What is a Bathroom Vanity?

What is a bathroom vanity? I mean, really think about it. It doesn't seem like an important question, but just trust me for now that it is. What does it do? What purpose does it serve? What is its role within your bathroom, and how does it fit into the universe of bathroom remodeling?

It may seem strange to think philosophically about something as simple as a bathroom vanity, but when you get down to it, it is actually a quite complicated and conflicted piece of furniture. Which is why its something worth really considering. Once you consider its function, and how exactly you want to vanity to function is your bathroom, you'll be one step closer to knowing how to select the perfect vanity for your bathroom.

On the most fundamental level, bathroom vanities are countertops which hold the sink at a reasonable level. It is also a storage cabinet, as vanities typically have several cabinets and drawers for storage. So storage is the first function of the vanity. But different vanities have different amounts of storage available.

So what kind of vanity you should select will depend firstly on what kind of bathroom you are planning on remodeling or redesigning. If you are working with a small bathroom in a New York City high rise, for instance, you'll probably want to select a vanity with an abundance of drawers, cabinets, and other storage options. Your vanity may very well end up being the only real storage cabinet in the bathroom, so you won't want to skimp.

Despite its small size, the bathroom is usually one of the most cluttered rooms in the house. Everybody uses it, and everybody has a few shampoos, a few creams, and a few gadgets that they store there, usually with no thought whatsoever given to organization. So selecting a vanity with sufficient storage and organizational capacity is essential for an attractive and efficient bathroom.

Beyond storage, a vanity is the center of gravity of the bathroom, in terms of design. When someone walks into your bathroom and looks around, their eyes will naturally be drawn first to the vanity. It is generally not only the largest piece of furniture in the room, but also the most ornate.

Thus its essential to find a vanity that is attractive, and that matches the theme of your bathroom, and of your house. For instance, in an older, more antique-themed house, you would probably want to opt for a wooden vanity. On the other hand, a modern vanity with a top of polished marble or synthetic materials and stainless steel fixtures can go a long way toward creating a sleek, modern look for your bathroom.

Although the question seems unnecessary at first blush, asking yourself what a bathroom vanity really does is one of the first things that you should be doing before you start remodeling your bathroom. Understanding the essential role of this complicated piece of furniture will go a long way toward a perfect bathroom redesign.