Choosing the Right Vanity

It Starts With the Vanity

In most Australian bathrooms, the vanity is the centrepiece. It's the first thing you see when you walk in, the thing you use every morning and, if we're being honest, the thing that dates a bathroom fastest when it's wrong.

If you're investing in a quality bathroom vanity, you want to get it right the first time. Not just the look, but the size, the storage, the surface and the style. Here's how to think through each one.

1. Start With Your Space, Not Your Pinterest Board

It's tempting to fall in love with a vanity online and then try to make it fit your bathroom. But the smartest renovators do it the other way around.

Before you look at a single product, measure three things:

The available wall width. Measure the space where the vanity will sit, wall to wall. Leave at least 20 to 30mm of clearance on each side for installation tolerances. If you're replacing an existing vanity, don't assume the new one needs to be the same size; this is your chance to optimise.

The depth from the wall. Luma vanities have a cabinet body depth of 480mm and an overall depth of approximately 520mm including the benchtop. In a small ensuite, every millimetre of depth matters, so measure carefully. In a larger bathroom, the fuller depth gives you more bench space and a more substantial look.

The height. Luma floor-standing vanities sit at approximately 840mm including the benchtop. Wall-hung models let you set the height to suit you, so if you're tall you can mount it higher, and if accessibility matters you can bring it lower.

2. Storage: Think About What You Actually Keep in There

Not all vanity storage is equal. A single-drawer vanity looks sleek, but if you're storing towels, hair tools, cleaning products and toiletries, you'll run out of space fast.

Drawers are better than doors for everyday items. You can see everything at a glance and you're not reaching into the back of a dark cupboard. Soft-close drawer runners (like the Grass Nova Pro Scala system used in all Luma vanities) make a noticeable difference to how premium the vanity feels day-to-day.

A pot drawer (a deep, full-width bottom drawer) is ideal for storing towels, bulky items or bathroom cleaning supplies. It's the equivalent of a kitchen pot drawer; you don't realise how useful it is until you have one.

Open shelving works in styled guest bathrooms but collects dust and clutter in a family bathroom. Be honest about how tidy you are before choosing this option.

3. Surface Material: Why Polytec Thermolaminate Dominates

The vast majority of quality bathroom vanities sold in Australia use Polytec surfaces, and for good reason. Polytec thermolaminate is specifically engineered for high-moisture environments. It resists swelling, peeling and discolouration in ways that cheaper melamine or painted MDF simply can't.

Polytec offers an extensive range of colours and finishes across their full collection. Luma has selected a curated palette of four Polytec thermolaminate finishes for our vanity range: Natural Oak Matt (a warm timber-look grain), Blossom White Matt, Oyster Grey Matt and Cinder Matt. These cover the most requested tones in Australian bathroom design, from warm and natural through to clean and contemporary.

4. Single or Double Basin?

This one seems obvious but it catches people out. A double basin vanity needs at least 1200mm of width to work comfortably, ideally 1500mm or more. Below that, the basins feel cramped and there's no usable bench space between them.

If your bathroom is under 1200mm wide at the vanity wall, a single basin with generous bench space will actually feel more luxurious than a cramped double. Quality over quantity.

Also consider your household. If two people genuinely get ready at the same time every morning, a double basin is worth the investment. If one of you is always in the shower while the other uses the vanity, a single basin with better storage might serve you better.

5. Taps and Handles: The Details That Tie It Together

Your tap finish and handle choice tie the whole vanity together. The current trend in Australian bathrooms leans toward matte black, brushed nickel and chrome, and all three work beautifully with the Luma colour range.

Match your tap finish to your shower and towel rail. Mismatched hardware finishes can make a bathroom feel uncoordinated. If your shower is chrome, your vanity tap should be chrome too.

Consider handle size relative to the vanity. A large 220mm bar handle suits a wide vanity with big drawers. A small knob works better on narrow doors and compact vanities. The proportions matter more than the style.

Extended basin mixers are worth the small upgrade. They're taller than standard mixers, which makes them more comfortable to use with an above-counter or semi-recessed basin. They also look more intentional.

6. Wall-Hung or Floor-Standing?

Wall-hung vanities create a sense of space by showing the floor underneath. They make small bathrooms feel bigger, they're easier to clean under, and they let you set the height to suit you. The trade-off: they need to be mounted into a solid wall or support frame.

Floor-standing vanities are simpler to install, can sit on any surface, and tend to feel more grounded and traditional. They're also better at hiding plumbing.

We've written a more detailed comparison in our Wall-Hung vs Floor-Standing guide if you're weighing this up.

Making the Decision

Choosing a bathroom vanity isn't complicated, but it does reward careful thinking. The people who end up happiest with their renovation are usually the ones who measured properly, thought about how they actually use the space and chose quality materials over a quick cosmetic fix.