How to Choose the Right Bathroom Vanity for Your Renovation

When you’re planning a bathroom renovation, the vanity is one of the most important design choices you’ll make. It sets the tone for the whole space — not just in how it looks, but in how it functions.

The tricky part? There are so many options out there. You’ll see different styles (freestanding, console, floating, built-in) and different levels of customization (off-the-shelf, made-to-order, semi-custom, full custom). Each one affects your budget, lead time, and overall look.

As a designer who’s worked on everything from powder baths to full primary suite remodels, I’ve learned that choosing the right vanity starts with understanding the basics. Let’s break it all down.

Understanding Vanity Styles vs. Levels of Customization

When you start shopping, you’ll quickly realize there are two main layers of choice when it comes to vanities:

1. The Style (the look and layout)

This describes how the vanity is built and how it fits within your bathroom.

• Freestanding Vanity – Rests directly on the floor like a piece of furniture.

• Console Vanity (or Console Sink) – A sink basin supported by legs or a frame, with open space underneath.

• Built-In Vanity – Fits wall to wall or is built directly into your layout for a seamless, fitted look.

• Floating Vanity – Wall-mounted, leaving open floor space for a modern, airy feel.

These define the form of the vanity — its shape, scale, and how it interacts with your bathroom layout.

2. The Level of Customization (how it’s made)

This refers to how much control you have over the design, finishes, and materials — and it directly affects cost and lead time.

• Ready-Made (Off-the-Shelf):
  Preassembled vanities you can buy in-store or online, usually including the cabinet, countertop, sink, and hardware. They’re the most budget-friendly and fastest option.

  • Lead time: Minimal (unless a popular model is temporarily out of stock).

  • Note: Even with ready-made vanities, the faucet is always purchased separately — this applies across all vanity types.

• Made-to-Order:
  A step up from ready-made. The manufacturer doesn’t stock the vanity — they build it once you order. Even if it’s a standard design, you can often choose finishes, sizes, or hardware.

  • Lead time: Moderate to long (typically 6–12 weeks).

  • Budget: Slightly higher since you’re paying for production time, not warehouse inventory.

• Semi-Custom:
  A hybrid approach — you might start with a standard-size vanity base but select your own countertop, sink, or faucet.

  • Lead time: Usually 6–10 weeks.

  • Budget: Mid-range, offering flexibility without the full custom price tag.

• Full Custom:
  A fully bespoke design built specifically for your space. Every element — cabinet size, finish, countertop, sink, and hardware — is chosen individually.

  • Lead time: Longest (10–20+ weeks depending on the maker).

  • Budget: Highest, but gives you complete design freedom.

A Note on Turning Dressers into Vanities

One of my favorite examples of a full custom vanity is when we repurpose a dresser or vintage piece of furniture. This option takes a bit more work — but when the budget allows, it’s such a fun way to bring character and creativity into your bathroom.

When converting a dresser, you’ll need to purchase the sink, countertop, and sometimes hardware separately. The process often includes sanding, painting or staining, and replacing hardware or adding legs to bring the piece up to standard vanity height.

It’s also important to adjust the drawers or internal framing to make space for plumbing underneath. If the dresser is on the shallow side, I typically recommend using a wall-mounted faucet, since a deck-mounted faucet might not fit properly. This setup requires precise planning and coordination between your designer, contractor, and countertop fabricator to ensure the sink, plumbing, and surface all line up correctly.

The best part? You can get really creative with vanity top materials and profiles, from marble or quartz slabs to unique stone remnants. Every dresser vanity ends up being a one-of-a-kind piece that adds personality and soul to the space.

If you love a layered, character-rich look, turning a dresser into a vanity is one of the best ways to make your bathroom feel truly custom.

How These Layers Work Together

Each style of vanity can be built at any level of customization.

For example:

• A floating vanity could be a quick-ship item or a completely custom, built-to-spec piece.

• A console sink might be a ready-made option for a powder bath or a made-to-order model with your choice of finishes.

