I was actually considering a pedestal sink myself—mostly because I love the way they look. But now you guys have me second-guessing, haha. Our current vanity cabinet is kind of bulky and outdated, so I figured swapping it out would open up the bathroom a bit. But honestly, I hadn't even thought about plumbing access or storage space until reading through this thread.
Funny story: last month our faucet started leaking pretty badly, and I had to crawl under there to shut off the water. It was cramped enough with a cabinet—I can't imagine trying that with a pedestal sink in the way. Not sure my back could handle it! Plus, where do you guys keep your cleaning supplies and extra toilet paper rolls if there's no cabinet underneath? Just curious how people make that work practically, because I definitely don't want to end up stashing stuff awkwardly around the bathroom...
"Funny story: last month our faucet started leaking pretty badly, and I had to crawl under there to shut off the water. It was cramped enough with a cabinet—I can't imagine trying that with a pedestal sink in the way."
Haha, trust me, I've been there more times than I'd like to admit. Pedestal sinks do look great, no argument there, but from a practical standpoint, they're a bit of a mixed bag. Let me break it down from my experience:
First off, plumbing access. You nailed it—pedestal sinks can make things tricky. With a cabinet, you at least have some room to maneuver around the pipes. With a pedestal, you're usually wedged between porcelain and drywall, trying to twist your wrench at awkward angles. Not impossible, but definitely not fun if your back isn't up for gymnastics.
Storage-wise, you're looking at a trade-off. Sure, you gain visual space and a cleaner look, but you'll have to get creative with storage solutions. I've seen clients use small wall-mounted shelves or baskets for toilet paper and cleaning supplies—works fine if you're minimalistic, but can quickly look cluttered if you're not careful. Another option is a slim cabinet or shelving unit nearby; it keeps things tidy without compromising too much on aesthetics.
One thing to consider is the condition of your existing plumbing. If your pipes are older or prone to leaks (sounds like yours might be?), you might want to factor in the ease of future repairs before committing to a pedestal sink. I've had clients regret their decision simply because maintenance became such a hassle.
Have you thought about wall-mounted sinks? They offer similar visual openness as pedestals but can sometimes give you slightly better access underneath since there's no pedestal base blocking your way. Just something else to think about...
Anyway, curious if anyone here has tried wall-mounted sinks instead—any regrets or unexpected perks compared to pedestals?
Haha, totally agree about pedestal sinks being a pain when it comes to repairs. I've lost count of how many times I've bruised my knuckles squeezing behind one. Wall-mounted sinks can be great, but heads-up: make sure your wall's sturdy enough—had a buddy install one on drywall without proper reinforcement, and let's just say it didn't end well...
Good points all around. A few things I'd add from experience:
- Pedestal sinks look sleek, but storage is basically zero. If you're someone who likes having cleaning supplies or extra towels handy, that gets old fast.
- Installation can be trickier than you'd think—lining up plumbing behind that narrow pedestal is a real patience-tester.
- Wall-mounted sinks are awesome for cleaning underneath, but yeah, reinforcing the wall properly is key. Learned that the hard way myself after a midnight crash woke up the whole house...
Totally agree about the storage issue—it's surprising how quickly you miss having a cabinet underneath. Have you thought about maybe adding some wall shelves or baskets nearby to compensate? Also, how sturdy is your wall right now? If you're leaning toward wall-mounted sinks, reinforcing properly really is no joke.
"Learned that the hard way myself after a midnight crash woke up the whole house..."
Yikes, that sounds rough! On the eco side, pedestal and wall-mounted sinks can sometimes make it easier to spot leaks early on, which helps prevent water waste. Something else to consider maybe?
