You've thought about it, saved up for it, and now you're finally ready to give yourself the bathroom of your dreams. Whether you're looking to add just a few touches to update your bathroom or gearing up to give it a complete overhaul, Build.com can show you how—while remaining under budget. Everything from plumbing and lighting to door hardware and ventilation is here, as well as accent pieces and tools you may need to install everything.
Plumbing
When we talk about plumbing for your new bathroom, there's a lot to consider: the sink, faucet, toilet, and any tub and shower fixtures.
Let's start with the area of your bathroom you'll probably use the most: the sink and faucet. With the sink, you have numerous mounting and style options:
- Undermount sinks are mounted from beneath the countertop
- Self-rimming sinks are set down into the provided hole within the countertop
- Vessel sinks are placed atop the counter in their entirety
- Pedestal sinks are perched on, cleverly enough, a pedestal
- Other options include wall-mounted sinks and vanity top sinks
- Vanities are also great choices, since they simplify with their beautiful functionality
When you've chosen your sink, then you're ready to pick out your faucet. Lavatory faucets come in all shapes, sizes, materials, and finishes, so some of what you choose is necessity, while the rest is purely personal, including:
Handles: Typical choices are single-handle and double-handle, but some electronic faucets do away with handles altogether.
Handle type:You'll find a few choices here, including knob, cross, and lever. Also, many lever handles are ADA compliant.
Faucet centers: Choose from single-hole, mini widespread, and widespread configurations.
Now for the tub and shower. Options abound for this, and it really depends on your requirements and what you want. Do you need just 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, like a shower panel or shower system. These fixtures can include multiple handles, numerous water outlets (like shower heads and/or handshowers and body sprays) and envelop you in a relaxing and invigorating water experience. To learn more about how to build your own custom shower, read our DIY article here.
Toilets are more advanced today than ever before. Replacing the 3 ½-gallon flushes are eco-friendly fixtures that use as few as 0.8 gallons per flush. You also have a choice of how your toilet is put together (one-piece or two-piece) and what your toilet feels like (including elongated, round, or comfort-height). And, of course, there's a bidet, a longtime ally in European bathrooms which is now making its way into the American lavatory. If you'd like to learn more about bidets and their hygienic benefits, we have a DIY article right here.
Finally, we'd all like to save money and water in the bathroom. And the best way to do that is by installing a tankless water heater. These amazingly energy-efficient fixtures provide instantaneous hot water and eliminate the waiting–which eliminates water and money waste. To learn more on how to choose a tankless water heater, read our DIY article here.
If you're re-doing your bathroom from the ground up, many manufacturers offer coordinating collections that tie all parts of the bathroom together. If you're working on a smaller scale, don't worry, plenty of plumbing fixtures feature finishes and themes that can match up with your pre-existing décor for a sense of harmony and balance.
Lighting
When it comes to bathroom lighting, there can be too much of a good thing. While you sure don't want to overpower the room, you also want there to be enough evenly distributed light so that you're not straining to look in the mirror or when you're searching for something.
Vanity lights are the most popular choice for the bathroom. They are mounted directly over the mirror and come in a number of different options. Traditional vanity lights can be either mounted up or down, and include up to six lights. Bar lighting is just that—lighting set inside a rigid line. And when it comes to elegance and striking good looks, nothing compares to a beauty wrap.
Other illuminating options include ceiling lights and recessed shower lights for larger bathrooms that require an additional light source.
Accessories
When you talk about accessories for your bathroom, there's virtually no limit to what you can add—it all depends on what you need, what you'd like, and how much space you have in your bathroom. From the necessities (waste baskets, towel bars, and tissue holders) to the luxuries (hand showers, body sprays, and heated toilet seats), your bathroom can get a sizeable upgrade with the right accessories.
Door hardware
You want your privacy in a bathroom, but you also want easy access to the linen closet that's in there. These are both easy fixes. A privacy leverset or knobset will give you the security you need to feel comfortable. And when it comes to outfitting your linen closet or anything else that won't necessarily 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.
While you're considering door hardware, don't forget your bathroom's smallest doors—the cabinets. Build.com offers a full complement of cabinet hardware for any theme you can imagine.
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.
Getting the right exhaust fan for your bathroom is essential. How powerful should it be? Do you need a light with it? How loud are they? These questions are asked frequently—which is why we've answered them (and many others) in our bath fans FAQ section.
Accent pieces
A bathroom is much more than a sink, faucet, toilet, and tub. It's an opportunity to showcase your individual sense of style with functional furnishings. The most common accent pieces you'll see in a bathroom are mirrors and vanities, no matter the size of the bathroom. Larger lavatories and those devoted to guests are ideal candidates for bathroom furniture can include cabinets and towers to hold linens, spare towels, and other essentials. And don't forget about decorating the interior of your bathroom with some wall art.
Tools to help install
Depending on the project you've planned, you're going to need some tools. And if you don't already have it, we do. Manufacturers are doing a much better job simplifying installation instructions so that their products can be installed by virtually anyone. Thorough installation instructions and innovative designs have allowed the do-it-yourself market to thrive.
NOTE: This is just a general list of the tools you might need to install the products in this article. Please consult the installation instructions provided on the product page or those that are included with your product.
Sink
- Saw (jigsaw or keyhole)
- Hammer
- Teflon plumbers tape, plumbers putty, or another sealant
- Screwdriver(s)
- Adjustable and channel lock wrenches
- Measuring tape
Faucet
- Pipe wrench
- Teflon plumbers tape, plumbers putty, or another sealant
- Measuring tape
Tub and shower
- Screwdriver
- Hexagonal wrench
- Adjustable wrench
- Teflon plumbers tape, plumbers putty, or another sealant
- Measuring tape
Custom shower
Please consult a contractor or plumbing professional prior to installation. Because of the technical nature of this installation, it may require a licensed professional to complete the job.
Tankless water heater
Please consult a contractor or plumbing professional prior to installation. Because of the technical nature of this installation, it may require a licensed professional to complete the job.
Toilet
- Adjustable wrench
- Wax seal
- Putty knife
- Pipe wrench
- Measuring tape
Lighting
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
Accessories
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
- *For a list of How to Install articles for accessories, go here
Ventilation
Please consult a contractor or plumbing professional prior to installation. Because of the technical nature of this installation, it may require a licensed professional to complete the job.
Door hardware
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
- Drill
- Hammer
Accent pieces
- Screwdriver
- Measuring tape
