How to Build a Main Bathroom Vanity

Read on to find out how to craft a handsome, functional bathroom vanity using these basic tips.

Materials and Tools:

3/4" walnut plywood
3/4" maple plywood
1/4" maple
strip of plywood
1-3/4" screws
pocket screws
pre-made drawers slides
acrylic finish
drawer glides and slides
door hinges
vanity hardware
table saw
router
drill
screwdriver
pocket-hole jig
paint roller

Steps:

1. Cut your 3/4" maple plywood down to size for the framing. Ours was 80-9/16"x21 1/8", but the size will vary depending on your bathroom dimensions.

2. Drill about seven holes in four columns along the shorter length, starting 3 feet, 8 inches in from the edge. The two columns of holes toward the center should be 32 inches from their respective sides.

3. Secure a piece of maple plywood between the two center columns to give extra depth where the drawers will be.

4. The two sides of the vanity are made with 3/4" walnut plywood. Ours were 20-7' 8" high by 21-1/8" wide. Attach them to the outer edges.

5. Our center uprights will be the same dimensions as the sides, but two will be made from 3/4" walnut and two will be made from 1/4" maple.

6. Create notches in the center dividers with a router so they'll be able to fit securely over a ledger that will later be installed. The notches should be 4 inches high by 3/4" wide and will face the wall when installed.

7. Attach the larger walnut dividers in the center with the notches facing toward the back. Nail the thinner maple dividers to the outside of the larger dividers to provide more depth and to accommodate the size of the drawers.

8. Create pocket holes along the edges of four strips of 3/4" finished walnut. This will be the trim across the front that hides the plywood grain. Ours measured 80-1/2" x 3-1/8" for the top and 80-1/2" x 1-1/2" for the bottom. The two vertical trim pieces measured 17" x 1".

9. Assemble the walnut pieces together with pocket screws. Slide the trim on to the front of the cabinet and secure it with nails.

10. Now it's time to assemble the drawers. We're using pre-finished drawer sides with a pre-cut dado. Cut the sides down to the appropriate size to fit inside the cabinet. For the bottom, cut down 1/4" maple and slide it through the dado cut. Attach the front piece to complete the drawer.

11. Attach a strip of plywood 4"x80-1/2" to your bathroom wall to serve as a ledger. It should be rounded over on one long edge. Be sure it lines up with the notches on the center dividers.

12. Set the cabinet in place in your bathroom and secure it with screws. The center dividers will attach to the ledger at the notches.

13. Now cut down 3/4" walnut plywood for the drawer facing and doors. Our doors measured 16-3/4"x15-3/8" and our drawer fronts measured 5-7/16"x15-3/8".

14. Seal the walnut with an acrylic finish for a better look and to protect it from the humidity in the bathroom.

15. Attach glides and slides on the drawers and inside the cabinet. Attach hinges for the doors.

16. Attach the doors with the hinges and the drawer faces will be secured from the inside of the drawer with screws. Be sure there is a continuous grain across the front of the vanity since it was all cut from the same piece of wood. This will give a nice, flowing look.

17. Attach door and drawer hardware.