· Melbourne cabinetry guide
A bathroom vanity has to hold the things you use every day while leaving enough room for plumbing, doors, drawers, cleaning and movement. The best storage plan starts with the room's fixed points, not just the size of the basin or the look of the cabinet fronts.
Use the questions below to prepare an early brief. A provider should verify the actual dimensions, service locations, products and material suitability before confirming the design.
Begin with plumbing and clearances
Record the position of the existing waste, water connections, wall studs or other fixing constraints that are known. Note the distance to the door, toilet, shower, bath, window and any heated towel rail or other fixed item. The vanity needs to open without colliding with nearby fixtures or restricting the room's normal path.
If the renovation changes the basin, tapware or waste position, explain that early. Cabinet depth, drawer space and internal plumbing clearances can change when the fixtures change. A photograph of the wall and a rough measurement are useful for an initial conversation, but they do not replace a measured assessment.
Choose drawers and doors around what you store
Drawers can make everyday items easier to see, while doors can suit taller bottles, cleaning supplies or a more flexible internal layout. A shallow top drawer may need space for the basin and waste, with deeper storage below. The exact arrangement depends on the basin type, plumbing and the items you want to keep in the vanity.
- List the items used each morning and evening, including bottles, brushes, towels and grooming tools.
- Separate daily-use storage from spare products and less frequent cleaning items.
- Allow for the height and depth of the products, not only the number of items.
- Check that open drawers will not block the door, toilet or another person's position at the basin.
Plan the basin and work surface together
The basin position affects usable bench space, tapware, splash areas, cleaning and the way the vanity meets the wall. Decide whether you need a clear landing area beside the basin and where soap, hand towels or other everyday items will sit.
Ask for the proposed basin, tapware and work-surface specification to be identified in the quote. A change from one basin style to another can affect the cut-out, cabinet interior and services. Do not assume a standard opening will suit every product.
Discuss moisture, cleaning and materials
Bathrooms expose cabinetry to water, steam, cleaning products and repeated wiping. Ask what board, edging, finish, hardware and work-surface materials are proposed and what care they require. A finish should not be described as universally waterproof simply because it is used in a bathroom. The provider needs to confirm its suitability for the location and installation details.
Keep wet towels, spills and ventilation in mind when deciding between open and closed storage. A recessed cabinet, wall panel or tall unit may also need to be checked against the wall construction and the location of services.
Use the wall above the vanity carefully
A mirror cabinet, open shelf or tall storage section can add capacity without making the vanity wider. Before planning anything above the basin, note the height of the users, the position of lights, the wall finish and the way the door or shelf opens. Electrical work, fixings and waterproofing details should be confirmed with the appropriate project professional where relevant.
In a small bathroom, leaving some wall visible can be more useful than filling the entire elevation. Prioritise the storage that solves a real problem and protect the clearances that make the room comfortable to use.
Prepare the bathroom cabinetry brief
Share the suburb, property type, room measurements, photos, existing fixtures, preferred vanity width, storage list, finish ideas and access restrictions. Explain whether the bathroom remains in use during the work and whether other trades are changing the plumbing, wall or floor. Timing depends on the confirmed scope, product decisions, coordination and provider capacity, so provide a preferred window without treating it as a guaranteed completion date.
Melbourne Cabinetry does not represent a cabinetmaking business. A suitable provider confirms the vanity design, materials, pricing, timing, availability and installation arrangements directly.
Review the bathroom cabinetry service, browse Melbourne locations, then share your suburb and bathroom brief. For another wet-area planning example, see small laundry cabinetry ideas.