Bathroom fixtures should be chosen very carefully by balancing style, function and cost. The most basic and essential fixtures found in most bathrooms are sinks, bathtubs, showers and toilets. Since they are important components of the bathroom, they need to be durable, practical, efficient and very appealing.  Modern bathroom fixtures come in different styles, sizes, colors and materials. If you can imagine it, there is probably a bathroom fixture made just for you.

There are luxurious fixtures like soaking tubs, programmable showers with multiple heads, foot-massaging whirlpools, and heated compartments for towels and robes that bring the essence of spa luxury to the home. By just adding extra towel bar, a shower seat, a heated towel bar, robe hooks, or a supplemental shower, many have increased their bathroom’s pampering factor.

Sometimes, all it takes is a commodious tub, a soothing color scheme, well chosen accessories and a few splashes of bubble bath to turn your bathroom into a sensory palace of delight.

Sinks – What kinds of materials are they made of

It is very important that in choosing a bathroom sink, that consideration is given to how the material the sink is made of will influence the way the sink looks, how durable it will be and finally, how much maintenance it will require. Each sink material has its own characteristics.

1. Porcelain-enameled cast iron is very durable and easy to maintain. Its drawback is that it is very heavy and needs a sturdy support system.
2. Stainless Steel is also very durable and can withstand household chemicals.  The stainless steel sink’s drawback is that it collects spots from hard water and soap.
3. Vitreous china has a lustrous surface, very easy to clean and is the most resistant to discoloration and corrosion. Its drawback is that it chips when in contact a heavy solid object.
4. Fiberglass reinforced plastic can be molded into different shapes but it does not hold a shine well as the other surfaces mentioned. Another disadvantage is that it is not as durable as the other materials.
5. Simulated or cultured marble and other solid surface materials. They are beautiful, and may chip.  Abrasive cleaners may damage the surface. Interestingly, nicks and scratches can be removed by sanding gently with a fine-grade sanding paper.

Sinks – What styles are available

Sink styles fall into three areas: pedestal sinks, wall hung and vanity resting sinks.

1. Pedestal:  In addition to its distinctive charm, pedestal sinks make a small bathroom look larger because it is not surrounded by a wide counter or is there a storage space below the sink itself. These advantages of the pedestal sink are also the disadvantages since there are no counter space or storage space.
2. Wall-hung:  Wall hung sinks take advantage of very tight spaces. However, like pedestal sinks, wall-hung sinks have no storage below and don’t conceal the plumbing below. Because they can be installed at any height and have access to a wheelchair below, they are used commonly in bathrooms for people with disabilities.
3. Vanity:  What is missing in pedestal and wall-hung sinks –countertop space around and handy storage below is all present in vanity sinks. Their draw-back is that they require the most floor space of any sink style.

Faucets

Faucets should be chosen for ease of use, safety and durability.  The price you pay for faucets tell very accurately the quality of the faucet. A warranty is a good indication of a higher quality faucet. Faucets come in different finishes and designs. Some of the finishes include chrome, polished brass, colored epoxy coating, pewter, nickel, and gold. Chrome is the standard finish because it is durable and cleans up in a snap.

Showers

Today’s showers are available in many sizzling styles , colors, performance and probably  many choices to meet any shower buff.  You can get products to immerse yourself under a waterfall, melt away everyday stress with multiple massaging sprays, or even get yourself wrapped up in a blanket of steam.
Before being blown away by your shower fixtures change over, consult your friendly plumber to see how much time he will spend on your project. It is equally important that you find out from him if your home’s water pressure is enough for the fixtures you are considering buying.

Shower faucets: The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommendation is  that shower faucets be offset toward the shower door rather than centered below the showerhead.
Showerheads: Many varieties of showerheads are available in your friendly home improvement stores. There are models with simple water saving features and elaborate models with massage settings. Others are programmed for water temperature and flow rate. Hand-held showerheads are popular. Because they are hand-held, they allow more freedom on where the spraying goes. They work well for children and people with disabilities.

Toilets

Toilets made after January 1, 1994 must use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. The toilets made before January 1, 1994, use 3.5 gallons or more of water per flush. Even though newer toilets cost more, the savings in water offsets such expense in a few years. Toilets are nearly always made of vitreous china and come in three configurations.

Traditional two-piece styles have a separate water tank that fits on the base of the commode base or bowl. Then there are low-profile models where the tank and the bowl are molded together. The advantage of one-piece toilets is that they have a quieter flush sound than the rest of toilets. There are also pressure-assisted models that boost water velocity with compressed air and use very little water.

Bidets:  Bidets originating from France in the 18th century soon spread to America. They are found in luxurious bathrooms. They are usually installed right next to the toilet and come equipped with spigots that produce a gentle wash for comfort and personal hygiene. Unlike a toilet, a bidet must be plumbed with both hot and cold water as well as a drain.

Dual flush toilets are exactly what they claim to be: toilets that give you the option to choose from two different flushes. Why? Because, to put it plainly, it doesn't take as much water to send number one packing as it does to get rid of number two. Dual flush toilets are becoming popular in the bathroom remodeling industry and especially in the green bathroom remodeling. By purchasing a toilet with both a low and high volume flush, you'll cut the water your toilet uses by more than half, not only saving you a bundle of money over the course of the toilet's lifetime, but doing some good from an environmental standpoint as well.

Bathtubs

1. Enameled Steel Tub: Most bathtubs made 40 years or so ago were made of enameled steel.  The advantage of steel is that is light and inexpensive. Its disadvantage is that it is cold and slippery and it readily transmits sound.
2. Enameled Cast Iron:  This is the classic material for old tubs. It offers the greatest quality with excellent durability and better footing than steel. Their disadvantage is that they are extremely heavy and may require reinforced structural framing. Therefore, they may cost much more to install.
3. Fiberglass reinforced plastic tubs weigh and cost less than cast-iron ones. They can be molded into different shapes but it does not hold a shine well as the other surfaces mentioned. Another disadvantage is that it is not as durable as the other materials. Abrasive cleaners will damage the surface.
4. Marble composition tubs are made up of 80 percent resin and 20 percent marble and are becoming common in the high end bathrooms. They come in all your imaginable colors and arrays of shapes.  They retain heat very well, are lightweight and scratch-resistant.

Whirlpools and Soaking Tubs

The highest –quality whirlpool and soaking tubs are made from enameled cast-iron or marble composition material. Whirlpool and soaking tubs made of acrylic allow for the tubs to be molded into a variety of shapes. They are about 60 inches long and 30 inches wide. They come with adjustable hydrojet systems allowing changes in the direction of the water flow as well as the air-water ratio. Whirlpool manufacturers today, make tubs that fit directly into the space of your standard bathtub. The capacity of your water heater should be a consideration unless you are buying a self heating tub.