When I was recently looking for chances of upgrading my bathroom fittings, I came across the concept of having a bathroom vanity installed as a means of making it look more fine and modern.
So what is a bathroom vanity? A bathroom vanity is a combination of a sink or two and the storage area which surrounds it. It is a piece of bathroom cabinetry which usually has a countertop made of stone, laminate, wood or cement and amply conceals the plumbing as well.
A bathroom vanity would include more than just a sink which is to be seen on a traditional basis. It goes beyond this level as there are more to it in total.
What Is Included In A Bathroom Vanity?
There are so many options when it comes to selecting a bathroom vanity. Basically, it would include a sink or two, a countertop and a vanity cabinet with ample storage. This is just perfect to make sure that all of the bathroom essentials could be stored while making use of the sink and countertop on a general basis for your refreshing and cleaning needs.
The bathroom vanity makes sure that the plumbing attached to it is covered and does not show on the outside. It gives much style and class to the entire outlook, which is what is generally aimed at, by many people.
Vanities sold in a majority of the stores usually include only the sink/s, countertop, and cabinet. Faucets and plumbing tubes usually need to be purchased separately. However, some stores do sell vanities which include faucets, plumbing tubes etc.
Countertops in vanities are usually helpful in providing a great surface to work on and keep things which could be useful along the process. Marble, granite, laminate, wood, and synthetic stone are just a few of the more commonly used materials for vanity countertops.
Many of the modern style bathrooms do make use of a bathroom vanity to obtain all-in-one purpose with such great ease. The vanity is chosen with the available space taken into consideration and this might depend on why a particular aspect of it was included or ignored by large.
The standard width of a vanity cabinet could be 24”, 30”, 36”, 48”, 60” or 72”. The standard depth of it would typically vary between 20” and 21”. However, there could also be depths of 18” available.
One would want the bathroom vanity to have ample space to carry out all of what is required to be done and leaving less of a mess to clean up. This is especially true as many of the types of vanities do help to avoid messing the bathroom floor, which could prove to be annoying as well as dangerous in the long run.
Bathroom Vanity Types
There are many styles of bathroom vanities which one could select from. It greatly depends on the requirements of the relevant person and the space and budget which have been set aside for the task. The most commonly used bathroom vanity types are as follows.
Cabinet Style Bathroom Vanity
As the name suggests, this vanity has ample storage with cabinets installed to it. Hence the cabinet tends to conceal the plumbing waste and supply lines. The countertops are usually made of marble, granite, synthetic stone, ceramic, plastic or laminate.
Wall-Mounted Bathroom Vanity (Floating Vanity)
As the name suggests these are affixed directly to the wall. It leaves a gap between the floor and cabinet bottom making it easy to clean underneath it and also creating a more spacious look in the bathroom. Wall mounted vanities are eye-catching and have become popular for their sleek, modern look.
Shelf Vanity
This is the most basic type of vanity which includes a sink and a shelf underneath it. The vanity is placed on the floor with enough space for storage of soap. The countertop could be used with great ease.
Corner Bathroom Vanity
Corners are usually wasted space. Corner bath vanities are usually small triangular shaped bathroom vanities designed to fit such corners and use them efficiently. They are often used as a space-saving solution in small bathrooms and powder rooms.
Standard Bathroom Vanity Sizes
The most preferred bathroom vanity sizes are 24, 30, 36 and 48 inches width for single-sink bathroom vanities and 60 and 72 inches for double-sink bathroom vanities. Standard bathroom vanity depth is 21 inches.
36 Inch bathroom vanity is more comfortable to use. Because the extra width gives you a little more elbow room and storage space. The extra countertop space comes in handy for toiletries and essentials. if you’re buying a 36-inch vanity without a top, you will be able to allow for an extra inch worth of countertop space.
A 42-inch bathroom vanity size has just enough space for a sink bowl. If you prefer to install widespread faucets and to have more storage, this is the smartest option for you. This suits for master baths and secondary bathrooms if multiple users will be frequently using the area. It’s ideal for multiple users getting ready at the same time.
With a 48 inch vanity, you can arrange the space along with your needs. You have enough storage and enough space on the counter too. Therefore It will fit perfectly for a guest bedroom. And also I think that 48-inch double sink vanity is a smart choice for a shared bathroom between siblings.
60 inch and 72 inches Bathroom Vanity are perfect if you are planning to design a “his and hers” bathroom with double sinks. It’s a perfect solution for couples with shared bathrooms. You will have enough space on the counter and this vanity size is packed with storage solutions like cabinets, shelves, and drawers.
