Your bathroom vanity has one job: hold a sink. But in real life, it’s also expected to store 47 tiny bottles,
survive daily splashes, and look cute while doing it. If your current setup is a sad box with one wobbly door
(or worseno storage at all), a DIY bathroom vanity can be the best kind of upgrade: customized for your space,
your style, and your specific collection of hair ties that multiply overnight.
Below are 19 DIY bathroom vanity ideas that range from “I can handle a paintbrush” to “I own a level and I’m not
afraid to use it.” You’ll find builds from scratch, smart makeovers, and repurposed furniture that adds instant
characterplus storage tricks that make small bathrooms feel bigger and busy bathrooms feel calmer.
Before You Start: The 10-Minute Vanity Plan That Saves You Hours
A vanity is basically a cabinet that lives in a humid environment while juggling plumbing. That means planning
matters more here than, say, building a cute bookshelf for your living room. Do these quick checks first:
1) Measure like you mean it
- Width: Measure wall-to-wall and leave clearance for door swings and drawers.
- Depth: Typical vanities are deeper than you think; smaller bathrooms often do better with a shallower cabinet.
- Height: Many homes use a “comfort-height” vanity that’s taller than older standard styleschoose what feels right for your household.
2) Decide on sink and countertop style
- Drop-in sink: Easiest for DIY because the rim covers minor cut imperfections.
- Undermount sink: Sleek, but requires more precision and a compatible countertop.
- Vessel sink: Great for repurposed furniture because the basin sits on topless cabinet cutting.
3) Respect the plumbing (and your future self)
You’ll need room for the drain trap and water lines. Plan for a removable back panel or an access cutout.
If you’re converting a dresser, you may need to notch or remove parts of drawers to make space for pipes.
Tip: Keep shutoff valves accessiblebecause crawling into a cabinet during an emergency is not a hobby.
4) Choose bathroom-friendly materials and finishes
Bathrooms punish unfinished wood. Use moisture-resistant plywood when possible, seal exposed edges, and choose
durable paint or topcoat. Caulk around sink edges and any countertop seams. And if your bathroom fan is decorative
(aka never used), now is a great time to become a fan-user.
19 DIY Bathroom Vanity Ideas for Custom Storage and Style
1) Floating Vanity With Open Shelf (Modern + Easy-to-Clean Floors)
A wall-mounted vanity instantly makes a bathroom feel bigger and gives you extra visual “breathing room.” Build a
simple box cabinet, mount it into studs with a strong cleat or bracket system, and add an open shelf underneath
for baskets or folded towels. Bonus: sweeping under it takes five seconds, which is basically a spa miracle.
2) Repurposed Dresser Vanity (Vintage Charm, Big Storage Energy)
Convert a sturdy dresser into a vanity by cutting a sink opening, sealing the top, and modifying drawers for plumbing.
Keep two working drawers and convert the “plumbing drawer” into a U-shaped storage tray for hair tools or extras.
Add new pulls for instant style. This is the easiest way to get a one-of-a-kind look without paying antique-store prices.
3) Console-Style Vanity (Light, Airy, and Perfect for Small Baths)
Use a narrow table or build a simple console frame with a lower shelf. Pair it with a vessel sink and a wall-mounted
faucet if the countertop is shallow. Add decorative baskets below for toiletries. It’s the design equivalent of
“I’m organized,” even if one basket is secretly chaos.
4) Stock Cabinet “Hack” Vanity (Custom Look, Faster Build)
Start with a stock base cabinet (or two) and customize it: add feet, trim, panels, and hardware that match your style.
Paint it a bold color or go classic white. This approach gives you a near-custom vanity without building everything
from scratchand it’s ideal if you want clean lines and predictable storage dimensions.
5) Kitchen Cabinet Repurpose (Because Cabinets Don’t Know What Room They’re In)
Old kitchen base cabinets can become an excellent vanity base. Cut openings for plumbing, reinforce where needed,
and add a bathroom-appropriate finish. If the cabinet is taller or deeper than ideal, modify the toe-kick or use a
thicker countertop to balance proportions. It’s sustainable, budget-friendly, and oddly satisfying.
