One of my favorite parts of my job is working with clients who have big dreams for their walk-in closets. Many have seen lifestyle television shows on HGTV and similar channels, and they may be thinking about turning their closet into a dressing room of sorts. Even a smaller walk-in closet can often accommodate a vanity, which is a popular addition. One question I often receive is about the top of a vanity table. Which materials are best?
Here are my thoughts on some of the most popular vanity top materials in a walk-in closet:
- Glass
- Granite
- Laminate
- Marble
- Quartz
- Wood
Let’s do a deep-dive on some of these materials and why I recommend certain ones over others.
Glass
Glass vanity tops are popular because they are transparent, which lends a clean, streamlined look to the closet. They’re easy to clean and can be customized – thanks to techniques, like tinting, frosting, and etching. You can also use LED lighting underneath to light up the top, which can be helpful when putting on makeup.
One drawback of glass is that it can show scratches and smudges easily. This makes maintenance a bit more intensive, since you’ll need to be wiping down your vanity just about every time you use it. It can also be susceptible to chips or cracks, particularly if you accidentally drop something on the surface.
Granite
Granite is one of the natural stones used for countertops and vanity tables. It’s timelessly elegant, and it comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, so you’ll be able to suit your sense of style. It’s also low maintenance; granite generally hides fingerprints and smudges, and it’s highly resistant to scratches, so you won’t have to do much to keep it looking good.
On the other hand, granite can stain, particularly if you were to spill makeup on it. It’s also very heavy, which makes installation challenging. Finally, the cost can be prohibitive, depending on the quality of the slab and which shape you want.
Laminate
Thermally-fused laminate, such as melamine, is affordable and comes in a wide range of colors and designs. It’s easy to maintain; simply wipe it down with a damp cloth, and it won’t show fingerprints or smudge marks easily. It’s scratch- and stain-resistant, and it’s also lightweight and not difficult to install.
As far as disadvantages go, melamine has limited heat resistance, so you would need to be careful using a hot curling iron or other hot styling tools. Also, it’s not as durable as natural stone; there will be some level of wear and tear over time with heavy use.
Marble
Marble is another popular material made of a natural stone. It’s durable and long-lasting, and it can look beautiful for many years. It comes in a range of colors and patterns. It’s considered a luxury material and can increase the value of your home when used not only on vanity tables but also in the bathroom or kitchen.
Marble is susceptible to scratches, so it’s important to be careful not to scrape sharp objects across its surface. It’s also a bit more high-maintenance than some of the other choices, as it needs to be sealed regularly and cleaned in order to prevent etching. It’s also expensive and not a budget-friendly material to use in your custom closet system.
Quartz
Quartz is an engineered stone and is very resistant to scratches, stains, and chipping. It comes in a variety of colors, and it’s basically maintenance-free. It doesn’t need to be sealed and won’t need to be cleaned in any particularly careful manner.
But then again, this material can be expensive, and it has limited heat resistance. In addition, it’s quite heavy and might require additional support from the vanity underneath. While it’s not an issue in most walk-in closets, you do need to keep quartz out of the sun, so if you have a window or a skylight in your closet, this may be a consideration.
Wood
Wood is attractive and warm to the touch, as well as to the other senses. It can be repaired rather easily if scratches or dents occur. Many people like using wood in their homes because it’s timeless and can be used in most types of decorating styles.
Wood isn’t very resistant to moisture, scratches, or dents, however. It also carries the potential for mold or mildew if it gets wet, and it’s not a good choice to rest a heated styling tool on.
What I recommend if you want to use wood is to have it coated in laminate, so you’re getting the best of both worlds – a timeless material with the protection of melamine laminate.
Conclusion
It’s really up to you what type of material you want to use in your walk-in closet for your vanity table. My recommendation is usually to use wood coated in melamine, as it offers a lot of finish options, stain- and scratch-resistance, and low maintenance. It’s also lightweight – making for simpler installation. For more vanity ideas in a closet system, check out this article by The Style Du Jour.
