Wall hung vs floor mounted vanities: which is better? Neither wins for every bathroom. A wall hung unit suits smaller rooms and makes cleaning the floor easy. A floor mounted unit suits anyone who wants maximum storage and a simpler install. Your room, your walls and your plumbing decide it, not trends.
This guide compares both styles and gives you a practical bathroom vanity size guide. It also explains what to bring to a VK Bathrooms showroom in Springvale or Braybrook, so our team can help you choose.
The short answer: it depends on your bathroom, not on trends
Both styles are perfectly valid. Four things decide which one suits you.
The four factors that decide it
- Wall structure: a floating unit hangs entirely off the wall, so the framing behind the lining has to carry the load.
- Cleaning habits: do you want to mop straight under the cabinet, or are you happy to clean around a base?
- Style: a floating unit looks lighter and more minimal, while a floor mounted one feels more grounded.
- Plumbing access: where your pipes come out can make one style much easier to fit than the other.
Answer those four honestly and you’ve done most of the deciding.
Wall hung vanities: where they work and where they don’t
Why they make a small bathroom feel more open
When you can see the floor running underneath, the room reads as bigger. That matters most in a compact ensuite or powder room. A few extra centimetres of visible floor change how the whole space feels.
Cleaning: sweeping or mopping straight underneath
There’s no base to trap dust and no awkward corner where the cabinet meets the floor. You can sweep, vacuum or mop straight under the unit. Most people notice this benefit first, because it saves a small chore every single week.
Using the open space below
The gap doesn’t have to go to waste. A couple of baskets with spare toilet paper, or a rolled towel or two, can sit there neatly. It’s open storage, so it works best for things that look fine on display.
The catch
A floating unit comes with three downsides:
- The structure must carry the load. A full cabinet, a basin and everything inside add up to a lot of weight. Wall hung units are normally fixed to solid support, such as timber blocking between the studs or a reinforcing sheet, rather than plasterboard alone. Ask your builder or licensed plumber to confirm what your wall needs. The fixing instructions that come with the cabinet set the final requirements.
- Installation is more involved. It’s less forgiving than setting a cabinet on the floor. A qualified installer should check the wall before anything is ordered.
- Sturdier units can cost more. The cabinet has to be strong enough to hang safely. Our website doesn’t publish prices, so ask the team about options on the day.
Floor mounted vanities: where they work and where they don’t
Storage
If storage is your top priority, floor standing usually wins. You get full height cabinets and more drawer or door space, with nothing given up to an open gap. In a busy family bathroom, that extra capacity gets used every day.
Simpler installation
The floor carries the weight, so the wall does far less work. Installation is generally more straightforward. It’s also often easier to line up with plumbing that’s already in place.
The trade offs
A floor mounted unit hides the floor beneath it, so a small room can feel a little more closed in. Dust and moisture can also collect around the base. Seal the edges well and wipe the join regularly.
The middle option
Some people like the look of a raised unit but want less fuss on the wall. A cabinet with a recessed base, sometimes called a kicker, sits between the two styles. We can’t point you to a specific VK Bathrooms product for this, because our website doesn’t describe one. Ask the team in the showroom whether something like it is available.
Wall hung vs floor mounted vanity at a glance
Factor
Wall hung
Floor mounted
Sense of space
Feels lighter and more open because the floor is visible
Feels more solid, with less visible floor
Storage
Good, plus open space below for baskets or towels
Usually the winner, with full height cabinet space
Cleaning underneath
Easy, as you can mop straight under it
Needs care around the base and edges
Installation and wall requirements
More involved, and the wall must be reinforced to carry the load
Simpler, because the floor carries the weight
Plumbing access
Needs pipes positioned to suit the hung unit
Usually simpler to match to existing plumbing
Typical style
Sleek, minimal, contemporary
Classic through to modern, with many finishes
A simple bathroom vanity size guide for both styles
We don’t quote set dimensions here, because sizes vary from product to product. Check the size on each product page. What we can give you is the process our team walks customers through.
Measure first
Before you look at a single cabinet, measure:
- The available width along the wall.
- How far doors and drawers swing open.
- The clearance to the toilet, the shower screen and the walkway.
Leave enough room to move comfortably. A unit that technically fits but blocks the door swing becomes a daily annoyance. In our experience, this is the mistake we see most often when someone plans from a floor plan alone and skips measuring the real room.
A worked example
This is an illustration only, not a product size. Say your wall has 1,200 mm of free width between the door and the shower screen. You’d also like a drawer that opens fully, plus some room to stand.
A cabinet that fills all 1,200 mm leaves you no room to move. A narrower unit leaves a gap on one side, and that gap is where you stand. Always subtract your clearances first, then look for a cabinet that fits what’s left. Do the same sum for drawer depth, and for the toilet if it sits beside the vanity.
