Bathroom Vanity Update: Removing the Side Slab and a Paint Spill Win

Happy Friday! We tackled a couple of bathroom projects recently—one deliberate improvement and one accidental mess that turned out surprisingly well. Below I walk through how we removed the vanity’s side slab to simplify the look, how we repaired the drywall, and how a half-quart paint spill on the garage floor was rescued with a relaxed approach.

First up: the vanity’s awkward side slab. In recent photos it looked like a bulky “love handle” extending against the right wall, and it felt visually unbalanced for the small bathroom. Removing it was a straightforward DIY, and if you have a similar side-splash or counter section you’re not fond of, this method should help.

We used a manual screwdriver to work the slab free. The goal is to slide a flat driver under the seam between the slab and the vanity top, tapping gently with a rubber mallet or hammer if needed. Take care not to gouge the sink top—you’re only loosening the side piece. You can approach along the top seam, the bottom seam, or the side seam depending on how the piece is attached.

Once it came free we had a few small puncture marks along the top seam where the screwdriver had dug into the drywall. It looked worse up close, but this is an easy repair with basic spackling and sanding tools.

Start by sanding any loose drywall or glue off the damaged area with a sanding block. Then apply spackle with a 2″ putty knife, smoothing the compound over the punctures and slightly feathering past the edges so you can sand it flush later. I used a reliable lightweight spackling paste and let it dry for several hours.

After the first dry and sand, wipe away dust and check for low spots. Do a quick second skim of spackle on any dings or depressions—this extra ten minutes before the final sanding is the difference between a wall that looks smooth and one that still bugs you every time you look at it.

Once fully sanded, run a bead of paintable silicone caulk where the vanity meets the wall to seal and create a clean line. Paintable caulk keeps water from running down the side of the vanity and gives a more finished look. Smooth it with a finger or a caulk-smoothing tool, let it cure, then touch up with paint for a seamless finish.

Only after the spackle and caulk were complete did I paint the area to blend it in. That second spackle pass and the patience to properly sand and caulk paid off—now the vanity edge looks intentional and clean.

On to project two: the great Baby Fern paint spill. We accidentally emptied about half a quart of paint onto the garage concrete while repainting the vanity. It was an alarming, gelatinous puddle at first, and the immediate impulse was to scrub—but we decided instead to leave it alone and let it dry.

After about a week the dried mass pulled up easily in large pieces, almost like a giant latex sticker. A few leftover bits required a second peel, but the majority came away cleanly. Initially there was a wet-looking tinted mark under the dried paint, but once exposed to air it faded and blended into the concrete.

Now, except for a couple of faintly tinted spots, the floor looks normal and the “scene of the crime” is hardly noticeable. In this case, doing nothing at first—letting the paint dry and then peeling it off—was the simplest and least messy solution.

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Bonus: four forum projects and discussions to check out this week—ideas, inspiration, and community projects shared by fellow DIYers.

by ElizabethAnn		by KatyRICEdesigns		by KellyLawler1		by ArtisanDesarts

Key takeaways: removing a vanity side slab is an easy way to simplify a small bathroom’s look; patching drywall is quick when you sand, spackle, and do a second pass for low spots; and sometimes the best cleanup method is to let a spill fully dry before attempting removal. Happy DIYing—and enjoy the weekend projects!