Ideas for a 3 Ft deep space for bathroom vanity

last year

last modified: last year

Hello,
I’m converting an existing space to a new bathroom. Currently, due to some design constraints, my bathroom is a bit extra wide, and as a result, instead of the typical 24” depth for vanity, I have 36” depth for the vanity. The vanity length is also 36”.

Allocating 3’ depth to a vanity seems like an overkill to the space therefore I’d like to utilize this extra 8”-12” for something more useful if possible. Note, the vanity is located immediately to the left of the bathroom entry door, followed by the toilet, leading to the shower.

One of the ideas I’m entertaining is to put a wall mounted, 8” mirrored cabinet on the vanity wall, thereby creating storage. Any other ideas?

If I decide to place a custom sized vanity with extra depth then I suppose I will need to get it custom made. Has anyone done this and how much more $$ was this?

Here is the image of the bath: the dimensions are not clearly stated, but the vanity area is 36" deep. Note, while this offers an ample space to stand in front of the vanity while the door moves, it is also somewhat wasteful and the dilemma is how to use the space more productively.

Thanks in advance for the ideas.

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Comments (4)

Nancy in Mich
last year
last modified: last year
You have the perfect opportunity for a hidden storage space. You can install shelving a foot deep that goes down to the counter height. Use hinged or sliding mirrored doors as the front of the shelves. You can store rolled towels, hand towels, washcloths, Your electric toothbrush, water pick, shaver (with an outlet in a side wall), every toiletry you can imagine, hot curlers, hair dryers, WHATEVER! Even spare TP packages can go in the tallest shelves.

If you put in two hinged doors with mirrors on both sides, you can open them both in order to use them to see the back of your head.

Under the counter, you can have very deep drawers that go back into that extra foot of space. Or do a floating box for a vanity and put in hidden storage under the vanity for valuables. Access it with push-to-open hidden-hinged doors. You would have to crawl under the vanity to use it, but it would not be suspected under there.

See a local glass shop and cabinet maker to make the mirrored doors. Remember that you have to leave room in front of swinging doors for the faucet, so choose a short one or get sliding doors for the cabinet front.
homey_bird thanked Nancy in Mich
homey_bird
Original Author
last year
@Nancy in Mich : Excellent ideas! Thank you. Is it possible to see any photos similar to this design? I am searching on Houzz but if you have any, then that would be helpful!

For @Kiva Rhyme: I have uploaded the plan of this bathroom.

Note: There is no chance of changing this floor plan and tweak dimensions. At this point, that would trigger a process that we are not prepared to undergo.
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We are just finishing a similarly sized bathroom, with what sounds like a similar layout. Ours is 7.5 feet x 7 feet, with the door on one short wall and the window on the opposite wall. The best decision we made, I think, was changing the inward swinging door to a pocket door. That door took up so much space in the small room and not having it is a huge improvement. Beyond that the layout is the same as what was there before: tub along one long wall, with a wall and base cabinet (with a small counter surface -- the old cabinet was very deep, floor to ceiling, no counter) taking up the remaining space on that wall. The toilet and sink are on the other long wall. We went with a console sink, with a long shelf running the entire length of that wall, from window to door, above the sink, to give space for setting stuff. We also put in a recessed medicine cabinet. We're hoping that will give enough storage (along with the cabinet). It should be finished -- or at least usable -- by the end of the week. It's looking good so far but the true test will come when we start using it again! Good luck with your reno.
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I don't have a similar bath setup, but I would love to! :-) Well, I imagine I would love to but in reality that is not the life I live. So, none of the following comments come from any practical experience, as opposed to daydreaming! I think you already have a great starting point, but I am having a hard time reading some of the items on your sketch. Are you trying to fit a tub AND shower in the space, or just a tub? Is that a 51" tub? I couldn't make out the "???? station" in the closet. Personally I would prefer the entry from the bedroom to be at the bottom where it is shown in the designer's sketch, rather than by the window wall. That way you can't see in from the bed, and I think it would make sense to have the entry close to the hallway if your daughter will be joining you. Is it important for you to have a distinct bathroom and a separate closet/dressing room, or would you be open to a bit of blurring of the functions? Using the designer's sketch for reference, would it work for you to put the linens and hamper in that vestibule, the clothes in a more traditional "closet" at the bottom right, have a dressing/vanity area where the closet is drawn and the toilet and tub "wet room" in the same general area now shown? If you put the tub under the window you could put the toilet by the closet where the plumbing wouldn't be on your daughter's wall. You'd still have rooms, but it would combine the dressing area with the bathroom rather than the closet. Good luck!
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One of my pet peeves is drawers that are too shallow! It always seems, even with makeup, that I just need a scooch more room for even the tiniest bottle to stand upright. Since we had our vanity custom made, I had the drawers made exactly the depth I wanted. I measure what I figured would go in each drawer, literally folding and stacking towels, and pulling out the measuring tape...LOL. I did have U-shaped drawers made, and since there would be no drainpipes behind the top drawer, ie just sink, had the U go further back to gain a couple more inches. I have no U in the bottom drawer, but I wish I had specified that it go back another couple of inches too, as DH arranged the plumbing so that it cleared the bottom drawer. U-shaped drawers can be quite expensive if going with cabinet lines, that's why it actually made having them custom made by a cabinet maker an economical choice for us. Vanity was expensive, but it's beautifully made, exactly what we want, not limited by preset increments determined by a catalogue. As Babka said, be clear as to the inside dimensions of the drawer, whether glides will be bottom mount or side mount for instance, and make sure vanity will be kitchen height to gain a couple more inches!
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palimpsest
last year
I feel like that extra room is kind of valuable for "breathing room" instead of having the edge of vanity right at the door opening.
Denise Marchand
last year
last modified: last year
A toilet needs 36" in width especially if you are in a bath reno.

Consider moving the door towards the vanity and add 60" full height 4" deep medicine cabinets along the entire wall from shower to door (indicated by 5'-2").

Robern.com has the perfect one but costly. https://www.robern.com/products/medicine-cabinets/m-series-cabinets/full-length/mc2070d412le2

or you can have a simple 60"high x 4" deep cabinet made with interior adjustable glass shelves.

This particular cabinet has a wood frame and frosted glass doors.

Consider leaving the wall on the door wall blank. If you want to create a larger bathroom visually, mirror the side wall the depth of the vanity and vanity top to ceiling.

Ideas for a 3 Ft deep space for bathroom vanity

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Nancy in Mich

homey_bird
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Ideas for a 3 Ft deep space for bathroom vanity

Comments (4)

Nancy in Mich

homey_birdOriginal Author

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Denise Marchand

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homey_bird
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