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Bathroom furniture buying guide
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Bathroom furniture buying guide

Posted by Adam Chard in Buying guides | 7 months ago 7 min read

Looking to increase storage space in your bathroom? Read our expert bathroom furniture guide before you buy.

Bathroom furniture comes in all shapes and forms, from compact mirror cabinets to large toilet and sink combination units.

But with so many different styles and materials available, it can be difficult to know what to choose, and what will work in your bathroom. This guide will give you some easy-to-follow advice on the different types of furniture available, and what you’ll need to install them in your bathroom.

For a quick overview of bathroom furniture, why not watch our short video?


Click on any of the links below to jump to a relevant section:


Things to consider

1. Size and positioning

Before committing yourself to any purchases, it’s important to measure the space you have available in your bathroom, and figure out exactly where you want furniture to go. Make a floor plan of your bathroom to see where things might fit, and make sure you allow space for doors to be opened comfortably.

If in doubt, check our bathroom layout advice, where you’ll find clearance recommendations and guidelines.

Bathroom cabinets can be used where space is at a premium too, with space-saving solutions such as combination toilet and basin units, or wall-mounted cabinets.

2. Assembly and fitting

Most of our bathroom furniture is delivered to you pre-assembled, which takes away the hassle of assembly. And your order will always be transported by specialist courier, experienced in handling fragile products, avoiding the risk of damaging your furniture.

Fitting the furniture is straightforward, particularly if it is a floor-standing unit. Wall mounted units can be a little trickier, however, if you are competent at DIY, it shouldn’t present you with too many problems. For furniture with basins and toilets, we would always recommend hiring a plumber.

Handy hint: Find out how to fit a wall cabinet with our easy-to-follow guide and video

All our furniture is designed by Tradespeople, for Tradespeople, complete with an easyfit design, which makes installation quick and simple.

The Bath Co. Camberley grey vanity unit with basin 600mm

For a more classical style, choose the Camberley satin grey vanity unit, from The Bath Co.

3. Style

Deciding on the style of the furniture you want is also important, so you can harmonise and complement the overall look of your bathroom. Our ranges include contemporary and traditional options, as well as a choice of colours and finishes.

If you have a more traditional style of bathroom, something like the Camberley satin grey floorstanding vanity unit from The Bath Co. (pictured above), would be perfect. You could also complement it with other products from the Camberley range, like a freestanding or wall mounted cabinet.

For something more modern, but still with a bit of impact, you could go for the Wye essen bathroom furniture range from Orchard Bathrooms, which also has options for a wall-mounted basin with drawers, and a back to wall toilet unit with the same stylish finish.

Wanting to push the boat out a little? Choose the very latest in on-trend, designer furniture from Mode Bathrooms, like this mid-century style vanity unit, complete with tapered legs.

Hale grey gloss furniture

The Hale grey gloss furniture range from Mode Bathrooms is a great choice for a designer look


Types of bathroom furniture

Basin vanity units

Our basin vanity units feature a freestanding unit, with the basin sunk completely or partially into the top. The unit itself often features a cupboard or set of drawers, making it very useful for extra storage, as well as adding a stylish touch to your bathroom.

At Victoria Plum, we have a range of options for this style of basin, from semi-recessed basins, to counter top basins, so you can mix and match to create your perfect look.

Wye essen 2 door floor mounted unit & basin

The Wye essen 2 door vanity unit from Orchard Bathrooms is a great example of chic, contemporary furniture

Most of our vanity units come with a fitted basin already, but you also have the option to choose a counter top basin, which sits on top of a drawer or cupboard unit. This is a good option if you want to create a very stylish and luxurious look for your bathroom.

For a more in-depth look at this type of furniture, see our vanity unit buying guide.

Wall hung basin units

As with the freestanding versions, wall hung vanity units come in a range of styles and finishes to match your bathroom. They are also mounted on the wall, so there is no pedestal taking up floor space. This can be a real advantage in a smaller bathroom, as well as looking stylish.

