skip to main content

How useful are electrical outlets in medicine cabinet?

15 years ago

I'm deciding between a Restoration Hardware medicine cabinet and a Robern cabinet for several hundred dollars more. The major advantage of the Robern cabinet is that it would have electrical outlets inside. This is a very small bathroom with absolutely no other storage. At the moment, we keep toothbrush chargers in the other bathroom and just carry them back and forth when they need to be charged.

My other question is safety, because the medicine cabinet will be mounted over the sink. Being risk-averse, I have mental pictures of one of my kids dropping a plugged-in charger into a sink full of water.

Featured Answer

jlcjlr

15 years ago

We are in the process of planning a remodel of a tiny bathroom too. We decided to put a small shelving unit next to the medicine cabinet that would have space for the toothbrush charger and the electrical outlet inside. See the link for a picture of what we have in mind. I think it will need to be open on two sides, front and medicine cabinet side, so "L" shaped. That will accomodate the dryer or iron cord when it is in use. The picture shows a conventional type cabinet, open on the front side. We have some water damage so need to spend carefully and a pricey medicine cabinet is not in the cards. This is contemporary so maybe not your look.

Here is a link that might be useful: shelving next to medicine cabinet

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

MongoCT
15 years ago
Stick the charger to the cabinet shelf with a hot glue gun.

A toothbrush recharger is about all I'd want over a sink. I wouldn't want anything else electrical where the cord would be suspended over the sink during use, or an item that could possibly fall out of the cabinet and into the sink when the cabinet is opened, plugged in and in the cabinet.

Mongo
marisany
Original Author
15 years ago
Good idea about gluing the charger! But maybe it's better not to have the outlets there at all.
Related Discussions
Installing power outlet in Medicine cabinets?
Q
Comments (19)
An update on my 2009 posting. We now have had a Century Medicine cabinet with outlet in it since then (so over 8 years). A few years back we the electric cord from the mirror to the inside of the cabinet snapped (must have got trapped in the door over the years which weakened it). We called Century asking advice and they immediately sent us a new door with cord attached which was very easy to install ourselves. Excellent service and I am sure it was well out of warranty. That was years ago and no other issues.
...See More
Hidden Electrics, Hidden Medicine Cabinet - MB Reveal
Q
Comments (6)
I'm not sure which Kohler faucet this is. DH saved the installation instructions, but didn't write the model number on the appropriate line*. It came from either HD or Lowe's (we shopped at both) and it has a a bit of a trough on the top of the handle. I do like the high arc and the reach is perfect. I also like that there is enough space between the handle and the spout to turn it on with your wrist if you hands are too grubby for using your fingers. This faucet was his choice. I was set on having a sensor faucet for the hall bath, he thought it was a bad idea, I finally drew a line in the sand and said I was going to choose the hall bath faucet and he could choose the MB faucet. Turns out he isn't totally into choosing faucets :), although he worked up to really wanting brushed nickel for the metals in this bathroom. I'm OK with brushed nickle.
...See More
Cabinet Door Jam Button to Switch On/Off Electrical Outlet in Cabinet
Q
Comments (7)
I think you could make one of the door switches work with a vanity door, but I've never seen one that was rated for more than 10 amps. To activate power for a GFCI receptacle you need to be able to switch a minimum of 15 amps, and preferably 20 amps. Another option may be to use a 20 amp 120 volt A/C relay that is activated by a low voltage switch in the door frame. Remcon sells a closet light relay with low voltage switch, but its only rated for 6.5 amps. I'm sure they are available for higher amperage for special uses, but its not something you will find at HD or Lowes. Bruce
...See More
Medicine Cabinet with power outlet
Q
Comments (8)
@Cynthia Gonzalez Tricoche, yes they are expensive, but if you plan to stay in your house for many years this is something you will use every single day. Do you have a single sink or two? We have one cabinet over each sink and I got them each with hinges towards the center, so one is right hinged and the other left hinged. This allows you to stand in the middle, open both doors and be able to do your hair and look at the side/back of your head. You can also do a piece of plain mirror between them to get a true 3-way mirror effect, but I did that in my previous house and it took a lot of planning and perfect mirror measuring/cutting to make it work. I didn't think the new location where I built my house had that level of skill ... and I would have been right, because the glass/mirror subs turned out to be terrible! In my old house I also put my sconces through the plate mirrors with no issues. Glad I didn't try that here!
...See More
marisany
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you, jlcjlr, for the idea. I am now thinking of having a small cabinet, probably closed, built in somewhere not over the sink, to hold the chargers and a few other things. The contractor can put in an outlet and I'm sure it will cost a lot less than the Robern cabinet.
caligirl_cottage
15 years ago
Any outlets near the sink will have to be grounded anyway, so safety shouldn't be too much of a concern. I do really like the idea of being able to put the toothbrush charger away, off the countertop and in the medicine cabinet but I don't know why you couldn't just make cutouts in the back of the restoration hardware cabinet and have outlets behind.
tdegen
15 years ago
depends on the outlet? Is it a GFCI outlet (with test/reset buttons)?

I have always found that an outlet near the sink is crucial (hair dryers, electric shavers, etc), but they *MUST*, in my opinion, be GFCI outlets.

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Should You Get a Recessed or Wall-Mounted Medicine Cabinet?

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Here’s what you need to know to pick the right bathroom medicine cabinet and get it installed

GREAT HOME PROJECTS Power to the People: Outlets Right Where You Want Them

By Mitchell Parker

No more crawling and craning. With outlets in furniture, drawers and cabinets, access to power has never been easier

LIGHTING Your Guide to Common Light Fixtures and How to Use Them

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Get to know pot lights, track lights, pendants and more to help you create an organized, layered lighting plan

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

DECORATING GUIDES 8 Splendidly Redesigned Home Basics We All Use

By Becky Harris

Whether you find God or the devil in the details, these new takes on utilitarian items for the home are simply divine

KITCHEN STORAGE Kitchen Storage Hacks to Make Use of Every Space

Cupboards full? Try these kitchen ideas for working more valuable storage into your cooking space

KITCHEN DESIGN Yes, You Can Use Brick in the Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Quell your fears of cooking splashes, cleaning nightmares and dust with these tips from the pros

DECORATING GUIDES Spare Room? Lucky You. Here are 12 Fresh Ways to Use It

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Imagine all the things you could do in your extra space: painting, planting, playing or nothing at all

DINING ROOMS Old Dining Room, New Use

By Jason Ball Interior Design

Is your dining room feeling neglected? Transform that valuable space into an office, pool room, library or lounge

KITCHEN DESIGN 7 Awesome Add-ons for Kitchen Cabinets

By Jennifer Ott Design

Useful gadgets, docks for your devices, extra lighting ... when it comes to cabinets, do look down

Sponsored

More Discussions

Bathroom vanity search

2

What are these countertop spots?

16

Bathroom countertop material

4

Powder Room design

1

black faucets in bathroom

1