The Bathroom Design Trend That We Should Be Rethinking (And What To Do Instead)

There are numerous reasons to take on a bathroom remodel. Maybe your bathroom needs more functionality or storage. Perhaps you want to improve your home's value. There are many unique bathroom design ideas you shouldn't overlook, including upsizing your vanity mirror or replacing scratched and fading floor tiles. It can even be fun to make it a DIY project. However, there are also some outdated trends you may want to avoid — namely, the double vanity.

Complaints about double sinks range from taking up too much space and creating more clutter to adding unnecessary expense to your bathroom remodel. It may be more beneficial to have open space and extra storage. Even celebrities are weighing in on the double-sink debate. In a December 2021 episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," host Drew Barrymore said, "Nothing makes me angrier than the double-sink movement. I'm like, I don't want a double sink. I want a single sink." She was particularly annoyed by the lack of storage in a double vanity. And if you live alone, the extra sink just doesn't get used.

Bathroom redesigns, like putting in a walk-in shower to replace the bathtub that is going out of style, can be pricey. Getting a prefabricated double vanity for your bathroom might set you back $600 to $1,000. Plus, a double sink might also double the plumbing work. Double vanities can lead to a pileup of beauty products and bathroom accessories in odd places because the second sink takes up much-needed counter space. The excess clutter means more to clean up. Not to mention, you also have to scrub not one but two sinks. Finally, it's unlikely that you and your partner, if you have one, will be using the sinks (or even the bathroom) at the same time, reducing the need for a double sink.

Rather than spend time and money incorporating a double sink into your bathroom, consider the features you actually need. This might mean adding under-the-counter drawers where that extra plumbing would have gone or displaying a houseplant on the extra counter space. Install a small storage closet to hold linens and low-use toiletries and beauty products. That way, your possessions are no longer strewn about the bathroom, helping with cleanliness and stopping bathroom countertop clutter in its tracks. Finally, you can always opt to simply leave the space unused, which is especially handy if you have a compact bathroom.