While plumbing is an important component of every home and apartment, its visibility can sometimes be unsightly. Exposed pipes and awkward drain tanks can take away from the appeal of your living space– especially the ones beneath the bathroom sink. But how can you hide these pipes? We’ve looked into a few ways to do this, and in this post, we will share them with you.
Here are a few methods to hide the exposed plumbing in your bathroom:
- Install a cabinet
- Hide pipes with a storage bin
- Construct a small shelf
- Add a few potted plants to the decor
- Build a mini wall-cover
- Install a sink skirt
- Install pipe coverings
You don’t need a big budget or an extensive project to hide the pipes beneath your bathroom sink. In fact, you can hide them behind the sink using materials and tools that you may already have at home. Continue reading to learn about the creative ways that you can cover these pipes to make the area beneath your sink look more appealing.
How To Hide Pipes Behind A Bathroom Sink
Install a cabinet
Who said that you can ever have enough cabinet space in your bathroom? One of the best ways to hide exposed piping is to simply install a cabinet beneath your sink. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you can purchase a sink cabinet for as low as $300. Of course, you will need to add on the installation fee–if you don’t plan on installing the cabinet yourself. Contractors may charge by the hour or a flat fee of anywhere from $100 to $500 to install a cabinet beneath your bathroom sink.
Before installing the cabinet, you’ll need to make sure that the area around the piping is properly measured so that the cabinet will cover it completely. You’ll also need to consider the sink and how it will be positioned with the cabinet. Will it be on top of the cabinet? Or will it be under-mounted in the cabinet? Be sure to have an idea of what you want the layout to look like once the cabinets are installed.
Check out this bathroom cabinet on Amazon.
Hide pipes with a storage bin
Another option is to place a storage bin or a small basket beneath the sink to cover the pipes. Search your closets and empty rooms for any extra bins, portable storage items, or baskets that may be lying around. If you can’t find anything, consider going online to purchase a collapsible square bin, sewing basket, or a small crate. You can use one single bin or up to three to cover the pipes and obscure them from view.
It’s a good idea to first measure the area beneath your sink before purchasing the bins to ensure that they will fit inside the small space under the sink. You don’t want them to obstruct access to the sink area.
Take a look at this storage bin on Amazon.
Construct a small shelf
If you happen to be handy at all, you can also construct a small shelf to cover the pipes beneath your sink. You can do this by purchasing about $20 worth of wood from your local hardware store.
You may even be able to find pre-constructed shelves that you can purchase right on the spot. It’s important to measure the dimensions of the shelves against the dimensions of the area that’s available beneath your sink. You’ll also want to make sure to consider any alterations that may need to be made for the shelf to fit around the pipes.
Check out this floating shelf on Amazon.
Add a few potted plants to the decor
Do you have a green thumb? Consider placing three or four potted plants beneath the sink for a bit of a Feng Shui feel. Potted plants are a great way to help obscure the visible pipes beneath your sink. You can visit a local nursery to find plants tall enough to cover the pipes but small enough to fit in the small space of your bathroom. Be sure to consider the space beneath the sink beforehand; this includes measuring the area that you want to cover.
You’ll also want to consider the maintenance required for the plants. For example, if the plants require a dry environment, they may not be the best fit if the bathroom has a bathtub or shower area.
Read more about this potted plant set on Amazon.
Build a mini wall-cover
If you want to cover the pipes completely, considering building a mini wall around them. This wall would be similar to the rest of the walls of the bathroom, except it would be specially fitted to go around the pipes. If you have any carpentry know-how, you can build this yourself with one sheet of drywall and a can of paint. You’ll first need to measure the area around the sink and the square footage of drywall that you’ll need to cover the pipes.
Be sure to add in at least 2 inches so that the pipes aren’t touching the drywall directly. You don’t want them making contact with the drywall if a water leakage issue develops. Once you get your measurements down and cut up a few pieces of drywall, you should be able to complete the job in about 2 to 4 hours.
Install a sink skirt
One of the easiest and most commonly used waysto cover sink pipes is to install a sink skirt. You can purchase these skirts online, or you can make your own skirt if you want a specific design. The skirts can be purchased for under $15 and are easily installed using either tape, a few nails, or Velcro. The cool thing about sink skirts is that they can also help you create a storage space beneath your sink where you can house personal items.
If you have any old sheets hanging around your home and a few nails, you can install a sink skirt around your sink in about 15 to 20 minutes. This is a great option to use if you are looking for a way to dress up your bathroom in the process–and they’re especially useful in tight spaces.
Have a look at this sink skirt on Amazon.
Install pipe coverings
Another simple way to conceal the pipes beneath your sink is to install pipe coverings. You’ll usually find pipe coverings available at your local hardware store or online. These coverings can range in colors and materials and are often made of wood, resin, or metal. They typically cost around $10 but may cost more depending on the length of the cover and the material.
Be sure to measure the length and diameter of your pipes ahead of time to ensure that there will be enough space for the pipe to fit inside the cover. And if you want to get fancy, you can also use a combination of different pipe colors to add a bit of flair to the area beneath the sink.
Are sink skirts in style?
Skirt sinks have been slowly but surely making a comeback into the interior design space. As many homeowners opt for contemporary layouts mixed with classic themes, sink skirts have become one of the many preferred options to help bring style and texture to modern bathrooms.
Can you put a cabinet around a pedestal sink?
Pedestal sinks are usually installed as stand-alone items. However, anything is possible. If you plan to install a cabinet around a pedestal sink, it’s best to have a contractor perform this task for you, so they can determine the best materials. They can also properly measure the sink and cut the cabinet so that it will sit around the same properly.
Learn more about this pedestal sink on Amazon.
What does a vessel sink sit on?
A vessel sink will typically sit on top of a countertop, vanity, or pedestal.
Take a closer look at this glass vessel sink on Amazon.
Wrapping Things Up
You don’t have to keep ignoring the exposed pipes beneath your bathroom sink. There are ways that you can cover them up without breaking the bank. Just remember to take proper measurements before implementing a plan to conceal them.