How to Choose Bathroom Finishes
Bathrooms and kitchens are the most expensive and high-stakes projects in your home. If you’re tackling these spaces yourself, the best way to avoid disappointment is by sticking to timeless and well-coordinated finishes throughout your spaces.
Tip No.1 — Source the Most Difficult Material First
Good design keeps the whole picture in mind, meaning every decision is based on something else. When it comes to selecting finishes, choose the most expensive and/or most difficult-to-source material FIRST, with all subsequent decisions branching from there.
Tip No.2 — Avoid Glitzy Tile
Tile stores are like jewelry boxes. There are so many shiny, colourful options just begging to come home with you, but tile is where the most expensive mistakes and regrets happen! A few general tips: smaller-scale tile is almost always the better choice. For bathroom flooring, go with something in the world of white, cream, or soft black. Do NOT use black for your backsplash - stick with white, cream, or your favourite colour (that goes with your home). But remember: tile is difficult and expensive to both install and remove. White tile allows you to easily change your paint and decor when your tastes shift in the future!
Blanc Marine | This classic and timeless black and white basket weave tile is beautiful and versatile.
Tip No.3 — Properly Sample Your Finishes
Throughout the selection process AND before making final decisions, sample all your finishes together in the correct orientation. Floor and countertop samples should lay flat, but wall tile and paint samples should be propped up vertically at 90deg. Angle changes light reflectance, which changes colour! Also, all your samples should be grouped together on a white background (a large poster board will do), to provide a blank slate for viewing, and prevent simultaneous contrast.
Tip No.4 — The Best Laminate Countertops
If you’re going with laminate, stick with something in the world of white or soft black. Avoid the greys, browns, and beiges! The most realistic laminates have quiet, minimal patterns. Stay away from anything too veiny, blotchy, or high-contrast. Formica laminates are widely available and have some of the nicest colours and patterns.
Formica | Calacatta Cava is a great, subtle marble-look laminate. Would look even better in this photo with better-coordinating backsplash and cabinets!
Tip No.5 — Match Your Ceramics!
“White” is never just white. For your ceramic plumbing fixtures, stick to one brand for the most consistent results so your sink and toilet are the same colour. Some brands like Toto and Kohler even offer multiple shades of white and other neutrals!
Tip No.6 — Select Multiple Options When Possible
Your final decision may come down to availability - what you or your contractor can actually source. This is especially important for my Canadian friends as we have way less selection up here than south of the border. Try keep this in mind from day one, and if there are ever two or more possible options for your floor, countertop, etc. — hold on to them all in case you can only get your hands on one of them.
The easiest way to reduce stress and decision fatigue during a renovation is to make decisions methodically, in the correct order. Whether it’s your inspiration piece or the most difficult material to source, identify your starting point and enjoy playing design dominos from there!
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Bathrooms and kitchens make for the most expensive and high-stakes home renovations. If you’re tackling these spaces yourself, the best way to avoid disappointment is by sticking to timeless and well-coordinated finishes throughout your spaces.