Buying Guide For Basins
A beautiful basin is as ornamental as it is functional, and it can add grace and elegance to your bathroom’s design. The basin you choose will depend on your budget, your needs, the space you have available, and your own sense of style. To help you pick the best one for your bathroom, we have put together this simple guide to the types of basins on the market.
Counter Top Basins
As you’d guess from the name, counter top basins rest on top of a counter unit. They are also known as “vessel” basins, and they resemble the old washbowls of long ago, with the added convenience of running water! In a vintage style, these basins look especially beautiful in restored period homes, but you’ll also find modern, artistic interpretations which would be at home in any designer showplace.
Inset Basins
Inset basins fit into a hole cut in a countertop. They may sit flush with the counter, in which case they are known as undermount basins: this is a great, minimalist look. You can also find self-rimming basins, which have a raised lip that rests on the counter top. These are easy to install and the elevated rim helps to keep spills to a minimum, protecting the counter’s finish. Semi-recessed basins work with a small shelf or piece of furniture: they have a rounded, smooth outside edge with a back that sits seamlessly into the countertop.
Traditional Style Basins
Nowadays it's common to find bathrooms fitted out with the ever popular minimalist look but there are signs that retro styles are heading for a comeback. If the idea of stepping back into the traditional style sounds like fun, then have a look at our range of traditional style basins.
The traditional basin is a lovely way to bring a touch of old-fashioned charm to your bathroom. These basins are usually have full or half pedestals to hide the plumbing, and are styled with classic lines and vintage details.
If there is one piece of bathroom furniture that represents the 'sixties' it's the slim pedestal basin. Our range of classic pieces will instantly transform the look of the room, and if you choose a colour such as pastel blue or pink you will really get that sixties vibe happening. Match a toilet and bath to the basin in the same colour and your bathroom will be instantly transported into full retro style.
Apart from traditional style basin, you will find plenty of retro accessories in our on-line store. Round mirrors, glass jars and ball shaped light shades are just a few of the many items that can help bring a retro flavor to the bathroom.
Basins with Pedestals
Pedestal basins are the most popular choice in the UK, and for good reason. The plumbing is concealed within the pedestal, and their sleek design means that they don’t take up much space. Basins with pedestals come in many beautiful styles. You can choose from simple, utilitarian designs, gorgeous vintage-inspired pieces, or clean, contemporary lines.
Corner Basins
The ultimate space-saver, a corner basin can be tucked into the right angles of a wall. These basins are usually small, but they do the job beautifully, and can make all the difference when you’re trying to outfit a tiny bathroom.
Cloakroom Basins
Your cloakroom may be tiny, but it’s the bathroom that most of your guests will see. Clever, stylish design is the best way to make a good impression, and specially designed cloakroom basins are a part of the strategy. These compact solutions include corner sinks, small pedestal and half-pedestal styles, and beautiful wall-mounted basins.
For many guests, the cloakroom will be the only bathroom they use. That means if you want to impress, you need to check out the latest in funky cloakroom basin design. You can create a fun, classy or practical cloakroom very easily, depending on your choice of your basin. Whether you love straight lines or sensuous curves, there are plenty of basins to choose from, including ones that have been designed to give your washroom real appeal – unusual shapes, sloping surfaces and corner fittings – all to make your cloakroom the very best it can be.
Small spaces don’t have to be dull. We understand that our consumers need designs that work with limited space, which is why you can buy chic and basins from our on-line store to give your cloakroom the “wow” factor.
Vanity Basins
The great benefit of a vanity basin is the built-in storage space, where you can hide all your bath potions, grooming gadgets, and cleaning supplies. They are ideal in a bathroom without closets and other storage options. Vanity basins range from small, minimalist designs to huge luxurious furniture pieces, so no matter what your needs are, you can find one to suit your bathroom.
Once you’ve decided on a basin for your washroom, you’ll want to add essentials like taps and accessories. Matching taps to cloakroom basins is a great job, because apart from basin design, there are hundreds of different taps to choose from. Making a good match between your taps and your basin will really help to create a fantastic impression for anyone who walks in, and adding a contemporary towel rail, soap dispenser or storage shelving to your bathroom will help to make even the smallest of spaces chic and welcoming.
Sinks and basins today come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, and the incredible array of choices available means that nobody needs to settle for a second-best basin.
Select The Best Styles
We should first recall that in many ways, basins with pedestals are the centrepiece of your bathroom. So, their decor will define this space. The styles and options are purely up to your tastes in this fashion. If you enjoy a contemporary appeal, a basin tap with a single lever for hot and cold water is the most appealing. More classical approaches will embrace the traditional hot and cold tap. Metallic finishes such as copper, brass, platinum and chrome are a few of the selections that will give basins with pedestals the "pop" that they need to offer a standalone visual appeal.
If you are not entirely familiar with pedestal basins, some of these concepts may appear to be a bit unfamiliar. Bathrooms 365 are here when you need us. Not only are we capable of providing you with expert advice, but you can view numerous different types of basins to get a better idea of what it is that you may be looking for.
