It cannot be denied that the bathroom is one of the most sacred places in our home. A fully functional home must have a well-thought-of bathroom. This space is essential to our ability to perform our daily activities and attend to our daily responsibilities. Imagine waking up and realizing that your bathroom isn’t functioning properly? How much would that affect the rest of your day? Likewise, how much would it affect your rest if you get home to find out that there’s something wrong with your bathroom?
These are only a couple of reasons as to why everything in your bathroom must be carefully thought of. One of the main components of a bathroom is your vanity. Aside from the toilet and the shower, your vanity plays a key role in the overall functionality of your bathroom. A bathroom vanity is more than additional storage for your bathroom, or a place to hang your mirror over. That being said, choosing a vanity that is right for you and your bathroom isn’t as simple as choosing the one that fits the design of your home. Most homeowners fall into the trap and simply buy a vanity based on the look. However, in reality, there are a number of factors that every homeowner must consider before choosing a bathroom vanity. In this article, we break down all of the factors a homeowner must consider when choosing the perfect vanity for their home.
Measurement is Key
The first thing to consider when choosing your next bathroom vanity is the size of the vanity. To do this, you must measure your space. You can use a tape measure to get the dimensions of your space. It is important that you not only measure the actual space but you must also keep in mind a couple of the other factors that can affect your measurements. One of the main factors to consider is your doors. Whether this is your actual bathroom door or your shower door, be sure that you allow enough space for your doors to still be able to fully open without disruptions once the vanity has been installed. Be sure to provide allowances from one to two inches for other factors such as fillers as well.
The second thing to consider is the cabinets. As your vanity will serve as your additional storage space, your cabinets must also be able to fully open with ease. Try to visualize as well the items that you will be stored in your bathroom. These items must more or less fit into your vanity cabinets. Another important factor is to measure your plumbing. Plumbing must always be considered when choosing a vanity as you might have to work around the existing plumbing. If you are working with a limited budget and are trying to avoid incurring additional costs, always consider your plumbing.
Consider the Who and How
The next thing to consider when choosing a bathroom vanity is the who and how. First, determine who’s going to use it. Are you living alone? Are you sharing a bathroom with your husband? These two basic questions will immediately tell you a lot about the right vanity for your bathroom. If you’re living alone, then that should mean that you will only be needing a single sink. On the other hand, if you’re living with your family and sharing a bathroom with your husband, then you’ll probably be needing two sinks in your bathroom and a vanity that goes with that as well.
Once you have determined the who, it is time to determine the how. How will this vanity function in your bathroom? Are you living in an apartment and can use all the extra storage that you can get? Do you have a storage room in your home and won’t need to store a lot in your vanity? Furthermore, do you have a separate makeup vanity in your room? Or do you preferably do your makeup and style your hair in your bathroom vanity? These questions are basic questions that one must consider in this process. Your bathroom vanity isn’t purely for storage. If you’re someone who needs additional space, then you’ll immediately know that you will need a vanity with tons of cabinets. Likewise, if you’re someone who prefers doing her makeup and hair in front of her bathroom vanity, then you’ll be needing a bathroom vanity with a lot of countertop space.
Try to think of your daily bathroom routines and how a vanity comes into play in your routine to determine the specifics of your vanity.
Your Budget
As with every other fixture in your home, it is important to determine the budget you’re working with before you start considering other factors. Having a working budget will help you keep aligned. Bathroom vanities typically range from $500 to $3,000 dollars. When it comes to setting a budget for your vanity, you must also keep in mind additional expenses on top of the actual vanity. For example, there are cases wherein you have to adjust your plumbing to accommodate your new vanity. This is an additional cost that may force you to increase your total budget. However, as mentioned above, it is important to measure your plumbing outright in order for you to avoid incurring additional costs such as this.
Vanity Styles
Generally, there are two types of bathroom vanities; a built-in vanity and a freestanding vanity. A freestanding vanity is usually used by homeowners who have limited space. On the other hand, a built-in vanity is the typical choice of homeowners who have bigger spaces.
Aside from having hundreds of design options, there are also a number of vanity styles you can choose from. If you’re working with limited space, corner vanities can be a great option for you. Corner vanities help you save space and are used both in modern and traditional bathroom styles. The only downside to corner vanities is its limited storage and counter space. Another style of vanity that is widely used for modern bathrooms is floating vanities. These vanities gained the name since they are wall-mounted and have no legs, unlike other vanity styles. This type of vanity is ideal for both small and big bathrooms as this style creates an illusion that makes the bathroom look more spacious.
Another example of vanity style is a square bathroom vanity. As the name suggests, it’s a square vanity that is also practical for people with limited space. Compared to a rounded vanity, a square vanity has more storage and saves space. Rectangular vanities on the other hand offer the biggest storage space. These cabinets run pretty long and are typically used in large bathrooms with his and hers sink.
Vanity Design Options
Once you have chosen the vanity style that you’re going with, it’s now time to consider the specifics of your vanity. From color and finish to the wood type or material you must consider planning these things ahead so that you can successfully purchase the vanity that you want.
When it comes to the finish, most homeowners tend to go for glass, metal, or wood. These finishes are durable and are the traditional materials used for vanities. When it comes to color, homeowners tend to go for something more neutral. Colors such as black, white, navy blue, or shades of brown are usually the most popular colors for vanities. However, if you would want your vanity to stand out, there are also options available for more colorful vanities.
Another aspect of vanity design is the hardware. Most overlook the hardware but this small detail can actually make or break the overall appeal and effect of your vanity. You can choose from different materials such as silver, gold, or even bronze or copper. If you are going for a more industrial look, you can opt to paint or buy matte black handles for your vanity to achieve that look. If you happen to find a bathroom vanity that is perfect for you but is in a different color, you can take on a DIY project and repaint the vanity that you’ve chosen to the color of your choice. Likewise, if the vanity that you’ve chosen has different hardware than the rest of your bathroom, there are a lot of available replacements online. Simply take on another DIY project and it’s a quick fix to your dilemma.
Lastly, if you’re set on having a wood bathroom vanity, you must think of the type of wood you would want. There are several available options such as hardwood plywood, plywood, or a combination of solid wood and plywood.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of factors that play a role in enabling homeowners to choose the right bathroom vanity for them. Oftentimes, these factors are overlooked. Homeowners simply consider either one or two of the factors listed in this article which can lead them to purchase a bathroom vanity that is either not what they want or not what they need. A bathroom vanity is just as much an investment as the other fixtures in your home and is worth the time of planning out.