Pedestal Sink
Pedestal sinks are a single basin mounted on a stand of any sort. The plumbing runs inside the stand, so no pipes are visible. They take up less space and are available in a range of designs, from vintage to ultra-modern. Although the basin and pedestal are separate, they are crafted in a way that creates the illusion of a single-piece unit. This feature gives them a clean, minimalistic appearance. Since they are commonly made of ceramic or porcelain, they are easy to clean and maintain, requiring only simple wiping or gentle scrubbing.
Vanity
A bathroom vanity is essentially on the size of the vanity, you will have counter space as well as under-sink storage space. This is useful for organizing personal items like toiletries, makeup and bath linen. Plumbing is concealed within the cabinet itself, so everything is very neat-looking. There are a bunch of sizes, designs and materials available but most vanities are made of wood. Some cabinets come with an inbuilt power supply so it’s easy to plug in electronics. Vanities also have a variety of sink designs available.
Pedestal Sink vs Vanity: A Comparison
Both pedestal sinks and vanities serve the same basic purpose, but there are a few differences between the two.
Size and Space
Pedestal sinks have a smaller surface area than vanities. The width of a pedestal sink is between 16-30 inches. Vanities have a much larger width range of 16-65 inches. Both pedestal sinks and vanities have similar ranges in terms of depth (18-22”) and height (32-36”).
The one difference to note is the amount of floor space they take up. Pedestal sinks will have a narrow stand, which is great for showing off a beautifully tiled floor. Vanities will take up much more area, thus concealing floor space. From a design perspective, more visible floor space makes the room look larger. So pedestal sinks will give your bathroom a more roomy feel. If you want a bit of storage and a visible floor, look at a floating vanity as they are wall-mounted and compact. If you’re remodeling a small bathroom, check at these ideas for a small bathroom sink.
Design
Both pedestal sinks and vanities are available in styles and designs. Vanities have more options to choose from as the cabinetry has a lot more room to play with colors and finishes.
Pedestal sinks are mostly basin or vessel-style sinks. Vanities have more options for the type of sink mount. You can choose between undermount, integral, farmhouse, euro and other styles sink. One perk about pedestal sink designs is that they are quite easy to match with your toilet and bathtub as there aren’t too many elements to coordinate.
Storage
Vanities come with many storage solutions, including cabinets, drawers and shelves. The biggest bonus is the counter space for your toiletries. Vanities may be useful in a shared bathroom that usually needs easy-access storage space to keep things organized. You can get a double sink vanity to make better use of space in a master bathroom. Pedestal sinks don’t have any under-sink storage or counter space. If you prefer a lifestyle with minimal products a pedestal sink will serve you well. They are commonly used in guest bathrooms where you don't need much storage. If need be, you can always have separate storage space in a medicine cabinet or freestanding shelf. You can look at these bathroom storage ideas for more inspiration.
Installation
Between the two, pedestal sinks are harder to install. Vanity sinks hide everything behind cabinets but pedestal sinks have the pipes exposed. For a polished look with a pedestal sink, it often helps to have a professional handle the job because the plumbing needs to be well concealed. The drain must be perfectly centered and the supply lines must be at the exact height. They have to be close enough to the faucet valves so as to hide the connections.
Alternatively, a vanity is much like a cabinet and can be simply placed, sealed, and finished. However, if you’re replacing a vanity sink, you may also need to redo parts of the wall, floor and baseboard.
Pricing
Pricing is largely dependent on your materials, size, and added features. You would also have to include the cost of plumbing and installation. A pedestal sink by itself would be cheaper than a vanity. But the installation charges for a vanity is lower than that of a pedestal sink. If you get a pedestal sink but need alternate storage solutions, it will hike up the cost. While a vanity provides you with more solutions such as a countertop and storage, it may be more costly to repair and replace in the future.
Maintenance
Both pedestal sinks and vanities are relatively easy to maintain. Pedestal sinks are much easier to clean because they are consist of a sink and a stand, which can be easily washed with some soap and water.
Vanities, on the other hand, have many moving parts. The sink is easy to clean but the drawers and cabinets will accumulate a lot of dust and grime over time, making them harder to maintain.
Durability
Pedestal sinks are normally made from porcelain, which is strong enough to last for decades. They are considered more durable than vanities, but this again is relative to the materials used. Solid wood vanities are very sturdy, especially if they have added features such as moisture-resistance. The material used for the countertop will also determine durability. For instance, quartz and granite are hardy materials while wood and marble require more maintenance.
Pedestal Sink vs Vanity: Making a choice
While you can't really go wrong with either of these choices, you want to choose the one that best serves your priorities. Between pedestal sinks vs vanity sinks, it all comes down to the best usage for you.
Pedestal sinks are often chosen for less-trafficked rooms like a guest bath. High-trafficked rooms like the children’s shared bathroom would benefit from a vanity. If space is a major concern, especially in small half baths, opt for a pedestal sink. If you regularly get ready in front of the sink and need shaving or hair-styling supplies to be handy, choose a vanity. Still torn between a pedestal sink vs a small vanity? Look at floating vanities or a corner sink with corner shelves.
When making your choice, be sure to consider additional plumbing costs that could possibly be involved. If you need help with installing your vanity, check out this guide. If you want to leave installation to the pros, you can avail of our sink installation service.