Is a double-sink vanity the right choice for you?

They may seem like an extravagant luxury, but could a double-sink vanity unit be the perfect pick for your bathroom? We find out...

Double sink vanities. You may have seen these in a movie, in a TV show or at a showroom and fallen in love with them. Don’t worry, we’re with you. Double sink vanities are truly a thing of beauty. To us, they represent luxury. Not that they are expensively clad in rare jewels or made with precious metal trimmings in artisanal ways. They’re simply luxurious in function.

When you’ve reached a point in your life where you have the option to own a double sink vanity, you'll probably be considering it due to one of three things. Firstly, maybe you share your ensuite bathroom with your partner and you want to maximise how quickly you can get ready for work or whatever the day may hold. Having a double sink vanity unit here will allow you to catch up on some precious winks of sleep.

Secondly, if you find yourself in your bathroom at the same time as your significant other a lot, this is another good reason to buy. Nothing quite beats the intimacy of brushing your teeth together and washing your face at the same time.

Lastly, a double sink vanity is perfect if you’re sharing a room with someone you are caring for, be it an elderly parent or a child. This way, you don’t have to huddle around a single sink when washing up, and this allows your elderly parent to take their own time and wash up at their own pace, all while allowing you to keep an extra eye on them by being in the toilet and finishing your morning and nighttime routine too.

If you have children, it could be a great excuse to get them to wash their hands by washing yours at the same time with them. Then, you could also make sure they’re properly washed with soap rather than just rinsing under water. And, if you have twins...well, it just makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

Whatever the reason, in this article, we'll help you make the choice between single and double sink vanities by weighing up their strengths and weaknesses.

A double sink vanity unit, like this one from The Bath Co.'s Camberley collection, can come with some major benefits

Single sink vanity unit

When it comes to a single sink vanity, there are a lot of pros that you may not immediately think of, since the single sink is most often considered to be the default option. A single sink vanity is a great piece of design since it has very few plumbing requirements, can come in many different forms with various attachments and can be mounted to the wall or simply fitted to the floor. If you're thinking of mounting to the wall, check out our beginner's guide to floating vanities beforehand.

Single sink vanities are great for small bathrooms and the cabinet that comes with the single sink can be very compact in size. Furthermore, if you have very limited space, a sink could be fitted in a corner where no other toilet appliance can go, and also near the door.

If you have limited space though, you shouldn’t be considering a double sink anyway since the plumbing and the space requirements will make the whole space feel very cramped, or it will intrude into the space needed to open and close the toilet door and shower space.

Depending on how the vanity unit is designed, usually, a single sink vanity is more than just half of a double sink vanity and you can fit one or even two additional storage units beside it. A single sink vanity is also easy to install and relocate if needed in the future.

You also get the added benefit of a little more countertop space, which could help tremendously, especially if you aren't generally a neat person and own lots of different toiletries.

One of our bestselling single sink vanity units... The Eden from Orchard Bathrooms

Double sink vanity unit

As mentioned a lot in the introduction, one of the biggest benefits of having double sinks is the need to share less. This can be very good for homeowners with children, significant others or those who have parents living with them.

The added sink, especially when in a half bathroom or an ensuite, can help double the efficiency of the bathroom. One such example is to have everyone washing their hands right before and right after a meal. Having a bathroom nearby, with double sink vanity unit, is perfect for this situation.

However, when you have a double sink vanity, you may have much less countertop space. Now, a lot of sources will tell you that this is actually a good thing, since the smaller space, as well as the possible segregation of space (maybe the left sink is primarily your sink while the right sink is your significant other’s), will encourage you to keep it neat. Whether that aligns with the way you live and your habits is for you to decide.

One thing that’s definitely a downside is the cost. Another sink will mean a larger cabinet and second basin, which would be more expensive, not to mention double the taps and wastes. A double sink vanity also means double the plumbing cost, especially if, in the future, you want to move the vanity unit. The second sink also means more surfaces to clean when doing your routine bathroom clean-ups.

Expand your storage space with the Kemp riven grey wall hung double vanity unit from Orchard Bathrooms

Price

Now, as we mentioned, price is a major factor in deciding between these two options since if you don’t have enough room, a double sink vanity is already out of the question. When it comes to remodelling or renovating a bathroom, the base costs for installation are already significant without even counting the costs for the fixtures themselves.

When renovating, most homeowners are on a limited budget and have to prioritise certain elements of their dream bathroom and choose cheaper alternatives for the less essential parts. This, for you, could be the vanity unit. If you need a double sink vanity, then no matter how much money you save by getting a single sink variant, the inconvenience, in the long run, will be priceless. Also, when you’re looking to upgrade, you will most likely have to change the entire vanity unit, which will also waste your initial investment.

On the flip side, if you really have no use for the double sink vanity unit, then you shouldn’t bother with it. You can save the money and use it on a higher quality cabinet, some wall decor or other bathroom necessities.

With unobtrusive recessed handles and a hidden drawer design, the Hardy double vanity unit from Mode Bathrooms offers the very best in contemporary style

Conclusion

If you're not careful, bathrooms can be expensive, and it’s always important to balance expectations with practical concerns. In fact, it’s much better to have a space which serves your needs, rather than a luxurious new bathroom which you're struggling to afford. That's why, at Victoria Plum, we ensure our prices remain low, with flexible ways to spread the cost.

For more information on the subject of vanity units, why not check out some of our other blog posts?

In the end, we hope this article has been a valuable resource in your decision-making process. Happy renovating!

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For a huge choice of both single and double sink vanity units, plus additional matching furniture, why not browse the extensive range available at Victoria Plum? With free standard delivery available on all orders, plus our price match promise, there's no need to go anywhere else. Simply click on the image below to begin browsing.