A Buyer's Guide for Toilet and Basin Suites

Despite how it seems, designing or renovating a bathroom suite requires excessive consideration. Whether you are going for a traditional look or prefer a contemporary-styled affordable bathroom suite, there is a wide array of things you should look out for. From formulating a layout to choosing the right fixtures to install in the bathroom, it takes the right mindset and effort to build your dream bathroom. 

Fortunately, you have the perfect guide on your side. No matter what themes you want to incorporate or what styles appeal to you, you can follow our bathroom suite buying guide to create a bathroom you have saved on your Pinterest board. 

What Is a Bathroom Suite?

A bathroom suite is simply a pre-packaged collection of various bathroom fixtures. It is sold as a single unit and ensures a cohesive and matching look. In other words, it is a coordinated collection of bathroom fixtures sold together, such as a toilet, basin, vanity unit, bathtub, and shower enclosure etc. All of these fixtures complement each other in terms of size, colour, and finish.

Advantages of Choosing a Bathroom Suite

There are various advantages to buying a complete bathroom suite instead of fixtures separately.  

  1. Cohesive Aesthetic:  Bathroom fixtures of the same size, colour, and finish will provide a visually unified and harmonious look without effort. All of the fixtures match in style and material also contributes to an attractive bathroom interior. 

  2. Cost Savings:  A bathroom set is generally more cost-effective than buying each item individually. Retailers often create packages and bundles with discounts and reduced-price tags to attract buyers with

  3. Time-Efficient:  Making the right choice when buying a bathroom fixture can be tricky due to the variety of options available to choose from. A suite simplifies the process by offering complete fixtures in one package, saving you time spent on finding the fixtures that work together. 

  4. Easier and Low-Cost Installation: With a bathroom suite, you will have the installation of bathroom fixtures all at once. This is often easier and economical in most cases. 

  5. Ideal for Full Renovations:  Bathroom suites offer a perfect way of refurbishing a tired old bathroom or designing a new one from scratch. It is convenient and cost-effective, and takes the guesswork out of planning. 

Understanding Different Types of Bathroom Suites

Buying a bathroom suite will simplify your selection process, saving you the hassle of finding the matching fixtures to ensure coordinated design. Additionally, it saves you time and can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual items. 

Toilet and Basin Suites

The basic bathroom suite that typically includes a toilet and a basic bathroom. Perfect choice when you are planning to revamp a couple of fixtures rather than a complete bathroom renovation

Cloakroom Suites:

Bathroom suites that are specifically designed for smaller spaces, such as downstairs toilets, en-suites, or guest bathrooms. The fixtures in a cloakroom suite are often space saving to fit into limited areas without compromising functionality. 

  • Key Features: Compact toilets (often wall-hung or close-coupled with shorter projections) and smaller basins (corner basins or slimline wall-mounted options) are common. They prioritize space efficiency.

  • Benefits: Maximize floor space, add convenience for guests, can increase property value by utilizing unused areas, and are ideal for quick touch-ups.

Contemporary Bathroom Suites

Modern trends show contemporary bathrooms are all about minimalism and sleek lines. Therefore, contemporary bathroom sets offer a modern aesthetic with a minimalistic aesthetic. Often stylish and space-saving wall-hung toilets and basins are offered in these suites. 

  • Key Features:  Bathroom fixtures with geometric shapes, smooth lines and clean lines that are common in contemporary style spaces. These suites often feature wall-mounted fixtures that require less space, creating the illusion of more space in the bathroom. 

  • Benefits: A minimalist bathroom created contemporary bathroom suite will have an airy atmosphere. Other benefits include easier cleaning, versatility, a stylish and timeless look, etc.

Modern Bathroom Suites

The aim of a modern bathroom suite is to offer a range of collections designed with modern living in mind. The fixtures in these suites feature innovative design, functionality, and clean lines. 

Enclosure Suites

These suites typically include a toilet, basin, and a shower enclosure. They are a popular choice for bathrooms where a dedicated showering space is desired.

  • Key Features: A variety of shower enclosure styles (quadrant, offset quadrant, square, rectangular, walk-in) with tempered glass and various door mechanisms (sliding, pivot, hinged). The included toilet and basin will complement the modern look of the enclosure.

  • Benefits: Efficient use of space for showering, excellent water containment, easy to clean glass surfaces (especially with easy-clean coatings), and can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the bathroom.

Standard Bath Suites

A bath suite is for you if you need a bathtub instead of a shower enclosure. It is a classic and timeless choice comprising a toilet, basin, and standard-size bathtub.

  • Key Features: A conventional rectangular bathtub, often made from acrylic or steel, paired with a matching toilet (close-coupled or back-to-wall) and basin (pedestal or semi-pedestal).

  • Benefits: Suitable for standard family bathrooms with children. It offers the full bathing experience.

