Contemporary Bathroom Vanities Transform Your Bathroom
Contemporary bathroom vanities create a functional and stylish focal point for your bathroom. With a wide range of materials and styles to choose from, you can easily find a vanity that reflects your personal taste, whether it’s traditional, modern, or anywhere in between.
Bathroom vanities are essentially freestanding “dressing tables” that contain the sink and one or more storage compartments. A vanity provides counter space for for items such as toiletries and hides the plumbing. You’ll discover a variety of styles, including bow front, curved front, corner, wall-hung and single- and double-sink. Contemporary bathroom vanities feature marble, ceramic tile and solid-surface materials that enhance your decor.
Choosing a modern vanity design can create a stylish focal point for a small bathroom. Get ideas for small vanities in this video:
General Considerations
You should consider the following when shopping for a vanity:
- Bathroom size and available vanity space: A more practical vanity with ample storage space is a better choice for a small bathroom. If you have a larger bathroom, however, you may want a more ornate vanity to give it an entirely different look.
- Who uses the bathroom: You may want to install a vanity combo with two sinks if two people use the bathroom simultaneously (on workday mornings, for example). For bathrooms used primarily by young children, you will probably want storage space for tub toys.
Bathroom Vanity Design Elements
The basic components of contemporary bathroom vanities include the cabinetry, countertop and the sink. The options you choose will be based on your needs and your personal style.
Cabinet materials: Depending on how often the bathroom is used, you may prefer durable stain-resistant materials over less durable decorative materials. Cabinetry should be sealed to protect against moisture and prevent warping. Materials include laminates, wood and wood veneers.
Cabinet design: Framed vanities resemble kitchen cabinets and have recessed end panels and a box-like frame with the doors hanging on the front. Frameless vanities have no frames and the doors hang directly on the side of the cabinet. Contemporary bathroom vanities also include furniture-style cabinets that feature rich finishes, distinctive hardware and ample drawer and storage space.
Vanity tops: Select a countertop based on the style of your bathroom. Like cabinetry, you’ll have to decide between chip, scratch and stain resistance versus color and style when choosing your countertop material. Options include ceramic style, natural or engineered stone, quartz composite and laminate.
Sinks: Vanity sinks may be surface-, under- or deck-mounted. They can also be integral (made from the same material as the countertop to create one unit) or console (table-like and supported by ornamental brackets or legs). Porcelain-enamed cast iron is a better choice for a family bathroom, while contemporary bathroom vanities with sculptured glass deck-mounted sinks are suitable for guest baths or powder rooms.
