Say Goodbye To Bathrooms Without Counter Space With A Transformative DIY

Pedestal sinks are a thing — sometimes a good thing, sometimes not so much. They're awesome for making teeny-tiny bathrooms feel more spacious but woefully lacking in nearly every other aspect of effectively contributing to bathroom activities. Not only are your storage options all but absent, there isn't any working space. Sure, you can theoretically wash your hands, but where does the soap go? And yes, there's water to brush your teeth but where will you store your toothpaste and brush? The first time it falls in the toilet will probably be the last time you decide to just live with your counter-less sink. Try out a beautiful, transformative DIY to ditch your pedestal or floating sink and give yourself some counter space.

Perhaps one of the easiest countertop ideas would be to simply repurpose an appropriately sized table, desk, or cabinet into a vintage-inspired vanity. Measure the location of the faucet, drain, and any fixtures (at least twice) in your current setup. Then cut the corresponding holes into your repurposed piece. Trim the legs or base (if necessary) to achieve the correct height and you'll be ready to install your new, non-pedestal vessel. If, however, you'd like to preserve the look of spaciousness provided by a floating or pedestal sink (or if a cabinet of any kind just won't fit your vibe), creating a floating countertop may be the best way forward. 

The first step is to choose your sink, and options abound at retailers and online. Or, you could get creative and make a thrifting trip. An interesting bowl, pot, or even an old birdbath could be repurposed and elevate the look of your bathroom. Just be sure to bring your measurements and a measuring tape with you. The size of the sink itself is essential, but so are the measurements from your faucet to the edge of the bowl, the height of the faucet in relation to the bowl, and how your fixtures will be configured. Adoration for your new sink and counter space will be short-lived if you can't get your hands under the water because the faucet is too close to the edge of the vessel. Now for your chic bathroom countertop. Go ahead and get creative — just be sure it can support the sink and is water resistant (or can be made so with sealant).

If you're building a floating countertop, you'll next address the foundation upon which your new countertop will be mounted. Determine your preferred height (it might be easiest to go with the same height as your old pedestal sink) then mark your walls where the studs are at that height. Next, install wooden cleats: 2x4 boards cut to the appropriate lengths and attach them to the studs on the back and side walls using long screws. You may also want to add additional cleats that run from the front of your new counter to the back wall cleat, depending on how heavy your elements are, and how much space you're spanning between the walls. With your support in place, it's time to secure your countertop. 

Cut the material to the dimensions of your space then cut out the space where either the sink will sit inside the material, or the piping will connect (in the case of a vessel sink). Position your countertop and lock it in place on those wooden cleats. All that's left is to connect the vessel with its pipes and cover the front. This, incidentally, can be another place to let your creativity shine. 

You could simply attach another piece of whatever material you've used for your counter (wood, stone, tile) to the front and seal the seam for a clean, modern look. Or, you could install a drawer — though you'd want to shorten the box of the drawer a bit to accommodate the pipes. Perhaps building (or repurposing) a set of shelves that will sit in front of the piping would complement your space. Tall, decorative baskets filled with towels or linens might be more your style. We've even heard sink skirts are making a comeback. Whatever your style solution, you'll be so glad you transformed your bathroom with a countertop the next time the soap — or your toothbrush — slips out of your hands.