Tips for Turning a Dresser into a Bathroom Vanity

One of the hot trends in bathroom design is to use an antique or vintage dresser or dressing table as your bathroom vanity. Because of the beauty, unique and elegant style and quality construction of antique or vintage furniture, turning a dresser into a vanity is a wonderful way to add a solid piece of furniture to your bathroom while still giving the room a lot of charm and character.

The first thing you will need to turn a dresser or dressing table into a bathroom vanity is a dresser that will fit the space where you want to install it. Measure the space where you plan to put the vanity including the width and depth as well as how high your sink is. The height of the sink can be adjusted slightly up or down depending upon the dresser, but should stay pretty close to standard height in order to ensure that it is still comfortable to use.

Once you have your measurements, head to your local antique mall, flea market, thrift store, used furniture store, garage sales or anywhere else you can think of that would have unique furniture and begin shopping for your dresser. When you find a dresser or dressing table that you think will work, measure it and make sure that it is in line with your measurements that you took in your bathroom. The depth of the dresser is especially important because it needs to be wide enough to fit your sink. If the dresser is too tall take a look at the legs and see if it is possible to cut it down a few inches without ruining the appearance. If it is too short try to brainstorm ways you could make it taller without it seeming awkward - perhaps by adding legs to it. Ideally you will find a dresser that is already close to the correct height so you will need to do minimal adjustments.

When you get the dresser home, begin by doing any painting or refinishing that you plan to do. Then take out the drawers that will be in the way of any plumbing and removing the braces or slides from inside the dresser so that it is just open space inside. Then, for any drawers that were in the way of the plumbing, remove the face of the drawer and glue or nail it onto the front of the dresser over the drawer hole to create a faux front. Cut holes in the back of the dresser for the pipes for the sink to run through or even remove the back of the dresser altogether if you can do it without sacrificing the stability of the piece.

Next, measure and mark out the lactation of the hole for the sink in the top of the dresser as well as for the faucet. Cut out the holes using a jigsaw. Run the pipes in through the back of the dresser and install the sink and faucets up top, making adjustments for fit as necessary. Seal around the sink and faucet to prevent water from running down inside the dresser. You may also want to consider putting a clear, waterproof sealer on the top surface of the dresser to help protect it from water damage and stains.