• Even a built-in vanity can be semi-custom using modular cabinetry fitted to your space.

Think of it like clothing: the style is the type (jeans, dress, blazer), and the level of customization is how it’s made (off-the-rack, made-to-order, or fully bespoke).

Vanity Comparison Chart

Breaking Down Each Vanity Style

Built-In Vanity

Built-in vanities are secured directly to your walls and extend from side to side, giving that “fully fitted” look.

Budget range: $$$–$$$$
Lead time: Depends on customization level and size (often 8–20 weeks)

What to know:
Because they’re fixed in place, you’ll want to finalize your layout before ordering. Always confirm that your contractor tiles underneath — we’ve seen plenty of corners cut here, and not tiling below can cause problems down the road if you ever swap the vanity out.

My take: Honestly, I’m not a fan of built-ins. Even in larger bathrooms, they tend to feel heavy and dated — like they visually overtake the space. They’re also one of the more expensive options, and for me, that investment usually doesn’t make sense when there are cleaner, more modern alternatives.

I’m a big believer in keeping only what you actually use. You don’t need to fill every wall with cabinetry “just in case.” A little intentional purging before your renovation can make your space feel lighter, calmer, and more functional.

Freestanding Vanity

A freestanding vanity looks more like a furniture piece — it’s not attached to the wall or built from side to side.

Budget range: $–$$$
Lead time: Usually short to moderate, depending on whether it’s off-the-shelf or more custom

What to know:
These typically come as ready-made units that include the cabinet, countertop, sink, and hardware — making them convenient and often more affordable. Just make sure your flooring is tiled underneath since the sides and bottom are visible.

Freestanding vanities bring warmth and character, especially in more traditional or transitional spaces.

Floating Vanity (My Go-To)

Floating vanities are wall-mounted and leave the floor open underneath. They work beautifully in any size bathroom and are my personal go-to when clients are open to it.

Budget range: $–$$$
Lead time: Varies — quick if ready-made, longer if custom-built

What to know:
Floating vanities have a clean, streamlined look and make any bathroom feel calm and clutter-free. They’re easy to clean under, help the space feel larger, and give that elevated, built-in appearance without the visual bulk of floor cabinetry.

Storage tip: Floating vanities offer slightly less cabinet storage, but you can easily make up for it by pairing them with a recessed medicine cabinet instead of a flat mirror. It keeps your look streamlined while adding extra space for everyday essentials.

Why I love them: They always look modern, intentional, and airy — the perfect mix of functional and refined.

Console Vanity / Console Sink

A console sink is one of the most open options — usually a basin mounted on metal or wood legs, sometimes with a small shelf underneath.

Budget range: $–$$$
Lead time: Often short for ready-made options, longer for made-to-order or semi-custom pieces

What to know:
Since the plumbing is exposed, choose decorative supply lines and a P-trap that match your faucet finish. Try to source them from the same company as your faucet for the best color match, though it’s not always necessary if you’re budget-conscious.

Storage tip: While console sinks don’t offer enclosed storage, they can absolutely work in primary bathrooms when you plan the layout strategically. Combine them with a recessed medicine cabinet, linen closet, or open shelving to keep the space functional and beautiful.

Why I love them: Console sinks have that timeless, open look that’s easy to clean underneath. They can lean vintage or modern depending on materials, and they always bring an elegant sense of lightness to a bathroom.

Wall-Mounted Sink

Wall-mounted sinks are the most open, minimal-style option. They attach directly to the wall with no cabinetry or legs below — just the basin floating cleanly in space.

Budget range: $–$$$
Lead time: Typically short, depending on manufacturer

What to know:
We’ve used this setup with utility-style sinks, which bring a vintage or industrial touch to a space. While you’ll still see some cast iron versions, most modern wall-mounted sinks are made from glazed ceramic or porcelain, fireclay, or enameled cast iron or steel. These materials offer a great mix of durability, longevity, and timeless style — and fireclay is my personal go-to for this type of sink because it’s extremely durable, resists staining, and has that soft, handcrafted look that feels elevated without being fussy.

