Rich McKenzie | President – Metropolitan Bath & Tile

As a seasoned bathroom remodeler, I get a lot of questions from customers. I do my best to use my expert opinion to help them reach the best conclusion for their personal situation. Here is a common question I get about double vanities: “Should I eliminate my second sink for the extra storage and counter space? How will that affect roi?” And to this, I tell the homeowner to consider their purpose, space, and habits.

Consider Your Purpose

It is common for people to remodel their bathroom prior to selling their home to help increase the resale value. As a general rule, if you have a large enough space for a double vanity that will still allow for adequate counter and storage space then certainly two sinks would be most desirable both for practical use as well as for resale value.

Consider Your Space

Space can become an issue with double vanities and storage. So if your vanity space is limited then there are more things to consider. Two sinks will physically fit in a 48” wide space, however, having the second sink will use all of your counter space and will eliminate your ability to have under counter drawers because of the space needed for the plumbing under the sink. A 60” vanity space will allow for about 12” of counter space as well as a small 12” set of drawers in between the two sinks. That’s still very little counter and storage space. With 72” or more you will have the space needed for a double vanity, a decent amount of counter space and a set of drawers that will be very useful.

Consider Your Habits

If resale value and space are not your primary concerns and useful functionality is what you’re looking for then consider your habits.

Are you in a relationship or single? A single person would typically not need a double vanity and would benefit the most from having the extra bathroom storage.

If you are living with a partner, ask if you and your partner are generally using the sink at the same time. Usually, this is not the case and there are many times when both are not using the sink at the same time. One of you may be washing their face while the other is brushing their teeth. Or you might be brushing your teeth while your partner is combing their hair.

You should also consider cleanliness and product volume. Does your partner leave stubble or toothpaste in the sink? Do you have a lot of products that need their own space? Can you count on your partner to clean up enough after themselves, so you can have the extra storage space, or will you give up some of your products so your sink is always clean?

Conclusion

Ultimately, the most important factor is that both people can stand side by side and still have counter space and mirror access. In many cases, having one sink in the middle with a larger full-width mirror is the best solution. A center sink allows for a nice set of drawers on each side. Twice the counter space and twice the storage.

Everyone’s habits and reasons are different so it’s important to assess what your individual needs and goals are. There’s no right or wrong decision, there’s only what’s best for you.