You've thought about it and saved up for it. You're now ready for your dream bathroom. Whether you're adding just a few updates or you're gearing up for a total remodel, Build.com can help—and help keep you under budget.
Plumbing
Let's start with the area of your bathroom you'll probably use the most: the sink and faucet. The sink has numerous mounting and style options:
- Undermount sinks are mounted from beneath the countertop
- Self-rimming sinks are set down into a provided hole within the countertop
- Vessel sinks sit atop the counter
- Pedestal sinks are perched on (cleverly enough) a pedestal
- Other options include wall-mounted sinks and vanity top sinks
- Vanities are also great choices, and they simplify with beautiful functionality
Bathroom faucets come in all shapes, sizes, materials, and finishes. Some of what you choose is necessity, while the rest is purely personal, including:
Handles: Single-handle and double-handle, while some electronic faucets eliminate handles altogether.
Handle type: Choose from knob, cross, and lever (and most lever handles are ADA compliant).
Faucet centers: Single-hole, mini widespread, and widespread configurations.
Options abound for the tub and shower, and it depends on what you want and need. Is it a tub filler or shower-only faucet, or both? How about adding a Roman tub filler for a luxurious bath?
One of today's most popular bathroom additions is a custom shower. These fixtures can include multiple handles and water outlets (like showerheads and/or handshowers and body sprays) to envelop you in a relaxing and invigorating water experience.
Toilets are more advanced today than ever before. Replacing the 3 ½-gallon guzzlers are eco-friendly fixtures that use as few as 0.8 gallons per flush. You can also choose how your toilet is put together (one-piece or two-piece) and what it feels like (elongated, round, or comfort-height). And, of course, there's the bidet, a longtime ally in European bathrooms that's now making its way into the American lavatory.
Finally, we'd all like to save money and water in the bathroom. And the best way to do that is with a tankless water heater. These energy-efficient fixtures provide instant hot water and eliminate the waiting.
Lighting
When it comes to bathroom lighting, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. While you want to avoid overpowering the room, there should also be enough evenly distributed light.
Vanity lights are the most popular choice for the bathroom, and are mounted directly over the mirror and come in a number of different options. Bar lighting is just that—lighting set inside a rigid line. And when it comes to elegance and striking good looks, nothing beats a beauty wrap.
Other illuminating options include ceiling lights and recessed shower lights for larger bathrooms.
Accessories
When you talk about bathroom accessories, it depends on what you need, what you'd like, and how much space you have. From the necessities (waste baskets, towel bars, and tissue holders) to the luxuries (handshowers, body sprays, and heated toilet seats), your bathroom can get a sizeable upgrade with the right accessories.
Door hardware
A privacy leverset or knobset provides the security you need to feel comfortable. And when it comes to outfitting your linen closet or anything else that won't need a privacy lock, a passage or dummy handle will do the trick. The difference between these two? You'll be able to turn the passage handle, while a dummy will not engage.
Don't forget your bathroom's smallest doors—the cabinets. Build.com offers a full complement of cabinet hardware.
Ventilation
An open window can only do so much when it comes to bathroom ventilation. And to properly eliminate unwanted moisture—which, if collected over a long period of time, can become a health hazard—consider a bath fan.
Accent pieces
A bathroom is much more than the faucets and fixtures. It's an opportunity to showcase your individual style with functional furnishings. The most common accent pieces you'll see in a bathroom are mirrors and vanities. Larger lavatories and those devoted to guests are ideal candidates for bathroom furniture and can include cabinets and towers to hold linens, spare towels, and other essentials.
helpFUL LINKS
Here's a list of links that hold valuable information when it comes to bathroom remodeling:
- How to build your own custom shower, check out our DIY article here.
- For more information on bidets and their hygienic benefits, read this.
- To learn more on how to choose a tankless water heater, here’s our buying guide.
- Bathroom ventilation fan FAQs are here.
