The vanity started as an ornate box in the ancient times. It contained all paraphernalia for making oneself beautiful such as jars with cosmetics, flasks with rare perfumes and exotic oils, makeup tools, and a mirror. The vanity as a furniture first appeared in the 17th century.
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The European aristocrats owned luxurious especially-crafted vanity tables. In the US, the Chippendale style was one of the most popular. In the 19th century, vanity tables from the revivalist styles emerged while it was in the 20th century that the vanity table was associated with glamor and luxury.
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A. Types
1. Vanity Cabinet
Vanity cabinets are definitely among the most popular sink fixtures used in people’s bathrooms. As long as your house has enough room to fit one of these vanity cabinets, this will be a very sensible choice to make. This gives you access to a certain amount of storage that will definitely come in handy. This unit is capable of functioning well as a cabinet and as a vanity.
Many people like to install these in their bathrooms and then add a mirror just above the sink. This will allow you to be able to see what you’re doing when you’re getting ready in the morning. Vanity cabinets generally have a large enough surface area to make applying makeup or shaving an easy task. You can find some vanity cabinets that will feature two sinks as well, making it even simpler for a couple to get ready simultaneously in the morning.
You will find vanity cabinets at most major retailers where sinks are sold. This type of vanity is going to look very nice in your home. You can find these vanities being made out of wood, but you can also seek out a marble variant if you want something that is truly upscale. This is the preferred bathroom vanity option for many people, and it is easy to see how useful it can be.
2. Under-Mounted Sink Vanity
You will find many bathroom vanities that have the sunk installed in an under-mounted fashion. There are several different ways that you can install a sink into a vanity, but the under-mounted variety is convenient for a few reasons. The sink is mounted under the normal surface of the vanity, giving you more room to place things on top, in most situations. Some people don’t like having the sink on top of the vanity because they don’t want to bump into, it as well.
The sink portion of the vanity being under-mounted does provide it with a little bit of protection. You won’t be bumping into the sides of it when it is mounted inside of the vanity itself. Even if this isn’t a big deal to you, it’s possible that you might prefer the look of an under-mounted sink vanity. It can be quite pleasing to the eye, and it will allow more room for you to place mirrors if you so choose.
Being able to place mirrors is an essential part of any vanity area. These under-mounted sink vanities are good at providing you with enough surface space for your cosmetics, while also giving you space to place a mirror above the sink. These vanities can look very fetching as well, so you will be able to find a stylish option to put in your bathroom. Weigh your options, and think about whether this is the perfect vanity for your situation before you make your final decision.
3. Vessel Vanity
Vessel vanities are definitely unique because of the way that they look. A vessel vanity is recognizable for the way that the sink is fitted in the vanity itself. The sink rests on top of the vanity, and it often looks like a bowl. This can actually be really interesting, and it will draw a lot of attention since these sink styles aren’t used nearly as common in people’s homes.
The raised bowl look is going to be very aesthetically pleasing, so you may want to consider this option if you want to create an upscale bathroom environment. These types of vanities are often seen in hotels and restaurants that have lavish decors. You can definitely replicate this style in your own home if you really want to. Pairing a vessel sink vanity with a few other inspired design choices could really make for an intriguing bathroom area.
Most vanities of this style also have storage options at the bottom. These usually come with enough drawers so that you can keep all of your cosmetic items nice and tidy. This helps to make this vessel sink vanity option feel a bit more practical. There are some negatives that you should think about before you decide to purchase one, though.
The raised sink design of these vessel sink vanities can make it feel like you have less room to work with. This can be a bit of an annoyance when you’re getting ready in the morning. This is essentially the opposite of the under-mounted sink that was mentioned above. Think about whether or not the aesthetic appeal of this vanity type is enough to outweigh the slight inconvenience of the lack of space.
4. Floating Vanity
Many people love to make use of floating vanities in their bathrooms. This is going to be a really convenient option if you aren’t too worried about having many cupboards or drawer space. As you might expect, a floating vanity is one that hangs on the wall rather than sitting on the floor. This is going to create a really nice look, and it might even wind up being more convenient for you depending on how your bathroom is set up.
The largest benefit of owning this type of vanity is that it is not going to take up much space. You can save yourself a little bit of room while still having access to a really nice vanity. It doesn’t need to be attached to the floor in any way and you will be able to install this without too much of a hassle. This is really good for smaller bathrooms, and it might be your best option if you don’t have a lot of floor space to work with.
