17 Clever Bathroom Vanity Ideas to Try at Home
Bathroom vanity units offer much-needed storage space in family bathrooms, perfect for keeping cleaning products and accessories out of eyesight. Whether you have a small bathroom space to work in or you’re looking to make your own rustic bathroom vanities that are full of character, take some time to view these 17 successful DIY bathroom vanity projects undertaken by our clever Hometalkers.
1. Waxed Rustic Bathroom Vanities
A leak in one of the under-sink faucets prompted Hometalker DeeDee to replace her bathroom vanity. She opted to change the countertop of the vanity unit, replacing the swirled marble top with rustic boards that they 'roughed up' to make them look like an old barn floor. The boards were screwed and glued together before being stained, lightly sanded, and sealed to protect against water damage. Get tutorial here
2. Open-Shelf Vanity Made from 2x4s and 2x2s
Hometalker, Wendi, wanted to create her own open-shelf vanity unit that looked like something bought from Pottery Barn – without the price tag. Wendi made the framework of her own vanity using 2x4s and 2x2s before making her own countertop too using poured concrete. The end result is a fantastic design that elegantly fuses rustic and industrial styles, becoming part of a timeless bathroom aesthetic. Get tutorial here
3. Painted & Distressed Wooden Bathroom Vanity
After her standard vanity fell to pieces after being delivered, Hometalker, Amy, opted to build her own replacement bathroom storage unit. She found a wooden cabinet, complete with vintage gold fittings and opted to paint it in "Old Time White", which looks like an off-gray. They sanded away the divots and scratches first before painting it, and then distressed it to create a rustic aged appearance. Get tutorial here
4. Faux Marble Laminate Countertop Adds a Luxurious Finish
With an all-new color palette and a clever faux-marble countertop, this Hometalker’s bathroom vanity was given a touch of class. The dated pink top was removed and replaced with high-quality Formica laminate, complete with a marble design. The cabinets were realigned and repainted in a matt graphite, providing a striking contrast between the storage and the countertop. Get tutorial here
5. Marble Effect Vanity Contact Paper Countertop
Hometalker, Brittany, wanted the feeling of a fully-fledged bathroom vanity makeover, but without the brand-new price tag. She did so using stylish contact paper to change the look of her vanity countertop. After cleaning and drying the existing countertop thoroughly, she applied the faux-marble contact paper by pressing down firmly to ensure secure contact and no bubbling. Get tutorial here
6. Mesh-Tiled Vanity Countertop
This Hometalker flips houses and tackles her own DIY projects. Her latest task revolved around dated small bathroom vanities. She hated the color of the cabinets and marble top. So, she set about replacing the top with plywood that could be tiled with mesh square tiles. With a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets and a tiled backsplash, this vanity was as good as new. Get tutorial here
7. Paint Job to Refresh Original Bathroom Vanity
Hometalker, Tatiana, had grown tired with the 1960s-style guest bathroom and opted to repaint the original vanity unit to breathe new life into it. With all of her budget set aside to tackle a mold issue in the bathroom, Tatiana removed and repainted the cabinet doors before replacing the countertop surface with a butcher block for a farmhouse-style aesthetic. Get tutorial here
8. One Coat of Gel Stain Transforms This Vanity
Have you ever heard of gel stain? If not, Hometalker, Eric, has got a real treat for you. He used this formula to revamp his bathroom vanity. He wasn’t 'feeling' the existing tint of the wood, and eventually came across General Finishes’ Gel Stain. The wood required no preparation, and there were no harmful fumes emitted from using it, unlike oil paint. Get tutorial here
9. Industrial Accents and Antiquing Wax Create a Rustic Vanity
Hometalker, Stephanie, wanted to step outside of her creative comfort zone and create a 'fun and surprising' space for guests in her bathroom. She fell for the rich, dark green color of Miss Mustard Seed’s Boxwood paint and opted to use it to breathe life into her vanity cabinets. The piece was finished with antiquing wax to achieve an authentic, aged look. Get tutorial here
10. Bowling Alley-Inspired Bathroom Vanity Countertop
Becky couldn’t stand her existing bathroom vanity and opted to make a cheap bathroom vanity herself, for less than the cost of a new one from a store. She bought a hairpin-legged stand on Craigslist before adding a characterful wooden countertop using pieces of maple from a disused bowling alley. A sinkhole was cut for her beforehand, then all she had to do was lightly stain and seal the surface. Get tutorial here
11. Antique Gel Stain Gives Stripped-Back Look to Vanity Cabinets
Marty is yet another Hometalker who raves about the qualities of Antique Gel Stain. She didn’t want to have to strip her wooden vanity cabinets down to the bare wood before giving the doors a makeover. That’s why she used the Antique Walnut gel stain from General Finishes to achieve a darker, richer streak-free finish to her vanity. Get tutorial here
13. Glass Knobs & Marble Add Vanity Character
It’s amazing what you can do to enhance off-the-shelf bathroom vanities. Hometalker Michelle bought a standard vanity from Home Depot and eventually tweaked it by adding her own custom marble countertop, stylish trim, and classy glass cabinet knobs. It just goes to show that you don’t have to settle for a builder-grade cabinet - with a little creativity! Get tutorial here
14. Primed, Semi-Gloss Paint Softens This Bathroom Vanity
Jessica had what many people would call a 'dream' bathroom. There was heaps of space and every feature you could possibly need. Nevertheless, the bathroom let itself down cosmetically. This Hometalker didn’t have the budget to replace the dated counter, so opted to prime and repaint the cabinets in semi-gloss sage green paint, complete with antique brass pulls. Get tutorial here
15. DIY Rustic Replacement for Guest Bathroom Vanity
After painting the bathroom wall and replacing the board and battens, this Hometalker decided to replace the vanity unit. But they didn’t just buy a new one, they built a new one themselves. The unit had to be 35" high to reach the top of the vessel sink. For a rich, rustic finish, they stained the unit with a blend of Kona and Dark Walnut stains before attaching the hardware. Get tutorial here
16. DIY Concrete Countertop for New Bathroom Vanity
This project sees a revamp of a bathroom vanity countertop that was 15 years old. It was a builder-grade structure and complete replacements were too expensive, so they opted to create their own new concrete countertop. After making the top, fitting a glass sink bowl and a farmhouse-style industrial faucet, it was a quaint vanity makeover on a budget. Get tutorial here
17. Gorgeous Chalk Paint Transforms Builders-Grade Vanity
This Hometalker is a self-confessed DIYer that starts and fails to finish tons of projects. Fortunately, this bathroom vanity revamp was simple enough to do in one go. The marble countertop was still in good condition, so she opted to simply repaint the cabinets using Waverly chalk paint, before using a glaze and a damp cheesecloth to accentuate the unit’s lines and curves. Get tutorial here