How size changes the choice
Narrow, compact rooms lean towards a floating unit, because the visible floor makes the space feel bigger. Wider rooms can take a floor standing single or a double vanity, which suits two people getting ready at the same time.
Where the basin sits matters
A counter top basin sits on top of the cabinet and adds height. An integrated basin is part of the top itself. An under mount basin sits beneath it. Each changes the look and the working height, so choose the cabinet and the basin as a set.
Check the rules that apply to your plumbing and walls
Plumbing and wet area work in Australia has to meet the National Construction Code and the relevant Australian Standards, such as AS/NZS 3500 for plumbing and AS 3740 for waterproofing in wet areas. Your licensed plumber and builder know how these apply to your job. If you’re moving pipes for a floating unit, raise it with them before you order, so the layout is signed off first.
Bring the right things to the showroom
Bring your measurements and a photo of where the plumbing comes out of the wall or floor. With those, our team can talk through what will fit and what won’t. That beats guessing from a product photo.
Real scenarios: which would we suggest?
A compact Melbourne ensuite where floor space is tight. A wall hung unit is usually worth a look, provided the wall can be reinforced. The extra visible floor helps a small room breathe.
A family bathroom where storage is the priority. Go floor standing. If the room allows it, a double vanity gives each person their own space.
A renovation where the plumbing is staying put. Check the pipe positions before you choose. A floor standing unit is usually simpler to match to existing plumbing. A floating one is easier to plan if you’re moving pipes anyway. If you’re planning a full bathroom renovation, settle this early so the framing is ready before the lining goes up.
A rental or older home with uncertain construction. Get the wall checked before you commit to a floating unit. If you can’t confirm what’s behind the lining, a floor standing unit sidesteps the question.
How to choose and see the options at VK Bathrooms
VK Bathrooms lists floor standing vanities, double vanities and counter top basins, along with bathroom cabinets and mirrors. Our site names brands such as Cotto, Astivita, Novelli, Toto, Imperial and Mercer. Which brands suit your vanity depends on the product, so ask the team.
We haven’t confirmed a wall hung vanity on our website, so please don’t assume one is in stock. If that’s the style you want, ask the team directly before you visit.
To compare, browse our vanity range first. Check the live page for options and sizes, and ask about anything you can’t find. If you want to match your vanity to a mirror or storage unit, our bathroom cabinets range is worth a look too. Not every product is at every showroom, so confirm availability before you go.
Where to go
- Springvale showroom: 177 to 179 Springvale Road, Springvale VIC 3171
- Braybrook showroom: Shop 1/294 to 296 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook VIC 3019
What the team can help with
Our website says VK Bathrooms experts help customers in West or Central Melbourne. It lists professional installation services and delivery across Melbourne, plus worldwide shipping. Costs and timeframes aren’t published, so ask for details on your own job.
The site also promotes premium brands with warranty and says VK Bathrooms is trusted by 5,000+ customers. If a unit or basin catches your eye, ask the team what warranty applies to that product.
Frequently asked questions
Is a wall hung or floor mounted vanity better for a small bathroom?
A wall hung unit usually suits small bathrooms, because the visible floor makes the room feel more open. A floor standing unit can still work if storage matters more to you than the open look. Measure the space first, then ask the VK Bathrooms team what fits.
Are wall hung vanities harder to install?
Generally, yes. The wall has to carry the weight and be reinforced properly. Floor standing units are usually simpler. VK Bathrooms lists professional installation services on its website, so ask the team about your job.
Which type gives me more storage?
Floor standing generally wins. A wall hung unit leaves open space underneath for baskets or towels, but it won’t match the cabinet space of a full height unit. Double vanities and bathroom cabinets can add storage too, depending on your room.
What size vanity should I choose?
Start with your available width and the clearances around the toilet, shower and doorway. Then check how the basin type, such as a counter top basin, affects the overall unit. Bring your measurements to a showroom, and check exact sizes on each product page.
Can I see vanities in person before I buy?
Yes. VK Bathrooms has showrooms at 177 to 179 Springvale Road, Springvale VIC 3171 and Shop 1/294 to 296 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook VIC 3019. Availability can differ between showrooms, so check with the team before you visit.
Does VK Bathrooms deliver vanities across Melbourne?
The website offers delivery across Melbourne, and worldwide shipping where relevant. Ask the team about delivery for your order, as no timeframes are stated on the site.
Ready to compare vanities in person?
The rule of thumb is simple. Choose wall hung for space and easy cleaning, and choose floor mounted for storage and a simpler installation. Whichever way you lean, your walls, your plumbing and your measurements have the final say.
The easiest way to settle it is to stand in front of the real thing. Visit a VK Bathrooms showroom in Springvale or Braybrook, or contact the team for advice before you go. If you’re still working out the look of the whole room, our coastal bathroom guide is a handy read on style.