The problem with this vanity is that you will need to be careful with it. If you are a bit accident prone, then you will want to make sure that you don’t trip and fall into your new floating vanity. If you put too much force on this vanity, it is possible that it could fall down and be destroyed in the process. This may be an unlikely scenario, but you will need to be careful about bumping into this vanity for the sake of its survival.
5. Free-Standing Vanity
Source: Amazon
A free-standing vanity is generally something that sits on your floor and stands vertically. These free-standing vanities are very commonly used in homes, and they can be really convenient. Most of these free-standing vanities have a square or rectangular design. Some of them will have cabinet areas just like the cabinet vanities that are mentioned above.
Not all free-standing vanities will come with cabinet space, though. You will find some units that will feature empty space that you can use as shelving. Some people like to place toiletries in these spaces or even practical things such as towels. However you decide to use the space, you will certainly find that it is very useful.
The term “free-standing vanity” is mostly just a broad term that refers to a vanity that stands up from the floor. This might be the type of vanity that you have in your bathroom right now, as they are very common overall. If you want to buy something that is going to be very practical, then this type of vanity is going to appeal to you. You can purchase a free-standing vanity that looks really nice without breaking the bank, so it will be worth it to look into your options.
6. Pedestal Sink Vanity
Source: Wayfair
Pedestal sink vanities are really similar to the free-standing vanities that are mentioned above. They differ in a few important ways, though. These pedestal sinks are generally simple standing sinks that don’t feature any storage options. Some may see this as an inconvenience, but the overall look of a nice pedestal sink is undeniably visually appealing.
People buy pedestal sink vanities because of how elegant they look. A nice sink that is standing straight up may look simple, but it has a certain appeal that draws your eye to it. This can be an interesting design choice that will help your bathroom to stand out and look even more interesting. The lack of storage options may wind up being a deal breaker for many people, though.
The biggest problem with this pedestal sink vanity is that it doesn’t have a lot of surface space. People aren’t going to be able to use this sink to get ready in the morning as easily as they would many of the other vanity options. For this reason, this is a vanity that people choose because the style appeals to them. It isn’t a choice that makes a lot of practical sense for those who want to use their vanity area to do their makeup.
Even so, if you like this pedestal sink vanity, you will be able to find a beautiful one if you take the time to look. If you want your bathroom to look the best that it possibly can, then it is possible that this pedestal sink vanity will work well for your purposes. You might need to create a vanity area for yourself outside of your bathroom for practical use, but it’s a decision that is up to you. There are many different styles of pedestal sink vanities, so you will want to peruse them all to see which one will call out to you.
7. Round Bathroom Vanity
Source: Wayfair
Round bathroom vanities are good when you don’t have a lot of space to put a vanity in your bathroom. These rounded bathroom vanity sets are a little more compact than the other types. You will be able to put this in a small bathroom so that you can still have access to a vanity. This might be the only way that some people can have a vanity in their bathroom, so it is undeniably useful for that purpose.
You don’t see these round vanities in homes as often as you do other types. These vanities are not large enough to provide storage space for people to place their cosmetics. This makes the practicality of using a round bathroom vanity a little more limited. They can still be useful, but they just aren’t as sought-after as many of the other options.
These round bathroom vanities are often seen in powder rooms. It is perfectly suitable for quickly freshening yourself up. It may not be ideal for applying makeup and doing your hair, but it is sufficient for making minor adjustments. Powder rooms aren’t something that most common people have, so these vanities are definitely less likely to be seen than the other ones that are represented here.
8. Square Bathroom Vanity
Square bathroom vanities are excellent when you want to have some storage space, but you don’t have a ton of room. These are a lot more practical than the round bathroom vanities mentioned earlier. A square vanity still has a good amount of space that you can work with, and they can come with shelves or drawers that you can make use of. This is one of the most typical vanities that you will see in people’s homes.
Most people will be able to fit a square vanity into their bathroom. It doesn’t have to be too big, but it will still be able to be useful to you. This might not be ideal for someone who wants to have a robust vanity set up with many options. The storage in a square bathroom vanity is good, but it isn’t the best that you can get.