Clarity white wall hung vanity drawer unit with basin

This wall hung vanity unit from our low cost Clarity range is a great space-saving option

These basins also feature built-in drawers for extra storage and can be bought with a flat top so you can fit a countertop basin. Find out more about wall hung basin units in our in-depth guide.

Mirrors and cabinets

We have lots of options for adding storage furniture to your bathroom, such as wall and bathroom mirror cabinets, or freestanding cupboards.

Wall mounted cabinets are very useful in bathrooms with limited space, as are mirror cabinets that can be placed above the basin. We also have illuminated mirror cabinets so you can add a touch of glamour to your bathroom.

When choosing slimline bathroom storage units, it’s best to match their style to the rest of your bathroom, so they look right and complement the overall feel. Our range covers everything from contemporary to traditional, with functionality underpinning all the designs.

For more advice, check out our mirror and cabinet buying guide.

Basin and toilet units

These units combine a basin and storage cupboard with a back to wall toilet with hidden cistern, making them perfect for smaller bathrooms or used as cloakroom furniture, or if you just want to create a harmonised look.

Orchard Eden white 1040 combination with Eden contemporary back to wall toilet

Bathroom furniture combinations, like the Eden white unit with back to wall toilet, make great use of space

Combined basin and toilet units come in a wide variety of finishes and sizes, with different styles of toilet and accessories, which makes them easy to match to almost any bathroom. The cupboard space under the basin also provides handy storage.

Find out just how easy it is to switch to a combination unit or discover more information by reading our toilet and sink unit guide.

Fitted bathroom furniture

An increasingly popular option for modern bathrooms is fitted bathroom furniture. Much like you’d find in your kitchen, fitted bathrooms produce a clean, uncluttered appearance, with a worktop, plenty of storage space and matching units.

Fitted bathroom furniture

Find out more about this type of storage in our fitted bathroom furniture buying guide.

Furniture for small bathrooms

Modern homes are getting ever-smaller, and bathrooms, cloakrooms and ensuites are following suit. To meet these needs, you’ll find a range of smaller bathroom furniture, designed specifically for compact spaces.

For example, take the MySpace range from Orchard Bathrooms (pictured below). With a toilet, basin and cupboard unit combined, it fits into even the smallest of bathrooms. Find out more about this space-saving bathroom furniture range.

MySpace furniture

Style a small bathroom your own way with the slimline MySpace bathroom furniture range


General pointers

Recommendations:

  • Take your time when choosing your style of furniture, and make sure it complements the look of your bathroom and matches your other accessories.
  • When buying a countertop basin, check our basin buying guide to make sure you get everything you need.
  • Hire a plumber to fit any furniture involving basins or toilets to make sure it’s done properly and avoid accidental damage.
  • Countertop basins need to be mounted on a vanity unit or work surface.

Benefits:

  • All our units include soft closing door mechanisms for a more sophisticated feel, as well as to better withstand the trials of everyday use.
  • Unsightly plumbing and pipework can be hidden inside a vanity unit or below a work surface.
  • No wall mounting is needed when using a countertop basin with a floor standing vanity unit.
  • Making use of mirror cabinets and wall hung cabinets creates useful extra storage without taking up space.

Shop bathroom furniture

Now you're in the know, why not browse our superb range of bathroom furniture?

Shop bathroom furniture


More bathroom furniture ideas and advice

In need of further inspiration? Discover even more great bathroom furniture ideas right here at Victoria Plum. Check out all our clever storage ideas and find out how small bathroom furniture is the solution to life’s little problems!

Thirsty for more knowledge? We answer all your bathroom furniture questions and explain everything you need to know about vanity units.

Author, Adam Chard

Posted by Adam Chard in Buying guides | 7 months ago

A born & raised West Countryman, now living on the Yorkshire Coast, for over 10 years Adam has been bringing home interior ideas to life at Victoria Plum. Adam’s favourite interior styles have been shaped by both urban and natural influences.

Sales Line 0344 264 4141 Track order Design Service Trade account

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