March 11, 2021 •Brian Hogan
Whether you’re adding a new bathroom or remodeling an existing one, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make: from showers, tubs, and toilets to flooring, fixtures, and tile, today’s design options are virtually endless.
Choosing the right vanity is one of the most important design decisions in any bathroom — you want one that fits perfectly, provides ample storage and countertop space, and looks like it was tailor-made for its surroundings.
Vanities come in a vast array of sizes and configurations designed to suit an equally diverse range of bathroom styles and storage needs. To find the vanity that offers the ultimate blend of form and function for your new or renovated bathroom, follow these four simple steps:
1. Determine Ideal Size
Fit is the first essential quality to consider when selecting a vanity for any bathroom. Just as powder rooms and smaller bathrooms require more compact vanities, larger bathrooms call for grander vanities that correspond with the scale and openness of a bigger space.
When you know exactly where you’re going to place your vanity, you can figure out how much space you have to accommodate it. There are three main measurements to consider: its length (or width) from one side to the other; its depth from front to back; and its height.
While the standard vanity is 21” deep and 31” high, you can find narrower models for smaller bathrooms and taller units that reach standard kitchen counter height (36”).
As you might expect, a vanity’s width is its most defining measurement — they run the gamut from an extra-small 16” vanity with a sink and no counter space to an extra-long 72” vanity with double sinks and lots of counter space.
Once you’ve determined your ideal vanity size, mark out the dimensions with painter’s tape to ensure it works with the flow of your space and provides optimal clearance for opening drawers and doors.
2. Define Practical Purpose
Just as the square footage of your bathroom helps determine vanity size, the type of bathroom your vanity is going in — powder room, kids’ bathroom, main bathroom, or guest bathroom — helps define its purpose as well as the qualities it requires to fulfill that purpose.
In a small powder room, a vanity typically serves two purposes: it provides a sink for washing up and possibly a bit of storage for extra toilet paper and hand towels. Counter space is less of a priority and tends to be minimal; in some cases, it’s just a few inches on each side of the sink.
In a bigger bathroom that’s used by multiple people (kids’ bathroom, main bathroom), having a larger vanity with two sinks and extra countertop space can be a convenient way to streamline your daily routine.
Larger vanities almost always come with ample storage space which, in a shared bathroom, ensures there are plenty of ways to contain clutter. Even minimalistic wall-mounted vanities have drawers, cabinets, or open shelves to hold your toiletries and personal care items.
3. Establish Storage Needs
Storage is one of the biggest perks of having a vanity (as opposed to a space-saving pedestal sink). Smaller vanities may have a couple of drawers and a single cabinet, while larger vanities often have multiple cabinets and stacks of drawers for optimal organization.
Personal hygiene products, daily care items, first-aid supplies, medication, and makeup are just a few of the things you might store in your main bathroom or the kids’ bathroom; if you don’t have a dedicated linen closet, you might also need a place to put extra towels, tissues, toilet paper, and cleaning products.
Take stock of the items you plan to keep in your vanity as you consider your options. Whether you’ve got a lot of stuff or just a little, look for a model that provides the best storage volume and configuration (a combination of drawers, cabinets, and open shelves) to meet your needs.
Ultimately, your storage needs can influence the style of vanity you wind up choosing, as even the largest wall-mounted “floating” vanity has less storage capacity than a freestanding vanity that looks more like a custom built-in or piece of furniture.
4. Consider Style Options
Once you’ve determined the vital stats of your vanity — from ideal size and number of sinks to desired surface area and storage space — it’s time to consider the style options that fall within those parameters.
There are no wrong choices when it comes to personal style, but certain vanity styles may be better suited to your needs than others. A wall-mounted vanity can make a smaller bathroom feel more open and spacious, while a freestanding vanity, as mentioned, can give you more storage options.
Modern vanities are sleek, symmetrical, and monochromatic, while traditional vanities have a furniture-like quality with classic lines, materials, and finishes. A transitional vanity combines the best aspects of modern and traditional design into a timeless style that fits in anywhere.
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