If you have a medium-sized bathroom, then getting yourself a square bathroom vanity is highly recommended. This is going to be an easy way for you to have a vanity in your bathroom without taking up too much of your precious space. It will look really nice, and you will be able to put it to good use. If your bathroom is larger, then you may want to consider a bigger vanity such as a rectangular one.
9. Rectangular Bathroom Vanity
Rectangular vanities are going to give you the most space that you can possibly have. These vanities are pretty long and they often come with a lot of storage space. This makes it easy for you to store all of your makeup and other important products in a convenient fashion. You won’t have to worry about running out of space, and the surface area will make it easy for you to do what you need to do.
Most of the rectangular vanities that you will find on the market will feature two sinks as well. This is going to come in handy as it will allow you to get ready more quickly. If you are married, then your spouse will be able to make use of the other sink to get ready at the same time that you’re doing your preparations. This just makes everything seem so much smoother in the mornings, so it is worth looking into if you have enough space.
People put these rectangular bathroom vanities in their primary bathrooms pretty often. They look really fantastic, and they function even better. If you want to have a really good experience with your bathroom vanity, then getting one of these is going to prove to be beneficial. It will make your mornings easier, and you’ll always have a good time getting yourself ready.
10. Makeup Vanity with Mirror
Sometimes you won’t have enough room in your bathroom to install a suitable vanity. In these situations, it is a good idea to seek out a makeup vanity with a mirror. You can put this vanity in your primary bedroom and use it to get ready instead of the sink in your bathroom. This will allow you to have a convenient spot where you can put on your makeup and tend to your hair in the morning.
There are many people who really like having a vanity that is outside of their bathroom area. It can actually work out better for you in many situations. You can use a combination of your bathroom and your bedroom vanity area to get yourself ready in the morning. Depending on the size of your home, this may wind up being the best option that is available to you.
Being able to buy a makeup vanity that comes with a mirror is really convenient. These mirrors are usually large enough to make them very useful for multiple purposes. Whether you are trying to see small details to do your makeup just right, or if you are fussing with your hair, this will work out perfectly for you. There are several makeup vanity styles, so you’ll be able to find one that will fit in well with your other furniture pieces in your bedroom.
B. Materials
1. Wood
Wood is a common material that is used to make vanities. There are many different types of wood that are used to make vanities, so you will be able to seek out a specific type if you have a preference. Some people really like the look of oak, and others find something about the look of pinewood to be very appealing. Whatever your preferences are, you will be able to find an excellent vanity that is made out of wood.
2. Marble
Marble isn’t the most common material that is used to make vanities, but it is one of the most sought-after. People purchase marble vanities when they want their bathroom areas to look as elegant as they possibly can. The look of marble is something that people have been pining over for a long time. You can make your bathroom look really extravagant if you choose to install a marble vanity.
This option is going to be significantly more expensive than many of the other options. You will want to go with a marble vanity if your budget is a bit higher than normal. It will help you to create a look that will stand the test of time. If your shower and some other parts of your bathroom already make use of marble, then it is just sensible to get a marble vanity as well.
3. Laminate
Source: Amazon
Laminate is a good option to consider when looking for the ideal vanity material. Laminate bathroom vanities are very sturdy, and they will work well for many purposes. These vanities look very nice, and you will be able to enjoy incorporating them into your bathroom. You can find laminate vanities in many different styles, so it shouldn’t be difficult to use them to create the ideal look that you’re going for.
One big reason that people purchase laminate vanities is that they are very cost-effective. These vanities aren’t inexpensive, but they also aren’t nearly as costly as most of the marble options. These vanities can look really nice in your bathroom, and you can purchase them without having to spend too much of your hard-earned money. That makes laminate vanities a popular choice that you should certainly consider.
4. Particle Board
Source: K-Mart
If you want to buy a vanity that is as inexpensive as possible, then you can seek out one that is made using particle board. Admittedly, particle board is seen as an inferior material when compared to the other options. Even still, these particle board vanities can stand up to regular use and look nice in your bathroom when you take care of them properly. Most particle board vanities look very similar to sturdier wood options, and they are treated in such a way that they will feel pretty rugged.
As long as you aren’t being rough with this type of vanity, it will last a good long while for you. If you want something that is going to last you for decades, then you may be better off seeking another option. These vanities are very affordable, and that is what draws people to them. If your budget is low, then you can consider this option, and it just might work out perfectly for you.