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A good medicine cabinet is, undoubtedly, the unsung hero of any bathroom. Besides housing the obligatory mirror for endless hours of primping and polishing, it's shouldered with a whole host of other jobs. These include expanding storage options vertically, beyond dark under-counter spaces and linen closets; handily storing the products you use most often; and keeping all those not-so-attractive bathroom-y things (think: over-gnawed toothbrushes, embarrassing medications, and ugly first aid products) well out of sight.
But finding a stylish—and affordable—medicine cabinet can be like searching for the proverbial needle in a cheap, builder-grade haystack. (And let's face it, hidden electric outlets and built-in defoggers, while nice, aren't exactly cost-effective.) So instead of busting your budget (and patience) to find the best workhorse for the most-used room in the house, consider these 11 cool medicine cabinets, all budget-friendly and designed for a variety of styles and spaces—from traditional to eclectic and everything in between.
Transitional
Two mirrored doors swing out to reveal two adjustable glass shelves. It's a boon for apartment dwellers and homeowners alike, as it can be either mounted to a wall (with a heavy-duty bracket) or fully recessed inside it for a more streamlined look.
Traditional
Like a picture frame, four beveled-glass inserts—wrapped with inlaid champagne-toned beading—enclose a central, beveled-glass mirror. Its recessed body stays hidden inside the wall, while its powder-coated steel detailing recalls a classic work of art.
For Awkward Spaces
Nobody puts Baby in the corner. Well, except this baby. Turn any awkward corner into a useable storage space with this mirrored medicine cabinet. Its understated frame houses three fixed shelves.
For Those Short on Space
If your tiny bathroom more closely resembles a linen closet with virtually nowhere to stow day-to-day essentials, utilize wasted space with this six-foot back-of-door dynamo that attaches to any standard door's hinges. Inside, it has the storage capacity of five standard medicine cabinets (seriously), and outside, there's a full-length mirror. Customize its layout with six adjustable shelves and rods that keep tall items in place.
Coastal
Without getting too literal with Restoration Hardware's porthole medicine cabinet, we chose this navy, wall-mounted design for its modern edge and nautical colorway. Its frame is composed of built-in open shelving, so you'll never run out of space for your bathroom essentials.
Industrial
Its recessed frame looks as if it was carefully welded in a factory shop, making it the perfect addition to any cool, industrial-style bath. A mirror opens up to an interior that's lined with three adjustable glass shelves.
Glam
This showstopper reveals three adjustable shelves and will fool everyone into thinking you've installed a vintage, Hollywood Regency mirror over the vanity in lieu of a bulky medicine cabinet.
Organic Modern
A metal-framed mirror slides to the right (via metal arms on its top and bottom) to uncover this medicine cabinet's natural, mango-wood frame, and two fixed shelves. The company keeps it cheap—and chic—by not providing wall-mounting directions (or hardware), so best to read up and get supplies before you hang.
Midcentury
This wall-mounted, lacquered-beech medicine cabinet looks exactly like any molto costoso (very expensive) 1960s Italian mirror, save for its hidden, adjustable shelves and smooth-closing mirrored door.
Contemporary
Straight out of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, this wood-framed, wall-mounted medicine cabinet features a mirrored front with built-in LED-light technology designed to illuminate every last pore—and also has two adjustable glass shelves within. Just make sure there's a power outlet nearby.
Farmhouse
Sturdy, substantial, and made of lacquered hardwood, this recessed medicine cabinet features a beveled-mirror door (with a super-cute knob!) that swings open to expose three adjustable, tempered glass shelves. The door can also be right- or left-oriented, depending on your bathroom's layout.