12 Reasons You Can Have it All With a Floating Vanity
This simple bathroom addition offers storage and style in one easy-to-install package
It’s sleek, slimline, contemporary and perfect as a key design detail that works with a variety of different modern styles. Could a floating vanity shelf be the perfect focal point for your new bathroom?
2. Mix your surfaces
This chunky, marble-look design creates a statement in its own right, but the homeowners have been bold with the design of their bathroom, and mixed in other feature surfaces, too.
The trick to making them not compete is to blend with care, looking especially at the balance of warm and cool colours so that no part of the space feels out on a limb: Here, the striking patterned tiles (cool and warm) feature colours from the marbled vanity (cool), while the wooden shelf (warm) picks up another shade in the tile. In the mirror, a mosaic wall (cool with flecks of warm) combines all these hues to create an almost pixellated effect that holds it all together.
Find tile, stone and benchtop suppliers
This chunky, marble-look design creates a statement in its own right, but the homeowners have been bold with the design of their bathroom, and mixed in other feature surfaces, too.
The trick to making them not compete is to blend with care, looking especially at the balance of warm and cool colours so that no part of the space feels out on a limb: Here, the striking patterned tiles (cool and warm) feature colours from the marbled vanity (cool), while the wooden shelf (warm) picks up another shade in the tile. In the mirror, a mosaic wall (cool with flecks of warm) combines all these hues to create an almost pixellated effect that holds it all together.
Find tile, stone and benchtop suppliers
3. Create a cube
Deeper than most of the other examples here, this sleek and luxurious marbled unit is more a piece of sculpture than furniture, as it has limited practicality. But who cares when it looks this good? The design allows for a luxuriously wide basin, and the owners have kept it looking good with classy toiletries and well-edited accessories (and pale pink flowers always work beautifully with pale grey marble). The under-shelf serves a useful purpose, and storage boxes could be added, though the slatted design makes it a better home for towels. Fix storage cupboards flush to the wall to hide your bits and bobs in.
A mini version of this could work in a little bathroom, but if you’re scratching around for storage, the luxury of the space required might drive you mad.
See how to gather together ideas for your bathroom project
Deeper than most of the other examples here, this sleek and luxurious marbled unit is more a piece of sculpture than furniture, as it has limited practicality. But who cares when it looks this good? The design allows for a luxuriously wide basin, and the owners have kept it looking good with classy toiletries and well-edited accessories (and pale pink flowers always work beautifully with pale grey marble). The under-shelf serves a useful purpose, and storage boxes could be added, though the slatted design makes it a better home for towels. Fix storage cupboards flush to the wall to hide your bits and bobs in.
A mini version of this could work in a little bathroom, but if you’re scratching around for storage, the luxury of the space required might drive you mad.
See how to gather together ideas for your bathroom project
4. Keep it compact
Here’s a compromise: A little box in rich, warm wood that not only looks beautiful but packs in storage in the form of a deep drawer. The wood tones here stand out and are the key feature of this bathroom, so consider your own material carefully. Because this dark-toned timber is such a contrast to the bulk of the bathroom, you’ll help it to feel at home by picking a couple of other pieces (always remember the magic design rule of three) to help it to feel at home. Here, these come in the form of the coordinating shelf and mirror above, but could equally be a wooden canister or boxes on the opposite wall, or a bath tidy or floor-standing caddy.
If you want an effect that leans more towards the photo before this one, seek out under-the-basin units that seamlessly match their sinks.
Here’s a compromise: A little box in rich, warm wood that not only looks beautiful but packs in storage in the form of a deep drawer. The wood tones here stand out and are the key feature of this bathroom, so consider your own material carefully. Because this dark-toned timber is such a contrast to the bulk of the bathroom, you’ll help it to feel at home by picking a couple of other pieces (always remember the magic design rule of three) to help it to feel at home. Here, these come in the form of the coordinating shelf and mirror above, but could equally be a wooden canister or boxes on the opposite wall, or a bath tidy or floor-standing caddy.
If you want an effect that leans more towards the photo before this one, seek out under-the-basin units that seamlessly match their sinks.
