What Is a Bathroom Vanity? Everything You Need to Know for Your Remodel

There’s no shortage of bathroom remodel ideas online, but as you’re combing through inspiration for your next big project, you may find yourself unsure about what to do with your bathroom sink. Enter the bathroom vanity. This stylish option—which has been a bathroom staple for centuries—can provide some much-needed storage (especially if you’re dealing with a smaller space). Here’s what you need to know.  

What Is a Bathroom Vanity? 

Bathroom vanities are a relic from the era before central plumbing. Back then, you had a chamber pot and something known as a toilet table. This table included a washbasin and a mirror. Today, plumbed-in toilets replace the chamber pot, and the classic wash table has become the modern vanity.

Modern vanities consist of a cabinet (or some type of storage) with a sink on top. Some homeowners nix the extra storage and go the traditional route with a table-inspired design. Either way, the vanity hides exposed plumbing, providing a cleaner look.

Bathroom Vanity vs. Bathroom Cabinet

Because a bathroom vanity is essentially a piece of furniture with a sink, any bathroom storage cabinet without a sink falls under the category of bathroom cabinets. A bathroom vanity serves multiple purposes—it acts as storage, hides plumbing, and includes a sink—while a bathroom cabinet only provides storage. A bathroom vanity installer can measure your bathroom and recommend vanities or cabinets that will fit your space and meet your needs. 

Types of Bathroom Vanities

The standard bathroom vanity consists of a wall-attached cabinet topped with a sink and contains an open section to house the otherwise exposed plumbing. Although, in most vanities, cabinet doors hide the plumbing. A standard vanity may also have some drawers you can use for extra storage, but this varies between different types of vanities.

If you plan to make bathroom upgrades like converting a tub to a walk-in shower, make sure you choose the right vanity for your space. It should match the overall style of the bathroom and any additional bathroom countertops, so keep an eye on fixtures and materials.

Wall Hung

Wall-hung bathroom vanities are the standard style and include a full cabinet or countertop attached to the wall. It may or may not have a skirt. Without a skirt, you get the look of a floating cabinet or shelf. With a skirt, you get the look of traditional bathroom cabinets. 

Wall-hung vanities are the go-to choice for accessible bathroom remodels. You can choose a style with space underneath so a wheelchair user can comfortably reach the sink. 

Freestanding

Freestanding bathroom vanities aren’t anchored to the wall but rest against it. A popular option is modifying a vintage dresser to fit a sink for a custom, vintage look.

Corner Mount

Corner-mounted bathroom vanities are triangular and fit flush in the corner of your bathroom. This space-saving solution is suitable for the smallest bathroom designs. Corner-mounted vanities have just enough storage to hide exposed plumbing—but there isn’t space for much else.

Console

A console bathroom vanity is similar to the classic toilet table. This vanity is essentially a table with a sink. It has two to four legs and no lower cabinet to hide the plumbing. It may or may not have a lower shelf where you can stack towels and other bathroom items. Because this style is open, it can make a bathroom look larger.

Standard Bathroom Vanity Sizes

Bathroom vanities come in a range of different sizes. You can expect standard vanity measurements to fall in the following ranges:

• Height: 30–36 inches

• Depth: 20–21 inches

• Width (Single Sink): 30–48 inches

• Width (Double Sink): 60–72 inches 

The most popular widths for single-sink vanities are 24, 30, 36, and 48 inches. The most popular widths for a double-sink vanity are 48, 60, and 72 inches. If you’re remodeling an accessible bathroom, your sink should be mounted at a maximum height of 34 inches with 27 to 30 inches of knee clearance beneath the sink.

What to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Vanity

Bathrooms tend to be among the smaller rooms in a house, so when deciding on a vanity to include in the design, you have to be very conscious of its size and how much space it will take up. Other considerations include choosing a material and a sink type and determining how much storage you’ll need. 

Size

As noted above, vanities come in standard sizes, so you can choose your vanity to fit the needs of your space. If you have a large bathroom and need to maximize your storage space, you can install a double-sink vanity with drawers. For small bathrooms, look for units with smaller widths and lengths, or consider a console vanity that can make the space look a little larger.

Measure your space carefully before making a purchase to ensure the vanity will fit in your bathroom. 

Materials 

When choosing a vanity, consider the materials for the countertop, the sink, and the vanity itself.

• Countertop options include marble, granite, laminate, quartz, concrete, and solid surface. You can also consider a countertop with a built-in sink.

• Sink materials include porcelain, metal, glass, acrylic, composite, resin, stainless steel, copper, and more. 

• You can choose between various materials for the vanity, including wood, laminate, particle board, or metal. 

Sink Type

Types of bathroom sinks include vessel, drop-in, undermount, trough, and semi-recessed. Choosing a sink that complements the vanity style and overall bathroom design is essential to creating a bathroom that you enjoy walking into each day. 

And don’t forget to choose a material that fits the needs of your household. Look at characteristics like longevity, durability, maintenance needs, and cost. 

Storage

Storage should be high up on your list of considerations for a bathroom vanity. Bathrooms are notoriously small and must accommodate not only the fixtures, like the bathtub, shower, toilet, and vanity, but also the towels, robes, soaps, hair products, hair dryers, shaving equipment, and more. That’s a lot for a small space! 

A console or corner vanity may work well for a guest bathroom, but you’ll want a vanity with drawers and cupboards to hold all your toiletries and supplies in the primary or kids' bathroom.

How to Install a Bathroom Vanity Yourself 

Though you should leave plumbing jobs to the pros, some handy homeowners can install their own bathroom vanity. You’ll have to measure the space and completely disconnect your existing plumbing (make sure you turn off the water before you start). Then, remove the old vanity and sink, repair any water damage, install the new vanity, and attach it to the wall.

After that, you can install the faucet, hardware, and vanity top. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Use silicone caulk to seal the areas where the top of the vanity connects to the wall to help prevent water damage. Reconnect the plumbing before you turn the water back on.

How Much Does Bathroom Vanity Installation Cost? 

If you don't have a budget for a full bathroom remodel, you can give your space a new look by installing a new bathroom vanity for a much lower price. Bathroom vanity installation costs $300 to $3,800, while a bathroom remodel costs anywhere from $6,650 to $17,500. 

You can keep costs down by choosing a budget-friendly vanity rather than splurging for something high-end with luxury materials. If you order one online, measure your space correctly. To get the most accurate quote, call a bathroom vanity installer near you.

Mariel Loveland contributed to this piece.