm Seamless Medicine Cabinet offered a more refined alternative to a builder-grade cabinet. Its narrow frame and understated proportions allowed the mirror to remain the visual focus.
The standard cabinet measured about 16.5 inches wide, 5.1 inches deep, and 27.5 inches high. Its recessed section measured roughly 15.75 inches wide, 4.1 inches deep, and 23 inches high. That compact footprint made it particularly useful above a narrow vanity.
Best for: Contemporary bathrooms, apartments, and homeowners who want hidden storage without a bulky frame.
Consider before buying: The relatively narrow width is ideal for one person’s essentials but may feel limited in a shared primary bathroom.
5. Croydex 30-Inch Frameless Aluminum Cabinet: Best Wide Option
The Croydex 30-inch cabinet provided significantly more horizontal storage than compact single-door models. Measuring approximately 30 inches wide, 25.25 inches high, and 5.25 inches deep, it paired a broad mirrored front with a moisture-resistant aluminum body.
It could be recessed into the wall or mounted on the surface, making it adaptable to a variety of renovation plans. Croydex’s easy-hang mounting approach was also intended to make surface installation more manageable than wrestling a large cabinet into position while attempting to hold a level with your elbow.
Best for: Shared bathrooms, wider vanities, and households with more toiletries than they are willing to admit.
Consider before buying: A cabinet this wide requires careful measurement around light fixtures, side walls, faucets, and door clearances.
6. Home Decorators Collection Fog-Free Cabinet: Best Fog-Free Mirror
A fog-free medicine cabinet can eliminate the glamorous post-shower ritual of wiping the mirror with a towel and creating six new streaks. The Home Decorators Collection model combined fog-resistant mirror technology with a warm oak-style frame, making it suitable for bathrooms that needed both function and a softer decorative touch.
The cabinet measured approximately 20.75 inches wide by 25.75 inches high. It included two adjustable shelves and supported recessed or surface-mounted installation. The wood-composite construction gave it more visual weight than a frameless model, while the adjustable interior helped accommodate bottles of different heights.
Best for: Frequently used bathrooms, traditional interiors, and anyone tired of waiting for the mirror to clear.
Consider before buying: Fog-free performance does not eliminate the need for good bathroom ventilation, especially around composite wood components.
7. Zenith 16-by-26-Inch Beveled Cabinet: Best for Small Bathrooms
The Zenith cabinet was another strong value option for narrow walls and compact vanities. At roughly 16 inches wide and 26 inches high, it used vertical space efficiently without extending too far beyond a small sink.
Its beveled frameless mirror offered a cleaner appearance than many low-cost framed cabinets. The corrosion-resistant plastic body contained two adjustable shelves, giving it more organizational flexibility than similarly priced cabinets with fixed shelving. It also supported both recessed and surface mounting.
Best for: Powder rooms, small apartments, basement bathrooms, and economical remodels.
Consider before buying: The narrow interior is better suited to daily essentials than bulk supplies or oversized grooming products.
8. West Elm Mid-Century Open Medicine Cabinet: Best Open-and-Closed Storage
The West Elm Mid-Century Open Medicine Cabinet approached bathroom storage more like a small piece of furniture. It paired a mirrored closed compartment with exterior cubbies, allowing attractive items to remain visible while less photogenic necessities stayed behind the door.
The cabinet measured approximately 25.75 inches wide, 6.2 inches deep, and 27 inches high. The enclosed section offered about 16 inches of interior width, while the open cubbies provided space for perfume bottles, small plants, folded washcloths, or decorative containers.
Best for: Mid-century interiors and bathrooms that need both hidden storage and display space.
Consider before buying: Open shelves require regular tidying. A carefully styled cubby can become a tiny clutter balcony with surprising speed.
How to Choose the Best Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Choose Between Recessed and Surface-Mounted Installation
A recessed medicine cabinet sits partly inside the wall. It offers a clean, integrated look and usually projects only a small distance beyond the wall surface. However, installation may require cutting drywall, modifying framing, and relocating plumbing or electrical lines.
