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Choosing a perfectly sized bathroom vanity unit
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Choosing a perfectly sized bathroom vanity unit

Posted by Rebecca Doody in Room planning | 2 years ago 7 min read

One of the big things, which often gets overlooked, when planning your bathroom, is choosing the perfect sized vanity unit for your space. We’ll show you how to get it right first time.

Choosing that perfect bathroom vanity unit for your bathroom revamp sounds easy enough, no? However, things get pretty confusing when we start to consider how large it should be or what design will elevate the space better. The design and size of our bathroom vanities affect not just how the sink looks but also how natural light frames the bathroom and how spacious it feels to be in.

Though there are a few conventional sizes that are commonly offered, there are also many units that provide a tailor-made option for your bathroom, giving you a choice of widths and depths that are not catered to in standard options.

Follow these style-minded tips to get a better idea of what suits your bathroom best and get some inspiration along the way.

Clarity Compact white floorstanding vanity unit and basin 410mm with tap

A smaller bathroom vanity unit, like this one from the Clarity Compact range, is great where space is tight, like in downstairs toilets or cloakrooms


Standard vanity unit

These are the most common options you will find on offer at any bathroom retailer. Standard vanities come in a few sets of sizes, rather than style. These aim to give general-fit offerings that cater to those on a budget and looking for a fuss-free approach to designing their bathrooms.

However, standard vanities are often too short for taller people, as they come in heights 760 to 810mm tall. This can cause a fair amount of discomfort for those who will have to bend over to use the sink. As such, we recommend these standard vanities for those of average height or households who have young children and teenagers.

The variation of sizes runs large, providing more options for those who prefer more storage in their bathroom. However, this may result in cramped bathrooms if there isn’t enough space to accommodate them, which is something we try to avoid as much as possible.

The Bath Co. Camberley satin grey floorstanding vanity unit and ceramic basin 600mm with tap

At 600mm wide, the Camberley satin grey floorstanding vanity unit from The Bath Co. is around standard for a master bathroom

For more general information, why not read our article explaining everything you need to know about bathroom vanity units?


Comfort vanity unit

As mentioned previously, standard vanity unit options may not be best suited for taller people as they are not of adequate height. To avoid feeling overly frustrated or uncomfortable, you might want to look for comfortable vanity tables or shelves instead.

Comfort vanities come in heights of around 944mm to give taller people extra support. Whilst this makes them a game-changer for those who found other vanities uncomfortable to use, the added height also makes them not as accessible to children. This is important to consider if you have children or shorter people in the house and you may want to consider options that can alleviate the height issue (small steps that raise their height, getting separate sinks that are lower, etc).

Mode Hardy white floorstanding double vanity unit and basin 1380mm

At 854mm in height, this double vanity unit from the Mode Bathrooms Hardy range is ideal if you and your partner are taller than average


Floating vanity unit

If you want something more striking and modern-looking, go for floating vanities! These offer the biggest variation in styles, with some including storage drawers while others feature a suspended countertop and sink.

The height adjustment for these is easily customisable—you can dictate the perfect height for them to be mounted to the wall, thus making it easier to balance between having adequate comfort and support to both taller and average-sized people. If you have employed a Tradesperson to install this, make sure you specify your desired height from the floor to the countertop beforehand.

While the depth and storage options of floating vanities differ greatly, they often come in standardised widths to pick from, so you should consider getting something customised if you’re looking for a measurement that falls out of that range.

Orchard Derwent white wall hung vanity unit and ceramic basin 600mm

With a floating vanity unit like the Derwent from Orchard Bathrooms, you can dictate how high or low you position it


Dealing with details

The size and style of your bathroom vanity countertop isn’t the only thing that you should consider, as the installation, shape, colour and style of the other components of your bathroom vanity unit greatly impact the overall impression of your bathroom.

Installation

When installing the countertops, make sure to keep them level from the subfloor up. Over time, most homes settle and parts of the floor can become uneven. You may also want it to overlap the front face frame of the cabinet by a few centimetres, or install an extra ridge on both sides.

Should you encounter this problem, invest in water sponges to catch the water dripping off the countertop—you don’t want to ruin any nice bathroom flooring! The added room gives the countertop additional space so that, should water drip off, it would land on the floor instead of staining the cabinets and causing water damage.

Mirrors

Mirrors are the next thing to consider after picking your dream vanity countertop, and you should put just as much thought into this. First, take note of the height of your ceiling and make sure the mirror isn’t too big for the room. Framing your mirror with adequate wall space is vital to making sure your bathroom feels spacious and airy; it's worth choosing a mirror that is slightly smaller in width than your countertop.

Also, make sure that you keep tabs on how your mirror is mounted in relation to your basin tap. Not only do you need to centre it to your tap, but you also need to make sure that your mirror is high enough above your sink and tap to ensure that any splashback will not end up behind the mirror. This splashback can cause the growth of mould and mildew in the crevices, which can add a smell and, in a worst-case scenario, compromise the structural integrity of the room. We also recommend using sealant to seal crevices which will prevent water from entering them.

Mode Mellor LED illuminated mirror cabinet 700 x 500mm with demister & charging socket

The position of your mirror is vital when considering the placement of your vanity unit

Shelves and cabinets

Cabinets and shelves are normally mounted flanking both or either side of the mirror. Make sure that, with the installation of your mirror and your vanity unit countertop, you leave enough space on both sides so that you can mount the shelves.

Lighting

The position of your lights will either be at the top of the mirror, beside it or integrated into the mirror desgin, if choosing an LED mirror, so you also need to note that adequate wall space is left for you to mount the lights, without it all feeling cramped. The best time to confirm the space needed for the lights you want is when you’re planning for the size of your mirror.


Conclusion

A lot of thought needs to be placed into your bathroom vanity and its various components to maintain a feeling of spacious airiness, all while looking modern and sleek. By playing this balancing game of managing all the proportions and sizes, you will and can achieve the perfect equilibrium for the perfect bathroom.

These tips will surely make it just a little bit easier to complete this daunting task, by which in the end you’ll be enjoying your bathroom vanity every morning.

Orchard Odessa gloss grey floorstanding vanity unit and ceramic basin 600mm

Freshen up your space with a modern bathroom vanity unit like the Odessa from Orchard Bathrooms. At 600mm wide, it is suitable for most family bathrooms


Shop bathroom vanity units

Now you have a better idea of the size of vanity units on offer, why not browse our full range today? Simply click on the image below to begin.

Shop vanity units

Author, Rebecca Doody

Posted by Rebecca Doody in Room planning | 2 years ago

Originally from Somerset, Rebecca is our resident copywriter who takes care of all things product related. Rebecca loves the modern interior style with both neutral and bold influences to create a statement look.

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