5. Go curvy
Curved corners can be great in smaller spaces, since they protrude that little bit less into the space around them.
Again, if you’re introducing a stronger or darker colour with your vanity, try to balance it out by repeating the shade around the room (bath and loo brush do the job here).
Curved corners can be great in smaller spaces, since they protrude that little bit less into the space around them.
Again, if you’re introducing a stronger or darker colour with your vanity, try to balance it out by repeating the shade around the room (bath and loo brush do the job here).
6. Make a sandwich
For family bathrooms in busy households, you can still get away with making the most of the benefits of a space-boosting floating vanity, while packing in lots of storage, as this sleek example shows.
Here, two vanity shelves float (note that the bottom one is a couple of centimetres from the floor) and provide a space for a ‘sandwich filling’ of baskets for yet more storage, and towels.
Coordinate tiles or the wall colour with your drawer/shelves to keep the surfaces flowing into each other, rather than breaking them into blocks with different colours if you want to create the feeling of more space.
For family bathrooms in busy households, you can still get away with making the most of the benefits of a space-boosting floating vanity, while packing in lots of storage, as this sleek example shows.
Here, two vanity shelves float (note that the bottom one is a couple of centimetres from the floor) and provide a space for a ‘sandwich filling’ of baskets for yet more storage, and towels.
Coordinate tiles or the wall colour with your drawer/shelves to keep the surfaces flowing into each other, rather than breaking them into blocks with different colours if you want to create the feeling of more space.
7. Hail a half-and-half
A lot of the examples shown here have under mount basins, or designs moulded from one piece of stone or other material. But the semi-recessed alternative in this bright and breezy bathroom could be a more affordable option, as it gives you the opportunity to mix and match your components.
A semi-recessed basin design works very well on a floating vanity visually, as it neatly ‘spills’ over the front, just the right amount for balance (here, the fact that the basin front and the vanity front are the same height highlights this benefit). Be aware that you’ll lose storage opportunities directly underneath it, and be sure to take care choosing the right bottle trap, as this won’t be hidden by a slim shelf.
A lot of the examples shown here have under mount basins, or designs moulded from one piece of stone or other material. But the semi-recessed alternative in this bright and breezy bathroom could be a more affordable option, as it gives you the opportunity to mix and match your components.
A semi-recessed basin design works very well on a floating vanity visually, as it neatly ‘spills’ over the front, just the right amount for balance (here, the fact that the basin front and the vanity front are the same height highlights this benefit). Be aware that you’ll lose storage opportunities directly underneath it, and be sure to take care choosing the right bottle trap, as this won’t be hidden by a slim shelf.
8. Float twice
If an aesthetically beauteous block of solid surface material simply doesn’t work for your storage needs, don’t think you need forgo it. Here, the idea still works gorgeously, and yet there’s bags of storage beneath in a coordinating double-drawer unit.
Take style notes, too, from the little bit of open storage on show: Corralling creams and bottles into high-sided trays will keep things neat and attractive. For a minimalist boost, keep your trays the same colour as the surface they sit on.
8 ways to show off soaps, lotions and potions
If an aesthetically beauteous block of solid surface material simply doesn’t work for your storage needs, don’t think you need forgo it. Here, the idea still works gorgeously, and yet there’s bags of storage beneath in a coordinating double-drawer unit.
Take style notes, too, from the little bit of open storage on show: Corralling creams and bottles into high-sided trays will keep things neat and attractive. For a minimalist boost, keep your trays the same colour as the surface they sit on.
8 ways to show off soaps, lotions and potions
9. Give it the all-clear
This all-in-one basin-meets-vanity-ledge will work best in bathrooms where there is storage elsewhere: The extended surface is an aesthetic thing – treat it functionally and it’ll become a dumping ground for all manner of mismatched toothbrushes, creams and soaps. Instead consider it as a display shelf for decanted hand wash and plants, a well-edited trinket tray, perhaps, and a handy (but temporary) spot for plonking toiletries bags and the likes. For that reason, it’d be especially good in a guest bathroom, if you have one.
The rail adds some more practicality – just keep your towels tidy and colour coordinated.
