Not sure what you can say is "in style" with regard to bathroom storage. But a recessed medicine cabinet can't really be distinguished from any other single-sized mirror just by looking. And honestly, a nice surface-mounted one can be great, especially with incorporated lighting.

Tri-View Medicine Cabinet, 60"x36", Polished Edge, Partially Recessed · More Info

GlassCrafters' Deco - Framed Medicine Cabinet · More Info

I personally wouldn't have a bathroom without one or more, as the storage is invaluable. However, people who really like a single wall-to-wall mirror usually make other arrangements. And if your vanity has enough drawers, and you have a linen closet for more storage, then it might not be as important. There is no right answer.

24"x32" Kent Canalles Tall Medicine Cabinet, LED Lighting, Defogger, Left Swing · More Info

Double Arch Frameless Bevel Medicine Cabinet 24"x38" Outside Dimension, 24"x35 · More Info

Signature Hardware 929318 Bernstein 24" Wx30" Cabinet, Brown · More Info

Thank you for the feedback and ideas, including the wall mounted mirrored cabinet. We haven't much storage space.

I have them above our sinks. Tons of accessible storage that would otherwise be lost. The ones shown here are from Pottery Barn.

Always

If I was given the choice, "in style" vs a place to put my toothbrush... I would choose a medicine cabinet.

As someone said, if medicine cabs are recessed, the photos may not look different than a wall mirror.

If you want even more recessed storage, here's one that looks like a picture frame, to put elsewhere in the room. I'm considering a tradition mirrored cabinet over the vanity and then this picture frame on the side wall next to the vanity.

https://www.concealedcabinet.com/

https://www.concealedcabinet.com/customer-photos.html

Yes, I don't think I'm using the correct terminology. I was planning to install a 7"D wall mounted cabinet and a mirror next to that, over the sink. I like your ideas of the recessed mirror or cabinet, to visually free up the space in such a small area. I'll take down the mirror that is there to look behind and see what clearance we have. Thank you for helping me think this through.

You can put in a recessed medicine cabinet with a mirror over the sink if the wall is reworked to accept it....that could take some effort. I think you will be better off and have a lot more storage with a wall-mounted cabinet. If it is above the toilet, get into the habit of closing the toilet lid before reaching into the cabinet.

long tall mirrors look great but difficult to find these proportions in a recessed medicine cabinet unless doing custom, can be worth it though for the storage

Since you’re doing a gut remodel, this would be a good time to add any recessed storage. I see you currently have a cabinet over the toilet. It seems conceivable that recessed cabinets could provide equivalent storage, so you could open up that space. (or put “lighter” store, like open shelves or a train rack, depending on your look.) How wide is your vanity? That would influece the size of the medicine cabinet. Some designers advocate for lights/sconces on the sides of the mirror vs. overhead. One option may be a medicine cabinet with built-in lights, if that look/style goes with your home.. This would allow you to remove the fixture above the mirror and get a taller medicine cabinet (maybe 24 wide by 36 high.) Some food for thought. I know Robern had some with lights. I bet other companies do too.

I wanted two medicine cabinets with three sconces. I was convinced not to proceed for the reasons felizlady stated. All depends on how much money you want to spend. We ended up with three sconces in a large mirror. Vanity storage makes it workable.

Has anyone ever complained about too much storage - especially in a "normal" sized bathroom or kitchen :-).

After finished a remodel and spending a lot of time trying to maximize functionality within considerations of aesthetics, I reflexively analyze all the kitchens and bathrooms I see and think a lot of them are not designed in the most realistically livable manner.

In a small bathroom, where would you put those items that are typically stored in the confines of a medicine cabinet? Obviously anything could theoretically be stored anywhere but it's nice to have bandaids, First Aid supplies, pills and potions stored there unless you have reams of other storage because you have a huge vanity - and even with a large vanity, there are certain items that seem better suited for a medicine cabinet.

As others have posted, there are medicine cabinets - especially those mounted over the sink which replicate the look of a mirror so they serve dual functions.

My vanity was built by a local shop and so I used the recessed spot where the ugly builder grade had been and it essentially has a miniature door that replicates the door on my vanity. I have wall to wall/counter to ceiling mirrors so mirror was not a consideration. Even though my vanity is tricked out with drawers and pullouts, I still like having the medicine chest to store things at convenient eye level where I can immediately read or recognize each item. With items stored in my drawers (which have pullouts and internal organizers), I still have to pull out the rollout or drawer and then attempt to figure out what an item is. That is fine for storage of items but not ideal if I want to locate an aspirin or other medicine (for example).

following

Happened to come across this article today (at the end, she has pics of a variety of options)

https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/why-designers-hate-most-medicine-cabinets-some-genius-alternative-bathroom-storage-solutions

Myrica4 Wow! thx for sharing the pix

girl_wonder What fun! That's a great article. Thank you for sharing.

Recessed medicine cabinets for a small bathroom will add needed storage. In a large room, a big vanity can be enough storage and you can choose just attractive mirrors. But it’s up to you.

That's like asking if kitchen cabinets are in style. Or toilets. Or sinks.

What does "in style" have to do with what a bathroom needs? A bathroom, like a kitchen, is a work space, not a showroom. You put what you need in there, and give yourself as much room as you need to do whatever it is you do in a bathroom. Function over form--every time.

Recessed medicine cabinets never go out of style, as you can't tell them from a regular mirror. Pottery barn has some nice ones.

That article was fun. Lots of beautiful spaces to be sure! For me, I prefer the storage over a super duper(usually REALLY expensive) statement mirror. If I were having a designer do my bathroom and the mirror was the only way a designer can make the bathroom spectacular then I’d find another designer. Especially if I were a real person who needed space for stuff out of view.

girl_wonder, I had not seen that article before and didn’t know medicine cabinets were in debate.

As an architect I disliked most medicine cabinets because they were limited in height. Prefer tall mirrors to (near) the ceiling for the reasons this designer mentions:

https://carlaaston.com/designed/tall-luxury-bathroom-mirror

This is another way to have a tall mirror and storage. The downside would be giving up wall sconces on both sides of the mirror.

My medicine cabinet is on the side so I have mirrors plus sconces behind the vanity.

At least for me a medicine cabinet in front of the sink would be difficult to reach because I am relatively short so height would be an issue - especially factoring in my tall vanity.

For me having the medicine cabinet on the side is the best solution because it stores essentially pills, first aid equipment and other items that I would reach for frequently and is convenient to have at eye level. Other stuff which is stored is in my vanities and I also have a floor to ceiling closet which also holds storage items, towels etc.

Definitely mirrored medicine cabinets are in style.. Mirrored medicine cabinets are a great storage option that does not necessarily look outdated if you find an adaptable design with functionality. And some have customization size options. For example, you can also get customized sizing where cabinets can be ganged together. For example, two 12 inch cabinets ganged together or two 15" ganged together would work where you can add lighting as an option and have interchangeable left or right open doors. It gives you alot of storage over your vanity.

They can be recces or surface mounted. And some of these mirrored medicine cabinets have integrated LED lighting, which can also offer a nightlight with dinner function. So, you will not only have lighting from your main bathroom, but an additional light source. I hope this helps.