Sharing a bathroom is a small annoyance that many of us spend most of our lives enduring. From brushing teeth next to siblings to racing roommates for the shower, it’s rare to have a private bathroom space when you’re young. And even if you wind up with a big house and equally big master bathroom, chances are, you’ll be sharing that, too. So today instead of talking about how to navigate a too-small space, I want to take a quick look at a few of the best ways to really make use of a big bathroom, so you and your partner can both feel like you have a space to call your own.
Keep It Simple: Double Vanity Plus Storage
Double bathroom vanities – that is, vanities with two sinks – are pretty standard fare for a master bathroom. That said, if you have a lot of space to work with, even a very large vanity on its own probably won’t take up all of it. Honestly? I would call a double vanity the bare minimum for any shared bathroom that’s big enough to fit one. But if neither you nor your partner use a ton of toiletries or have bathroom habits that irritate each other (leaving the sink on, shaving scraps in the sink, hogging the mirror, etc.), it’s a good place to start. If you have the room, though, I’d supplement with one or more freestanding or wall mounted storage cabinets for communal items – like towels and TP. That will make it easier to dedicate each half of the vanity exclusively to your personal items.
Split ‘Em Up: “His and Hers” Vanities
On the other hand, if you and your partner do tend to get on each other’s nerves (or if your morning routines tend to overlap), it might be smarter to invest in two separate vanities. Typically, this would mean two matching vanities placed side by side, but if the goal is to stay out of each other’s hair, you might want to get a little more creative. Placing each of your vanities in different parts of a large bathroom can help keep you from crossing paths (and out of line of sight of each other’s bad habits). Here, too, a little extra storage can also go a long way – whether it’s a barrier between two close-together vanities or a neutral third spot!
Shop This Look: The Brookfield Collection
Skip Symmetry: My Vanity ≠ Your Vanity
Pairing two vanities doesn’t mean you have to get all matchy-matchy, though, or that you have to settle for the smallest-sized vanities. Particularly if you each have different needs in terms of the amount or type of storage or counter space, you might want to consider getting vanities in different sizes. Many manufacturers (like James Martin Furniture) offer full collections of vanities that come in the same style but a wide variety of sizes and configurations. That means each of you can get exactly as much vanity space as you need, all to yourself, and with a consistent cohesive look that will keep your space feeling stylish.
Shop This Look: The Columbia Collection
Get Connected: Shop Make Up Vanities
These kinds of style considerations can often go by the wayside when furnishing a large master bathroom. In a big space, it’s easy to end up either with more bathroom cabinetry than you strictly need or a space that feels a little empty and oversized. Building custom cabinetry tends toward the former, while buying a double vanity is more likely to leave you with the latter. Luckily, those aren’t the only options. One popular way to balance this out is to connect two vanities with a bridge or make up table. If your biggest problem with your bathroom is lack of surface space, this is an excellent fix, as it creates a neutral island between two vanities that you and your partner can share (or not!).
DIY: Modular Big Master Bathroom Vanities
The most common configuration for make-up-table style vanities is two matching (or mirrored) vanities connected by a simple bridge. That said, it is possible to find more modular options. Modular vanity sets allow you to pair multiple vanities of different sizes with bridges, make up tables, and other add-on storage pieces to get a final piece that not only matches the dimensions of your bathroom, but your exact configuration specs. These types of collections are a bit harder to find, but are my favorite for a big master bathroom. Not only are they a great way to fill your space, but they can’t be beat in terms of customizing your space to work well for both the people using it.
Shop This Look: The De Soto Collection
Pick And Choose: Individual Pieces To Fill A Big Master Bathroom
Like the idea of picking and choosing pieces to configure your bathroom, but not so much having a continuous line of cabinetry? That’s an option, too; large vanity collections are a little easier to find, but may wind up a little pricier when all is said and done. Again, your best bet is to shop with a manufacturer that has big vanity collections, just to ensure that everything from your vanities to your mirrors match well. But from there, the choice of layout and configuration is all you – whether you want two fully fleshed out vanities, a main counter and cabinet area and a separate small sink, or just about anything you can imagine.
Shop This Look: The Addison Collection
Even if you don’t have the luxury of having a big master bathroom all to yourself, sharing the space doesn’t have to be a hassle. The most important part of keeping the peace is figuring out what everyone using the space needs, what they want to avoid, and then building a bathroom that gives you both!
