Did mine about six months ago, and yeah, storage was a bigger headache than I expected. Ended up installing a slim cabinet above the toilet—works okay, but still miss having stuff right under the sink. Plumbing wasn't too bad for me; I painted the pipes matte black instead of chrome sleeves, blends nicely with my fixtures and hides imperfections better.
One thing I didn't anticipate was how much easier cleaning around the pedestal would be compared to my old vanity. No more awkward corners or edges collecting dust and grime. DIY-wise, totally agree on patience—lining up pipes took me longer than expected, especially since my house is older and nothing's ever perfectly straight.
Overall, no major regrets here, but if you're someone who needs quick access to lots of bathroom stuff...think twice.
"Ended up installing a slim cabinet above the toilet—works okay, but still miss having stuff right under the sink."
Yeah, that's exactly what's holding me back from making the switch myself. Pedestal sinks look great and all, but I keep wondering if the trade-off in convenience is really worth it. I've done a few emergency plumbing jobs where the pedestal setup actually made things trickier—tight spaces behind that slender base can be surprisingly tough to navigate when you're dealing with leaks or clogs.
Curious though, has anyone tried pairing a pedestal sink with one of those recessed medicine cabinets? Seems like it could solve some storage issues without cluttering up wall space too much. I get that cleaning around a pedestal is easier (definitely a plus), but I'm still on the fence about losing all that handy vanity storage.
We swapped to a pedestal sink about six months ago, and honestly, I had the same hesitation at first. The recessed medicine cabinet idea is solid—we went that route and it definitely helped ease the storage crunch. Still, I miss having cleaning supplies and extra TP right under the sink. One thing I didn't expect was how much easier it is to spot leaks early without a bulky vanity blocking the view...so that's a small win for peace of mind.
"One thing I didn't expect was how much easier it is to spot leaks early without a bulky vanity blocking the view...so that's a small win for peace of mind."
That's actually a great point—visibility is underrated. I've seen plenty of hidden leaks turn into costly repairs because they weren't caught early enough behind a vanity. Pedestal sinks definitely help with that. But yeah, losing the storage space can sting a bit. One workaround I've recommended is installing a slim wall-mounted shelf or basket nearby for essentials like TP or cleaning sprays. Keeps things handy without cluttering up the look too much.
Visibility is definitely a plus, but I gotta admit, the storage loss was a bigger deal for me than I expected. I ended up going with one of those narrow rolling carts tucked between the sink and wall—holds cleaning supplies, extra soap, and even a few towels without looking cluttered. Also, if you're swapping out yourself, make sure your wall behind the vanity isn't too beat up. Learned that the hard way when I pulled mine out and found some pretty rough drywall patches that needed fixing before installing the pedestal. Still, no regrets overall...the bathroom feels way more open now, and like you said, catching leaks early is a huge bonus.