It’s not earth-shattering news that a bathroom renovation can be transformative for your home. It is one of the favorite home improvement projects for many homeowners, as they are able to imbue their style and personal preferences in an intimate space. The centerpiece of a bathroom is, believe it or not, the vanity. It is a hub of activity, and thus one of the most important spots in your home. One of the easiest ways you can directly contribute to your bathroom remodel is by redoing your bathroom vanity. It can make a huge impact on the aesthetic and functionality of your bathroom. There’s a huge range of styles you can implement, so why not have fun with it?
Aspects to consider before redoing your Bathroom Vanity
Materials
If this is your main bathroom, you’ll want to choose a material that will stand the test of time and require little-to-no maintenance. Engineered stone or veneers are a good bet for bathrooms that receive lots of traffic. If the vanity is in close proximity to the shower, consider materials that are resistant to humidity; Thermofoil and laminate are popular choices for this. Regardless, as with any renovation in your home, you’ll want to use quality materials not only to avoid having to replace them soon. And, a bathroom renovation can add significant value to your home, which is directly dependent on your renovation materials.
Types of vanities
You may not realize it, but there are many different kinds of bathroom vanities available. There are pedestal, wall-mounted, floor-mounted, vessel, and corner vanities. For many, the biggest consideration is storage and counter space. Mounted vanities are your optimal option if this is your main consideration. From there, you can customize with drawers, pullouts, and shelves. A pedestal vanity can be attractive and space-efficient (especially in smaller bathrooms), but the drawback is that it does not provide much in the way of room to place your toiletries and other items (on the upside, it keeps the clutter down!). If you have your heart set on a pedestal or corner vanity, you can address the storage issue by installing shelving or making use of a linen closet.
Size
The standard bathroom setup features the toilet side-by-side with the vanity. The rule of thumb is that the required space for a toilet is 36 inches. If you’re designing the space, make sure you respect this sacred zone. When it comes to the height of the vanity, you actually have some control over this. Older styles of vanities are noticeably shorter than modern ones. The typical vanity of today is between 34 and 36 inches in height.
It’s best to consider the comfort level of those who will use the vanity in order to install something that everyone will be happy with. Finally, it’s vital that your vanity is proportional to the size of your bathroom. If you install a large vanity in a smaller bathroom, it will dominate the space both visually and logistically (you may be wishing you had more space to move around). The recommended size of a vanity in the main bathroom is 21 inches deep and 24 inches wide.
How will you use it?
If you’re someone who needs lots of space for your beauty products, you’ll want to choose a vanity with a maximum of counter space. If there are constant battles in your home between you and your spouse or amongst your kids about sink usage, a vanity with a double sink might be a great solution. One thing to keep in mind is that the more surface area you have, the more cleaning you’ll need to do overall.
As with any aspect of a renovation, there’s no “right” answer. The best vanity for you is the one you’re satisfied with. But it is a feature that is decorative and functional, so it’s wise to do your research.
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