Bathroom Vanity Ideas: 39 Gorgeous Options to Inspire Your Next Makeover | Architectural Digest

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When it comes to interior design in the loo, playing with bathroom vanity ideas is an easy way to give your space serious panache. After all, the cabinetry often serves as a focal point—a vital component in any successful bathroom remodel.

“The bathroom vanity serves as a crucial functional hub where people can perform daily tasks,” says Mike Fisher, creative director and founder of Studio Indigo in London. “Like a kitchen, it must do a lot. First, it establishes the overall look of the space. Second, it’s functional and provides valuable storage for all your personal grooming paraphernalia.”

A bathroom makeover is a way to express creativity and add an element of surprise—striking stone, architectural curves, cantilevered sinks, and vibrant colors are all ways to wow. Here, 37 unique bathroom vanity ideas to consider without undergoing a major renovation.

A powder bath is the perfect spot to play with a vanity that is all about drama. Morrison Interiors zhuzhed up the marble slab with a fluted front detail, brass accents, and a dark patterned wallpaper to give it that jewel-box ambiance. “This vanity seamlessly combines refined elegance with modern touches, where bold wallpaper and softer accents come together to create an elevated powder bath,” says principal designer Rachel Morrison.

As Kast can attest, concrete does not have to be drab and boring. The Orme pedestal basin seen here features a silhouette that is both practical and artistic thanks to the ridged columned pedestals and a platform for soap and hand towels. Consider a pedestal sink to create a sculptural moment in the bathroom.

In this bathroom inspired by the earth, designer Jordan Weisberg opted for a curved custom-made vanity. It hugs the corner of the room, and benefits from soft, natural light that illuminates it just so. The touch of blue in the countertop stone is complemented by the palette of pink and sand.

A custom soapstone sink on a vintage cabinet elegantly blends old-world charm with modern sophistication. “Its rich color and veining create striking contrast while the honed marble floors add an upscale, contemporary touch, ensuring the space feels intentional and unique,” says interior designer Lindsey Colhoun.

This vanity creates contrast between Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble and much softer travertine stone. A bronze-tinted mirror–framed with a brushed brass outline–opens up the space. Having two very large mirrors face-to-face allows the daylight to be diffracted to give a feeling of loftiness, says designer TK of Girodroux & Delpy.

A white oak vanity can command special interest when the silhouette has clean lines. AD Pro Directory member Kristen Pena of K Interiors accented this custom Shade Designs piece with Brizo fixtures and hardware, a CB2 mirror, and Modern Metier sconces.

You can’t go wrong with a navy vanity, but adding blue tile around gives your bathroom more impact. For a curated monochromatic effect, the vanity is painted a Hauge Blue by Farrow & Ball and enveloped by hand-glazed Ann Sacks tile. Designer Jeff Andrews, an AD Pro Directory member, aimed to make this utilitarian piece more like furniture. “A simple and symmetrical vanity is easy on the eyes and maximizes storage,” he says. “The antique brass hardware from the Golden Lion and the lighting by Apparatus contrast the polished nickel fixtures by Waterworks. The result is a bathroom vanity that is balanced, beautiful, and functional.”

To counterbalance the tunnel-like effect of a small powder room, Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors, an AD Pro Directory member, selected a custom walnut vanity that offset the verdant wallpaper, creating a cozy space. Opting for a wide mounted vanity also adds generous storage without the bulk. Sleek sconces echo the linear texture and balance the rest of the design to keep it from skewing too flowery.

Combining raw materials with thoughtful design, “This vanity stands out for its bold simplicity, creating a space that’s both grounding and visually dynamic,” Morrison, who designed the space, says. The natural stone sink, with its bold veining and monolithic form, sets the tone, and the textured black tile backsplash adds depth. Matte black fixtures provide a modern contrast to the warm wood tones and organic details.

Designed by Girodroux & Delpy, this entire bathroom is covered in blue custom-made terrazzo. The smart choice make the vanity the star and elevates a simple design into a focal point. Think of it as an alternative to marble that is both refined and elegant.

To keep the Nero Marquina marble vanity from plunging into the depths of darkness, interior designer Maria Pollard of Crosby Designs added custom Fromental wallpaper in emerald chinoiserie. Pollard worked with BVA BarnesVanze Architects to create the little jewel box. “The jambs of the sink were angled and mirrored to help the space feel larger,” says Stefan Hurray, architect at BVA BarnesVanze Architects. “The black stone for the vanity ties into the classic floor tile, while the trim was painted blue to emphasize the Fromental wallpaper.”

Rustic-looking vanities are the trick to making a space feel warm. But if you’re worried about overdoing it and leaning into the cabin aesthetic too much, consider pairing the wood with textured tile. Colhoun created a contemporary en suite by balancing the carved wood with handcrafted Cle Zellige tiles and leathered Taj Mahal countertops. The result? Cozy farmhouse charm that reads more like a sanctuary than camp digs.

Add whimsical cloud hardware to a children’s bathroom. Meryl Motyka and Simon Mimoun, cofounders of Mersi, surrounded the otherwise minimalist light oak vanity with iridescent tiles that winked at the theme without making the space too kitschy.

