Tips to set your bathroom up for success
Have you ever walked into a space and felt like Goldilocks? Like something’s not right?
You can’t quite put your finger on it; the balance just seems…off.
You hit the edge of a counter every time you walk past it, or you bump your head every time you try to retrieve something.
It’s just a poorly planned space.
Don’t make the mistake that the other person made. If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, pay attention to the details. Don’t just eyeball the space and decide you can squeeze a 42” vanity in beside your toilet.
After all, your bathroom vanity isn’t just a piece of furniture. It’ll store your toiletries and bathroom supplies, but it’ll also be where you start and end your day. It’s where you’ll hype yourself up for that big meeting. Where you’ll wash your face before bed. It’s where you show up.
To have your bathroom feeling “just right”, we’ve got a few vanity planning tips for you:
- Accurately measure your bathroom. Make note of plumbing locations, electrical outlets, light fixtures, and even doorway width.
- Draw your intended bathroom to scale. Mark those plumbing and electrical connections.
- When you “place” your new vanity in the drawing, consider:
- Cabinet dimensions – check out pages 24-25 of our brochure. NOTE: Vanity tops are often just a little bit wider than the cabinet. Rock Solid Vanity stone tops are 1” wider, with a ½” overhang on each side. You want to maximize the size of your vanity so it’s scaled appropriately with your bathroom (plus…honestly, who doesn’t want more storage & counter space??). Just make sure you leave enough floor space for a trash can if you don’t want to put under the sink!
- Door trim & window casing are important to think about. If your vanity is overlapping the trims it’s not a good look. This is why we have shallow vanity options available! (Bonus tip: The door to the bathroom needs to swing into the room so that it doesn’t hit anything. In a tight space, consider incorporating a pocket door so there’s nothing to worry about!
- Clearance – you should have at least 30” in front of your vanity. 42” would be even better!
- Where’s your toilet? Vanities are often placed so that the toilet feels most private; the vanity almost shields the person on the toilet.
- Space to the next closest thing – the edge of your vanity should be 18” away from the center of your toilet, but it’s worth leaving a bit of extra room for floor accessories (toilet paper storage, toilet brushes, etc.)!
- Consider any accessibility needs – if you require a mounted grab bar, plan for it!
- Accessories – if you want a mirror above your vanity (most people do!) you’ll need a mirror that fits between your vanity and light fixture. For a balanced look, you want 2-4” between the top of your backsplash and the bottom of your mirror.
- Access to power – your vanity should be close to the electric outlet in your bathroom, so you can use your electric toothbrush, hairdryer or shaver. It should be out of range from your tub or shower, and it should be a GFCI outlet for safety.
- Design your vanity! With Rock Solid Vanities, you can select your cabinet finish, hardware, stone top, faucet drill pattern, sink and accessories like a linen tower and/or bathroom storage cabinet. Check out page 27 in our brochure for layout options!
Ready to start dreaming up your new vanity? Visit our Products page to see how you can make your vanity your own!