Advantages of Semi Pedestal Basins
The great advantage of choosing Semi-Pedestal Basins is the fact that the pedestal does not reach all the way to the floor, and this makes the surface area of even the smallest bathrooms appear much larger. This gives the entire room the illusion of space. The beauty of this design means that the basin is bolted to the wall, and the pedestal is suspended below using specially manufactured clips, to effectively and discretely obscure the often unsightly pipes and bottle trap providing the appearance of a superbly integrated finish. An additional benefit with this style of basin means that the fully exposed floor surface can be cleaned a lot easily helping to keep the bathroom hygienic and sanitized.
Not only do these sinks combine simple functionality with a sleek minimalistic design but the profusion of styles on the market today allows the designer to create their personalised bathroom through the choice of either a traditional or contemporary look. Semi Pedestal Basins are a cost-effective option that affords the opportunity to make a magnificent and bold statement in an often underestimated room.
Wall Hung Basin
The most obvious reason to choose a wall hung basin is when you are trying to maximise the use of limited space. A tiny en-suite can feel a lot larger and more open when you install a wall hung basin rather than trying to shoehorn a big vanity unit someplace where it doesn’t belong. It’s even possible to find beautiful little corner basins which can slot right into the smallest space. Because all the plumbing with a hall hung basin is hidden behind the wall, you don’t need to worry about hiding unsightly pipes with a large cupboard.
Even if you have plenty of room to spare, a wall hung basin can still be the best choice. It can be a purely aesthetic decision to leave as much open space as possible when aiming for a modern minimalist design, or it may be a compromise which allows for a bigger bath or some other coveted feature.
Things to consider when choosing a wall hung basin
There are several points to keep in mind as you select your wall hung basin:
Placement: This is even more important with wall hung basins for several reasons. You need a stud wall which can support the weight of the basin, with room for the concealed plumbing.
Size: The basins are available in a remarkable range of sizes, from those tiny corner cloakroom basins to luxuriously large double basins where two people can easily wash at once. Measure the available space to determine your ideal dimensions.
Style: Rounded or square? Modern or traditional? Do you want extra features like a towel rail or built-in soap dish? At this point, matching a basin to your particular wants and needs can help you narrow down your choices.
Cost: It’s important to have an idea of your budget before you begin to shop, and you shouldn’t forget to add the cost of extra fixtures (taps, wastes, etc.) which may not be included. A wall hung basin can also be more expensive to buy and install than a traditional basin. It’s a more advanced DIY, and if you have any worries about safety, you’ll need to consult a professional.
How To Select Counter Top Basin
Sitting on top of a cupboard, shelf or plinth, countertop basins bring a real taste of contemporary design to any bathroom. The popularity of these sinks means that designers are always looking for new ways to bring their vessel basins to life and to capture the essence of a truly modern bathroom. From deep circular bowls to delicate fluted shapes, utilitarian rectangles and offset designs, the choice of vessel sinks on the market today is anything but limited. That means that whatever theme you’re planning for your wash area, you’ll be able to find a model that works for you.
If you’re tired of the traditional pedestal basin and you’re looking for something completely different that gives your bathroom a real sense of space, check out the range of countertop basins at Bathrooms 365. Because it sits on a wall-mounted cupboard or a single shelf, a vessel basin can help you to make the most of the space in your bathroom. It’s amazing what a difference clear floor space can make to the feel of a bathroom when you walk in, and these products give you the freedom to add extra space to your room while also giving an immediate modern feel.
Pro's & Cons of Semi-Recessed Basins
Choosing the right basin for your bathroom can be difficult. You need to take several factors into consideration such as bathroom size, home decor and whether or not you will have children using the basin. There's also the fact that there are several options available, and while a semi-recessed basin is usually a good choice, you should consider other styles as well.
Types of Basins Available
Semi-recessed basins are only one type of basin available, but they are an ideal choice for those who want a basin that blends seamlessly with a shelf or countertop. A semi-recessed basin is either built entirely into a countertop or placed into a space that has been cut out of a countertop.
Pedestal basins sit on top of pedestals that are bolted to the floor. The pedestals themselves hide the sink's plumbing, and they look stylish in their own right. This is the most popular and cost-effective basin style in Britain.
Wall-mounted basins are fixed directly to the bathroom wall. They can give the illusion of more space since they don't sit on a pedestal or are built into a countertop. They are also known for being easier to clean, if only because there is less surface area to keep clean.
We've already touched on some of the reasons to go with a semi-recessed basin, but there are still a few other pros to this design. First of all, it allows you to install cabinets both above and below your basin, which will give you plenty of extra storage space for toothbrushes, cosmetics, hair products and anything else you might need to have on hand in your bathroom. A semi-recessed design is also sturdier than a pedestal or wall-mounted basin. Many of these basins are part of a sturdy vanity that cannot be rocked or knocked loose easily.
While there may be plenty of good reasons to go with a semi-recessed basin, there are still some downsides to this option. The biggest downside is that it isn't exactly neat if you have children. Kids tend to splash when they use a sink, and a semi-recessed basin goes right up to the edge of the countertop. Depending on the design you choose, it might go even a little bit beyond. This might mean cleaning up a wet floor when your small children are finished washing their hands or brushing their teeth.
The other major disadvantage to a semi-recessed basin is that it is part of something that can take up a lot of space in a bathroom. Granted, you are getting a lot of counter space as well as the opportunity to install cabinets, but your bathroom might look a little smaller as a trade-off.