Photo by Jamie Street
Design the storage and features you need into your new bathroom vanity
A well-designed bathroom vanity will make your life easier and help you stay organized. You can add the features you need and eliminate those you don't.
But, there are trade-offs. Double sinks mean less counter space. Drawers store less than shelves but make it easier to find things. A mirror looks cleaner than a medicine cabinet but provides no storage.
It's worth taking a few minutes to think about how you'll use your new vanity.
Consider these three things your bathroom vanity can help with:
- Storing Your Stuff
- Staying Clean
- Looking Good
1. A bathroom vanity for storing your stuff
A constant parade of consumables troops through your bathroom. Little tubes and tall bottles, towels, and more need to be organized, stored and kept at the ready.
Which of these will you store in your vanity, medicine cabinet, or linen cabinet?
- Supplies like styling gel, soap, makeup, and toothpaste
- Medications and vitamins
- Tools like your toothbrush and blow dryer
- Linens like washcloths and towels
- Cleaning products
- Trash - unless you have a wastebasket nearby
- Dirty clothes - unless you have a hamper nearby
2. A bathroom vanity for staying clean
You'll wash your face and hands and brush your teeth at your new bathroom vanity. That's a given. Will you have company?
Not it a powder room. So, one sink will do.
A hall bathroom that serves two or more bedrooms, often occupied by children, should have two sinks since those kids will be brushing their teeth before bed and getting ready for school at the same time.
What about master bathrooms? Two sinks are convenient, but not necessary. One couple I worked with wanted to add a soaking tub to their shower-only bathroom, and they didn't want to enlarge the space. Sacrificing their second sink and re-arranging the other fixtures gave them room for a large, deep bathtub.
3. A bathroom vanity for looking good
How do you prepare for your day? Do you apply makeup? Shave your face? Style your hair?
The more you do, the more you will ask of your vanity. You'll need counter space to pull out your blower and flat iron, a good mirror or medicine cabinet, and easy access to your grooming supplies.
