The bathroom vanity dictates the style of the whole bathroom, so when doing a bathroom renovation, be sure to choose the vanity or vanities first, then decorate the bathroom around the vanity choice for a well-designed look. Renovating an outdated bathroom is one of the best home renovation projects for return on investment. The new bathroom will also make the house more livable.
How Many Vanities or Sinks Does the Bathroom Need?
As a homeowner begins to browse Unique Vanities, it is important to consider who is using the bathroom and if two sinks would be an improvement over one sink. The size of the bathroom also makes a difference. Bathrooms with double vanities or a pair of vanities might make the house easier to sell. Because online sites do not have limited showrooms, they can show their customers more styles and sizes of vanities.
The sizes of vanities will make a difference in how many sinks the bathroom can accommodate. The new smaller vanities and sinks might allow a small bathroom to have two sinks without the appearance of crowding. Double vanities can also save space in smaller bathrooms, though the sinks might be closer together. Double vanities can be purchased in widths from 48 inches to 108 inches.
Modern vanity choices come as wall-mounted or ones that sit on the bathroom floor. They come with built-in storage of varying degrees depending on the style and size of the vanity. Along with determining how many sinks a bathroom needs, a homeowner must decide on the number and size of mirrors to put over them. Should each vanity have its own mirror or should there be a large mirror to serve both vanities?
A guest or 1/2 bath in a small space might only need or have room for one small vanity. The new smaller vanity/sink choices make it possible to add a 1/2 bath in a space that would have been too small a few years ago. A small bath with room for a small toilet and vanity can add a lot to a home’s convenience. If a home has one or two bathrooms on the second floor, adding a 1/2 bath on the first floor can add to owner convenience and resale value. A single small wall-mounted or pedestal sink might be perfect for this added bathroom.
Sometimes, the choice might come down to getting a larger single sink vanity or a vanity with two smaller sinks close together. The number of people using the bathroom might determine this choice. The first step should be measuring the bathroom and determining where the vanity will go. It is important to measure the height, depth, and width of the old vanity or of the space available for a new vanity.
What Style Does the Homeowner need?
The online vanity suppliers have hundreds of sizes, styles, and finishes available for the homeowner to choose from compared to a few at local brick-and-mortar home supply stores. The homeowner can shop by the finish they want, the style, the type of vanity, the manufacturer, the price, or by the size vanity they need.
- Finishes. The most common finishes include white, black, cherry, espresso, mahogany, oak, walnut, maple, gray, and brown.
- The type of vanities available includes corner, free-standing, regular depth or narrow depth, single or double vanity, wall-mounted vanity, pedestal vanities, and more.
- The sizes of vanities include width, depth, and height. Since each bathroom space is unique, it is important to consider all of these measurements.
- The style of vanity. There are styles, such as modern, rustic, traditional, transitional, and utilitarian. The choices in each of these categories can also work well with additional design styles. There are choices with sleek, minimalist lines and choices with Victorian or European details along with everything in between. Look around the rest of the house to determine which style is used most often and choose the bathroom vanity and decor that coordinates with that style.
- There are some manufacturers with better reputations than others, and some homeowners choose to go with well-known manufacturers such as Ballateera Home, Cole & Co., Empire, Virtu USA, Water Creation Inc., and more.
The homeowner should determine the style and size vanity or vanities they need, then look for the models that fall within their price range. Next, choose the vanity that comes in the finish that matches the rest of the home decor.
The sink and Countertop Choices.
Most online vanities, and those at neighborhood home decorating stores, come with a standard countertop/sink choice. But, the homeowner might want a different finish or material for the sink or countertop. Sinks can come integrated into the countertop or separate and under mounted. The sinks can come as ceramic, marble, or porcelain. The countertops can be made of ceramic, granite, quartz, marble, solid surface, travertine, or wood.
The customer can order vanities with no countertop or sink and purchase those elsewhere, or they can request a different countertop than the vanity is shown with, making the vanity more customized. The changing of countertops or sinks may affect the purchase price.
What about Faucets and Plumbing?
The vanity might not come with faucets. The homeowner will need to purchase the appropriate faucets that work with the sink’s faucet holes and their location. Does the sink come with a drain? Read the product description carefully to see what is included. The plumbing may need to be changed to accommodate the new vanity and sink.
Don’t forget The Lighting
The vanity chosen must have lighting to make it usable. The overhead bathroom light is not the best solution. A light fixture over each sink is a good solution. Wall sconces should be located for optimum lighting.
Good planning for the whole bathroom renovation project is essential. The flooring, wall finishes, and other bath fixtures must be located correctly and the correct clearances must be observed. A properly planned and executed bathroom renovation will lead to a more usable home and happier family members. At selling time, an up-to-date bathroom will add to the home’s value.