As I am 5'2" I would benefit from a lower section. How tall are you---decide based on that.

When this was a more popular bathroom option, vanities were often only 32 inches high, and the lowered section even lower. Now, most vanities are being made as high as kitchen counters - 36 inches. What do you plan for the height of yours? Then, as Rho Dodendron asks, how tall are you? Do you want to sit on a short vanity stool, or a counter stool? Do you want to let things occasionally fall off the edges onto the make-up section? Can you put the make-up section on one end, preferably near a window? Or have it entirely separate?

Designers will come on here and tell you that nobody wants these sit-down vanities anymore. I do. I use my 36 inch tall end of my vanity for this purpose, to sit and do my hair. If you want this feature, get it. The configuration of having the lowered section in the middle is a 1980s-1990s look, so being more practical and having one continuous countertop between your two sinks is more ”today.” You may also want to price out the difference between the countertop fabrication with the different layouts. Do two extra cuts (to lower it in the center for the make-up vanity) cost much more than a continuous 8 or 10 foot long counter, or is the longer counter more expensive because it is harder to move than 2 four foot long ones and a two foot long one? You may want to ask.

Thank you for your feedback!

I recently remodeled and had the sink portion raised to the new higher height and I had a vanity lowered so that I can sit at it comfortably.

I really don't understand why someone would want to stand bending over a sink while they do their hair and their makeup. It is so much better to be able to sit while I do it. FWIW I have always sat as I previously had a vanity in the master bedroom but decided to reconfigure the master bathroom vanity when I remodeled and have a sit down area in the master bath.

A little different take on the height: The vanity in our master is 7 1/2' wide and 37" tall. I'm 5'2". I've never in my life sat for makeup or hair unless at the stylist's and she's doing the work. If I want to steady a hand for an application, I just put an elbow down. No bending required. Not over the sink, but on either side of it for my tasks.

I wouldn't want the different height, prefer the continuous linear view. And, I'm not young, but old enough to be retired ;)

Hello - did you go with the 30 makeup area? Thank you

Hi Richardbub. May I ask what you ended up doing. I'm on the fence as well but I tend to agree with Morz8 - Washington Coast as I too prefer the continuous linear view for the counters. Do you happen to have a photo of your end result? Thanks so much.