Before choosing a vanity for a bathroom, it’s important that a homeowner does some research into what is available and what fits their needs. Keep reading to find out the seven key tips for selecting the ideal bathroom vanity that will be just right.
The vanity is the centerpiece of a bathroom. Selecting one of the 6 Common Bathroom Vanity Styles as the right style for a home can help bring the space in a bathroom together and can make a bathroom more functional.
Having a bathroom with the right style of vanity can make a huge amount of difference, especially if it is small and tends to become cluttered. But installing the wrong style of vanity can be a costly mistake. Make sure to get what is expected from a vanity by reading through these seven tips for choosing the right bathroom vanity.
1. Consider Bathroom Needs
The best way to prepare for a new bathroom vanity is to take a serious look at the current situation in a bathroom and figure out what is needed.
There are a number of reasons why a homeowner might want a new vanity. They might want to update a look, add more storage space, or incorporate fixtures that will better meet their needs. Maybe the current vanity is old and ugly. These are all good reasons to install a new vanity.
A homeowner should consider who uses the bathroom the most. Is it used by several people? If so, a homeowner might elect to select more than one type of fixture, such as multiple sinks.
If a bathroom is in need of more storage space, more drawers or cabinets might be in order. The vanity that is installed should be of a height and width that will fit the users. It should also be of a design that is proportionate to the size of the bathroom.
2. Measuring the Available Space
It doesn’t take long looking at vanities before a homeowner realizes that they come in practically any size. This does not, however, mean that any size vanity will fit. It won’t. For this reason, a homeowner must be sure that they take accurate measurements of the space available for the vanity they want. Be sure to check for fixtures that would be difficult to move, such as pipes protruding from the wall, when measurements are taken.
A homeowner should also check for things such as doors and walls that may be in the way when opening the vanity’s doors or drawers. A homeowner would not want doors to swing open that would hit a wall or other feature and cause damage. The location of the toilet and shower should also be taken into consideration when measuring for a vanity.
3. Check the Plumbing
Before a homeowner purchases a new vanity, they should first check the plumbing to make sure it aligns with the openings in the vanity to accommodate it. It will probably depend on where the plumbing comes out of the wall and where it will fit with the fixtures on the vanity. If changes are needed, they might not be cheap, although some changes can be accomplished easily with some minor work with a saw.
Most freestanding vanities are easier to install since a homeowner rarely needs to worry about where the plumbing is located. This is why it is good to pick this type of vanity when working with a small budget.
4. Deciding on a Sink Style
Homeowners in search of sinks for a vanity are rarely disappointed since there are so many styles available. The final choice made often comes down to a matter of function or preference. For example, single vessel sinks often look great in an older home as well as modern homes with a nostalgic motif.
Another thing that should be decided is whether a homeowner needs one sink or two. Dual sinks are the rage, even if both are rarely used. If there is a need to share the bathroom, opt for two sinks.
5. Pick a Countertop
Homeowners should pick a vanity that is both durable and stylish. There are also countertops that handle the wear and tear better than others. Make sure to pay close attention to who uses a bathroom and what styles are preferred.
Each countertop material has both pros and cons. When shopping for a new vanity, a homeowner should pay close attention to which type will hold up best considering their uses.
6. Opting for Storage
Lack of adequate storage in a bathroom is the bane of many modern homeowners. For this reason, a homeowner should always keep in mind their storage needs when they select a vanity. For example, things like cleaning products, cosmetics, washcloths and towels should always be considered when deciding on what to store in the bathroom and where they should be stored elsewhere.
A homeowner should also make sure that the vanity they select has not only adequate space, but has drawers and doors that won’t hit other objects in the bathroom.
7. Remember Fixtures
Fixtures rarely fit the same layout. Some faucets, for example, feed from a single pipe. Others feed from two pipes. The vanity selected should either fit the pipe layout a home has or should be adaptable.
A homeowner should make sure that they don’t buy a vanity for one type of pipe layout while their pipes are totally different.
After a homeowner has considered all of these issues and determined a budget, it’s time to go shopping. At this point, a new bathroom will probably look fabulous.
Which Bathroom Vanity is Right?
The right vanity can make the entire style of a bathroom just right. Not only that, but it can also make it more attractive and functional than a homeowner would have even anticipated. The good news is that, when a bathroom is well planned, including the type of vanity that will work best, that bathroom will be a pleasure to use for many years to come.