A surface-mounted cabinet attaches directly to the wall, usually through studs or suitable anchors. It is easier to install and is often the safer choice for renters, older homes, exterior walls, or bathrooms where pipes and wiring occupy the wall cavity.
Measure the Entire Area, Not Just the Vanity
Measure the available width and height above the sink, but also check the distance to the ceiling, backsplash, faucet, light fixture, and adjacent walls. Open the cabinet door in your imaginationor use a piece of cardboard as a templateto confirm that it will not strike a sconce or become trapped against a side wall.
The cabinet should generally look proportional to the vanity. A very narrow cabinet above a broad double vanity can appear lost, while an oversized cabinet above a tiny pedestal sink may look as though it is attempting to swallow the room.
Look for Moisture-Resistant Materials
Aluminum, stainless steel, glass, and quality plastics perform well in humid bathrooms because they resist corrosion and are easy to clean. Wood and engineered-wood cabinets can add warmth, but they should have bathroom-safe finishes and should not be exposed to constant condensation.
Prioritize Adjustable Shelves
Adjustable shelves allow you to create space for tall bottles, electric toothbrush accessories, shaving products, and small containers. Tempered-glass shelves look polished and clean easily, while plastic shelves are lighter and less expensive. Fixed shelving is acceptable for basic storage, but it can become frustrating when a favorite bottle is one inch too tall.
Check the Door Swing and Mirror Placement
Reversible hinges are useful when the cabinet sits near a wall or another fixture. A mirrored interior is another practical feature because it keeps a reflection available while the door is open. Some wider cabinets also use multiple mirrored doors, allowing users to view themselves from different angles.
Consider Lighting and Electrical Features Carefully
Lighted medicine cabinets became increasingly popular around the 2022 period. Integrated LEDs, defoggers, electrical outlets, and USB ports can make a cabinet more functional, but they also increase the price and installation complexity. Hardwired models should be installed according to local electrical codes, typically with help from a qualified professional.
A Medicine Cabinet Is Not Always the Best Place for Medicine
Despite the name, a bathroom medicine cabinet is often better used for toothpaste, skincare products, grooming tools, and other daily supplies. Heat and moisture from showers, baths, and sinks may damage certain medications or reduce their stability.
Follow the storage instructions supplied with every medication. Unless the label or pharmacist says otherwise, medicines are commonly kept in their original containers in a cool, dry location that is out of sight and reach of children. Households with children or vulnerable adults may also need a locked storage box or locking cabinet.
Experience-Based Lessons from Living with a Medicine Cabinet
The specifications on a product page matter, but everyday use reveals details that are easy to overlook while shopping. Homeowners often focus first on the finish and mirror size. After installation, however, shelf placement, door movement, cleaning, and accessibility become far more important.
Surface Mounting Can Be the Smarter Choice
A recessed cabinet may look more elegant, but it is not automatically the best solution. Opening a wall can reveal studs in inconvenient locations, electrical cables, plumbing vents, or pipes that seem to have been installed specifically to ruin the afternoon. A well-proportioned surface-mounted cabinet can still look intentional, particularly when it has finished or mirrored side panels.
For a straightforward weekend update, surface mounting usually causes less disruption. It also makes replacement easier because the next cabinet does not have to match an existing wall opening exactly.
Interior Depth Matters More Than Expected
A cabinet can look enormous from the front and still have surprisingly shallow shelves. Before buying, measure the deepest products you plan to store. Electric shaver stands, large lotion bottles, hair products, and round jars may require more room than a typical recessed cabinet provides.
It is also wise to distinguish between the cabinet’s overall depth and its usable interior depth. Frames, doors, and wall recesses can reduce the actual shelf space. A quarter inch may sound trivial until the door refuses to close because a moisturizer jar is staging a rebellion.
Adjustable Shelves Prevent Daily Irritation
Adjustable shelves become especially valuable when several people share the bathroom. One shelf can hold tall bottles, another can accommodate small containers, and frequently used products can remain at eye level. Fixed shelves are not necessarily bad, but they force the owner to organize around the cabinet instead of allowing the cabinet to adapt to the owner.
