Toronto bathrooms are not generous with square footage. Whether you are renovating a condo powder room, a vintage semi-detached bathroom, or a builder-grade ensuite, the vanity is the single piece that determines how functional and how spacious the room feels. Getting it right requires thinking about depth, configuration, and mounting style before thinking about finish and hardware.
Wall-mounted (floating) vanities
A wall-mounted vanity is the best option for making a small bathroom feel larger. By lifting the cabinet off the floor, you expose the floor plane and create the visual illusion of more space. The open floor beneath also makes cleaning easier — no dust-catching gap between cabinet and tile.
Structurally, a floating vanity requires concealed wall brackets rated for the combined weight of the cabinet, countertop, and sink. We engineer the mounting system during design and coordinate with your contractor to ensure the wall has adequate blocking. The result is a vanity that appears to hover — no visible hardware, no legs, no supports.
Freestanding vanities
A freestanding vanity sits on the floor and reads as a piece of furniture. This style works well in bathrooms with traditional or transitional design language. It provides a visual anchor and typically offers more storage volume than a floating unit of the same width.
For small bathrooms, the key is depth. A standard vanity is 21 inches deep. We regularly build vanities at 18 or even 16 inches deep for narrow bathrooms — without sacrificing functionality. The plumbing is routed through the back panel, and the countertop overhang is adjusted to maintain proportion.
Built-in vanities
For bathrooms with alcoves, niches, or irregular walls — common in older Toronto homes — a built-in vanity is the cleanest solution. The cabinet is measured and built to fit the exact opening, scribed to the walls, and finished to appear as if it was always part of the architecture.
Countertop and sink considerations
In a small bathroom, an under-mount sink preserves the most usable counter space. We template the countertop after the cabinet is installed so the cutout is precise. Quartz is the most popular choice for bathroom vanities — it is non-porous, stain-resistant, and requires no sealing. Granite and marble are also available.
Our average vanity project
Most Apico vanity projects fall between $3,000 and $4,000 — including the cabinet, countertop, and installation. The timeline is typically four to six weeks from design approval to completion. Every vanity is finished with moisture-resistant coatings specifically formulated for bathroom environments.
