This Budget-Friendly Entryway Staple Could Transform a Small Bathroom into Something Special

I don’t have a large main bathroom. My home isn’t super-small, at least not for an urban dwelling, but the bathrooms are tiny. The “big” one measures less than 49 square feet total. We bought our home as a fixer-upper, and we knew we wanted to have at least one bathroom with a bathtub. The main bathroom was the only one with any potential for installation, and a bath did fit in — sort of. I had to find a space-saving tub, though (read: a tiny bathtub).

Next came the other piece of the reno puzzle: the bathroom storage/vanity situation. Left with just one sharply angled wall where this key piece could go, I had just a little bit of room to play with. (For some perspective here: I took these photos below while sitting in my bathroom, armed with an extra wide lens!). After schlepping around countless bathroom shops, I wasn’t any closer to finding the right vanity. That’s when an idea struck me: A console table would be perfect; they’re reasonably narrow, typically offer storage, and their often open backs keep them from looking too visually heavy. 

Finding the right console table for my minimalist style proved to be easy. Convincing a skeptical husband didn’t. I played my trump card — budget. The console table cost much less than a similar sized vanity. My husband was instantly convinced! 

Adapting the console table was simple. One hole was drilled for the sink plumbing, and a few coats of waterproof wood sealer were added to the piece to stop potential water damage in its tracks. That was it. Yes, the sink plumbing is exposed, but that’s a style bonus in my book. 

I chose an aged wood table for warmth against the cooler, white tiled walls of the bathroom. Not only has the table created a focal point in my bathroom, but it also gives us so much counter and storage space. Of course, the piece was a winner on the budget front, too. One caveat for neatniks: An open back console means either being tidy 24/7 or investing in closed storage boxes. I’m committed to a mixture of both.

I opted for wood, but the console table world is your oyster. If you can make a hole for plumbing and waterproof the material of any given console, you’re good to go.