Where should a vanity be placed in a small bathroom?

Author: Allan Daniel MD  |  Last update: Monday, September 11, 2023

Small-Bathroom Vanity Placement
Placing a vanity in a corner takes advantage of every inch of floor space and also allows for storage options on two walls. A recessed cabinet installed into a sidewall is a smart way to capture space that is typically overlooked.

How far does vanity have to be from toilet?

A toilet should have some elbow room between it and another fixture or vanity. The NKBA's recommendation is at least 18″. Codes allow a minimum distance of 15″.

Should a bathroom vanity go all the way to the wall?

Yes, Vanities Should Be Attached to the Wall

Most of the time, plumbing comes through the wall underneath the sink, and the vanity's cabinet keeps it hidden. A vanity that isn't attached to the wall could shift, either with time or because you've accidentally bumped into it.

Where do you put a vanity?

If a window is available, position the vanity nearby to capitalize on natural light. If you're relying on artificial light, install fixtures on either side of the mirror—this will illuminate your face more effectively than overhead lighting alone.

Where should a bathroom vanity sink be placed?

Place bathroom sinks 20 inches from the back wall, recommended. The bare minimum is 15 inches. This is measured from the sink's center point to the wall. Bathroom vanities with precut sinks should already meet the spacing guidelines.

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Should sinks be centered on vanity?

The vast majority of bathroom vanities have sinks placed squarely in the middle. But even on a small bathroom vanity, offsetting the sink gives you more wiggle room in terms of positioning. If you're downsizing your existing vanity to make more room for alternative storage?

Where is the ideal sink placement?

Place a sink near a dishwasher

You most certainly want your dishwasher and sink to be next to one another. This will make loading the dishwasher easier and more efficient; you can just scrape or rinse off your plates in the sink before setting them in the dishwasher.

Should your vanity face the window?

Ideally, you'll want to put your makeup vanity in front of a window: this ensures you get a supply of natural light that distributes evenly across your face. Try to place the vanity centrally in front of the window: if it's off to the edge, you'll get some misleading shadows on your face's far side.

How far should vanity be from wall?

Clearance in front of the vanity: 21" minimum, although 30" is recommended for a total of 51" from the wall.

Does vanity go in before or after floor?

Generally, flooring contractors prefer that the cabinets go in first so that there is less possibility of the floor getting scratched. Cabinet installers like the floor to be in place so that the cutting and dust from the floor installation will not damage the vanity.

Can a vanity be away from wall?

Vanities are designed to rest flush against the wall because of the purpose they serve. Unless you specifically designed it to stand independent of the wall, it can be an eyesore to find a gap between the cabinet and the wall around it.

Do bathroom vanities sit on top of tile?

It isn't imperative to tile behind a vanity unit and whether or not you choose to do so depends entirely on your own preferences. Some homeowners choose to begin their bathroom updates by tiling the wall and then adding the vanity unit, simply because it suits them and it's how they would like to approach the project.

Do you install vanity before wall tile?

Many would-be renovators will prefer to begin upgrading their bathroom by first tiling the wall before adding a bathroom vanity unit to complete the look.

How far does vanity have to be from shower?

Before installing your bathroom fixtures, keep this general tip in mind: big fixtures, such as toilets, bathtubs, showers, and vanities, should be placed at least 30" apart from each other, a wall, or another feature.

How far off the floor should a vanity be?

The standard height of a bathroom vanity is 32 inches or around 2.5 feet. This height has been the standard height for decades and it is very prevalent in older homes.

Where do you put the toilet paper holder in the bathroom?

Install the holder 7 and 9 inches in front of the toilet bowl and a minimum of 15 inches but no higher than 48 inches above the floor.

How far should a vanity be from a mirror?

Standard spacing for a vanity mirror(s) is 5-10 inches from the vanity sink to the bottom of the mirror. That range of spacing allows for height considerations for who the bathroom is intended for so the mirror can be set eye level for the viewer, as well considering the overall size and shape of the mirror itself.

How far from floor should wall hung vanity be?

The typical comfort height for the positioning of a floating bathroom vanity unit can be anything between 25-30 inches from the floor, or 635 to 760mm.

Should I leave space between wall and vanity?

The selection of various techniques depends on the size of your vanity's gaps. The standard and minimum distance must be between the vanity and wall between 21-30 inches and 15 inches. To measure this distance, first, measure the length of the vanity and make a point at the center.

Can you put a bathroom vanity in front of a window?

It's Okay to Put Your Bathroom Vanity in Front of a Window—If It Looks Like This. This spa-like space's counter is basically never-ending.

Should vanity light be centered over sink or vanity?

Vanity lights should be hung over the mirror and centered on the plumbing. The centerline of the vanity light should be hung 72” above the floor. For taller ceilings, or taller people, that height can increase to 80” but should never exceed that distance.

Should vanity lights be above mirror?

Either way, the standard is to place vanity lights above mirrors at 75 inches to 80 inches from the floor to the center of the light fixture. This is for ceiling-mounted lights and for lights mounted to the wall above the mirror.

Is it better to have sink drain in middle or side?

There are pros and cons to centered and offset drains. But to sum up, we recommend offset drains for small and busy kitchens, and centered drains for larger sinks and quick renovation projects.

Can you put a sink anywhere?

Keep in mind that you can put the sink anywhere you want, but changing the plumbing will affect your budget. 2. What appliances does it need to be near? Another practical issue is where the sink should be located vis-à-vis other appliances or work spaces.

Should sink be in the corner?

In small kitchens, where you need to take advantage of every inch, orienting the sink in the corner can preserve as much work area as possible. Putting dead space to work. A corner sink can occupy an odd niche that otherwise would have languished.

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