It’s a well-known fact that symmetry is pleasing to the eye. Perfectly symmetrical faces are widely considered to be the most attractive, and everything from symmetrical architecture, furniture layout, and even photo placement create a sense of balance that people generally find appealing and even soothing. But modern design is all about smashing expectations and stepping outside the norm, catching the eye with something that’s simple but unexpected. Foregoing symmetry is one of the simplest ways to do that, and in terms of a modern bathroom design, that means opting for asymmetrical bathroom vanities.
Visual Interest Via The Unusual
If you choose any bathroom vanity at random, chances are good that it will be perfectly or nearly perfectly symmetrical. The wider the vanity the truer this tends to be: big, modular double vanities often come in three parts that form a perfect mirrored image when placed together. But even small vanities have a general sameness to them, with the occasional exception of having drawers stuck onto one side. But that isn’t the kind of asymmetry I’m talking about; rather, I mean a design that plays with cutouts and blank spaces to visually alter the “standard” look of the bathroom vanity. This Asymmetrical Vanity from Legion Furniture is a simple but elegant example, with a large cutout space and offset sink on one side and a cabinet on the other. The matching mirror mimics the asymmetrical design with a medicine chest on one side, and echoes the white space in the open area between the mirror and the shelf.
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Why To Want It
Now, I started this post by saying that the eye prefers symmetry, and you might be wondering – if that’s true, why would you want an asymmetrical bathroom vanity? But the very fact that symmetry is so common makes anything asymmetrical stand out, and not necessarily in a bad way. This Open Vanity is a good example, with a wide open space instead of a cabinet. But where a typical vanity would leave it at that, this one adds a thin column of drawers. To balance the “weight” of the lopsided design, you’ll want to put something in that empty space – whether a decorative vase or just a bottle of hair spray. Making two unequal parts draws the eye to both, whereas something that’s the same on both sides is easy to overlook. In a modern bathroom, where minimalism reigns and there might not be a whole lot else to attract the eye, asymmetrical bathroom vanities add their own inherent visual interest without a lot of complex detailing.
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Captivated By The Cutout
In fact, the use of white space is one of the most common techniques employed in creating asymmetrical bathroom vanities. Take this simple, straightforward Modern Vanity. Ultimately it’s designed for maximum utility, offering a drawer at waist level and a cutout space to make the most of the area occupied by the sink’s plumbing, plus two different sized cabinets for more flexible storage. But the result is a delightfully asymmetrical vanity that not only has a cutout to visually alter the balance of the piece, but also two very differently sized and shaped cabinets to further capture the eye.
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Optical Illusions
Some of my favorite asymmetrical bathroom vanities are ones that create a sort of optical illusion. This Lyle Vanity from Virtu USA is a good example of what I’m talking about. In truth, it’s a wall mounted vanity, with only one leg that touches the ground and one that hangs at 1/4 height, and a wheeled storage cabinet that moves freely and doubles as a seat. The trick here is that when the cabinet is in place, it appears to be supporting one side of the vanity, but if moved even slightly the vanity appears to be defying gravity. Better still, that second “leg” can be used as a spare towel rack, further confusing and enticing the eye.
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Innovative Wall Mounts
One of the easiest ways to get an asymmetrical look, though, is actually with wall mounted bathroom vanities. Unlike more traditional vanities which, well, have to at least be even enough to sit flat on the ground, wall mounted vanities have the opportunity to assume just about any shape. I think it’s a real tragedy that there aren’t more vanities like this Asymmetrical Wall Mount. The lion’s share of wall mounted bathroom vanities are square or rectangular, but this one slightly offsets the design, incorporating two drawers and a small storage shelf into a delightfully patchwork (design and texture) surface. The result? A design that’s brilliantly eye catching, and comes with a little more storage than most in this size class.
Keep It Simple
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In fact, wall mounted vanities offer the simplest, easiest form of asymmetrical bathroom vanities – a simple square vanity with a rectangular shelf extending to one side. These come in two basic types: ones where the square drawer is immediately under the sink and ones like this Concept One Vanity from Iotti, where the drawer is offset to one side. Personally, I prefer the latter, because it maximizes the amount of usable space in the drawer while leaving the (often decorative) plumbing exposed, but either way this is an option that’s both visually arresting and (it turns out) pretty good for storage. In a small modern or urban loft style bathroom, these asymmetrical bathroom vanities offer ample counter space and unobstructed storage space in a relatively small footprint.
So if you’re looking to build a modern bathroom design that’s a little bit out of the ordinary, consider installing an asymmetrical bathroom vanity – they’re simple yet stylish, totally unique, and often a surprisingly storage-smart choice! Do you like the look of asymmetrical bathroom vanities, or are you a die hard for symmetry in design?
