Makeover Your Bathroom Vanity

One easy way to jazz up your bathroom – without a complete redo – is to makeover your bathroom vanity. Before you tear out what you currently have, however, make sure you know what you’re going to replace it with – unless this is an extra bathroom you can work on without needing full functionality. Here are some elements to consider in your bathroom project to replace a vanity.

Style Makes a Difference

Maybe you’re satisfied with the overall look of your bathroom and want to keep the same type of style. But maybe you’ve thinking about making a major change. When you consider bathroom style, look at the total picture. It doesn’t make sense to replace a modern vanity with an antique, or to insert a shiny chrome bathroom vanity into a bathroom that’s all wood. Keep everything in perspective. Make sure what you want will be appropriate to the style you choose. There are many styles available, including modern, traditional, country, classic, eclectic, high-tech, contemporary and antique.

Bathroom Vanity: A Focal Point

Next to a tub, the vanity in your bathroom makes a sizeable statement. It’s probably the second biggest item there and certainly one that is visible upon entry. The vanity is also one of the first elements in your bathroom that will begin to show the first signs of aging: chipped and peeling paint, cracked or stained surfaces, or other noticeable changes.

Many Different Choices

Choices for the vanity in your bathroom include double vanities, pedestal vanities, single vessel atop antique sideboard, vanity sink cabinets, console vanities, and bathroom console sinks. 

Other Considerations

Part of choosing your bathroom vanity style also includes considerations of cabinets (if applicable), surfaces of the counter, basin or sink and faucets. The combinations can be dizzying in complexity, variety and price.

Space Requirements

Measure every inch of the space you have for your bathroom vanity: height, width, and depth. Take into consideration if you need cabinets with room for your cleansers, towels, makeup and things you use on a daily or frequent basis. If you already have enough cabinet or storage space in other cabinets or elsewhere in the home, maybe your choice will lean toward a simple but elegant pedestal sink.

Materials

Thinking about that gorgeous iridescent glass vessel you want to place on an elegant mahogany console? What about inlaid frosted glass tiles, stone, marble, chrome, stainless steel, even leather-wrapped surfaces? Whether on a budget or shooting for high-end luxury, the choices of materials are plentiful.

Maintenance Makes a Difference

With all the choices available to you, it’s important to remember that whatever you buy will need cleaning and maintenance. Wood, for example, may easily scratch or chip. Painted surfaces can peel. Stone and tile may crack and chip. Glass is susceptible to scratching and breaking, especially with extreme temperatures of hot and cold. Stainless steel and chrome are prone to streaking and smudges and need cleaning more often.

In the end, weigh and balance the style, type, materials against how often you’ll be using the bathroom and whether or not you feel comfortable with the type of maintenance required to keep your new bathroom vanity in tip-top shape for years to come.