Do All Bathroom Vanities Need To Be Attached To The Wall?

If you’re making upgrades to your bathroom, you probably have a few questions. Here’s a big one: Does a bathroom vanity need to be attached to the wall? If you’re installing a freestanding vanity, you might think that no, much like a chest of drawers, you wouldn’t need to attach it to the wall since it’s unlikely to ever move. The real answer is a bit different — and we’ll explore more on this below.

Yes, Vanities Should Be Attached to the Wall

In nearly all cases, the big answer is yes — you should attach your vanity to the wall. What’s more, the vanity should be flush against the wall, with no space between the back and the wall itself. The reason for this is to hide and protect your plumbing. Most of the time, plumbing comes through the wall underneath the sink, and the vanity’s cabinet keeps it hidden. A vanity that isn’t attached to the wall could shift, either with time or because you’ve accidentally bumped into it. If that happens, because the sink is attached to the vanity and the plumbing, it could put a strain on the plumbing. If your drainpipes or fixed, non-flexible supply lines bend, it could cause leaks at the joints.

The Exceptions

An exception to this rule happens if all the plumbing comes through the floor instead of the wall. However, even in this case, you’ll likely place the vanity flush against the wall anyway, so it would make sense to fasten it. Here again, the reason for this is to keep the plumbing as stable as possible in case the vanity shifts. Once in a very great while, however, bathroom vanities are not installed against a wall. Very rarely — typically in large bathrooms where there is no need to save space — vanities may be central in the room. In these cases, these vanities are called “bathroom islands.” Other times, modern designers may decide to install vanities against glass shower walls. While these two circumstances are rare design choices, they are also the only instances in which you wouldn’t attach the vanity to a wall. Instead, they should be attached to the floor to prevent movement.

How to Attach Your Vanity

This depends on the type of vanity you choose. For a freestanding vanity that reaches the floor, you can attach it to the wall (or the floor) using simple L-brackets concealed inside the cabinet. If you’re installing a floating vanity, you’ll need to install bracing on which to hang it. In either case, make sure to use a stud finder and locate studs within the wall before you begin. This is where you’ll need to place fasteners in order to ensure the fasteners don’t pull out of the wall. If the studs don’t align with your vanity, you could use mollies to secure the vanity. Shopping for new vanities? These days, there are so many styles available, from traditional to modern. At Modern Bathroom, you can find freestanding or floating vanities — and even a few products to help you create a bathroom island if desired.

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