When researching products for your bathroom remodel or new construction, you’ve probably heard a variety of terms float around concerning your sink and storage area. From bathroom vanities to lavatory consoles, it can be hard to know what makes each option a distinct choice with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this quick and easy guide, we’ve gathered all the information you’ll need to make the right decision for your space.
What Are My Design Priorities?
Before looking at the many options you have for your bathroom, it’s important to decide what your personal priorities and preferences are for your bathroom.
- Storage
I prioritize the practical function and storage capability of my bathroom. - Space-Saving
I prioritize space-saving solutions for my smaller bathroom. - Accessibility
I prioritize the accessibility and convenience of my bathroom. - Style
I prioritize the visual appeal and style for my bathroom. - Customizability
I prioritize the customizability and individuality of my bathroom.
Vanities
Vanities are preconstructed storage fixtures that offer some of the organizational benefits of cabinetry without the required planning and decision making, and are often constructed with wood, metal, stone, and manmade materials. Vanities come in a variety of styles and mounting techniques, making them an accessible and stylish choice. Many vanities come with a matching countertop, sink, faucet, and/or hardware to streamline the design experience.
Wall-Mounted Vanities
Wall-mounted or “floating” vanities are installed directly to the wall, creating a freestanding, modern silhouette. The height of a wall-mounted vanity can be adjusted to your preferences, making them a more accessible option. Some homeowners also find a wall-mounted vanity easier to clean around with its floor-freeing, space-saving design. Lacava offers a variety of stylish wall-mounted vanities, including this Aquatre Wood Wall-Mount Vanity.
Floor-Mounted Vanities
Installed or set on the floor, floor-mounted vanities are often easier to install than wall-mounted vanities. The furniture-like appearance of floor-mounted vanities can make them well suited for traditional homes but come in a variety of styles for contemporary or modern spaces. The Southerk® 60” Bathroom Vanity from Kohler is an elegant blend of modern and traditional style for a transitional design that would complement any bathroom.
Cabinetry
With a wide selection of cabinet finishes, door styles, hardware, and storage solutions, cabinetry offers greater customizability than any other option. Cabinetry can be customized to perfectly fit your space utilizing various specialized storage cabinets, drawers, and pull-outs. If you’re looking to maximize your bathroom’s storage potential, cabinetry is the route for you. DKB Designer Kitchens and Baths offers Schrock, Bertch, Decora, and Aristokraft cabinetry, all with their own benefits, to bring customizable cabinetry to your home.
Lavatory Console
Lavatory consoles act as the meeting point between pedestal and wall-mounted sinks. Lavatory consoles offer the look of a wall-mounted sink with the additional support of a frame or legs that hold and accentuate the counter or basin. These sinks can be made from porcelain, metal, fireclay, and more. They may also include two or four legs, a shelf, a towel bar, or other features.
In favor of this space-saving design, lavatory consoles offer little to no counter or storage space. Though lavatory console sinks were popular throughout the early 20th century, many modern styles of this classic silhouette are now offered, such as this Lacava Floor-Standing Metal Console Stand.
Pedestal Sink
Pedestal sinks are freestanding sinks that incorporate a pedestal, column-like design, often made from porcelain, vitreous china, solid surfaces, or fireclay. These sinks are an ideal choice for smaller bathrooms or powder rooms, as they take up little floorspace. This space-saving, accessible design offers no storage capacity, so be sure to incorporate storage elsewhere in the bathroom or home for your organizational needs. Barclay offers pedestal sinks in a variety of styles, including the Mistral 650 Basin.
Wall-Mounted Sink
Wall-Mounted sinks are the ultimate space-saving solution for the bathroom. Best suited for powder rooms, small bathrooms, wall-mounted sinks sacrifice storage to free-up floorspace. Effectively a floating sink-basin, wall-mounted sinks bring a minimal, no-nonsense feeling to the bathroom. Consider pairing your wall-mounted sink with a medicine cabinet to gain back your lost storage space in favor of functionality, like this Kohler Veranda® Medicine Cabinet.
Experience the DKB Difference
Whether you’ve figured out what option is best for your bathroom or are still undecided, we are here to help you find the perfect products for your space and design a bathroom perfectly tailored to your style.