Choosing The Right Bathroom Faucet

24. April 2018 Erica Garland (0)

Whenever you decide to remodel a bathroom, you are faced with countless decisions. Will you stick with the current layout or reconfigure it? What color scheme do you want to use? What fixtures do you want to add? On your vanity, too, you’ll need to decide everything from what sink is best to what kind of cabinets you need. Likewise, you’ll need to pick bathroom faucets. 

To help in your efforts to make the best choice, here’s a look at what you’ll need to know when choosing a bathroom faucet.

The Challenge in Selecting Bathroom Faucets

Bathroom faucets are the kind of features that you almost never notice until you’re remodeling the room. Designed to control how and where water flows in the sink, faucets are necessary bathroom fixtures, but they’re available in countless materials and designs. For many people, faucets are the finishing touches of a bathroom design. How do you make a decision about something that feels like an extra but is a necessary feature? What should you consider when choosing the best bathroom faucets for your space?

Types of Faucets Available

In a bathroom market loaded with possibilities, there are a few basic categories of faucets to which most fit. While there are still other models besides these basics, below are the most typical faucet types: 

  • Centerset:

This type of faucet has a spout and two handles affixed to a plate, creating one faucet that’s made for sinks with three faucet holes set 4 inches apart. 

  • Widespread:

The widespread faucet has a separate spout and separate handles, each mounted independently into three holes in the sink. 

  • Single hole:

A single-hole faucet has exactly that — a single hole where the faucet gets mounted. Typically creating a modern look, these faucets also conserve space by taking less of the counter. 

  • Wall mount:

A wall-mounted faucet takes the faucet off the sink entirely by mounting it into the wall above the sink, instead. Ideal for vessel sinks or other designs without faucet holes, this type of faucet requires access to water supply through the wall, which may require some rerouting. If you already have a particular faucet in mind, it’s not hard to shop the selection of styles in that type and choose the one you like. If you’re still unsure of which faucet to choose, however, you’ll want to evaluate further.

Questions to Ask Yourself

In order to determine which faucets fit your bathroom best, here is a list of questions worth reviewing in your design project: 

  • What fits your sink?

The sink you’re using directly impacts the faucet you’ll select because you need a faucet that fits the hole opening you have. If you’re retrofitting your faucet to a sink you’ve had for a while or you’re buying a new faucet to go with a new sink purchase, find out exactly what type of hole you need to accommodate — single-hole, centerset, widespread or wall mount? 

  • What features do you want?

One of the best parts of today’s faucet market is all the options available. Would you like a low-flow faucet, for example, to help conserve water? Are you interested in an aerator that can reduce water usage and save money? You may be interested in a hands-free faucet that’s motion-activated to start when you put your hands underneath and stop when you move them away. There are also ozone-activated antibacterial faucets designed to kill bacteria in your water at home. Explore possibilities to see what seems most important to you. 

  • What finish do you like?

Today’s faucet market includes a wide range of finishes: polished chrome, brushed chrome, polished nickel, brushed nickel, hammered nickel, stainless steel, bronze, brushed bronze, oil-rubbed bronze, ceramic and more. Tour a kitchen showroom or visit a home improvement store to explore the possibilities and figure out which look you love. 

  • What’s your budget?

Knowing how much you can afford is an important boundary in your faucet shopping, helping you to avoid overspending and regretting your remodel. Using the budget that you’ve set for your bathroom, see what faucets and features fit into that plan. 

  • What sort of faucets are used in similar homes?

Another tried-and-true method for gaining remodeling inspiration is browsing ideas in similar homes. Look at the residences in your area and what they offer — are they tending toward a certain style or faucet feature? That might point you in a direction in which you want to go, too. 

When you’re ready to make a faucet purchase for your bathroom remodel, come to Modern Bathroom. As the Internet’s leading provider of factory-direct pricing on bathroom products, we’re proud to offer prices that are up to 70 percent lower on all kinds of bathroom items. Shop our selection of faucets online to find the perfect option for you.

How Vanities Can Transform Your Bathroom

17. April 2018 Erica Garland (0)

When you’re remodeling a bathroom, every detail matters — but few are as impactful as your choice of vanity. Because the vanity creates essentially a centerpiece for the bathroom, it can set the tone for the entire room’s style. This is one reason why thinking through vanity options is worth the effort. Your choice makes a strong impact on the room. Whether you are going minimal, modern, traditional, classic, vintage or something else, you’ll often be able to build the entire design around this one central focal point. So will you go with a modern look, an antique look or something in between? If you’re renovating a bathroom and thinking about swapping out the vanity, you have a variety of options available to you today. To help you choose the right vanity style for your space, here’s a deeper look at the impact vanities make on bathroom projects, as well as reasons for replacing a vanity at home.

