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How to Choose the Right Size Bathroom Vanity?

grey bathroom vanity

There are many things to consider when choosing a new bathroom vanity: storage, countertop material, mirror shape, and don’t forget the size!

The size of your bathroom vanity can shape the room. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the right size vanity for your needs!

Bathroom Vanity Sizing

Choosing the right size vanity for your bathroom can make or break the room. If you put too large a bathroom vanity in, it can make your bathroom feel cramped.

If you choose too small a vanity for your bathroom, it can make the room feel lacking or underutilized. The perfect size vanity will fill out your bathroom just enough while keeping it airy and relaxing.

When starting to choose your vanity, you need to understand how the sizing works. When someone says they are looking for a 36-inch vanity, what does that mean?

How is the Size of a Bathroom Vanity Measured? 

37 inch bathroom vanity

Vanity sizes are measured in width. So, when someone says they want a 36-inch vanity, they are talking about 36 inches in width.

Deciding the general size in inches you will need is the first step in determining the right vanity for your bathroom.

Measure the width of your existing bathroom vanity space or the old bathroom vanity you are replacing.  This width measurement will give you a good sense of the relative size ranges that will fit in your bathroom.

Size in width is important, but there are other factors to consider, as well.

Bathroom Vanity Size Considerations

espresso bathroom vanity

Size is important when considering your options for your new bathroom vanity. Bathrooms are typically smaller rooms and therefore need a lot more careful planning when adding new fixtures.

Some folks are willing to install a larger bathroom vanity and give up floor space if the vanity provides lots of counter and storage space. Others might prefer a smaller bathroom vanity with less counter space, which leaves more open floor space and a more balanced look.

Options to Consider 

If you’re someone who finds items constantly piling up on your bathroom counter, you might opt for a larger vanity.

Larger vanities with quartz countertops are great for people who have personal items (like hair products, makeup, medicine, hygiene products, etc.) stored on top of their counter for easy access.

Conversely, if you are someone who keeps a minimalist look in your bathroom, you may opt for a smaller vanity with less counter space like this one to keep your bathroom looking neat.

Take our your Measuring Tape 

To consider what’s best for you, measure your bathroom’s width from wall to wall. If your bathroom is 60 inches across, and your proposed vanity is 37 inches, it will take up over 50% of your floor space.  Ella Bathroom Vanities are available in 37 inch sizes.

Yet, with that loss of floor space comes a vanity like this that has utilities like counter space and cabinets. That’s why it depends on your needs when it comes to choosing the perfect vanity!

Consider Your Bathroom Size

ella bathroom vanity

Bathroom sizes can vary so much from one home to the other. Some folks may have tons of floor space in their bathrooms, others may not. Knowing the general size of your bathroom will help you determine the right vanity size. 

To help guide you to appropriate size ranges, we classified bathrooms in the following size categories: small, medium, or large. The approximate measurements for each size range include:

  • Small bathroom – Consider vanity sizes from 15 inches to 30 inches.
  • Medium bathroom – Consider vanity sizes from 30 inches to 48 inches.
  • Large bathroom – Consider vanity sizes from 50 inches and above.

The smaller the bathroom, the more consideration needs to be taken on what vanity will work best. For example, you might love the look of a 37 inch vanity, but it might not fit in a small bathroom.

More important than the look of the vanity is the function in the room. If the vanity is so large that it makes the bathroom difficult to use, it will be bothersome no matter how great it looks!

Choose the Right Bathroom Vanity for Your Lifestyle

Another important factor to consider when purchasing a new bathroom vanity is your lifestyle. Consider your household’s needs when it comes to a bathroom vanity choice.

For example, if you have children, you may want vanity cabinets like this one that are high enough for them not to reach.

If you have teenagers, you may opt for more vanity counter space to accommodate a growing inventory of personal care items.

If you live with older or disabled people, you might desire a vanity that is easy to clean like quartz and does not obstruct the walkway.

Narrow Down your Options

Take stock of your current bathroom vanity: What storage spaces are being used? What storage spaces aren’t? Is the counter frequently cluttered with too many items?

These questions can be a good starting point. Identify the areas of your current bathroom vanity that you like and don’t like.

If you have a ton of unused counter space in your current setup, don’t buy a vanity that offers more counter space.

Instead, you could opt for a bathroom vanity with less counter space, that frees up your floor space so you can do other things with it, like add a hamper. Your vanity should optimize your lifestyle!

Conclusion

There are lots of options when it comes to bathroom vanities –it can feel overwhelming to choose!

The most important thing is that you identify your needs and pick a vanity that fits your household’s unique uses for it. The “perfect” vanity will look very different from one bathroom to the next!

For more bathroom vanity ideas see our bathroom vanity guides on knobs vs pulls and espresso vs white vanities.