Choosing the Right Plumbing Fixtures

People often ask us for help choosing the right plumbing fixtures to complement the decor in their home. It’s understandable that you feel anxious about coming out of pocket a lot of money on a project that you’ll have to live with for years; you want to be confident in your choices.

Today I’ll walk you through a reliable strategy for selecting coordinated bathroom plumbing fittings on your own, and then we’ll go over some of the most common plumbing fixtures ‘questions and answers’ to help you get more of an idea what direction you want to know.

I know it’s easy to become overwhelmed when so many plumbing fixture options are available. Remember that your procedure does not have to be identical to what we discuss here.

• Make a spending plan (and stick to it!).
• Use the budget to limit your options based on pricing.
• Limit your search by the deadline (brass, nickel, chrome, bronze, black, copper, polished, satin, antiqued, etc.).
• Refine your search by aesthetic preference (contemporary, traditional, industrial, etc.).
• Choose the top two options and compare them to other products installed in the space (I like ordering samples or making mood boards).
• Make your final choices and double-check that everything works as it should.
• If more valves or parts are required for optimum functionality, they should also be purchased.

Question & Answers

• What finishes do you think are the most timeless?

This is a debatable topic, but I believe that nickel and brass are the most conventional solutions that will survive the test of time in a traditional setting. Now, finish matters a great deal. The false brass of the 1980s isn’t a good look, and it isn’t what I’m talking about. Consider ancient brass, which has been used in design throughout history, or polished nickel. Stainless steel, chrome, or flat black would be my choices in a modern home. I’d also advise you to look around the entire area… If everything else in the room is too “trendy,” even if you have a timeless faucet in a classic finish, the space will look old in a few years. The surroundings definitely play a role! To explicitly answer that question, I’d stick to a good antique brass or polished nickel.

• Is it necessary to use the same finish throughout a room? Or the whole house?

Certainly not! For a curated look, I’m all about blending metals. For example, in our guest bathroom, we’ll use antique brass faucets, towel hooks, and shower trim, but there will also be plenty of polished nickel. The wall mirrors have nickel frames, and the vanity hardware and light fittings are all polished nickel. I truly believe that a place becomes uninteresting if the same finish is used repeatedly—just it’s too basic and straightforward. In the question below, I’ll go into greater detail on combining metals.

• Is mixing metals and fixture styles acceptable?

I have a number of guidelines that I try to follow. I match the finish and style of all water-related plumbing fittings (faucets, shower heads, tub downspouts, levers, drains, overflows, and so on). For consistency, I prefer to stick to a collection. The Delta Cassidy Collection, for example, has all of these fixtures for the guest bath. Similarly, I prefer to maintain consistency in the bathtub, sink, and toilet (the same white, etc.). If you want to add some variation, I recommend using hardware, mirrors, lighting, hooks, and towel bars. Those can easily have a different finish; just make sure the style complements or contrasts well enough to be intentional. That makes sense, right?

• Does a higher price indicate a higher level of quality?

Certainly not. You’ll usually find better or more finish options with more expensive plumbing fixtures. There are high-end and low-end brands available from several plumbing fixture makers. Because plumbing fittings add up rapidly and can get pretty pricey if you’re buying for a full bathroom, I utilize my budget to cut down on my alternatives. More than the price, I want to inspect the materials used to make each product, as well as its efficiency. When I go shopping, I look for quality rather than money. I use Delta in the guest bathroom, and I’ve visited their headquarters in Indiana, where I sat in on some of their rigorous product testings. I can attest to the durability, which is critical in a guest bathroom. I’ve worked with both high and low-end plumbing fixtures, and as long as you do your homework, you should be good!

If you feel you could use some additional help, we’re experts at New Fixture Installation!

CONTACT Plumbing Pro’s LLC today! Call 864-774-9572

Did you enjoy this article? You may also like: Are Copper Pipes the Best?