It’s been almost a month since we first mentioned stenciling the floor in our sink nook. Between projects in Clara’s room, outdoor tiling, installing a stair runner, landscaping, and getting started on the kitchen, this little corner has finally received a few finishing touches. We still had three tasks to complete:
- seal the stenciled floor
- organize and load the closet after the floor cured
- update the vanity for improved function and a refreshed finish (including adding inexpensive shelves to the empty cubby on the right)
To seal the floor, Sherry used a small foam roller to apply two thin, even coats of SafeCoat Acrylaq, our preferred non-toxic poly. She rolled the coats about 24 hours apart and wore a respirator since the product isn’t entirely odorless. She started in the far corner of the closet and worked toward the exit, then blocked off the area while it cured to avoid any puppy paw prints.
The sealer provided a protective finish that eased our worries about chips or drips; I was even able to scrape off a dried stain splatter later without harming the stencil. We waited roughly 72 hours for the sealer to fully cure before moving anything back into the closet.
When it was time to load the space, we approached it with more intention. A small dresser, a mirror, and a laundry basket used as a hamper replaced the random bins and piles we had thrown in when we first moved. These simple additions made the closet far more functional. The dresser may eventually move to the nursery, and a new West Elm dresser will likely be added once we build the bed’s surrounding built-ins, but for now this setup works great.
One side of the closet became Sherry’s; the other, mine—yes, there’s a noticeable difference in shoe quantity between the two of us. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint on walls, trim, floor, and ceiling, a little organization, and some old furniture can accomplish. The dresser is a hand-me-down and the mirror was a $5 yard sale find, but together they feel cohesive and purposeful.
With the floor sealed and the closet organized, it was time to build the shelves. The plan was simple: create solid supports for two shelves for function, and add front-facing boards to match the vanity’s existing style for form. We sketched everything on paper, divided tasks, and moved forward: Sherry handled the poly and most of the organization while I built and stained the shelves.
The build sequence was straightforward. I began at the floor and worked up:
- I nailed small scrap pieces into each side of the vanity and into the baseboard, positioned so one edge rested on the floor and the other sat back 3/4″ from the vanity’s toe kick. This created a stable footing for the shelves.
- That allowed a plywood strip to extend the toe kick across the opening.
- I added matching 1 x 2″ strips (ripped on the table saw) just above the toe-kick extension to support the bottom shelf. The placement accounted for the front face boards to match the vanity’s existing profile.
- I fitted the first shelf, cut from leftover plywood. It was a tight fit and didn’t need nailing.
- I measured and added small strips on all three sides for the middle shelf to rest on. The first shelf didn’t require a back strip because it happened to sit on the baseboard.
- I added the second plywood shelf.
- To mimic the vanity’s look, I installed a face board at the top of the opening and nailed small scrap blocks set back slightly from the front for attachment.
- I installed the vertical face board against the wall, ripping it to match the width of the existing face boards, then glued and nailed it to the supports.
- I attached another scrap piece to the back of that vertical board to provide a secure mount for the horizontal face board.
- I installed the horizontal face boards, glued and nailed into the supports and front edges of the shelves, aligning the bottom edge to match the existing vanity.
The whole assembly went quickly; most time was spent measuring, double-checking, and cutting to ensure everything fit as intended. Once constructed, the shelves blended seamlessly with the vanity, as if they’d always been there.
Matching the finish was the next step. We wanted visible wood grain but a slightly richer, darker tone to coordinate with other bedroom pieces. We first brushed on a leftover stain to get the new shelves closer to the vanity’s tone, then used one coat of Espresso PolyShades to unify everything. Sherry lightly sanded the existing vanity so it would accept stain evenly, and I removed doors and drawers to make staining easier.
Before reassembly, we swapped the old knobs for inexpensive octagon-shaped ones that complement the darker stain without competing with the patterned floor. I also added two extra knobs to the dummy drawer face beneath the sink for balance.
The result is a finished vanity that feels both cohesive and intentional. The stain is rich but not overwhelmingly dark in real life, and the one-coat finish preserved subtle variations in tone and wood grain. If you prefer uniform coverage, a second coat would even things out, but we liked the slight variation.
Cost was minimal thanks to materials we already had: the only purchases were a 1 x 2″ board and a 1 x 3″ board ($12 total), new knobs ($12), and two pairs of hinges ($6) — about $30 overall. If you don’t have leftover plywood or stain, add roughly $30 to that budget.
This nook update, along with our other small projects, is steering us toward more high-contrast, almost monochromatic accents in the smaller spaces of the house. That doesn’t mean we’re abandoning color—the adjoining bedroom still has blue walls, a green rug, yellow pillows, and a patterned headboard—but the dark accents are consistently making a strong impact.
With this phase of the sink nook nearly complete, we’re ready to tackle more work around the house before the holidays. Have you tackled any sealing, staining, hardware swaps, or closet organization lately? Even small, thoughtful changes can make everyday spaces feel much more functional and finished.