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Full pedestal basin buying guide
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Full pedestal basin buying guide

Posted by Adam Chard in Buying guides | 9 months ago 3 min read

A full pedestal basin is the classic choice for bathrooms, and at Victoria Plum we have a huge range of styles and designs available to suit almost any taste.

This guide will give you an overview of the full pedestal basins on offer, and what you should consider when choosing one.


What is a full pedestal basin?

This is the classic style of basin that most of us would picture when imagining a bathroom suite. The basin is supported by a pedestal that reaches all the way to the floor, providing a stable fixing as well as hiding all the pipework. It is secured to the floor as well as the wall, so the pedestal isn’t actually taking the full weight of the basin.

Before we continue, there’s just one thing to be aware of. The terms “basin” and “sink” are used interchangeably in the UK to refer to the same item. Therefore, a full pedestal basin and a full pedestal sink are exactly the same thing. For clarity, we’ll use the term “basin” throughout this article.


What styles are there?

Though the full pedestal basin may be a classic design, that doesn’t mean it only comes in one style. You have a whole range to choose from, with different sizes available in both traditional and contemporary styles:

Contemporary pedestal basins

If you’re designing a sleek and modern bathroom, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to pedestal basins. You could go for something minimalist like the Tate 1 tap hole full pedestal basin from Mode Bathrooms, perfect when paired with an equally contemporary tap.

Mode Tate 1 tap hole full pedestal basin

Sleek and stylish, the Tate full pedestal basin is a great choice for designer bathrooms

For a practical family bathroom, the Eden 1 tap hole full pedestal basin is an ideal choice, with rounded edges and a simple, stylish design. There are also options with 2 tap holes, as well as different size basins to suit your bathroom.

Orchard Eden 1 tap hole full pedestal basin

The Eden pedestal basin from Orchard Bathrooms is available with 1 tap hole (as pictured above) or 2

Traditional pedestal basins

A full pedestal basin is a great choice for a traditional bathroom, as this classic shape really lends itself to period styles. The Winchester from Orchard Bathrooms (pictured below) is a beautiful traditional basin, evoking a Victorian look and feel with decorative mouldings and an elegant square pedestal.

Orchard Winchester 2 tap hole full pedestal basin 600mm

Featuring 2 tap holes for an authentic vintage look, the Winchester full pedestal basin from Orchard Bathrooms is a genuine classic

For a slightly more understated traditional look, the Dulwich 1 tap hole full pedestal basin from Orchard Bathrooms makes a chic and stylish addition, with a single tap hole for modern mixer functionality while retaining a classic look.

Orchard Dulwich 1 tap hole full pedestal basin 500mm

The Dulwich full pedestal basin from Orchard Bathrooms is available in a choice of sizes and tap hole configurations

Cloakroom pedestal basins

If you’re fitting a cloakroom or an ensuite, you'll find a selection of basins specifically designed to be smaller and more space-efficient, in both traditional and contemporary styles.

As part of their Concept Space collection, Ideal Standard supply a selection of full pedestal basins with a width of just 350mm (see below).

Ideal Standard Concept Space right handed 1 tap hole full pedestal basin 350mm

With incredibly compact dimensions of 350mm (W) x 265mm (D), the Concept Space full pedestal basin from Ideal Standard is perfect for cloakrooms and tight spaces

You’ll find plenty more choices in widths of 500mm and under which are ideal for making the most of any small space. You can find out more about them in our cloakroom basin buying guide.


Choosing the right taps and waste for your full pedestal basin

When buying your new pedestal basin, you’ll also need the following to complete your installation:

Basin taps

The tap or taps you choose will depend on the number of tap holes your full pedestal basin has. These days, the majority of basins come with 1 tap hole, but you can also purchase basins with 2 tap holes and, much rarer, 3 tap holes.

If you have 1 tap hole you will need a basin mixer tap. This is a single tap that mixes both the hot and cold water supplies.

Orchard Wharfe basin mixer tap

If you have 2 tap holes, you will need basin pillar taps. This consists of 2 separate taps: 1 for the hot water supply and 1 for the cold water supply.

Orchard Dulwich basin pillar taps

One top tip, to help you save money, is to keep an eye out for basin and tap bundles. These are often sold at a lower price than buying both separately.

Another solid piece of advice would be to choose a tap from the same bathroom suite collection as your basin. The taps in each of our collections have been specifically chosen to complement the basin for a coordinated look.

And, finally, for an on-trend appearance, why not consider new metallic taps, like black, gold or brushed brass?

Basin waste

A basin waste is the component through which water is emptied into the drain. When you think of a waste, you’ll likely recall the old chainstay plug. However, more modern designs have, in most cases, replace this traditional mechanism, with flip over or pop up wastes (pictured below) proving popular.

Pop up basin waste

To work out which basin waste you need, you will first need to find out whether your basin has an overflow hole or not. If it does (and this is the case for most pedestal basins), you will need a slotted basin waste. However, you should always double-check before you buy.

If you’re buying a traditional style basin, a chainstay waste may be more suitable (many traditional basins come with an extra hole for this very purpose), whereas contemporary basins are more suited to modern waste designs.

If your tap has a specific metallic finish, you may wish to match this with your choice of waste.

If you need some ideas, you’ll discover more basin waste ideas in our inspirational article.


Is a full pedestal basin right for my bathroom?

A full pedestal basin is a popular choice for many modern bathrooms and can suit a wide range of layouts and spaces. As with any bathroom fittings, you should measure your space before choosing a basin to see how much room you have to play with. This also makes it easier when it comes to figuring out what choice of basins is available to you. One easy thing to do is measure your existing basin:


Full pedestal basins tend to be among the largest basin designs, so if you’re shopping for a smaller ensuite or cloakroom, you may find more choice with a semi pedestal basin or a wall hung basin.


Shop full pedestal basins

At Victoria Plum, you’ll find one of the widest selections of full pedestal basins, plus other basin and sink designs, all at wonderfully low prices. To browse the range, simply click below.

Shop basins


More ideas and advice on bathroom basins

Whether you’re close to buying your new bathroom basin or simply doing your research, you’ll find plenty of advice and inspiration right here at Victoria Plum.

If you’re still considering which basin is right for you, you may want to read some of our other in-depth buying guides:

You may also wish to find out more about the following topics:

As well as buying guides, why not discover some great wash basin ideas and even find out how a basin is made?

And, finally, while we’d always recommend hiring a qualified Trade professional, you can also find out how to fit a pedestal basin in our step-by-step guide.

Author, Adam Chard

Posted by Adam Chard in Buying guides | 9 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.

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