The blue-gray ceramic washbasin from Cielo Ceramica picks up on the silver travertine veins on the floor and the wall. Mersi embraced the minimalist look that borders on brutalist aesthetic and plays out well in a bachelor pad bathroom.

A raspberry pink bathroom vanity can look subdued with the right backsplash. “Vanities with an accented backsplash can create a timeless look and feel,” says E. Norton, principal of Norton Interiors. “The curve in this backsplash [reflects] the lines in the mirror and wallpaper, which creates cohesion.” Layering in heritage elements with playful ones, such as the rose gold faucet, further highlight the silhouette.

A quartzite vanity pairs seamlessly with a wall-mounted Waterworks faucet and a backlit mirror. You can’t go wrong with a creamy palette to give your bathroom an elegant look worthy of the most luxurious spa, as seen in this space designed by Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors.

Framing a laminate vanity is one way to differentiate your bathroom. “Metal banding gives it an upscale look and feel with zero maintenance,” says interior designer Meredith Heron, whose client was keen on lilac tones. Select a design with plenty of drawer storage to house all the lotions and potions.

Studio Indigo embraces the historical period details but adds “strikingly contrasting modernity” when coming up with design ideas for this bathroom. The artful vanity dominates thanks to a strong grayscale palette of grey and white that is as bold as it is harmonious. The surface features a dynamic assortment of stone levels, mixed with Dover White marble and Breccia Suprema stone, which creates sleek clean lines, with recessed vanity mirrors framed by marble surrounds. “To add depth and warmth, a Charcoal Tamo veneer has been added to the joinery to provide storage space that seamlessly blends in with the vanity,” Fisher says. Meanwhile, vanity lighting by Apparatus and Charles Edwards plays an important function by highlighting the architecture and providing a decorative feature.

Susan Hayward, founder, Susan Hayward Interiors in Milton, Massachusettes, used gold-and-white patterned wallpaper by Quadrille and brass hardware on a royal blue double vanity topped with a marble slab countertop to create a sophisticated and global allure. Two fluid rattan mirrors from Selamat sit above each sink, imparting natural materials into the space which are further echoed by subtle details such as bumblebees on the vanity light fixtures.

Paint the bathroom vanity a verdant shade for a fresh take on design. “While white cabinetry will always be classic, it is fun to break out of the box sometimes and go bold,” says Casey Putney, Putney House Interiors in St. Augustine, Florida. “Using color on cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms is an unexpected choice, and when it is executed well, really makes a space come alive.” In this bright and cheery bathroom renovation, the owner wanted a Florida-inspired space that her children could grow to enjoy over the years. Selecting a vanity that featured a bold color was an easy choice to make the space seem more youthful and fun. Putney used the peppy green on the vanity to tie the wallpaper to the penny tile, creating a cohesive design.

The steel blue vanity with detailed molding anchors the rest of the details—specifically the white backsplash set against the silver metallic leafed wallpaper, the etched glass vessel sink, and the honey bronze faucet. Jennifer Verruto, founder and CEO of Blythe Interiors in San Diego, also notes that the small drawers flank the center sink cabinet, creating a lovely storage idea that fits seamlessly in the elegant bathroom.

For San Francisco interior designer Noz Nozawa of Noz Design, a modern bathroom entails bringing in warm and organic elements. She custom-designed a flat-panel walnut vanity to complement the monochromatic geometric floor space. “I love how the vertical grain walnut wood vanity and the perky brass hardware give a nod to midcentury modern nostalgia in this otherwise contemporary bathroom,” Nozawa says.

Interior designer Megan Evans of Covington, Louisiana, elevated simple slab front cabinet doors with trim pieces to create a playful fretwork design. “Swapping out the hardware on the vanity instantly dressed the space up,” Evans says. This is one of the best small bathroom vanity ideas you can do on a DIY budget.

Evans loves using natural bamboo to invite a spa-like feeling into a bathroom makeover. “We used Carrara marble for the countertop, and mixed brass and nickel tones to add interest,” Evans says. Having that extra vanity top space allows for extra storage for toiletries or decor ideas like an ornate vase with greens.

The team behind Chinotto House in Gainesville, Florida, spruced up a bathroom renovation when working on a teenage girl’s space. “We customized her vanity to have a drop-down seated area where she could experiment with make-up and hair styling,” says cofounder Rachel Rector. The design included plenty of storage space for toiletries, eyeshadow colors, lipsticks, and hair accessories. The same walnut wood vanity tone is carried throughout the home to pull in the mid-century modern undertones of the design. The bathroom mirror reflects Fireclay tiled walls in shades of pink.

Take a page out of this designer’s style book: JuliAnne Kelly, principal of Carrier Design Co. in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, coordinated a white sink vanity with glitzy brass legs with a whimsical mirror and darling lamp shades that all pop against the patterned wallpaper. “With blue tones and shapes reminiscent of sea urchins, the wallpaper is quite fitting for a home at the beach,” Kelly says.