Because the plumbing is fully exposed, this is the sink style where the P-trap and water supply finishes matter most. Always choose decorative parts that coordinate with your faucet — mismatched chrome under a brass faucet, for example, can really throw off the design.

Storage tip:
Wall-mounted sinks typically don’t offer any built-in storage (and often have little to no counter space), so they work best in guest bathrooms or powder rooms. If you’re installing one in a space used more frequently, pair it with a mirror that includes a small shelf, add wall or niche shelving nearby, or use a recessed medicine cabinet to keep things functional and organized.

If you love the aesthetic, a double wall-mounted utility sink can absolutely work in a primary bathroom, as long as storage is planned out elsewhere — think linen cabinets, recessed shelving, or built-in storage towers. It’s a bold look that can feel both nostalgic and elevated when done thoughtfully.

Mirror and Lighting Placement

If you’re using wall sconces beside your mirrors, make sure there’s enough wall space on each side of the sink to keep everything properly centered — especially with ready-made vanities, where bowl placement can limit spacing.

I personally prefer separate mirrors and lighting rather than the all-in-one integrated mirror-light combos that have become popular lately. While those can work in ultra-modern spaces, I find they often feel a bit sterile and lack warmth or character. Choosing individual sconces gives you more flexibility with layout, lets you play with scale and texture, and just looks more elevated overall.

If you love a streamlined look, you can still achieve it with well-proportioned lighting — I’d just recommend avoiding the “one-piece mirror light” setups unless it truly fits your overall design aesthetic (just personal opinion — I know they’re popular, but they’re not for me).

Lighting and mirror placement make a huge difference in how your vanity feels day to day — getting that proportion and spacing right is one of the most overlooked details in bathroom design.

3 Vanity + Mirror + Lighting Combinations I Love

Below are three real-world combinations that capture different price points and levels of customization — each one can be tailored to fit your style and budget.

1. Ready-Made Combination (Console Sink Version)

• Vanity: Calacatta marble top single console sink with oil-rubbed bronze hardware

• Sink Supply Kit: Matching oil-rubbed bronze P-trap and water supply kit (“sink trim kit”)

• Faucet: Oil-rubbed bronze widespread faucet

• Medicine Cabinet: Oil-rubbed bronze metal-frame medicine cabinet

• Lighting: Two single oil-rubbed bronze sconces on each side of the mirror

• Vibe: Simple, elegant and ready to install — perfect for a guest or powder bath.

2. Semi-Custom Combination (My Sweet Spot)

• Vanity: White oak double-sink floating vanity base

• Countertop: Lime Delight Silestone in Suede finish

• Faucet: Kohler Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass minimal faucet

• Mirror: Organic-shaped round mirror in warm gold

• Lighting: Pair of artistic side sconces in brass

• Vibe: Minimal, neutral, and organic — fits almost any bathroom type.

3. Full-Custom Inspiration (Crown Point Cabinetry)

• Cabinetry: Slim-line rift-cut oak with sable stain from Crown Point Cabinetry

• Countertop: Honed Taj Mahal quartzite

• Cabinet Hardware: Natural brass finger pulls

• Faucet: Kohler Vibrant Moderne Brushed Brass cross-handle faucet

• Mirror: Scalloped-edge gold oval mirror

• Lighting: Pair of natural brass sconces

• Vibe: Elevated, modern, and timeless — the kind of bathroom that will never go out of style.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right vanity isn’t just about style — it’s about how you want your bathroom to feel and function every day. Whether you’re going for a quick off-the-shelf upgrade or investing in a custom-built piece, understanding how these layers of design, cost, and lead time work together will help you make confident decisions.

And one last thing — no matter which direction you go, make sure your tile runs all the way underneath.

If you’re planning a renovation and aren’t sure which vanity route is right for your space, you can always schedule a design consultation. We’ll help you find a balance between beauty, function, and investment.