A medicine cabinet is one of the hardest working fixtures in a bathroom. It puts a mirror exactly where you need it, clears clutter off the counter, and in its better forms adds task lighting, a defogger and even charging outlets to the morning routine. Whether you are fitting out a condo in Vancouver, renovating a bungalow on the Prairies or updating a century home in the Maritimes, the same handful of decisions apply. This guide walks through all of them, and you can browse the full range in our medicine cabinet collection as you compare notes.
Recessed or surface mount: the first decision
Every medicine cabinet installs one of two ways. A recessed cabinet sits inside the wall cavity so the mirror finishes nearly flush with the drywall. A surface mount cabinet fastens to the face of the wall and projects into the room, typically by 10 to 15 centimetres. Many models can be installed either way, and some are offered in a semi-recessed configuration that splits the difference.
| Consideration | Recessed | Surface mount |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Flush, built-in, minimal | Projects from the wall, more presence |
| Wall requirements | Open stud cavity free of pipes, wiring and ducts | Almost any sound wall |
| Installation effort | Cutting and framing an opening | Fastening into studs or anchors |
| Storage depth | Limited by the wall cavity | Full cabinet depth available |
| Best suited to | New builds and full renovations | Condos, retrofits and rentals |
Recessed looks wonderful, but be honest about your walls before committing. Concrete walls in high-rise condos, plumbing runs behind the vanity and shallow framing in some older homes can all rule it out. In a Canadian climate, think twice before recessing into an exterior wall: cutting away insulation and vapour barrier to bury a metal box creates a cold spot that invites condensation. Most installers will steer you toward a surface mount cabinet there, and they are right to.
Getting the size right
Width comes first. The classic approach is to match the cabinet to what sits below it: equal to the width of the vanity or slightly narrower, centred over the sink. A 24 inch cabinet suits most compact single vanities, wider singles take 30 to 40 inch models, and double vanities usually call for a large two or three door cabinet, or a pair of singles centred over each basin.
For height, the goal is simple: the centre of the mirror should land near eye level for the people who use it most. In households with a wide height range, a taller cabinet is the diplomatic answer, since it offers usable mirror for everyone. Measure your ceiling height and note any light fixture above the mirror before choosing an oversized model.
Finally, mind the doors. Confirm which way a single door hinges and whether that swing clears sconces, a shower enclosure or an adjacent wall. Double and triple door cabinets split the swing, which is often the practical choice in tighter rooms.
Lighting, defoggers and outlets
Features are where medicine cabinets separate themselves, and where most of the price difference lives.
- Integrated lighting. Lit cabinets place LED light at face level, exactly where you want it for shaving and makeup. Look for dimmable output and, on better models, adjustable colour temperature so you can shift between warm evening light and crisp daylight tones. If you prefer an unlit cabinet, flanking it with a pair of wall sconces achieves the same even, shadow-free effect.
- Defoggers. A heated pad behind the glass keeps a section of the mirror clear after a hot shower. Once you have lived with one, especially through a Canadian winter of steamy bathrooms with the window firmly shut, it is hard to go back.
- Interior outlets and USB ports. An outlet inside the cabinet lets toothbrushes, shavers and trimmers charge out of sight and keeps cords off the counter.
- Interior refinements. Mirrored door backs, adjustable glass shelves, built-in magnifying mirrors and soft-close hinges are small upgrades you will appreciate daily.
Anything electrified deserves a moment of diligence. Choose cabinets that carry a recognized North American certification mark such as CSA or cUL, and plan how power will reach the unit: some cabinets plug into an existing outlet, while hardwired models need a feed roughed in behind the mirror.
Installation notes for Canadian homes
A few points come up again and again on installs from Victoria to St. John's:
- Wiring is not a DIY line item. Bathroom circuits have specific protection requirements, and rules can vary by province, so have a licensed electrician handle any hardwired cabinet and confirm what your local code requires.
- Plan rough-ins early. If you are mid-renovation, decide on the cabinet before drywall goes up. Framing the opening and pulling wire is trivial at that stage and disruptive afterwards.
- Respect older walls. Plaster and lath in older Quebec and Ontario housing stock, and irregular stud spacing in pre-war homes anywhere, call for careful layout and the right anchors.
- Ventilation still matters. A good exhaust fan protects the cabinet carcass, the mirror silvering and everything stored inside from chronic humidity.
Care and cleaning
Mirrored cabinets ask very little. Spray glass cleaner onto a cloth rather than the mirror itself so liquid never pools along the edges, where moisture can eventually attack the silvered backing. Wipe aluminum bodies and glass shelves with a damp cloth and mild soap, skip abrasives, and occasionally clear dust from hinges and shelf supports. Run the fan during showers and the cabinet will look new for decades.
The brand landscape, and where Sidler fits
The category runs from simple mirrored boxes to genuinely premium cabinetry, and the gap is real. At the top of our range sits Sidler, a Swiss company that has built mirrored cabinets for decades and treats them as furniture rather than an accessory: precise aluminum construction, refined lighting, and options like defoggers, interior outlets and magnifying mirrors across a wide range of sizes and mounting styles. If the bathroom is a long-term keeper, that tier of build quality is easy to justify. If your project leans the other way and a simple looking glass is all the wall needs, our bathroom mirrors are the lighter-weight alternative.
Everything ships across Canada, and if you are still mapping out the wider renovation, our bathroom and kitchen guides cover vanities, lighting and layout planning in the same practical spirit as this one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recess a medicine cabinet into an exterior wall?
It is usually a bad idea in Canada. Recessing means removing insulation and disturbing the vapour barrier, which creates a cold spot prone to condensation and can affect what is stored inside. On exterior walls, choose a surface mount cabinet instead.
How wide should my medicine cabinet be?
Match it to the vanity: the same width or slightly narrower, centred over the sink. Over a double vanity, use one large multi-door cabinet or a pair of cabinets centred over each basin.
Do lighted medicine cabinets need an electrician?
Hardwired models do, and it is worth doing properly since bathroom circuits carry specific code requirements that vary by province. Some lit cabinets simply plug into an existing outlet, which makes them a friendlier retrofit.
Is a medicine cabinet worth it over a plain mirror?
If counter clutter, shared bathrooms or medication storage are part of your reality, yes. You gain enclosed storage at eye level without giving up the mirror, and modern flush-mounted designs no longer look like the builder-grade boxes of decades past.