Your Choice of Vanity Can Change Your Whole Space

Look around at all the vanity variations available in the marketplace today. You’ll see all kinds of options for vanity size, styling and mounting. To help you determine which is the best fit for your bathroom, here’s a look at some factors:
  • Size: Today’s market not only includes single and double vanities, but options that come in various widths, depths and heights. Take a look at your bathroom space and figure out what size vanity would fit it best. Keep in mind that a vanity makes the strongest, most positive statement when it comfortably fits into your bathroom, without making the room feel overcrowded and cramped. 
  • Style: There are several factors that go into a vanity’s style. The color and materials typically make a strong visual statement, connoting a sense of modern, traditional, antique or other style. Likewise, the type of sink — undermount, vessel, drop-in or integrated — has an impact on the overall bathroom design. Explore possibilities and figure out which look appeals to you best. Then determine which vanity in that style will work in your room. 
  • Mounting: While, traditionally speaking, vanities are freestanding on the floor, there are other mounting options available today. You can mount your vanity to the wall, for example, freeing up floor space. In an especially small bathroom, you can find a corner vanity to take up less overall square footage. Explore the possibilities to consider how your vanity choice can change your room. 

No matter what vanity you choose in your bathroom, it will affect the room’s style. Take your time to explore options and evaluate how they’ll work in your renovated bathroom. That way, you can achieve just the look and feel you desire.

Goals You Can Achieve by Replacing the Vanity in Your Bathroom

Any time you create a new bathroom, you have to choose fixtures and elements to put in it. But what about when you already have a bathroom and you’re interested in giving it new life? How do you know when you should replace the vanity in your bathroom? When does it make sense to swap yours out? Here are a few examples of situations in which replacing the vanity is a decision that makes sense:

1. To go more modern (or traditional).

Whether you inherited a bathroom with design you don’t love when you bought your home or you have owned your home long enough that you’ve changed styles, you can breathe new life into your bathroom with a new vanity. Swapping it out with a model that appeals to you is a great first step in redesigning the look of your bathroom. 

2. To brighten (or darken) the bathroom.

Maybe your current vanity is a rich, dark wood color, and you’d like something in the light, white family. Perhaps you have a light, modern vanity, but you want to choose something richer and more substantial. Whatever the case, you can quickly change your bathroom’s whole feel by swapping the vanity with a color scheme that appeals to you. 

3. To consolidate (or better use) space.

If the current space arrangement in your bathroom isn’t working and you’re wishing you had more floor space, you might want to swap out your wide or double vanity with a thinner model. 

4. To add functionality.

If you’ve been using a pedestal sink and lacking space to store toiletries, you may want to consider swapping it for a vanity with drawers or cabinets. Likewise, if you haven’t had counter space for storing basic items, you may prefer a vanity that adds space for working. 

There are as many reasons for swapping out vanities as there are vanities available in the marketplace. The bottom line, however, is that if you want to swap out your vanity, you can make a big impact on your space by doing so. To help you find just the right component for your bathroom, check out Modern Bathroom. As the Internet’s leading provider of factory-direct pricing on bathroom products, we provide up to 70 percent savings and free shipping throughout the contiguous United States. Explore our selection of bathroom vanities to find just the right option for you!

How To Remodel Your Teen’s Bathroom

10. April 2018 Erica Garland (0)

As your child moves from elementary student to teenager, his or her tastes are likely to change, too. That’s exactly why, for example, that adorable bathroom with primary colors or an aquarium theme may have been cute for your toddler, but probably not for your teen. Whether you’re designing the bathroom for the first time or planning a bathroom remodel for your teenager, remember these principles:

1. Forget trendy and go basic.

While themed bathrooms can be cute for kids, see if you can skip the big, bold decorating look for now. Teenagers are notorious for changing their minds often. Even if your teen is passionate about basketball, the color pink or some other decorating theme right now, there’s a good chance he or she will feel differently soon. Avoid needing to redesign the decor every year or two. Instead, stick to a basic color scheme and design, with changeable accents such as towels and a shower curtain. 2.

2. Create space.

If your son or daughter is like most teenagers, he or she cares about appearances and will likely spend more time than ever getting ready. Along with that, expect extra toiletries and beauty products to join the daily routine. Keeping that in mind, look for ways to create more space for bottles, sprays, makeup, etc. 3.

3. Get organized.

Make it easy to keep personal items separate with smart organization strategies in the bathroom. If your kids all share the same bathroom, for example, give each one a designated hook for his or her towel. Another idea is to coordinate towel colors so that each member of the family has a specific hue that’s always his or hers. Other organization tips include setting up a makeup station with a stool, organizing the closet or shelves with easy-to-find toiletries, and/or designating each drawer for a family member’s items. 4.

4. Go for the double vanity.

Is your bathroom large enough for a bigger vanity? Consider this: If your teen shares the bathroom with anyone else, a double vanity will be a huge asset. With two vanities, it’s possible for more than one person to get ready at the same time, without anyone fighting over who gets the mirror or who’s been in the bathroom longer. 5.

