A bathroom vanity is one of the most important purchases you can make for your bathroom, whether you're undertaking a major renovation or just updating an old vanity that is no longer meeting your needs. A new unit can make or break the space in more ways than one.
Because a bathroom vanity needs careful planning and consideration to ensure it works within your bathroom and delivers you everything you need, it can be functional and cause any major issues post-installation.
With that in mind, this post is going to look at some of the more common mistakes homeowners make when choosing a new bathroom vanity, so you can avoid them and get it right the first time.
Buying the Wrong Size
This is the most common mistake made, yet one of the easiest to avoid.
Measure twice. Measure the width, depth, and height before you look at a single vanity.
Standard depths run about 21 inches; however, if you have an older bathroom, you might not have the clearance to take a depth of this size. And if you choose a standard depth, it might stick out or take over the bathroom.
For height, bathroom vanities usually sit around 30-32 inches, but comfort height for a vanity could be up to 36 inches, so make sure you measure this correctly for all users in the home, so it's not too high or too low. Remember, you can always use a step for a child if it's too high, but if it's too low, you cannot compensate for that.
Then look at the countertop overhang if you're choosing a separate one. This can add an inch or so to the depth and can make all the difference in tight pacs.
Ignoring Plumbing Placement
Your existing drain and supply lines will determine what you can install without calling a plumber. If you want to move your vanity even a few inches from its original placement or you're adding a new one, then you need to be mindful of the current plumbing when making your decision. Because moving plumbing to fit your vanity or a new location is expensive and getting it wrong can lead to a whole host of problems, such as leaks, damp, mildew, etc.
You need to know roughly where your plumbing is before you shop. Then, map out the size and placement of the potential new vanity with tape so you can see how the plumbing will be impacted. You can even make measurements on a wall and then take a picture with you when you shop, so you can ensure that you know what you need.
Knowing the center of the drain from each wall will immediately eliminate many of the problems homeowners face regarding new vanities and plumbing.
Choosing Style Over Storage
Here's the thing: you want your vanity to look good. That's given. But you also need it to be suitable for the space. If you choose a pretty vanity that cannot hold anything, what are you going to do with the items that you keep in the bathroom?
You need more than a single drawer if you need to store toilet rolls, makeup, excess toiletries, and hair dryers, for example.
For more functionality, drawers beat doors, and they're better for tighter spaces. You can also consider adjustable shelving for deep base units so you can adapt them as you need to store everything it needs to hold.
If you're really going for a more minimalist aesthetic, then you need to make sure the drawers you do have have a full extension to get maximum use from them.
Getting the Sink Configuration Wrong
A single or double sink isn't just a personal preference; it's a space and practicality question, too. A double sink vanity needs at least 60 inches of width to be fully functional. If it's too narrow, then the basins end up being too small, and your counter space disappears. And if you're choosing a double sink vanity because you and your partner share a bathroom and get ready together in the morning, then you need to make sure you have the space to configure this comfortably. If not, then you need to choose a single basin.
From here, you need to consider options such as an undermount or vessel sink. Vessel sinks can look good, but they impact the overall height of the vanity and can alter the comfort and functionality if you're on the taller or shorter side.
Overlooking Lighting Needs
Bathroom vanities need good lighting. And the placement of your vanity will oppose your mirror placement, which, in turn, dictates your lighting placement. And for a lot of people, this decision is overlooked as not important or not considered at all.
For the most even lighting for your vanity, wall sconces, placed at face height, roughly 60 inches from the floor to the centre of the fixture, is optimal. This gives the best even, shadow-free lighting for getting ready each day.
An overhead fixture mounted above the mirror can throw shadows downwards across your face and is usually the number one cause for bad lighting in most bathrooms. And if you use your vanity to apply makeup or shave, then you don't want poor lighting or shadows. You need even lighting.
So before you make your final decision, check how you will be lighting your vanity and what opinions you have for the styles you're considering; it needs to work for you, not against you once installed.
Forgetting Ventilation
If you're installing a new vanity in a bathroom with poor ventilation, then you're going to notice damage from moisture really quickly. Solid wood frames, MDF door panels, and particleboard carcasses will all succumb to damage from humidity. They'll warp, swell, and delaminatee and in the worst case, form mold inside the cabinet where you might not notice.
So before you choose your new bathroom vanity, check that your ventilation is working as it should be and is the right size.
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