Skip The Builder-Grade Vanity: This Creative DIY Gives Your Bathroom Vintage Charm

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If you're pondering how to choose the perfect bathroom vanity while in the process of renovating your bathroom, why not add a bit of vintage charm by foregoing the boring builder-grade options and upcycling a cabinet to fit the space instead? There are numerous ways you can achieve this, whether you're working with a cabinet that you have on hand already or one you find secondhand. Something as simple as old cabinet found on the side of the road can be transformed into a pretty vanity that dazzles in comparison to those available in store.

This project is actually not that difficult, you just have to find the right fixtures to suit your particular bathroom. The first step is to find a cabinet that's just the right size for where you want your vanity to go. If the plumbing fixtures are already in place, take some measurements and then go hunting for the perfect piece. The next challenge will be to find the right top for your bespoke piece, but you could go in an entirely different direction and get something like a vessel sink to insert into the top of the cabinet you've chosen. However, the once trendy bathroom vessel sink might be a huge regret because it can be difficult to clean. Check out a recycled building supply yard or Habitat for Humanity Re-Store to source the basin and vanity top.

Your first step will be to prepare the cabinet. To make sure it's going to fit around your plumbing fixtures, the easiest thing to do would be to remove the back of the cabinet entirely. Alternatively, you could just take some measurements and cut an opening in the back if you prefer. Next, you want to give the unit a good clean to remove dirt and dust. To get a nice finished piece, it's a good idea to give the whole unit a sand using fine-grit sandpaper. This will remove any varnish or other protective coatings and create a good base for the paint.

Now, you have a few different options depending on the color scheme of your bathroom and the aesthetic you want to achieve. White paint is a universally unoffensive choice, but there is, of course, an entire rainbow to consider. If the unit is made from a nice wood with a gorgeous grain, you could opt for a stain and top it with something like this Senven Polyurethane Wood Finish in a clear gloss. Remember that the downside of a wood bathroom vanity is that it's going to be susceptible to water damage, so you'll want to protect it as much as you can. Once your cabinet is ready, it's time to add the washbasin top or fit the sink by cutting a hole for the drain and the water lines. For a completely different look, you could even hunt for a beautiful vintage glass bowl and use that for the washbasin. You'll just have to get comfortable cutting a hole in glass using a diamond-tipped hole saw bit.