Bathroom accessories can make or break a space, whilst offering those all-important finishing touches. But which material is the best option to choose when it comes to bathroom accessories? We take a look...
Introduction
If you are thinking of making a few changes to your bathroom, accessories are a great place to start. It's important however, to make sure that the new accessories you choose are made of the most appropriate materials. The challenge comes in weighing out the various options that are out on the market, as there are now an endless number of variations of the same fixture, fitting and decorative piece. There are three main factors to take into consideration when you are making your decisions about which materials you need for your range of accessories. These are resilience, design and cost.
How you prioritise these three factors is completely up to you, but it is very important that you take note of each when assessing and weighing your options. The most common materials that are used in bathroom fixtures and accessories are brass, zinc and steel, as well as plastic, ceramic, glass and wood. There are certain pros and cons to using each material.
3 main factors to consider When choosing bathroom accessories...
1. Resilience
A key feature when picking out your bathroom or ensuite accessories is resilience. The functionality and durability of bathroom fixtures are of high priority for most individuals. You don’t want to keep making changes to your bathroom fixtures, as it is inconvenient and expensive. Some accessories however, are constantly susceptible to levels of wear and tear, largely due to the environment and how frequent use. Crucially, it is not advised to use materials such as wood that are vulnerable and easily degraded.
many homeowners to steer towards using metals such as nickel, brass and bronze, as these metals tend to work well in moist environments. Certain metals do not hold up as well, however, such as iron. In this case, iron fixtures are replaced with stainless steel, or surfaces are coated with protection. Some may also opt for using glass, but it can get slippery in moist conditions.
If you are worried about rust and want to preserve the state of your fixture for as long as possible, then consider looking into coating your accessories.
2. Design
When trying to pick out the right bathroom fixture design, this is completely up to your own personal preferences. For the most part, people try to keep their bathroom design theme as consistent as possible. If you pick a bathroom fixture that is completely different from the rest of the bathroom, it can make the bathroom look very odd. However, this doesn't mean that you have to be boring. If you want to pick out certain fixtures that have their own quirk to them, feel free to do so, as these fixtures are usually smaller, and will not be as jarring.
Feel free to use different forms of materials for the different bathroom fixtures you want to purchase. If you’re worried that it may look mismatched, then there are always the options of spray painting your current fixtures to match them up. Ensure that you should pick out a design that dries quickly.
One of the most important fixtures to keep in mind is the tap. Known as one of the most important aspects of the bathroom, picking out the right design for this piece is important. Ensure that your tap matches up to the design of your bathroom, and take the size of your space when picking the design around the basin area. A good way to figure out the best tap design to match the style and size of your bathroom is to look at other similarly styled bathrooms of a similar size.
Some tap finishes look extremely glamorous, such as chrome or gold plating. You may want to keep these options open just in case you are looking to amp up your bathroom design.
3. Cost
The possibilities when it comes to designing and picking out bathroom accessories are endless. One of the main limitations however, is always the cost. Prices usually prevent many individuals from being able to achieve the bathroom of their dreams, as the cost often comes at the expense of beauty. The finishing touches can be created on a budget if you look into complementing accessory sets or simplistic styling.
What about materials?
Metals are the commonly used material in bathroom fixtures and individual accessory pieces.
1. Brass
Brass is a go-to option for elegant bathroom materials, due to its durability and resilience. This is especially so when picking bathroom faucet body materials. Brass bathroom faucets and brass bathroom accessories are a little more expensive than some other metals, but it usually is worth it in the long run.
2. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel accessories are also a good choice, but they aren’t as durable as brass pieces. If you're choosing smaller accessories like stainless steel taps, toilet paper holders or towel racks, stainless steel works perfectly. It is also more costly however and does not always meet different budgets.
3. Zinc and zinc alloys
An affordable option for accessories is zinc. Often selected for a downstairs cloakroom which you may not be using all the time, zinc is not quite as durable as its other metal counterparts but it is great for those smaller spaces.
Accessories add the finishing touches
There are plenty of things to consider when you are trying to enhance your bathroom space. Accessories add those all important finishing touches and can transform a plain space into something stylish, chic and interesting. Tumblers, towel rails, toilet brushes, soap dishes, dispensers and toilet roll holders are all pieces that will lift your bathroom.
Start accessorising your bathroom today
With great deals on bathroom accessories at Victoria Plum, there’s no better time to get started. Choose the perfect finishing touches to your décor by clicking below.
