How to choose a bathroom vanity

It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted a vanity that was out of the ordinary, you needed to arrange for something that was custom made.  This is still the case if you have an awkward opening or you need something built in wall to wall, but the choice now is so good that you can order an ‘off the shelf’ vanity solution to suit most styles.  In fact choosing a bathroom vanity can be overwhelming as the options now are so wide.  I therefore thought it was time to review the market and show you how to choose a bathroom vanity that is right for the look that you are trying to achieve.

Selecting the right style of vanity for your home

Another thing that has changed is that there are so many great styles to choose to decorate in.  Often you need to take the lead from the type of house you are living in, but there is usually leeway to select a look that you love.  We no longer have a one size fits all contemporary look of the times and a Scandi inspired retro style can look just as modern as a classic Hamptons look.  While this is great, again it can be overwhelming deciding which style suits your home and your own personal taste.  Many people, myself included, can have difficulty pinning down what I really want as there are just so many great looks to choose from.

I have therefore chosen some of my favourite bathroom vanity units and put them into one of the contemporary styles that are popular to help you make this decision.

Coastal style

I don’t think that anyone does Coastal style quite like the Australians.  With their laid back approach to life, this look has been adopted as their own and really does reflect the Australian way of life.  I talk more about this in my related post below.  For this segment, I have chosen a classic oak vanity with louvre doors made by the very talented people at Loughlin Furniture.  I have been lucky enough to see their showroom and workspace and know that each of their pieces are handmade on the NSW Central Coast.    Partnered here with an oversized oak mirror, gorgeous concrete basin and brass tapware, this look is a classic Coastal style that is upmarket and refined.

Related: Australian Coastal Style – 7 steps to achieve this look

Coastal Hamptons style

The Hamptons look is firmly entrenched in our range of decorating styles.  As with all styles though, they do evolve overtime and we now also see the Hamptons look in a more relaxed setting with coastal elements.  Also made here in Australia by ADP, you can select from a range of colours and benchtops, but nothing says coastal Hamptons like a soft grey blue.  The vanity below is painted in Dulux Milton Moon in a matt finish.  Partnered with less traditional tiles, this is a great relaxed Coastal Hamptons look.

I talk more about the Hamptons colour palette in this related post Hamptons Style – 7 steps to achieve this look.

Formal Hamptons

The vanity unit below gives you a much more traditional formal Hamptons look.  With a classic marble benchtop, undermounted sink, Shaker doors and black handles, this really is a Hamptons classic.  White subway tiles laid running bond and a gorgeous blue encaustic tiled floor complete the look perfectly.  Turner Hastings are the go-to supplier for this look and make premium bathroom vanities.

Art Deco

Have you noticed the new trend for Art Deco style interiors?  Born in the 1920s during the boom times, this is a gorgeous look that is seeing an insurgence for upmarket contemporary, yet classic style homes.  For those that don’t like the simplicity of Scandi style, nor the traditional formality of Hamptons, but also would prefer something more elegant and upmarket than a relaxed coastal look, Art Deco touches are a perfect solution.  This style really introduces a touch of glamour, the look of an upmarket Manhattan apartment or Parisian abode.  For lovers of the luxury look, this will be perfect for you.

Related: Parisian Decorating Style – 7 steps to achieve this look

Bohemian Style

I think there is a little bit of Bohemian in us all.  That desire to be just a tad different and to buck the status quo.  Bohemian interiors have traditionally been a riot of colour, but the newer, more grown up Bohemian style is more about finding unusual pieces of furniture and partnering them with unlikely pieces.  There’s a little bit of Scandi to the look, in that many items are a little retro, but there is also an earthiness to the style which is very grounding.  This beautiful vanity unit from Loughlin Furniture has been made from a rich walnut timber that makes it so different from their pale oak vanities which suit the coastal look.  By using a darker and less popular timber (albeit an absolutely gorgeous one), the look becomes less mainstream and just that little bit Bohemian.

If you like the Bohemian look, this could the choice for you.

Related: 4 key elements of Bohemian Style

Scandi Style

This look is now firmly entrenched in our decorating styles.  For lovers of simplicity, well made pieces of furniture and timeless design, Scandi style is the go-to look.  A little retro, but more importantly, pieces that are streamlined and simple are perfect for this look, which is why I chose this curved vanity below to suit this style.  Partnered with a simple organic style basin and regimented finger tiles, this bathroom vanity will suit the Scandi look well.  Moving a little towards a coastal look perhaps, but many styles here do take that route.

Related: 5 key elements of Scandi style

Traditional style

If you love a traditional freestanding basin that is very much in a classic European style, then you will love this unit from Studio Bagna.  With everything on show, it defeats the purpose of the bathroom vanity unit, but then if you want this look, this really is the way to go.

Wall hung or freestanding?

This is a big question which often has practical and style elements to consider.

What I love about a freestanding vanity unit is that it looks like a piece of furniture in the space.  The piece above has classic Shaker doors, unobtrusive basins and is made from a beautiful piece of timber.  I believe that adding the legs to this piece enhances the look and really does make it look more like a beautiful piece of furniture and less like a vanity unit.

Bathroom vanity units that go fully to the ground tend to look the most traditional.

There is no doubt that a wall hung vanity unit looks the most contemporary.  They are great for small spaces as you gain the illusion of space.  They are also the best for cleaning which is made very simple without fiddly legs to negotiate.  However, if you prefer a more classic style, this will not be the right choice for you.