Bathroom Vanities

A vanity and a top, planned together

A bathroom vanity is two decisions that have to fit each other: the cabinet, which sets the storage and the footprint, and the top, which holds the sink and the faucet. We plan them together. The vanity cabinet comes from the cabinet lines we carry, our crews install it, and our fabricators template it and cut the top in our own shop, with the sink cutout and faucet holes placed for the fixtures you picked.

Replacing the vanity is often the simplest way to change a bathroom. If you are also redoing the shower, the tile or the layout, see bathroom remodeling.

Vanity cabinets from our lines

Several of the lines we carry make bathroom cabinetry. Yorktowne has its Bath Sanctuary Collection, Quality Cabinets offers vanity cabinets in several depths, and KraftMaid, Waypoint Living Spaces and TimberPeak make cabinets for both kitchens and baths. You can match the vanity to your kitchen cabinets or give the bathroom its own finish. Ask at a showroom which vanity sizes and finishes are on display, and call ahead if you have a particular line in mind.

Size and layout

Width and number of sinks

Common vanity widths run from about 24 inches in a powder room to 60 inches or more for a double vanity. Two sinks need enough width for two people to stand side by side; in a tight bathroom, one sink with more counter space often works better than two cramped ones.

Height

Older vanities are often around 30 to 32 inches tall. Many homeowners now choose a taller height closer to a kitchen counter, around 34 to 36 inches. With a vessel sink the bowl sits on top, so a lower cabinet keeps the rim at a comfortable height.

Clearances and plumbing

Check the swing of the bathroom door and the space around the toilet before you settle on a width. Where the existing drain and supply lines come through the wall often decides the size and position of the vanity, so we note them when we measure. Moving them is possible but adds plumbing work.

Storage that works

Drawers usually beat doors in a vanity: you see what you have without kneeling, and small items stay sorted. The sink drain is the main obstacle, so ask about drawers shaped around the plumbing rather than leaving the space under the sink to a single door. Where floor space is short, a tall linen cabinet or a wall cabinet above the toilet adds storage without crowding the room.

Sinks and faucet holes

Choose the sink and the faucet before the top is templated. The top is cut for them, and a hole cannot be moved once the stone is drilled.

• Undermount sinks sit below the stone, so the counter wipes straight into the bowl.
• Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter and need a taller or wall-mounted faucet.
• Faucet holes: one for a single-hole faucet, three on 4-inch centers for most centerset faucets, and three spread wider, often 8 inches, for a widespread faucet. A wall-mounted faucet needs no holes in the top, but it needs supply lines in the wall.

Vanity tops from our own shop

Our fabricators template the installed vanity and cut the top in our own shop, sized to the cabinet and the wall. For a bathroom, the choice comes down to care and look. Quartz shrugs off toothpaste and makeup and never needs sealing. Granite and quartzite bring natural pattern with periodic sealing. Marble suits a classic bath if you accept etching from acidic products. Porcelain is thin and resists stains.

A vanity top needs far less stone than a kitchen, so browse our slab inventory and ask whether a side splash or backsplash can come from the same slab.

Start your vanity

Book a showroom visit in Tysons, Manassas or Front Royal to see cabinet finishes and countertop materials, or request an estimate with your bathroom's measurements and a photo of the wall.