This all-in-one basin-meets-vanity-ledge will work best in bathrooms where there is storage elsewhere: The extended surface is an aesthetic thing – treat it functionally and it’ll become a dumping ground for all manner of mismatched toothbrushes, creams and soaps. Instead consider it as a display shelf for decanted hand wash and plants, a well-edited trinket tray, perhaps, and a handy (but temporary) spot for plonking toiletries bags and the likes. For that reason, it’d be especially good in a guest bathroom, if you have one.
The rail adds some more practicality – just keep your towels tidy and colour coordinated.
10. Open up (just a little bit)
A full-width shelf might be too much for some (especially if you know you’re prone to untidiness). This option gives you the best of both open and closed storage. The open section provides just enough space for some neatly folded towels, while drawers at the top and hidden storage in the centre of the shelf will allow you to be as messy as you like, and no one will know.
A full-width shelf might be too much for some (especially if you know you’re prone to untidiness). This option gives you the best of both open and closed storage. The open section provides just enough space for some neatly folded towels, while drawers at the top and hidden storage in the centre of the shelf will allow you to be as messy as you like, and no one will know.
11. Welcome in natural wood
Double up your wash space and introduce a rustic touch by mounting matching basins on a chunky slab of timber. (Bear in mind you’ll need to treat your timber regularly to keep it waterproof and to stop it from rotting.)
This example isn’t entirely floating, as it’s supported at the corners by hairpin legs (easy to buy online in various colours). However, it is sometimes possible to mount basins on shelves that really do appear to float, typically, this will be if you have a solid-enough wall into which you can anchor it securely. Talk to a professional and start seeking out a piece of wood you love. For an even more rustic appearance, you could use a piece with a natural or wavy edged finish, which shows off the shape of the original tree.
Double up your wash space and introduce a rustic touch by mounting matching basins on a chunky slab of timber. (Bear in mind you’ll need to treat your timber regularly to keep it waterproof and to stop it from rotting.)
This example isn’t entirely floating, as it’s supported at the corners by hairpin legs (easy to buy online in various colours). However, it is sometimes possible to mount basins on shelves that really do appear to float, typically, this will be if you have a solid-enough wall into which you can anchor it securely. Talk to a professional and start seeking out a piece of wood you love. For an even more rustic appearance, you could use a piece with a natural or wavy edged finish, which shows off the shape of the original tree.
12. Light it for drama
LED lighting under any type of contemporary wall-hung or overhanging furniture (i.e. floor standing but on a narrow plinth) can create an atmospheric effect, highlighting the sense of it appearing to float. It looks as if this drawer unit has been fitted with strips of LED underneath that do just that.
Be aware that there are several types of white light, from soft and warm to sharp and cool. You could also opt for a colour.
Read more:
10 Droolworthy Bathrooms on Houzz
Bathroom Storage: 9 Ways to Squeeze in More
Tell us
Do you have a floating vanity unit in your bathroom? Tell us what it’s like or share a photo in the Comments below.
LED lighting under any type of contemporary wall-hung or overhanging furniture (i.e. floor standing but on a narrow plinth) can create an atmospheric effect, highlighting the sense of it appearing to float. It looks as if this drawer unit has been fitted with strips of LED underneath that do just that.
Be aware that there are several types of white light, from soft and warm to sharp and cool. You could also opt for a colour.
Read more:
10 Droolworthy Bathrooms on Houzz
Bathroom Storage: 9 Ways to Squeeze in More
Tell us
Do you have a floating vanity unit in your bathroom? Tell us what it’s like or share a photo in the Comments below.
This sleek shelf functions a little like a kitchen worktop, with units beneath it. Yet those units, of course, are only a drawer deep. Lower down, to pack in more storage without bulking out the space with solid cabinetry, there is a matching shelf.
Be disciplined with storage baskets – ensure they not only match or complement each other, but also choose the colour as carefully as you would with your wall paint. Keep your ugliest bathroom paraphernalia hidden in drawers, and keep your open baskets ordered and attractive, because, at this height, their contents will be on show. If you know this tidy approach just won’t last, source lidded boxes.