5. Add electrical sockets.

If it’s possible to add extra electrical sockets to the bathroom, do it. With additional electrical sockets, more than one person can be in the bathroom blow-drying hair or using an electric razor, simultaneously, without feeling stressed about getting time and space. 6.

6. Increase the light.

Extra light can make a bathroom feel larger and brighter — not to mention make it easier for your teens to get ready each day. To boost the brightness of your bathroom, you might add a new light fixture, choose bulbs with higher wattage, and/or get rid of curtains/shades blocking natural light in the room. 

Whether you’re upgrading a child’s bathroom into a teenager bathroom or trying to make your home’s main bathroom more appropriate for the whole family, the six tips above are a great place to start. When you want to find bathroom fixtures and features to incorporate into your upgrade, head to Modern Bathroom. As the web’s leading provider of bathroom products at factory-direct prices, we’re your resource for outfitting a beautiful bathroom space. Browse our online catalog to learn more and get inspired!

The Advantages Of Using Mirrors In Your Bathroom

3. April 2018 Erica Garland (0)

Are you interested in making your bathroom look bigger? Is your main bathroom feeling cramped, and do you want some design tricks to improve it? Do you wish your powder room could have more square footage, but you aren’t ready to call in a construction crew? In any of these cases, one simple solution is mirrors. Whether you’re talking about a master bathroom, a guest bathroom or a tiny half bath, you can make the space feel bigger by hanging mirrors strategically to expand the space.

Benefits of Using Mirrors in the Bath

How do mirrors add a sense of space? What are the secrets to making the most of mirrors in your bathroom at home? To help answer these questions, here’s a look at some of the biggest advantages you’ll find from using mirrors in the bathroom:

  • More light.

Place a mirror near a light source, and it can reflect the light in a way that bounces it back into the room. This amplifies the overall brightness of your space — making it feel less cramped, more open and more spacious.

  • Brighter corners.

Add interest to a boring bathroom corner by hanging a mirror that can reflect more light and make the corner more attractive. That little alcove that tucks away your toilet or that small wall near the shower could brighten significantly when you add a mirror or mirrors to the space.

  • A real wow factor.

Using a large mirror on the wall or above the vanity can produce a grand effect by filling the space and creating almost an optical illusion with its reflections.

  • Visual drama.

Go higher with mirrors to add visual interest and a sense of drama to your bathroom. Expanded mirrors maximize a room’s sense of space and change the whole look of the room.

No matter what your bathroom’s size or style, mirrors can brighten and enhance the room, especially when they’re used strategically. What’s more, because there are so many kinds and sizes of mirrors, there are endless ways to customize the mirror selection to fit your design tastes.

How to Make the Most of Mirrors in Your Bathroom Design

If you’re thinking about improving your bathroom with more and better mirrors, strategy makes all the difference. With that in mind, here are a few ideas that can help optimize your mirror additions: 

1. Go big over the vanity.

Using a small mirror over the vanity gives you the ability to get ready, but it doesn’t maximize visual impact. For a more spacious feel, opt for a mirror that covers the entire expanse of your vanity and mimics its space and style. A bigger mirror reflects more of the room, brightening and enlarging its appearance.

2. Find some full-length mirrors for the bath.

If you have an open wall where you can hang or prop up a full-length mirror, you enhance the reflective capabilities of the room — not to mention add convenience to your daily routines. A full-length mirror lets you view your whole body before heading out the door.

3. Hang mirrors behind light fixtures.

When you place mirrors behind light fixtures, it can work to magnify and enhance the light, brightening the room considerably.

4. Place a mirror across from a window.

During the daytime, natural light comes into your bathroom through its window(s), so hang a mirror across from a window to reflect the views and light. If you only have a small window, another option is to hang mirrors on either side of the window to create an illusion of a larger window to the outdoors.

5. Use decorative mirrors.

There are more ways to use mirrors than traditional mirrors hung on the wall. For other ideas, consider mirrored backsplashes, mirrored vases, mirrored perfume trays, mirrored jars and/or picture frames. Anything that can reflect the light can add to a spacious feel.

With so many benefits and possibilities relating to mirrors in the bathroom, it only makes sense to work them into your design. Whether you’re looking to make a small bathroom feel larger or give a large bathroom enhanced drama from reflecting light, mirrors can help. Learn more about the possibilities available when you shop bathroom mirrors on the market today. 

When you’re looking for the best in bathroom mirrors, come to Modern Bathroom. As the Internet’s leading resource for factory-direct pricing on bathroom products, we are committed to providing discounted prices on everything from mirrors to vanities on our site. Shop our selection of various bathroom mirrors to see what we have that might work for you — and contact us anytime to learn more!