6) Corner Vanity (Max Storage in Awkward Layouts)
Corner vanities shine in tight bathrooms where every inch matters. Build a triangular cabinet or adapt a corner
cabinet, then use a corner sink or a compact drop-in. Add lazy-Susan-style storage inside for cleaning supplies and
backups. It turns “dead corner” into “why didn’t we do this sooner?”
7) Narrow “Linen Tower + Sink Base” Combo (Vertical Storage Win)
If your bathroom has zero closets, build upward. Pair a slim sink base with a tall side cabinet for linens and toiletries.
Keep the tower shallow so it doesn’t feel bulky. Add adjustable shelves and a hidden outlet for toothbrushes or a hair dryer.
It’s like adding a closet without arguing with your walls.
8) Open-Shelf Vanity (Farmhouse Feel, Grab-and-Go Function)
Build a simple base with two or three open shelves and add a countertop and sink. This design is budget-friendly and
fast to build, and it forces you to keep things tidybecause everything is visible. Use matching bins to hide smaller items,
and reserve one shelf for rolled towels that look fancy even when you’re not.
9) Shaker-Style Vanity Build (Timeless, Clean Lines)
Shaker doors are the little black dress of cabinetry: they always work. Build a box carcass, add face frame, then create
Shaker-style doors with simple rails and stiles. Add soft-close hinges and you’ll feel like you live in a showroom.
Paint it or stain iteither way, it’s a forever style.
10) Slab-Front “Euro” Vanity (Minimalist, Modern, Easy to Wipe)
For a sleek look, go slab-front with flat doors and drawers. Use edge banding for a clean finish and choose modern pulls,
or go handle-free with a routed finger pull. Pair with a simple stone-look top for a crisp, modern vibe that makes your
bathroom look instantly updated.
11) Vanity With Tilt-Out Top Trays (Tiny Storage That Feels Genius)
Add tilt-out trays at the top front of the vanity for toothbrushes, floss, and small items. It’s a simple upgrade that
keeps clutter off the counter and makes morning routines smoother. This idea works both for new builds and for retrofitting
existing cabinet frontsbecause the best storage is the kind you don’t notice until you need it.
12) Toe-Kick “Secret Drawer” (Hidden Storage for Extras)
If your vanity has a recessed toe-kick, you can convert that dead space into a shallow pull-out drawer for spare soap,
travel items, or cleaning cloths. It’s a clever upgrade that feels high-end and helps keep the main cabinet less crowded.
Just be prepared to feel smug every time you use it.
13) Pull-Out Vertical Organizer (Stop the Under-Sink Pile-Up)
Add a narrow pull-out cabinet beside the sink base for hair products, cleaning sprays, or extra toilet paper. This is
especially helpful in shared bathrooms where supplies multiply. Use adjustable shelves or wire racks inside. The goal is
simple: no more “everything falls out when I open the door” moments.
14) Sliding Barn-Style Doors (Style + Practical Access)
Traditional doors need swing space, which can be annoying in tight bathrooms. Sliding doorsbarn-style or simple track
slidersmake access easier and add character. Use moisture-resistant materials and seal well. It’s a great way to bring
texture and warmth to an otherwise tile-and-porcelain-heavy room.
15) Cane Webbing or Rattan Panels (Instant Texture Without Heavy Visual Weight)
Swap solid cabinet panels for cane webbing to add airflow and a breezy, designer look. This works beautifully for linen
storage and helps reduce the “big box” feel. Seal wood frames properly for bathroom humidity, and keep splash zones away
from the woven panel areas. The vibe says “boutique hotel,” but your budget says “DIY legend.”
16) Fluted or Slatted Wood Fronts (Trendy, Warm, and Surprisingly DIY-Friendly)
Create fluted texture using reeded panels, half-round trim, or evenly spaced wood slats. Paint it to match your walls for
a subtle custom look, or stain it for warmth. Pair with simple hardware so the texture stays the star. This approach works
on drawer faces, door fronts, or even as a full vanity wrap.
17) Concrete-Style Countertop Overlay (Modern Look, Budget Approach)
Want that sleek concrete aesthetic without a full countertop replacement? Use a concrete overlay product or a cement-based
skim coat over an existing top (where appropriate), then seal thoroughly for water resistance. It’s a bold look that pairs
well with black hardware, warm wood, and minimal decor. The key is patience in prep and sealing.
