In a small bathroom with little or no storage, a mirror cabinet usually wins because it gives you a lit mirror and a cupboard in one; if you already have storage or the room is tight for depth, a slim LED mirror is the better choice.
The quick comparison
| LED mirror | LED mirror cabinet | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | None | Shelves behind the mirrored door |
| Depth from the wall | Mostly 26mm to 78mm | Mostly 105mm to 160mm |
| Shapes | Round, rectangle, soft rectangle, arch, pill, oval, pebble, soft square | Rectangle, soft rectangle, round, arch, pill |
| Power extras | Shaver socket on some models | Shaver socket on most, USB on selected models |
| Fitting | Surface mounted | Surface mounted, or recessed on selected models |
Why a mirror cabinet suits many small bathrooms
Small bathrooms and en-suites often have no room for a separate wall cupboard. A bathroom cabinet with mirror and light does two jobs in the same wall space above the basin. You get a lit mirror for shaving and make-up, and somewhere to keep toiletries off the basin and windowsill.
Most of our cabinets also hide the power. An LED bathroom mirror cabinet with a shaver socket inside lets a shaver or electric toothbrush charge out of sight with the door closed. Selected models add USB charging for other small devices.
Good options for a smaller wall include:
- Belle: 500mm x 700mm, front-lit, cool white (6400K), three adjustable glass shelves, shaver socket.
- Harlow and Sonnet: 500mm x 700mm or 600mm x 700mm, front-lit, silver, two adjustable glass shelves, shaver socket.
- Zinnia Soft Rectangle: 500mm x 700mm or 600mm x 700mm, front-lit, TrioTone® light, shaver socket with USB ports.
- Aurelia Pill: a narrow 450mm x 900mm, front-lit, TrioTone® light, dual shaver socket with USB ports.
- Zinnia Round and Aurelia Round: 600mm round mirrored bathroom cabinets with light, for a softer shape.
A single door cabinet suits smaller bathrooms and en-suites. A double door cabinet gives more storage where you have the width. Our cabinets range from the 450mm wide Aurelia Pill up to 1200mm x 700mm.
Belle LED mirror cabinet, door open.
When a mirror is the better choice
A cabinet sits further off the wall than a mirror. In a narrow room, or where the basin is close to a door, those extra centimetres can matter. Our LED mirrors are much slimmer: many frameless models, such as the Mistral Soft Rectangle and Celestia Rectangle, are 29mm deep.
A mirror also gives you more choice of shape and finish. You can choose backlit, front-lit or edge-lit light, and frames in black, brushed brass, gunmetal or bronze. Read our guide to backlit, front-lit and edge-lit mirrors to compare them.
For a small basin, our smaller mirrors include the Mistral Soft Rectangle and Celestia Rectangle at 400mm x 600mm, and the Aspect Rectangle TrioTone® at 390mm x 500mm. Our mirror size guide suggests a mirror that matches the basin width or is slightly narrower.
If you still want a shaver socket, the Kai Plus and Shannon are slim front-lit mirrors with one built in. See bathroom mirrors with shaver sockets.
The best of both: recessed cabinets
A recessed cabinet sits into the wall, so you get storage without the depth. The Eclipse is designed to be recessed, with TrioTone® light, a shaver socket with USB port and two adjustable glass shelves. The Marella can be fitted on the surface or recessed.
Recessing needs enough depth in the wall and more building work, so plan it early. Our guide to recessed bathroom mirror cabinets covers what to check.
Eclipse recessed LED mirror cabinet, door open.
No power at the wall?
In a cloakroom or a quick refresh, there may be no supply where you want the cabinet. The Volta Rectangle and Sereno are battery operated mirror cabinets. They need no mains wiring, light both inside and outside the cabinet, and recharge by USB-C. The Volta runs on our patented Evo+ rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
For mirrors, read are battery operated bathroom mirrors any good? and can you fit an illuminated mirror without an electrician?
Volta battery mirror cabinet, door light detail.
Five questions to decide
1. Do you have anywhere else to store toiletries? If not, choose a cabinet.
2. How much depth can you spare? Measure from the wall to the nearest door, basin edge or walkway. If space is tight, choose a mirror or a recessed cabinet.
3. Do you need a shaver socket? Most of our cabinets have one inside. Only selected mirrors do.
4. What shape do you want? Mirrors come in more shapes and frame finishes than cabinets.
5. Is there power at the wall? If not, look at a battery operated mirror or cabinet.
Fitting and guarantee
Mains-powered mirrors and cabinets are IP44 rated for bathroom zone 2 and must be wired in by a qualified electrician. Check the position with our bathroom zones and IP ratings guide.
Every Sensio bathroom mirror and cabinet carries our 7 year guarantee. Mirror glass is guaranteed for 12 months, excluding accidental damage.
Mirror cabinet or mirror FAQs
Is a mirror cabinet good for a small bathroom?
Yes, if you need storage. A mirrored bathroom cabinet with light gives you a lit mirror and shelves in the same wall space. A single door cabinet suits smaller bathrooms and en-suites.
How deep is an LED bathroom mirror cabinet?
Our surface-mounted cabinets are mostly 105mm to 160mm deep. Check the dimensions on each product page.
Can a mirror cabinet be recessed into the wall?
Yes. The Eclipse is designed to be recessed, and the Marella can be fitted on the surface or recessed.
Do mirror cabinets have shaver sockets?
Most of ours do, inside the cabinet. Selected models, including the Aurelia, Zinnia, Marella and Eclipse, add USB charging.
Can I fit a mirror cabinet without an electrician?
Only a battery operated one, such as the Volta Rectangle or Sereno. Mains cabinets must be wired in by a qualified electrician.
Explore the ranges
Browse our LED mirror cabinets, or see all our LED bathroom mirrors.
