In the majority of UK bathrooms, space is precious. Intricate planning and attention to detail is required to make sure that you make the most of the bathroom floor and wall space available to you. That space in front of your bathroom sink looks pretty good on paper, but is it practical? Technically, you could fit a shower, vanity unit, and toilet all in one tiny space. But do you have the space for it? And are there any regulations which require you to have a minimum spacing in front of your vanity unit?
In today’s article, we help you plan the space you need for your new vanity unit. Stick to these guidelines and you’ll be installing an attractive new vanity unit which fits your needs in a practical, stylish, and safe way.
What is a Vanity Unit?
Before we get to planning the installation of your vanity unit, let’s just quickly confirm that we’re all on the same page. Vanity units are the cabinets which house the main sink in your bathroom. They come in many different styles, shapes, and sizes. Some vanity units are freestanding, while others are fitted into existing bathroom furniture. Other types of vanity units can even be corner-fitted.
Primarily, vanity units create the platform for your basin and cover any unsightly plumbing. However, they’re normally extremely useful for adding storage to bathrooms that are limited in space. By installing a vanity unit, you could create rare space to store towels, toiletries, or even bathroom utensils. Plan your installation correctly, and you should both improve the practicality of your bathroom and incorporate a stylish new piece of furniture.
How Much Room Do You Need?
Now that we all know what a vanity unit is, how do they actually fit inside your bathroom? How much room do you need? And what else do you need to consider? These are the following things which you’ll need to think about to make sure you get the most out of your vanity unit and the space around it.
Measure Your Space
Be sure to measure the space in your bathroom. This is a detail you cannot miss – knowing the space you have to work with means there won’t be any nasty surprises. It also means that you’re more likely to get a vanity unit that fits the space available. You’ll know how high you can design your unit, and how many shelves you can fit inside. Width is also important, as you’ll need to leave a gap between other bathroom items such as the toilet and even a bath or shower.
Vanity Unit Style
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is the style of your vanity unit. This is crucial when establishing whether or not you have enough space for the vanity unit you’re looking to install. Freestanding units are completely different to compact units, and corner units are different again. The door arrangement and even the type of sink will all determine how much room you need for your new unit. If those doors swing out instead of sliding, then you’ll need to accommodate extra space.
Building Requirements
Now for the legal part! Technically speaking, you’ll need to leave a minimum space in front of your vanity units to meet building regulations in the UK. Most planning permission professionals will insist that you have at least 75cm of room in front of your unit. We say ‘at least’ because the reality is that this isn’t a huge amount of space. Many bathrooms will incorporate even more space than this in front of the vanity unit.
Practicality with the Rest of Your Bathroom
So once you’ve measured up the area in your bathroom, the dimensions of your new unit and the legal requirements for the space in front of it, does your plan actually work? Do you have enough room to use your bathroom effectively?
In a busy bathroom, you’ll need more room than you think – try not to place the vanity unit in an area which is going to cause any traffic or block any walkway. Make sure there’s enough room so that it doesn’t block a shower door, and so that the bathroom door doesn’t lose any space either. If anybody using the bathroom requires disabled access, then you’ll need to allow for that as well.
Vanity Units with Aspenn Furniture
At Aspenn Furniture, we guarantee to help you find the vanity unit you’re looking for. Our bespoke units, which are constructed in both soft wood and hard wood, are both a stylish and practical solution for your bathroom needs. You can also design your own bespoke vanity unit, allowing you to completely customise your new piece of furniture. As well as choosing between a marble or wooden top, you can define the height, width, material, finish, and handle type you would like on your special vanity unit. You supply your own sink and taps, and we make sure that the unit accommodates your countertop, inset, under counter or overlay sink.
Get in touch with our talented team today to find out how we can help supply and install the vanity unit that will make the most of the space inside your bathroom.