A Mirrored Interior Is More Useful Than It Sounds
An interior mirror initially appears to be a decorative bonus. In daily use, it becomes one of the most practical features. The main door can remain open while someone applies skincare products, inserts contact lenses, or retrieves grooming tools without losing access to a mirror.
Mirrored backs also reflect light into the cabinet, making small items easier to find. The trade-off is cleaning: toothpaste dots apparently possess both excellent aim and a strong desire to be noticed.
Door Clearance Should Be Tested Before Installation
A cabinet door that hits a side wall, sconce, towel hook, or open bathroom door becomes annoying immediately. Before drilling, position a cardboard template on the wall and mark the expected swing. Check the cabinet from different standing positions, especially when the vanity is close to a corner.
Reversible doors offer more flexibility, but only when the hinge orientation is selected before final installation. On multi-door cabinets, make sure the doors can open comfortably without colliding with each other.
Organization Works Better with Fewer Products
A new medicine cabinet creates storage, but it does not create infinite storage. The most successful setups reserve the cabinet for items used every day or several times a week. Backup toiletries, bulk packages, cleaning products, and rarely used cosmetics can live elsewhere.
Small trays, cups, or clear containers can group similar items and prevent narrow objects from falling over. Avoid filling every inch on the first day. A little empty space makes products easier to see and leaves room for future purchases that will inevitably arrive despite sincere promises to “use what we already have.”
Ventilation and Routine Cleaning Protect the Cabinet
Even moisture-resistant cabinets benefit from a working exhaust fan and regular cleaning. Wipe condensation from framed edges, dry spills promptly, and clean mirrors with a nonabrasive product suitable for the manufacturer’s finish. Do not spray cleaner directly into hinges, electrical components, or unfinished edges.
Every few months, remove expired toiletries, wash the shelves, and inspect hinges and mounting hardware. This small routine keeps the cabinet cleaner, reduces clutter, and prevents mysterious half-empty bottles from becoming permanent residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size medicine cabinet should I buy?
Choose a cabinet that is proportional to the sink and vanity while leaving enough space for lighting, faucets, and door movement. Always compare the exterior dimensions, interior dimensions, and required wall cutout before ordering.
Are recessed medicine cabinets better than surface-mounted cabinets?
Neither style is universally better. Recessed cabinets have a streamlined appearance, while surface-mounted cabinets are generally easier and less expensive to install. The right choice depends on the wall structure, room layout, budget, and desired appearance.
Can a medicine cabinet be installed without cutting the wall?
Yes. A surface-mounted medicine cabinet attaches to the wall without requiring a large recessed opening. It should still be secured to studs or installed with hardware appropriate for the cabinet’s weight and wall material.
What is the best material for a bathroom medicine cabinet?
Aluminum and stainless steel are durable, moisture-resistant choices. Plastic is economical and cannot rust. Properly finished wood or engineered wood provides a warmer appearance but requires good ventilation and protection from standing moisture.
Should medications be stored in a bathroom cabinet?
Many medications should be protected from excess heat and moisture, making a steamy bathroom unsuitable. Follow the product label and pharmacist’s instructions, and keep all medicines secured away from children and pets.
Final Verdict
The Kohler Verdera was the strongest overall medicine cabinet of the 2022 period because it offered adjustable glass shelves, a mirrored interior, flexible door orientation, and both recessed and surface-mount possibilities. Budget shoppers could obtain practical storage from compact Glacier Bay or Zenith models, while the Pottery Barn Kensington and West Elm cabinets offered more distinctive design.
The best medicine cabinet is ultimately the one that fits the wall, accommodates the products used every day, and opens without attacking a nearby light fixture. Measure carefully, choose moisture-resistant materials, and decide how much installation work you are prepared to accept. A thoughtful purchase can turn a crowded vanity into a calmer, cleaner bathroomand finally provide a proper home for the toothpaste.