One way to optimize the bathroom wall is to install a floating vanity, which is synonymous with quiet luxury. “Crafted with utmost care and precision, this floating vanity showcases walnut wood, clean lines, and the illusion of weightlessness,” says Kelly Sopel, owner of Trim Tech Designs in Naperville, Illinois.

Concrete details are excellent if you’re looking for a modern vanity. This Pottery Barn freestanding vanity with a single sink can fit well in a farmhouse bathroom or a contemporary condo. The water-resistant acacia hardwood open shelving makes this vanity look airy and not too industrial.

Dallas-based interior designer Jean Liu got creative when she turned a piece of wood into a vanity with a vessel sink that contrasted against the neutral bathroom tile on the wall. Keep in mind that such a DIY project does require specific measurements and plumbing expertise.

Jean Liu Design opted for a narrow floating vanity in a light-colored wood and a wall-mounted faucet to serve as a backdrop for the large vanity mirror and hanging light that helped expand the bathroom space.

A white bathroom doesn’t have to be vanilla. Lexie Saine Design in San Francisco took it up a notch by adding a dose of maximalist design ideas such as the Claudette single vanity by Robern that features a fluted apron front, a brash-finished stainless steel frame and marble open shelf. “My clients and I were truly captivated by the stunning fluted details,” Saine says. “With its allure, we orchestrated the entire bathroom’s design, recognizing it as the pivotal piece that would define the space.”

Investing in a gorgeous floating marble vanity anchors the entire bathroom space, especially if you opt for a large mirror and offset clustered pendants to balance out the heaviness of the stone. “The clients wanted a clean but dramatic aesthetic for their pool bath,” says Lisa Carrothers, interior designer at Sandifer Design Build in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. “The ijen blue quartzite material with waterfall edges checked all the boxes for the vanity.

Sara Malek Barney of Bandd/Design created a cozy nook for toiletries and primping with this sinkless vanity. “This highly customized white oak vanity combines the beauty of natural elements with a traditional cozy flare,” Malek Barney says.

For the Los Angeles–based Breegan Jane, her primary bathroom needed to have a modern take on luxury design. She created a tranquil oasis filled with intentional detail. This vanity features a stunning baroque vanity mirror atop white stone countertops and oak cabinetry. The ottoman vanity stool features brass banding, adding an elegant touch to this spa-like atmosphere, Jane notes.

Play with geometry, as was done by the New York design firm Pappas Miron, who used stacked baby blue cabinetry to create a whimsical but airy effect.

Austin-based Kristen Nix Interiors elevated a gray vanity by having it curve on the sides and adding interest with a circular marble sink. The gilded vanity mirror and lights allowed the neutral shades to star in this beautiful bathroom.

Interior designer Kristen Nix opted to use a delicate mint green on the bathroom vanity and storage cabinet—using a darker hue or natural would would make the small space feel crowded.

Liu took a humble pedestal sink and made it pop by surrounding it with graphic black-and-white wallpaper.

New York–based design studio KKB Interiors went all in on the veined stone vanity, floor space, and wall to create a jewel-box-like effect.

While major furniture retailers have plenty of ready-to-install vanity options, you can also get creative with bathroom vanity ideas by putting a spin on a vintage dresser or credenza. “These can be retrofitted to handle the storage you need and often have carved details and brass hardware not found on new vanities,” points out Verruto, the founder of Blythe Interiors.

Liu even used a piece of wood to create a vanity with a vessel sink. If you do go the DIY route, keep in mind that transforming a piece of furniture into a vanity requires both plumbing and carpentry skills.

When polling design experts on what a timeless bathroom vanity means to them, they all agreed that natural is the color of choice. This could mean something like walnut or oak cabinetry, though it can also stay neutral with navy, charcoal, and taupe, Hayward adds. White and off-white design ideas are also a popular choice and “suitable for any bathroom, regardless of the door style. “Their enduring appeal speaks for itself,” Saine continues.

A bold vanity color can also make a statement, but know that popular colors tend to change rapidly and may not always endure, Fisher adds. When in doubt, stick to a white or wood bathroom vanity and bring in a bright design via paint color or coverings on the bathroom walls, which are easier to switch up.

According to 2024 US Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, “wood is the new white for vanities.” Gray and blue vanities tie for third place. “We are seeing a lot of darker greens, wood tones, and natural materials making a resurgence,” Hayward says. “Keeping the vanity style classic allows more freedom in color and materials.”

With the rise of eclectic bathroom styles, bathroom vanity hues are also getting more whimsical. “I’d welcome the introduction of more vibrant colors such as pink, yellow, and orange,” Saine says.

Historically, a traditional vanity is typically a sink with legs and limited storage, so anything with storage is technically a modern vanity, Fisher explains. But design-wise, sleek, linear vanities that are cantilevered or appear to be floating are examples of a contemporary aesthetic, he adds.

For Verruto, flat panel or skinny shaker doors, as well as clean lines and minimalistic detail is what a modern vanity is all about. Unexpected elements are what draws Saine to fresh design ideas: sleek slab doors, bold stone tops, and integrated sinks.