What most people don’t know about bathroom vanities is that, in most cases, when you buy a one, you’re JUST buying the vanity. Bathroom vanity combos – which include the vanity top, sink, and faucet as well – are the exception rather than the rule. That means that the search for the perfect vanity doesn’t end with finding one you love. You still have to find, pay for, install, and even sometimes custom make all the rest of the parts, too. This can be time consuming, stressful, and expensive – so I’d like to present an alternative you might not have considered.
Why Stone Vanity Tops Are Stressful
When it comes to vanity tops, you more or less have two options: stone or laminate. Stone is more expensive and can be extremely fragile and difficult to install, but it’s also more attractive and longer lasting. Laminate, on the other hand, is less desirable and often less durable, but is also less expensive and often more forgiving in terms of installation. But what if you want the quality appearance of stone with a price closer to what you’d pay for laminate? I would highly recommend looking into a vanity with an all-ceramic vanity top and integrated sink.
The Benefits Of Ceramic
One of the greatest benefits of buying a bathroom vanity combo is that all the parts are designed specifically to fit the vanity you’ve purchased, and are less expensive because they’re mass produced in a way custom counter tops can’t be. The same goes for ceramic vanity tops, which are specifically designed to match their respective vanities. The bonus, though, is that while stone vanity tops are prone to breakage during installation, ceramic is much, much more durable and easier to install. Plus because the sink is already built into the central fixture, you’ll be able to get a smooth, seamless sink without the complication and difficulty of installing an undermount sink in a stone vanity top.
White Is Bright
Regular readers will know that I’m a big advocate of using white in bathroom design. It’s a classic color for a reason, and I don’t just mean that ceramic and porcelain are nicely water tight. If you’re like most people, chances are your bathroom isn’t huge, and any little trick you can use to make your bathroom look bigger, you should. Personally, I think using the color white is the best way to do this, contrasting texture (flat vs. satin vs. gloss) and pattern (hex tiles and subway tiles) rather than busying up your space with lots of colors or patterns (including stone vanity tops or tile). A hefty white ceramic sink/vanity top not only leaves your most-used bathroom space with a clean look, but actually adds a point of visual brightness that can help open up your bathroom space.
Keeping It Clean
If you’ve ever lived in an apartment or dorm (or really any kind of rental), chances are your counters and floors were all done in a nice speckly beige tone which did a pretty good job of hiding dirt. I can see why you might continue a similar theme in your own home (goodness knows, keeping even a small home clean can be a full time job!), but personally I prefer making something easy to clean rather than making it look good while it’s dirty. Ceramic vanity tops do this incredibly well. Like stone, they’re non-porous, which means they’ll wipe clean easily, and because the sink is built into a single unit, it’s easy to swipe any debris into the sink and down the drain.
Surprising Modern Style
In addition to the more basic advantages of opting for a ceramic vanity top, they can also be quite stylish. European designers have breathed new life into ceramic in recent years, especially ceramic vessel-style sinks, moving away from traditional round or oval sinks and into more modern, statuesque designs. The same holds true for some modern ceramic vanity tops, which are bigger, bolder, and sometimes even unusually shaped, both for the sake of style and often to add a little extra counter space.
…Or A Unique Classic Look
On the flip side, you can also find ceramic vanity tops that mirror more traditional designs. I personally love vanities that have the curvy, old fashioned sink basin you’d find on a classic 19th century pedestal sink, incorporated into a contemporary take on classic boudoir furniture. Bonus? The scooped front of these sinks allows you to fit a full sized sink on a petite vanity, which is great for a small bathroom or powder room.
If you’re shopping for a new bathroom vanity but haven’t yet decided what you want to do about your new vanity top, give ceramic a shot – it’s bright, light, easy to clean, and simple but unique enough to make a statement.
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