7 Alternatives to the Standard Bathroom Vanity Unit
Add an individual touch by turning an old piece of furniture into an upcycled vanity unit
Amanda Pollard
24 November 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you want to be creative with your bathroom design, a good place to start is with the vanity unit. With the help of a skilled plumber, it’s fairly simple to turn a table, dresser or even a stool into a counter for your wash basin. Check out these repurposed bathroom vanity unit ideas to get inspiration for your own home.
Pull up a perch
As long as there’s a surface on which the basin can sit, your washstand can be almost anything. Here, for instance, the designers have used a stool to create an alternative vanity unit.
The slimline design is ideal in this small space, and the rough finish works well with the brick wall.
The drawback of using a smaller piece of furniture like this is the lack of surface space around the basin, but the designers have solved this by installing a handy shelf behind it.
As long as there’s a surface on which the basin can sit, your washstand can be almost anything. Here, for instance, the designers have used a stool to create an alternative vanity unit.
The slimline design is ideal in this small space, and the rough finish works well with the brick wall.
The drawback of using a smaller piece of furniture like this is the lack of surface space around the basin, but the designers have solved this by installing a handy shelf behind it.
Reinvent a dresser
If storage is vital to you, consider using a piece of furniture that has plenty of drawers and/or cupboards for all your toiletries. The owners of this bathroom have used a wooden dresser, complete with tiny drawers on top and cupboards below, as their vanity unit.
Where taps would usually be mounted into a splashback, the designers have fitted them into the back of the dresser. With a piece like this, a countertop basin might have been too busy, so an undermounted one has been installed instead.
It’s a well thought-out piece of upcycling, and the finished unit is both attractive and super-functional.
If storage is vital to you, consider using a piece of furniture that has plenty of drawers and/or cupboards for all your toiletries. The owners of this bathroom have used a wooden dresser, complete with tiny drawers on top and cupboards below, as their vanity unit.
Where taps would usually be mounted into a splashback, the designers have fitted them into the back of the dresser. With a piece like this, a countertop basin might have been too busy, so an undermounted one has been installed instead.
It’s a well thought-out piece of upcycling, and the finished unit is both attractive and super-functional.
Add a shot of rustic
Here’s a design that’s the perfect counterpoint to the luxurious cast-iron bath and elegant brass fittings.
It’s a vanity unit made from reclaimed boards, fitted to form a cupboard and column of shelves. The square basin fits neatly into a recess, and two brass taps have been mounted on the wall.
The resulting unit is a simply made piece of furniture that’s brilliantly functional and gives the Victorian-style bathroom a modern-rustic feel.
Here’s a design that’s the perfect counterpoint to the luxurious cast-iron bath and elegant brass fittings.
It’s a vanity unit made from reclaimed boards, fitted to form a cupboard and column of shelves. The square basin fits neatly into a recess, and two brass taps have been mounted on the wall.
The resulting unit is a simply made piece of furniture that’s brilliantly functional and gives the Victorian-style bathroom a modern-rustic feel.
Jazz up a console
A console table with a shelf below is a handy design for a vanity unit, as the lower ledge can add an extra space for storage.
This small console table has been painted in duck-egg blue to tone with the grey panelled bathroom, and distressed for a shabby-chic look.
The shelf underneath is a useful spot for a large hamper to store towels, loo rolls, bath toys or spare toiletries.
The relaxed look of this vanity unit is handy when it comes to the pipes. It’s OK that they’re exposed – in fact, it adds to the character of the space.
Find gorgeous bathroom accessories in the Houzz Shop.
A console table with a shelf below is a handy design for a vanity unit, as the lower ledge can add an extra space for storage.
This small console table has been painted in duck-egg blue to tone with the grey panelled bathroom, and distressed for a shabby-chic look.
The shelf underneath is a useful spot for a large hamper to store towels, loo rolls, bath toys or spare toiletries.
The relaxed look of this vanity unit is handy when it comes to the pipes. It’s OK that they’re exposed – in fact, it adds to the character of the space.
Find gorgeous bathroom accessories in the Houzz Shop.
Dabble with dark tones
This console doesn’t have the shelf below, but the design looks gorgeous nonetheless. A dark wood table with attractive turned legs provides a striking contrast to the bright white basin and drawer knobs.
To help the room feel modern rather than traditional, the designers have painted the run of tongue-and-groove panelling a bold olive green. It sets off the dark tones of the console beautifully.
Need help with your project? Find a local professional plumber on Houzz.
This console doesn’t have the shelf below, but the design looks gorgeous nonetheless. A dark wood table with attractive turned legs provides a striking contrast to the bright white basin and drawer knobs.
To help the room feel modern rather than traditional, the designers have painted the run of tongue-and-groove panelling a bold olive green. It sets off the dark tones of the console beautifully.
Need help with your project? Find a local professional plumber on Houzz.
Build from boards
If you’re feeling creative, and have a clever carpenter on hand, try an idea like this one. The vanity unit has been made from reclaimed scaffold boards, each one sanded and varnished to ensure the piece is functional.
The design incorporates plenty of handy storage, but the natural finish retains the character of the boards.
8 common loft en suite problems and how to solve them.
If you’re feeling creative, and have a clever carpenter on hand, try an idea like this one. The vanity unit has been made from reclaimed scaffold boards, each one sanded and varnished to ensure the piece is functional.
The design incorporates plenty of handy storage, but the natural finish retains the character of the boards.
8 common loft en suite problems and how to solve them.
Keep it simple
For a no-frills design, repurpose a standard table for your vanity unit. Here, the designers have painted the legs of a table green and fitted a stone surface on top to ensure it stays resistant to water damage.
The table is wide enough and sturdy enough to hold a large double basin on top, and the apron helps to cover the pipework below.
Tell us…
Have you used an interesting piece of furniture as your vanity unit? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments section.
For a no-frills design, repurpose a standard table for your vanity unit. Here, the designers have painted the legs of a table green and fitted a stone surface on top to ensure it stays resistant to water damage.
The table is wide enough and sturdy enough to hold a large double basin on top, and the apron helps to cover the pipework below.
Tell us…
Have you used an interesting piece of furniture as your vanity unit? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments section.
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Gorgeous ideas. I used an old, dark oak Edwardian sideboard I had never liked much. (Photo elsewhere.)