Bathroom Vanity Installation: What Homeowners Need to Know

A bathroom vanity does more than hold your sink — it defines the room's style, provides essential storage, and sets the functional layout of the space. Whether you're replacing an existing vanity as part of a bathroom remodel or upgrading a builder-grade unit, understanding the types, materials, dimensions, and plumbing considerations helps you make a choice that works beautifully for years.

Types of Bathroom Vanities

Wall-Mounted (Floating) Vanities

Floating vanities are mounted directly to wall studs with no legs touching the floor. They create a modern, airy appearance and offer practical benefits:

• •Visual space: The visible floor beneath the vanity makes the room feel larger — particularly impactful in small bathrooms
• •Easy cleaning: No legs or base to clean around. Mop or vacuum the entire bathroom floor without obstruction
• •Height flexibility: Can be mounted at any height (standard is 30-36 inches to countertop). Customize for your comfort or ADA requirements
• •Weight considerations: Must be anchored into studs, not just drywall. The wall must support the vanity weight plus a stone countertop (which can add 50-100+ lbs)

Floating vanities work best in contemporary and modern bathroom designs. They pair exceptionally well with frameless glass shower enclosures for a cohesive, clean-lined aesthetic.

Freestanding Vanities

Freestanding vanities sit on the floor like furniture. They're the most common type and come in the widest range of styles:

• •Traditional: Raised legs with decorative panels, often with turned legs or carved details
• •Transitional: Clean lines with subtle detailing — the most versatile style
• •Shaker: Recessed panel doors with clean geometry. The most popular style in Raleigh-area bathrooms
• •Modern: Flat-panel doors, handleless or with minimal bar pulls

Freestanding vanities are easier to install than floating units since they don't require specialized wall mounting. They're the best choice for bathrooms with older walls that may not have consistent stud placement.

Double Vanities

Double vanities provide two sinks, two storage areas, and a shared countertop. They're ideal for master bathrooms but require more space:

• •Minimum room width: 8 feet to accommodate a 60-inch double vanity with comfortable circulation
• •Plumbing: Requires two drain lines and two water supply connections, which may mean additional plumbing rough-in work
• •Standard widths: 48, 60, and 72 inches are the most common
• •Countertop considerations: Longer countertops in stone require support brackets or a center support leg to prevent cracking

Vessel Sink Vanities

Vessel sinks sit on top of the countertop rather than below or flush with it. They create a dramatic design statement but come with practical trade-offs:

• •Height: The sink adds 4-6 inches to the total height. A standard 36-inch vanity with a vessel sink puts the rim at 40-42 inches — too high for some users
• •Splash: Water can splash over the rim more easily than with undermount sinks
• •Cleaning: The junction between the sink base and countertop requires regular attention
• •Best application: Guest bathrooms or powder rooms where form outweighs daily-use practicality

Countertop Material Options

The countertop is the vanity's most visible and most-touched surface. Choose based on durability, maintenance requirements, and how the material works in a wet bathroom environment.

Quartz (Engineered Stone)

Quartz is the most popular choice for bathroom vanities and for good reason:

• •Non-porous: Never needs sealing. Resists stains from toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, and hair products
• •Consistent appearance: Manufactured slabs provide uniform color and pattern, making it easy to match across different pieces
• •Durable: Resists scratching, chipping, and heat (though trivets are recommended for hot styling tools)
• •Price range: $50-$120 per square foot installed
• •Best for: Daily-use bathrooms where low maintenance is a priority

Natural Stone (Granite, Marble)

• •Granite: Extremely hard, heat-resistant, and available in dramatic patterns. Requires sealing every 1-2 years. $40-$100/sq ft installed.
• •Marble: Elegant veining and luxurious feel, but porous and susceptible to etching from acidic products (lemon, some cleaners). Requires more maintenance than granite or quartz. $50-$150/sq ft installed.
• •Best for: Master bathrooms and powder rooms where appearance is paramount and you're committed to maintenance

Solid Surface (Corian and Similar)

• •Seamless: Sink and countertop can be fabricated as one piece with no joints
• •Repairable: Scratches and minor damage can be sanded out
• •Moderate cost: $30-$70/sq ft installed
• •Limitation: Not as heat-resistant as stone, and can be damaged by hot styling tools placed directly on the surface

Laminate

• •Budget-friendly: $10-$30/sq ft installed
• •Wide variety: Thousands of colors and patterns, including convincing stone and wood looks
• •Limitation: Edge seams can allow moisture intrusion over time, and laminate can't be repaired if chipped or burned
• •Best for: Budget renovations, rental properties, or temporary solutions

Plumbing Considerations

Vanity installation isn't just about the cabinet and countertop — the plumbing underneath determines what's feasible and what requires modification.

