How to Turn a Cabinet into a Bathroom Vanity

I’m putting my hand up right now to say I do not like modern bathroom vanities. Yes, I realise they are easy to install and provide much-needed storage but I still don’t like them. In our last three houses, we’ve converted a cabinet into a bathroom vanity using the steps outlined below. The process is simple. The look you create is custom, matches with whatever style you’re going for and usually at a fraction of the cost of buying an off the shelf vanity. Read on to see how and find tonnes of inspiration pics for your vanity makeover.

Furniture You Can Use as a Vanity

As I mentioned before, we’ve converted a number of different furniture pieces into bathroom vanities. In the picture below, at our little cottage, we used a timber bedside table. This was perfect for the minuscule size of the bathroom, though it was hard to find a cabinet small enough to fit into the tiny bathroom and then a basin that fit the top. To protect the timber from water damaged I added two coats of marine grade varnish and kept the timber colour.

In our most recent house before the farm, we added a downstairs bathroom as there were no facilities in the house. The house was convict-built, so it had an outdoor toilet and the only bathroom was upstairs. It was so mad how visitors would NEVER go to the bathroom until we installed the bathroom downstairs. They didn’t like the outdoor loo and they wouldn’t climb the stairs to the indoor one. Anyway, for this installation, we used a second-hand console table we got at an auction for $70. I painted it, added varnish and changed the knobs. This console table was the easiest to convert as it had a gap between the two drawers for pipework but more on that later.

Here at the farmhouse we now have two bathrooms. Our ensuite has an antique cedar washstand for a vanity. Again, this is easy to convert, the only foreseeable problem being the marble top. Drilling a hole through this for the drain could easily have cracked the antique marble. Another thing to consider when using a piece like this is the pipes will be on show underneath. We forgot about this but luckily, as our wall tiles are white, you can’t notice the pipe. If the pipe is going to be visible you can make a feature of it with metal pipework that matches your scheme.

In our main bathroom, we’ve stuck with the theme of converting an old washstand by adding an above counter basin. Again, this one was an easy job as the drawers leave space for pipes. I’ve also seen a chest of drawers and bedroom dressing table used as a vanity. These look great but require more work to set up. The drawers will need to be trimmed if you want them to open. You might decide that you don’t need the drawers to open so drilling a hole through each drawer bottom for the pipes will be easy to do.

Steps to Turn a Cabinet into a Bathroom Vanity

The first priority when you turn a cabinet into a bathroom vanity is to choose the piece of furniture you want to use. We measured our spaces so we knew what to look for when we were searching. Consider the height too. Standard vanity height in Australia is 850mm. Higher is acceptable but lower most definitely is not. Not unless you live in a house made for Hobbits or Oompah Loompahs anyway. You also need to consider the height of the basin you intend to use. If your bench height is too far above standard heights an above counter basin will make it even higher and not look good.

After choosing the vanity, you need to select a basin and taps. There are SO many options with varying price tags. For all our basins, we’ve gone with a basic vitreous china basin from Bunnings as they’re cost-effective. The look is not much different to a more expensive version. If you want to makeover your bathroom on a budget an expensive basin won’t be high on the list. Just make sure you choose china over plastic. That does look cheap!

Taps are the same. There is a huge variety on price and style. Here, my advice is to go with the best you can afford. You don’t want to be buying new taps in a year. This happens all the time with the ‘budget’ versions. To save money and effort, choose taps that can fit into your existing plumbing. Our ensuite bath is built from scratch so I was able to pick the position of the taps and the plumber did the pipework for installation. You’ll need to have all these items BEFORE the plumber comes so he can install or change any pipes to suit.

Finishing Your Vanity

Next, pick a finish for your vanity. No matter how you choose to finish your piece you should put a coat of marine grade varnish on the top. This provides good protection from water damage. Our ensuite vanity has a marble top which is very easy to keep clean. It was dirty when we got it, after years being stuck in a shed, I suppose, so I mixed a paste of Borax and water then scrubbed in a circular motion with fine grade steel wool. The result was a perfect greyish slab.

To finish the legs of this piece I mixed linseed oil and turpentine in equal parts. I then scrubbed the legs with 0000-grade steel wool dipped into this mixture. This works well on old timber. It removes layers of grime and conditions the wood, bringing out the natural colour of the timber and protecting it. Once the mixture has a chance to soak in you can buff it to a low sheen with a soft cloth. It’s then ready to varnish or wax.

Once you’ve prepared your cabinet for installation and have pipework ready its a simple process of using a hole cutting tool that attaches to a cordless drill and drilling holes in the top and back of the cabinet if needed. To find the place to drill the top hole, sit the basin in the position you want it and mark a spot in the centre. (Having the hole line up with where the water comes out of the tap is best to avoid splashes.) To find the drill spot for the drain, line the cabinet up with the wall pipes, mark and drill.

At this point, I’d seal these two holes with varnish, too. Any splash on bare wood can cause damage over time.

The last step to turn a cabinet into a bathroom vanity is to put the sink on, connect all the pipes and then use a waterproof caulk to caulk along the wall at the back of your vanity and around the basin. This makes the area waterproof. The best tip I can give you here is to invest in a good caulking gun. I bought two cheap ones before I realised it wasn’t me!

Alternative Bathroom Vanity Ideas