18) Tile-Top Vanity (Durable, Custom, and Great for Color)
A tile-top vanity lets you bring in pattern or color while keeping things practical. Use a stable substrate, set tile with
the right adhesive, and seal grout well. Choose smaller tiles for easier slope and alignment around sink cutouts. It’s a
statement surface that can lean vintage, Mediterranean, modernwhatever your tile says when it speaks.
19) Double Vanity From Two Bases + One Counter (Shared Bathroom Peace Treaty)
Combine two base cabinets with a center drawer bank or open shelf, then top it all with one long countertop. This creates
a custom double vanity lookespecially good for primary bathrooms. Add matching mirrors and lighting to make it feel cohesive.
When everyone gets their own sink, arguments drop by at least 37% (not a scientific number, but emotionally accurate).
Finishing Touches That Make DIY Vanities Look Custom (Not “Weekend Project”)
- Upgrade hardware: Oversized pulls or warm metals can change the whole vibe.
- Add side panels: Cover cabinet seams for a built-in furniture look.
- Use a real backsplash: Even a short 4-inch splash helps protect walls and looks intentional.
- Seal every edge: Especially around sink cutouts, countertop seams, and any exposed wood.
- Plan lighting: A better mirror light makes your vanity feel more expensive instantly.
Conclusion: DIY Vanity Wins, Real-World Lessons, and the Stuff People Wish They Knew (500+ Words of “Experience”)
A DIY bathroom vanity is one of those projects that pays you back every day: cleaner counters, smarter storage, and a
bathroom that finally looks like you chose it on purpose. And while the ideas above are the fun partfloating shelves!
secret toe-kick drawers! vintage dressers living their best second lifethe “experience” side of vanity projects is what
separates a vanity that looks good in photos from one that still looks good after a year of real life.
Here are the most common, repeatable lessons that DIYers tend to share after building or upgrading a vanity (the
practical stuff that doesn’t always make it into the pretty reveal shot):
Moisture is the main character. Bathrooms are humid, splashy, and occasionally chaotic. DIYers often say
their biggest “I’d do this differently” moment comes down to sealing: exposed plywood edges, unsealed cutouts around the
sink, or skipping caulk along the backsplash. The vanity might look perfect on day one, but water finds tiny gaps like it
has a map. The fix is boring but effective: prime well, seal edges, topcoat for durability, and use quality caulk where
water likes to hang out.
Plumbing clearance is not optional. People love the idea of keeping all dresser drawers functional,
right up until they meet the drain trap. The real-world move is to plan one “sacrifice drawer” that becomes a U-shaped
organizer or a shallow tray. Many DIYers report that once they accepted this, their storage actually improvedbecause a
thoughtfully cut drawer is more useful than a deep drawer that can’t open at all.
Wall-mounting feels scary… until it’s done correctly. Floating vanities show up again and again in
successful DIY remodels because they make the room feel larger and easier to clean. The lesson DIYers share is consistent:
find studs, use a solid mounting system (like a cleat), and don’t guess. The confidence comes from careful measuring,
pre-drilling, and checking level multiple times. Once it’s anchored properly, a floating vanity is surprisingly sturdy.
Storage should match habits, not fantasies. This is the big one. DIYers often start with “I want a clean
counter,” then realize the reason counters get messy is that storage doesn’t fit the way people actually use the bathroom.
The best vanity builds reflect real routines: pull-outs for daily products, a dedicated bin for hair tools, a tray for
skincare, and a reachable spot for extra hand towels. Even small tweakslike a tilt-out tray or a narrow pull-outcan
change how the space functions more than a fancy faucet ever will.
“Custom” is usually a stack of small decisions. A DIY vanity looks high-end when it has intentional
details: consistent hardware, finished side panels, clean trim lines, and a backsplash that matches the space. DIYers
frequently say the transformation didn’t come from one big expensive itemit came from choosing a cohesive look and
repeating it. Matching wood tones, repeating a metal finish, and aligning drawer gaps can make even a budget build feel
tailored.
In the end, the best DIY bathroom vanity is the one that makes your mornings smoother and your bathroom calmerwhether
it’s a modern floating box with baskets underneath or a vintage dresser that now supports a sink like it was born for the job.
Pick an idea that fits your skill level, plan around plumbing and moisture, and give yourself permission to prioritize
function. Style is fun, but a vanity that stores your stuff and survives real life? That’s the true glow-up.