Bathroom Vanity Sink Styles
Bathroom vanities have different styles of mounting sinks on their countertops and cabinet.
Framed Sink Vanity
This is a sink which has been framed to a countertop, basically giving the look like as if it has been attached to it in whole. This gives ample coverage of the plumbing waste and supply lines.
Drop-in Sink Vanity
This type of sink is also called a self-rimming sink and is installed over a countertop. The countertop is usually made of plastic laminate, stone or ceramic style. This type of sink has a lip which seems to be over-sized to the hole and drops in to the countertop.
Under-Mount Sink Vanity
These sinks mount from the underside of the counter. The opening of such sinks are usually larger and gives the look of an overhanging sink bowl. The plumbing waste and supply lines are concealed at the base of the vanity. The sink could be made of porcelain, china or metal.
Vessel Sink and Vanity
This is basically a sink which has been mounted on a cabinet countertop. As the name suggests, it has a vessel which pours water from the top. It has a reasonable amount of space which surrounds it. Popular in restaurants and for creating spa like settings.
Why Use A Bathroom Vanity?
There are many reasons why one would prefer to use a bathroom vanity over a traditional sink or wash basin. This could include many factors according to each individual.
Space Saving
Some of the vanity types given above do a great job in saving space, especially when there is a lack of space in concern. Wall mounted sinks prove to be really useful in such cases.
Even a cabinet-style vanity would save a lot of space as it contains storage space attached to it, which might usually take up more space than required if kept at a separate location. This would be one main reason why one would select such an option in order to get the best out of the space available.
The coverage of plumbing waste and supply lines also has the added advantage of making it compact and giving more area to be used for other purposes.
Cleaning
The bathroom is usually a place which tends to get dirty and messy very often. Hence, it is always a great option to make it as easy as possible to clean, especially when thinking of the maintenance of it on the long run.
A bathroom vanity is usually easy to clean, due to the material it is made up of. The surface can be easily washed away with water and kept clean all the time. It also avoids the dripping of water to the floor. The concealing of plumbing waste and supply lines also helps to give it an overall clean look.
Cleaning up the bathroom would require very little effort from the user’s point of view and it would only take a few minutes to end up getting the results which one prefers. The surface material of the sink would need to support easy clean-up of it, which is usually the case with many of the vanity types available.
Stylish and Modern
The styles in which bathroom vanities are available make the entire area look very trendy and modern indeed. It gives a sleek finish to the overall appearance which is always the much preferred output which is required. The make of the sink and its surroundings also help to give a much better appearance as a whole.
The different kind of styles available in vanities of this day makes it easier for one to obtain the exact appearance which he expects. It would be a decision to be made with much great thought put to the unique preferences of each person.
Cost of A Bathroom Vanity
As with anything which has style and elegance, a bathroom vanity also comes at a cost which is totally worth in comparison to what you get from it. The more customized it is and the more features it includes, the higher the price would be.
According to the website www.realtor.com, the average cost of a single-sink bathroom vanity is $200 to $800 while most custom-made vanities would cost $500 to $2,800.
Although you might be tempted to go for a cheap option with regard to the vanity you need to get installed, it is always better to go for the higher quality options since these tend to last much longer. Cheap material wood would peel off over time and it is not going to be worth what you pay for, at the end of it all.
Getting a contractor down to install the vanity would cost around $100 to $300. However, custom-styled vanities can cost $200 to $1,000 or even more to install depending on the complexity of it.
The style and detail of these vanities usually make it higher in their prices than their traditional counterparts. This makes the installation much more complex, which is the cause of the high price of the contractors, as well.
It is important to consider the features which the client requires, based on the type of vanity which is chosen by the same. This would ensure that one would be satisfied with the outcome of the vanity, after it is installed.
Related Questions
Where would you find a bathroom vanity? A bathroom vanity could be bought over from a store which sells bathroom fittings. It could also be available in stores which sell household appliances, fittings and even electronic items. These could bought in physical stores as well as through the internet.
What to consider when buying a bathroom vanity? One needs to think of the space available and the style while is required which could complement this space, when buying a vanity. The material it is made up of is also an important factor to consider.
What are the bathroom vanity alternatives? It’s hard to find an alternative to using bathroom vanities because it does the job of both a sink and storage unit in the bathroom. If you don’t want to have a bathroom vanity the alternative is to have a traditional pedestal sink or wall mounted sink to wash hands, face and clean yourself. And then have shelves or a bathroom cabinet for storing your toiletry things. All in all, bathroom vanities are a great multi-purpose solution.