The vanity is the hardest-working piece of furniture in your bathroom and its visual centerpiece at the same time. It's storage, counter space, the sink, and the first thing the eye lands on — so getting it right matters more than almost any other single choice in the room. Here's how to think it through, and what it costs installed in the Lehigh Valley.
A vanity has to earn its place twice — once for how it looks, once for how it works every morning.
Floating vs. freestanding
The first fork in the road:
- Floating (wall-mounted): shows the floor beneath it, so the room feels bigger and lighter — the modern look, and a real win in small baths. It needs solid in-wall blocking to carry the load, so plan it during the remodel (see small bathroom ideas).
- Freestanding: sits on the floor with more enclosed storage and a more traditional feel — easy, flexible, and the better fit for many family baths.
Single vs. double
Two sinks sound great, but they need room: plan on at least 60 inches of width for a comfortable double vanity. Below that, a single sink with a generous run of counter usually beats two cramped bowls with no landing space. In a primary bath where you have the wall, a double earns its keep at resale and on busy mornings.
Furniture-style & custom
In our older Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton homes, a furniture-style or fully custom vanity can be the difference between a piece that fits the period and the room, and a big-box box that fights it. Custom also solves odd widths, angled walls and the not-quite-standard sizes older bathrooms love to throw at you (more on cabinet levels in our cabinets guide).
The top
The countertop sets the tone and the maintenance:
- Quartz — non-porous, never sealed, endless colors. The easy choice for most baths.
- Granite / quartzite — durable natural stone; sealed periodically.
- Marble — luminous and classic, but it etches and needs care.
- Cultured marble / integrated top — a seamless sink-and-top in one, the budget-friendly, easy-clean option.
Weighing the stones? Our quartz vs. granite vs. quartzite guide covers how each holds up.
The sink
- Undermount — mounted below the counter for a clean line you can wipe straight into; the everyday favorite.
- Vessel — sits on top like a bowl, a statement piece (just mind the splash and the higher effective height).
- Integrated — sink and top molded as one surface, seamless and easy to clean.
Storage & the details
Drawers usually beat doors for daily use — you see everything without crouching — and soft-close hardware is worth it. A small but loved detail: an outlet inside a drawer for hair tools, so the counter stays clear. And get the height right: a counter-height vanity (around 36 inches) is easier on most backs than the old 32-inch standard.
What it costs, installed
In the Lehigh Valley, a vanity with its top typically runs $1,500–$5,000+ installed — a stock unit can start near $1,200, custom cabinetry runs higher. The top, the sink and any plumbing changes drive the spread. See the cabinet cost guide and bathroom cost guide, or get a quick number from our cost calculator.
Designing a bathroom around the right vanity? See our bathroom remodeling work, or tell us about your space — we'll build it to fit the room and the way you use it.