The Patio Expert Pages

In remodeling or furnishing a home, the bathroom vanity, the furniture that holds the countertop, sink and faucet, is one of the easiest to change as long as you have a theme and function in mind. As long as you know what you need in a vanity and the general look of it, choosing from the many shapes, sizes, height, designs and colors can be easy and fun. Your vanity carries the look of your bathroom as it is the first thing people notice and use, so it try to make it extraordinary and delightful to use.

Before identifying what physical attributes you want in your vanity, measure first the available space in your bathroom. The last thing you want is a large vanity to overwhelm a tiny bathroom or a small vanity that fails to explore the available space. Then work on your interior design theme which would be used as basis in choosing your vanity. It could scream ultra modern, elegantly traditional or chic minimalist - the general idea is to stick to it. Attention to these elements would reduce the chances of buying a seemingly misplaced vanity.

When buying vanities some people have particular concerns and they worry that they'll have a tough time finding one that would cater to their specific needs. This is very unlikely, with the numerous designs to suit every vanity need. Bath vanities for children is one. There are vanities with heights and materials appropriate for kids' use. Be careful not to buy glass vanities or those with sharp edges. And when faced with a cramped bathroom, pick a corner vanity or a wall-mounted vanity to provide more space. Also, consider a bathroom double sink vanity for couples or family use.

There are three kinds of styles you could choose for your vanity. One is the traditional style which gives out a regal and elegant look achieved by using antique furniture or antique-looking vanity. The second style is the modern or contemporary style which uses hard woods, steel, stone and glass for a sleek and sophisticated look. As for the combination of both, the European style is a good and popular example. It has a protruding sink bowl and downward curving doors that makes it modern-looking while its material, dark wood tones like mahogany and cherry, adds the traditional touch to it.

There are so many materials used in constructing vanities, but we can't identify them with a particular style anymore since it has become a trend to mix and match materials no matter the style. For example, glass and wood are the two most common materials used for traditional, contemporary or artistic vanity styles, and they are even used together for a balanced look. When deciding which material to choose, know first the pros and cons of every materials. Glass, for example, is susceptible to scratches while wood can get damaged with long-term exposure. Other options are metal, marble and granite.

Bath vanities can come pre-assembled or personally designed or custom-made. Also known as RTA, the pre-assembled vanities can be bought from building supply stores or over the Internet - either way it's the cheaper alternative for the budget conscious. The custom-made vanities can be built by custom cabinet makers. The good thing about this is that your every vanity need and concerns will be incorporated in the personalized vanity.

Finally, consider buying matching a mirror, a medicine cabinet and light fixtures to go with your new vanity. All your efforts would "go down the drain" if these accents end up ruining the look of your bathroom vanity.