Shower Bath Suites

Confused whether to choose a shower enclosure or a bathtub? You may benefit from a shower bath suite. The shower bathtub is the best of both worlds, allowing you to take a shower or bath as per your choice. Shower bathtubs often feature a wider end for a comfortable showering experience.

  • Key Features: Besides standard shower baths, you can choose P-shaped or L-shaped baths. These have a wide end at one end to accommodate a shower screen. This allows for comfortable showering without needing a separate shower enclosure. The toilet and basin will match the contemporary design of the shower bath.

  • Benefits: Space and money-saving solution that maximizes functionality in smaller bathrooms.

Small Bath Suites

The same bath suite but with a more compact bathtub, ensuring it fits perfectly in a smaller bathroom. Small bathtubs allow for a similar shower experience while saving space in the bathroom

  • Key Features: A shorter or narrower bathtub (e.g., 1500mm or less), often paired with compact toilets and basins to save precious floor space.

  • Benefits:  A comfortable soak even in the small bathroom. Ideal for cloakrooms, ensuites or where full-sized baths are not a top priority. A water-efficient choice due to its small size.

Vanity Unit Bathroom Suites

Vanities are an essential need for every modern bathroom. A simple storage with a basin that's named as a vanity unit can help you keep your bathroom tidy and organized while eliminating the need for a separate basin fixture. A vanity unit bathroom suite should be your choice when you are looking for much more than just storage. It usually comes with a toilet, a bath, or a shower enclosure

  • Key Features: Variety of bathroom set options to choose from. A vanity unit can be wall-mounted or floor-standing, depending on your choice. A toilet of your choice, either a close-coupled toilet, a back-to-wall toilet, or wall-hung toilet, depending on the package you choose. 

  • Benefits: Most vanity unit bathroom suites are a complete package for all your bathroom needs. You can choose the suite as per your aesthetics and functional requirements.

Bathroom Furniture Packs

A furniture pack is a combo unit that combines a toilet and sink with storage. So, technically, it's a 3-1 furniture unit that is also known as a combination vanity unit. 

  • Key Features: Available in a variety of sizes and finishes, allowing you to choose the perfect match for your bathroom aesthetics. 

  • Benefits: Create a unique, minimalist, and modern-looking bathroom with an all-in-one combo unit. It's compact and saves you money on fixtures and installation. Perfect for those who are looking for a clean aesthetic. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bathroom Suite

You will need to consider the following factors when planning for a complete bathroom set. Here we have tips for buying a bathroom suite.

Determine the Theme 

Bathroom themes are divided into categories: traditional and modern. No matter what theme you select, there is an exceptional range of styles and fixtures exhibiting that theme. Traditional bathroom themes feature a classy and flashy persona whereas modern bathroom themes are more inclined towards minimalistic and sleeker outlooks. Modern bathrooms create a sophisticated and airy appearance. Whereas, classical bathrooms appear more stylish and extravagant. Whatever style you choose, make sure it resembles your personality. 

Consider Your Requirements 

Before you set out to go shopping for your bathroom, you should consider your requirements beforehand. The two major things you must look out for are the bathroom space and layout designs you are going with. 

If you have a small bathroom you must look out for some space-saving bathroom fixtures that can comfortably fit in without requiring any additional space. Moreover, it is all the more important to try out some layout designs to determine which one works the best. You don’t want to install a fixture or fit in a place that compromises the rest of the fixtures. 

Formulate a Budget 

Whether big or small, luxury or basic, you should always formulate a budget for your bathroom beforehand. A budget keeps you on track and prevents you from incurring extra expenses. The expenditure varies depending on the type of bathroom suite you are buying. 

It normally costs around £ 3 – 4K, just to have an idea in mind. It is also mandatory to add an extra 10% on top of the budget to be prepared for any unforeseen situation. If you renovate the old suite, try to salvage from the previous bathroom setting as much as possible. For instance, you can use the old water inlets and plumbing setup instead of renovating it throughout. 

Choosing the Right Fixtures 

A standard bathroom suite consists of a toilet, basin or vanity, and shower enclosures or bathtub. You can add or delete the items depending on your need and preference. If you have selected a theme for your bathroom, you can simply skip the hassle of trying out different styles of fixtures. Just make sure the fixtures you are buying can go along with the theme and perfectly fit into the space available. 

More importantly, you should also determine the usability of your bathroom. If you are designing a family bathroom that receives high traffic, you must look for fixtures that are durable and sturdy enough to bear the load and highly usable. 

Ending Thoughts

A bathroom suite is a practical, stylish, and budget-friendly way to create a coordinated and functional bathroom space. It can be a viable choice when you are looking for a complete renovation or need to replace a couple of fixtures in the bathroom. All you need to consider is bathroom size, layout, type of fixtures you need, and style when choosing a bathroom set.