06 May How To Choose The Right Vanity For Your Bathroom

In a small, high traffic area like a bathroom, you want to make the most of every decision. Not only is the vanity the main focal point of any bathroom, it’s also the most used feature, and choosing the best vanity for your bathroom can make or break the design and functionality of the space.

These tips will help you create a bathroom vanity that emphasizes your style and meets your needs.

Start with the big picture 

Look at the room from every angle. Walk around and take note of the location of plumbing features and any existing elements. Look at which direction the door opens and if you have a shower with a  door or a curtain. Think about who will be using the bathroom the most and consider their unique needs. Also consider how busy the bathroom is going to be—a powder room used primarily for one person to get ready in the morning will call for different choices than a main floor bathroom used multiple times a day for a family of seven. And don’t forget about your storage needs!

Measure…then measure again

You don’t want to get your heart set on a beautiful granite countertop that’s too deep for your space. Measure the width, height, and depth with all elements in mind, including ease of movement, accessibility, and any possible obstacles. Don’t just measure the space the vanity will require, also measure distances from one thing to another. For example, do you have enough space for deep drawers?

Ease of cleaning and durability

Bathrooms are naturally more humid than any other room in the house and vanities need to hold up against frequent use, so durability is an important factor to consider. You also want to keep ease of cleaning in mind when making decisions about materials and style. For example, in a high-traffic bathroom, you probably want to avoid extensive grouting that will end up requiring more cleaning down the road. 

The fun stuff: style

Now that you’ve considered all the important practical elements, it’s time for the fun decisions. The vanity is the focal point of the bathroom and is the best place to express your unique style, and when it comes to personal style, you really can’t go wrong. Keeping in mind all the practical limitations, you now get to make decisions about faucet and sink styles, countertop materials and color, backsplash, cabinetry and fixtures, and more. Do you like sleek minimalism? How about spa chic? Do you prefer traditional farmhouse or hyper-modern industrial with a lot of metal?  

… And don’t forget the mirror

Hand washing is important, but the one element that can really deliver on style is the mirror. Here are some things to consider

• How high on the wall and how tall should the mirror be?
• What style and color goes with your tastes and the space the mirror is going to inhabit?
• Decide between a framed or unframed mirror
• If your vanity is wide, and especially if it has two sinks, you may want to considering hanging two smaller mirrors instead of one large mirror

There are so many options and decisions to make, these are just some of the things to keep in mind when choosing the right vanity for your bathroom. When it’s all said and done, your vanity should be something that draws you into the room, is a joy to look at, and is functional and easy to care for.

If you are considering building a custom home in the Marion, Cedar Rapids, or Iowa City area, please consider Dahl Custom Homes for your needs. We are experts at custom home construction and would love to discuss your project in more detail.

Please feel free to share!