When renovating your bathroom there are many decisions to be made. Choosing design, colour scheme and tile to name just a few. One of the most important decisions to be made when designing your new bathroom is choosing your vanity. The vanity is most often the only storage option within a bathroom, so it is important to consider not only the aesthetics of your new vanity, but how it will be used, who will be using it and what it will need to store. The ideal vanity will be both stylish and practical.

Wall hung double bowl vanity with deep drawers - bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Wall hung double bowl vanity with deep drawers – bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

With such a wide variety of vanity styles, choosing your vanity can be quite overwhelming. Here are our tips for what to consider when choosing your vanity.

Style:

When renovating your bathroom, it’s overall style and design will blend in and flow with the remainder of your home. That is to say, if you have a modern or edgy styled kitchen and lounge, you are unlikely to purchase traditional or antique styled tiles, vanity and accessories for your bathroom. Knowing the overall style of your home cuts your decisions by almost half by determining whether you’re searching for a traditional or modern styled vanity.

Stunning antique styled vanity - bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Stunning antique styled vanity – bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Who & What:

Who will be using the vanity? What type of bathroom is it for? Is it for a powder room for visitors or a guest bathroom? Is it for an ensuite or family/ main bathroom? A smaller sized, wall hung or minimalist styled vanity is suitable for a powder room whereas a larger vanity with double bowls are perfect for family bathrooms where more storage is required and multiple family members use the bathroom. While double bowls are useful, large vanities with a single bowl allow for extra bench space.

Will small children be using the bathroom? Above counter bowls make a beautiful statement within the bathroom, although young children find them difficult to use due to their extra height. Wall hung vanities with deep drawers offer organised storage that is easy to access without rummaging to the back of cabinets, although conventional cabinet/ drawer vanities are considered to offer more storage space overall. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on what needs to be stored and the style you prefer.

Large vanity with drawer/ cabinet combination with single above counter bowl - bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Large vanity with drawer/ cabinet combination with single above counter bowl – bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Space Available & Design:

The size of your vanity is largely determined by the size and design of your bathroom. Not all bathrooms have a large space in which to place all that is desired. At times the inclusion of a bath can limit the size of the vanity. When designing your bathroom and space is limited, it needs to be determined what is most important. Is a large shower and large vanity with ample storage more important that having say, a decorative free standing bath? On the other hand, if a bath is an integral part of your family life, as it is for many with young children, can you reduce the size of your shower or vanity. In short, if your space is limited, as it is in most bathrooms, it needs to be clear in your mind what it is that is most important for you to have in your bathroom to suit your daily requirements. Speaking with a professional bathroom renovator can assist you with making this decision, as your renovator will be aware of the various sizes of baths and vanities on the market and can help to design your bathroom to suit your needs and make the most of your bathroom space.

While on the subject of space, it should be noted that wall hung vanities add to the appearance of space by showing off more floor area. Wall hung vanities are available with drawer and cabinet combinations as well as the deep drawer only types.

Stunning black wall hung vanity with above counter bowl - bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Stunning black wall hung vanity with above counter bowl – bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Materials & Colour:

There are a wide variety of cabinet finish and benchtop material from which your vanity can be made, ranging from laminate, timber, polyurethane to stone. What you choose will depend largely on your budget and style. Be sure to consider the durability of the finish so that it will stand the test of time. Be aware that timber and natural stone benchtops will require regular sealing as they are porous.

Large wall hung vanity with double bowls and stone top - bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

Large wall hung vanity with double bowls and stone top – bathroom renovation by Master Bathrooms & Kitchens.

In order to choose your vanity colour, consider what affect you want your vanity to have on your overall bathroom colour scheme. Do you want your vanity to be a main feature or to simply blend in with the rest of the bathroom? Will your vanity be placed on a bold feature wall? If so a plain white vanity may contrast best, however a bold coloured or black vanity can stand as a feature on its own and contrasts beautifully with white or light neutral tiles. Consider under cabinet lighting for your vanity. Under cabinet lighting serves as both a feature and a practical source of lighting that can be set to a sensor to automatically turn on with movement and a timer to turn off.

The options for your bathroom vanity are endless, you are limited only by your budget and imagination.

Related Articles:

How to create a Timeless Bathroom

Benefits of Bathroom Electric Floor Heating

The latest in Toilets

Master Bathrooms & Kitchens have been renovating bathrooms in the Hills & Hornsby areas for over 20 years. Be sure check out our Guides & Projects section for more valuable advice and renovation inspiration.

See our video below of just some of our beautiful bathroom renovations.