Choosing the right vanity for your bathroom is a big decision. Your vanity is the focal point of the bathroom, and it’s a chunk of real estate that you’ll use time and time again.
The great thing about a bathroom vanity is that it can completely transform the appearance of your bathroom without breaking the bank. Because of this, if you’re looking for a cost-efficient way to revamp your bathroom, your vanity should be at the forefront of your decision-making. Find the right bathroom vanity at ARIEL.
And when you’re working with such a small space, it’s natural to want to make the most of it. As such, there are several important considerations to keep in mind.
Here are a few tips for choosing the right vanity for your bathroom:
The Vanity Size
No matter how big or small your budget is, chances are your vanity choices are limited because of the size of your bathroom. But don’t fret: a simple size restriction is a pleasant challenge, and can help you circumvent option paralysis.
Start by thinking about your ideal goals for storage and space. Do you need a bigger vanity to store more bathroom cosmetics? Do you want a separate space from your partner and could benefit from his and her sinks? After you’ve decided on your needs, you can start to think about your wants.
From here, measure the space you have for a vanity—height and depth—and then start looking at different designs. Standard widths come in sizes of 24″, 30″, 36″, 48″, and 60”. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more customized, it can certainly be achieved for a higher cost. The depth of a vanity is measured from front to back, and most often this is 20” or 21”.
Your contractor will take the final measurements to ensure everything is good to go, but it helps save you some time (and money) when you do some measuring yourself to choose good-fit options.
Pay Attention to Layout
If the dimensions of your desired vanity are different than your current vanity, use masking tape to make it easy to track. Pay particular attention to the clearance you have around your doors, storage, shower stall, toilet, and other elements in your bathroom.
Consider the flow of movement in your bathroom when you’re making vanity decisions. If you have to navigate around your sink to avoid bumping into it, you’ll quickly become annoyed and frustrated.
Deciding on Your Vanity Sink
There are endless sink options for your vanity.
With so many different sink styles to choose from, it’s best to consider how much counter space you want before you make any final decisions. With smaller surface areas, a smaller sink would be an ideal option.
Here are three different types of vanity sink styles to choose from:
Self-rimming:
Also called drop-in sinks, these are standard and installed above the countertop.
These sinks are easy to install because they can be replaced without having to do any major restructuring to your existing vanity and can be used with several different types of material.
Vessel:
Vessel sinks sit on top of the vanity counter. These can be aesthetically pleasing and unique to look at.
There are a variety of materials to choose from, like glass, stone, or ceramic.
Usually comes in a vessel or basin shape.
Undermount:
Undermount sinks are installed from beneath a solid countertop surface, like granite or marble. These sinks are customized because the hold on the countertop is to cut to fit the chosen sink perfectly.
You also have to determine how many sinks you need. If you have a family, his and her sinks are ideal for ease of use and improving the flow of traffic.
However, as you might imagine, they do reduce counter space, so you’ll have to decide which is more important to you based on your lifestyle needs. For instance, if you live with a partner who has a career that involves opposite hours, a dual sink setup may not be as important.
Choosing Your Vanity Materials
The fact is, your vanity will take quite a hit over the course of a couple years.
Over the course of its lifetime, it’s subject to spilled water, harsh cleaning products, makeup stains, and much more. With that in mind, you’ll need something durable and versatile that will stand the test of time.
For instance, certain materials are better suited to withstand against scratches, and other materials will hold up against water quite well.
Think About Your Plumbing
Your plumbing plays a major role in your vanity, and will dictate what type of vanity you can have.
If you have to make changes to your plumbing to accommodate your dream vanity, it will cost additional time and money. This is something to be aware of, however, if these are worthy, value-inducing costs, it’s worth a few extra dollars.
If you’re on a tighter budget, you’re style options will be a bit more limited—but still plentiful. For example, if you wanted a floating vanity, your plumbing would require different specifications than a floor mounted vanity.
Consider Storage
One of the best aspects of a vanity is the ability to leverage extra storage space. Your available storage space will depend on its size and clearance space. If you have limited space, chances are you’ll want as much storage as possible, but it’s important that you remain realistic about your storage wishes.
For example, let’s say you want three columns of drawer space, but you need room for the sink space. In this case, you might have to mix and match your vertical and horizontal options. Drawers and cabinets occupy space differently, as doors swing to the side and drawers extend towards you.
Depending on your style and preferences, one might work a bit better than the other. But no matter what you choose, there are always ways you can maximize your storage.
