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For 36-inch vanity, would you do center or offset sink?

6 days ago

Hello everyone, this is a 36 inch vanity. (The shelf is tentative, probably will not add.) Do you think it is better to have the sink centered, or off-center to the left, for better functional bathroom? The sink is about 20 inches wide. There is not much space to the right of the sink for things. I could go with a smaller 18 inch sink?


Do you suggest the drawers to be on the left or the right side? Depending on the cabinet design, for cabinets with three drawers, I think I would lose the top drawer and possibly more if I keep drawers on the left. For a center sink I have seen them cut the edge of the drawer so the sink can clear.


Thank you.









Comments (19)

  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    Definitely do not do that shelf.

    Skip that side medicine cabinet. To me they scream 1980 spec builder.

    Just do a large medicine cabinet as your mirror. They even have some with LED lights and a power outlet inside. I charge my electric toothbrush in there, out of the way.

    If you do drawers on the right ... depending on the depth of the wall, make sure the drawers will clear the door trim when you try to open the drawers all the way. You might need a filler on the right to shift the drawers just a bit to the left to clear the trim.

    I would do sink on the left and 3 drawers on the right.

    Check the specs on the sink. Mine is called a 20", but inside dimensions are just over 17". I have larger vanities in the bathrooms and it is a good sink size.

  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    I prefer center. We did an off center in a small guest bath because when it was centered you had the toilet right behind you.

  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    Thanks @chispa and @eld6161 for your input. Two differing opinions, haha :( I will try to do center sink, may have to do some cutting of the top-most drawer to let the sink fit. I hope the countertop guy will do that.


    Good idea on the sink dimension. I am looking at Toto, could not find any other good sizes. One is 19 inch interior, and another is 17 11/16 inch interior bowl. I rendered the smaller bowl size, I think it looks good. Maybe I will remove the countertop backsplash and install a thinner backsplash tiles, too. Saves 2-3 centimeters.



  • 6 days ago

    No shelf, no medicine cabinet, yes to a towel ring or bar. That’s where one is needed

  • 6 days ago

    I would do sink toward the left like in your third and fourth pictures and more counter space on the right. Assuming you're right handed, isn't this where you would set your hair dryer, brush, mirror, etc.? And I would also put at least one electrical outlet in, including one to the right of the countertop to plug in things like a curling iron or a hair dryer.

  • PRO
    5 days ago

    Sink centered and a recessed built in mirrored medicine cabinet. No shelf

  • 5 days ago

    When considering the sink size, my husband - a big guy- felt the smaller sink made it difficult to get his hands soaped and rinsed.

  • 5 days ago

    Sometimes a sink will feel small when the faucet chosen is too low and has a short spout, forcing people to try to wash their hands right up against the back of the sink.

  • PRO
    5 days ago

    Are you talking about this bath, in THIS house?






    Why are you over thinking such a simple thing?

    Center the sink, recess a medicine cab, USE the drawers in the vanity. The entire problem began with the Toto sink, and vanity hand wring.

    You know why this below is so common at this size? Because you center the sink easy peasy,

    and you don't really want more than 15/17wide bowl in the darn thing: )

    Which leaves plenty of usable counter space.






  • 5 days ago

    Look at the Kohler Caxton sink. Nice size and the price was quite low when I bought them in 2021.

  • 5 days ago

    @JAN MOYER Thanks, Jan. I am doing a remodel with a contractor but I should have hired a designer to help with these decisions. Running into some issues so I don't trust his subcontractor enough anymore to do a recessed mirror.


    Cabinet guy was giving me bad advice on choosing a really large sink.

  • 5 days ago

    Sink size can be personal. It also depends what bathroom this is. Powder, don’t need lots of counter space as it is wash and go. Used daily you likely do for all your daily use items. Never let anyone is tall something without you being full aware of what it will end up like and giving the green light.

  • 5 days ago

    Thanks, @WestCoast Hopeful , that is good advice. This bathroom is a hallway bathroom.


    What does everyone think about backsplash? Should I use the 3" integrated backsplash, or do some square tiles (like Cloe) around? I know the render tile looks really bad.









  • 5 days ago

    Totally fine. Dont like tile idea.

  • 5 days ago

    Thank you @WestCoast Hopeful . I see so many examples online and it looks so nice. I guess this bathroom layout does not play nice with the tile.

  • PRO
    4 days ago

    The short backsplash looks better than tile.

  • 4 days ago

    Short backsplash, no to the tile. Too busy in this small bathroom. Center the sink. Sorry your contractor can't even be trusted with a recessed medicine cabinet. I've been there to.


    If you are seeking a shelf, get a surface mounted medicine cabinet with an open shelf below.




  • 4 days ago

    Definitely off-center.


    If you center the sink, you have next-to-no real, usable counter space /drawer space. Off-center isn't great, but this board is solidly united in th concept of FUNCTION MATTERS. So go off-center and allow yourself as large a drawer stack as possible.


    I'm not loving the shelf. Just a place to bring your clutter out front and center.


    With limited storage, I do like the idea of a medicine cabinet on the side wall, but consider one of those "hidden cabinets". And choose a deep one.

  • 4 days ago
    last modified: 4 days ago

    Thanks @Theresa Peterson How much space do you usually see left between the side and the edge of the sink? I've seen 3 1/4 to 4 inch range.

    Thanks @Kendrah . I found a nice IKEA one: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/faxaelven-mirror-cabinet-w-built-in-lighting-oak-effect-s89516825/ but I lose light on the mirror. I wonder if having a lighted mirror is helpful. I will have the light mounted on the wall above the mirror (no side sconces). Do you recommend a 36 inch wide mirror over a 36 inch vanity that is in the corner like this, or do you think going slightly down a few sizes makes it feel better?


    I found some other medicine cabinets. For left offset sink, which do you all like?