Give a vintage bathroom vanity a fresh new look instead of replacing it completely. Take a look at the vanity as a whole to ascertain what about it bothers you the most and focus on that area. Sometimes, jazzing it up may be as straightforward as replacing the hardware on drawers and doors, or even dressing up the door and drawer fronts to provide them a bit more character. Paint offers another inexpensive way to earn the vanity look new, whether painting the bit a good color or giving it a antiqued or distressed look.
Hardware Assist
Outdated, worn or hardened hardware drags the look of the whole vanity, even when vanity itself is in great form. Replace all of the old hardware, such as door hinges, with bits matching different metals in the room: If the toilet’s towel bars have a platinum finish in a sleek style, seek out vanity handles, hinges and knobs which stylistically match. For an even less costly revamp, clean up the outdated hardware and repaint it to match the other metal components or fittings in the bathroom.
Color Change
Whether the present evaporate end is painted, varnished or laminated in a finish that doesn’t match the room’s decor, then a fresh paint color completely changes its look. Clean out the vanity and remove or mask off the sink and hardware with tape. Sand, then unlock it using a primer designed for the stuff. Paint it with a few coats of a washable, moisture-resistant interior latex paint such as a high-quality satin paint. Seal it with polyurethane later, if you prefer, for extra protection. Should you prefer a pattern apart from a good paint color, create a layout such as chevrons or stripes using strips of painter’s tape to plot out the layout, or provide it a shabby chic- or even cottage-style makeover by painting it one color, rubbing wax above it, then painting it a second color, sanding through the topcoat in some places. Scrub stain or nesting glaze over the whole painted vanity; then wipe off it all, to provide an old look in another manner. Gray, yellow or brownish add an aged look. Test an inconspicuous area first to ensure you like the glaze or stain color.
Go Faux
Sometimes, the base of this vanity suits the look of the bathroom space, while its nesting laminate top reflects a color selection from decades gone by. Sand the laminate top gently to earn a primer stick better; subsequently apply a primer specifically designed for slick surfaces such as laminate stuff — some companies provide paint made just for countertops. Paint the countertop with a faux stone finish such as granite or marble using latex paints — apply a base coat in the dominant stone color; then sponge or brush on tinted glazes containing different colors found in the stone you wish to copy. A feathering brush helps soften the transition from one shade to the next. Use a real feather or an artist’s brush to add the veins found in marble. Practice your faux-stone techniques on scrap cardboard or wood to have a feel for color-blending for a more realistic effect.
Alter the Base
Give an inexpensive vanity an update that costs little but appears lush simply by replacing the base with bun feet or furniture legs. The new legs make the vanity look like a high-end bit of repurposed furniture instead of a straight-from-the-store cupboard, particularly if you repaint the vanity and add new hardware. Based on how your vanity is made, this may necessitate propping up the present cabinet since you operate, or completely dismantling the vanity to get the bottom of the cupboard to add to construct a supporting frame to attach the toes after you remove the present indented base. New furniture feet or legs are available from home improvement stores.