Home Interior Design Fittings and Fixtures for the Bathroom or Ensuite - The Vanity Unit

Although the vanity unit is essentially a joinery unit we will cover it here briefly as it is often a proprietary fitting that can be purchased off the shelf and installed. Some units have a separate ceramic basin installed in the top and others have an integral top with the basin. It is a personal preference, however as with other ceramic and plastic fittings check the hardness and brittleness i.e. can it be scratched and can it be chipped?

Then make your judgment as to the units durability. Ensure that the vanity units' top drains back to the basin as do the soap dishes. The vanity top should have a raised up stand at the back to catch splashes instead of being directly on the wall. If not tiles, mirror or some other innovative and attractive finish should be used as paint will eventually peel or blister.

It is often a good idea to have raised edges around the top of vanities bench to stop water dripping off the edge especially if it is for a family with young children.

The storage within the unit should be able to hold large items such as cans of hair spray and also be able to be locked or have safety locks on them for the sake of young children. Hair sprays, nail polishes and soaps are all poisons.

Ceramic vessel basin set in a rimu timber vanity top.

Ceramic vessel basin set in a rimu timber vanity top.

A ceramic basin set into a laminate top.

A ceramic basin set into a laminate top.

As part of your design evaluation of the vanity unit, confirm what is going to be stored and what the unit is made of.

We use lots of different compounds and chemicals in our cleaning and polishing of our bodies and these can be caustic or abrasive to some finishes.

This vanity has great storage capacity.

This vanity has great storage capacity.

This vanity has a slim top and semi recessed basin allowing for more room in the bathroom.

This vanity has a slim top and semi recessed basin allowing for more room in the bathroom.

Hair products in particular often come in varying sized shaped bottles and containers.

A unit with an abundance of different sized drawers can be the most practical, so that medicines, hair products, skin products etc. can all be stored and locked off separately if necessary.

This vanity has a marble top with a bottom fixed basin, lots of good storage and brilliant use of mirrors to make the space look larger.

This vanity has a marble top with a bottom fixed basin, lots of good storage and brilliant use of mirrors to make the space look larger.

Double basins can be very useful in large families as one end can be lowered with separate taps and basin for younger children. Ensure that an overflow is in the vanity, especially if the bathroom doesn't have a floor drain.

Alternately a separate cabinet higher up or elsewhere in the bathroom may be used to for the storage of the items and the underside of the cabinet left open or used for towel storage.

Double basins - shown here semi recessed, are a luxury item for couples or busy families sharing the same bathroom space.

Double basins - shown here semi recessed, are a luxury item for couples or busy families sharing the same bathroom space, allowing quicker turn around of ablutions!.