3 Tips for Turning Furniture into a Vanity

In our last three homes, Ive used a cabinet as a vanity. I love the look and the fact I am creating something new from something used. At Blackbird Cottage, we plan to do the same thing. This time, we will mount a sink on the top of an old dressing table. To provide us with under bench storage.. We hope to add a stone top as well. The finish will be light and airy, but with that vintage twist I love. So, having done this frequently, I thought I would share my best tips to turn furniture into a vanity.

Tip #1

The most important advice when you want to turn furniture into a vanity is to measure EVERYTHING! There is nothing worse than scouring Marketplace and finding a piece you love only to get it home and discover it doesn’t fit. This tip applies to measuring the depth of the furniture piece, too. I purchased the basin for our vanity prior to finding a piece to house it, so it was essential the piece I bought was big enough for the basin to be in proportion. You can see a lot of ideas for this in the post I wrote about how to turn a cabinet into a vanity. Don’t forget to measure the height of the furniture as well. If the piece is too high or low, you will not have a pleasant washing experience, no matter how pretty the piece looks. Of course, it’s possible to raise or lower an old dresser or cabinet, but if you don’t want to mess around, look for one that’s your optimum height.

Tip #2 to Turn Furniture into a Vanity

Think about how you want the piece to look and the work you will need to do.

Are you the person (like me) who doesn’t mind stripping and sanding to get a certain look? If so, buy that piece that’s stained dark if it has the shape and size you want. However, if you prefer not to do any physical work, you will need to find a ready-made item that matches your desired appearance perfectly. This is possible, but it will take a lot longer to find that piece. Personally, I love finding a piece and giving it a new top or new adding new hardware. This gives it personality and makes it custom to your home.

Also, remember to make sure the piece you buy is stable and has no rot. A wonky leg is one step too far, even for me.

Tip #3

A bathroom vanity is exposed to water multiple times a day. Sealing the bathroom vanity correctly will help to keep it in good condition. This includes sealing the hole where the basin sits or the plumbing goes through the wood and then adding a layer of poly varnish over the top. Our new vanity will have a slab of stone on the top, so I’m not concerned about water there. But the sides and feet will need protection.

Bonus Tip

Remember you need to cut a hole or two for plumbing. Because of this you might lose the functionality of one or even two of the drawers. Choose the style wisely. I didn’t care about it in our other bathroom renovations, as we had a lot of storage. The cottage bathroom needs all the storage it can, so using both the drawers and not converting one into a face plate (fake drawer with plumging in) was a must.