Drain Location

• •Standard position: Center of vanity cabinet, roughly 18 inches from the floor
• •Moving the drain: If you're changing from a pedestal sink to a vanity (or vice versa), the drain stub-out may need relocation. This involves opening the wall behind the vanity
• •Off-center drains: Some vanity designs (particularly those with offset sinks) require drain lines that don't align with standard rough-in positions

Water Supply Lines

• •Standard position: Hot and cold supply valves located below the sink, typically 20-22 inches from the floor
• •Shut-off valves: If your supply valves are older (gate valves), we recommend upgrading to quarter-turn ball valves during the remodel for reliable shut-off
• •Supply line length: Braided stainless steel supply lines are the current standard. They're flexible and resist bursting far better than older plastic or chrome supply tubes

P-Trap and Waste Connection

• •P-trap clearance: Ensure the vanity cabinet has adequate space for the P-trap assembly (typically 6-8 inches of clearance below the drain)
• •Wall-mounted vanities: Often require an in-wall P-trap to maintain the clean, open look beneath the vanity. This requires wall modification during rough-in

Dimensions Guide

Choosing the right vanity size affects both aesthetics and daily functionality:

Width

| Bathroom Size | Recommended Vanity Width | Notes |

|---------------|-------------------------|-------|

| 5×7 or smaller | 24-30 inches | Maximizes floor space |

| 5×8 standard | 30-36 inches | Most common for Raleigh-area homes |

| 6×9 or larger | 36-48 inches | Room for generous counter space |

| Master bath | 48-72 inches (double) | Requires adequate wall space |

Depth

• •Standard depth: 20-22 inches from wall to front edge
• •Shallow depth: 16-18 inches for tight spaces (half baths, narrow hallways)
• •ADA depth: 17 inches maximum for wheelchair accessibility with knee clearance underneath

Height

• •Standard (traditional): 30-32 inches to countertop
• •Comfort height: 34-36 inches to countertop (matching kitchen counter height — increasingly preferred)
• •ADA compliant: 34 inches maximum to countertop with knee clearance underneath

Storage Optimization

The best vanity maximizes storage without wasting space:

• •Drawer units: Pull-out drawers are more accessible than cabinet doors with shelves. U-shaped drawers that wrap around plumbing make the most of under-sink space.
• •Internal organizers: Tiered drawer inserts, pull-out trays, and dividers keep toiletries, brushes, and products organized
• •Medicine cabinet: If wall space above the vanity allows, a recessed medicine cabinet provides enclosed storage without protruding into the room
• •Open shelving: Some transitional and modern vanities include open shelving below — great for towels and decorative items, but requires regular tidying

How Vanity Work Fits Into Showerly's Remodel Packages

Showerly specializes in shower and tile work, but vanity installation is a natural companion to many bathroom remodels. Here's how we handle it:

• •Scope coordination: If your remodel includes vanity replacement, we coordinate the sequence — vanity installation happens after floor tile is complete and before final trim work
• •Floor tile continuity: When we tile your bathroom floor, we tile under where the vanity will sit (or to the edge if it's wall-mounted). This ensures a clean look and future flexibility if you ever change vanity sizes
• •Plumbing coordination: If the vanity requires plumbing modifications, our plumber handles it during the rough-in phase alongside shower plumbing

Vanity installation pairs well with any of our shower packages. Many homeowners combine a shower remodel with a vanity upgrade for a complete bathroom transformation.

Ready to discuss vanity options for your bathroom? Book a free design consult and we'll help you choose the right type, size, countertop material, and style for your space. View completed projects in our gallery to see how vanities complement our shower work, or call (984) 895-0101 with questions.