Bathroom Hardware

The Basics of Bath Hardware

Bath hardware pieces are the permanent but replaceable fixtures that make your bathroom complete and easy to use. The absolutely necessary parts of the bathroom are the bathtub or shower, toilet, vanity or cabinet and sink with faucet. Think of those as the first things that get installed. The secondary but necessary pieces are the bath hardware fixtures like the shower head, towel bars, towel rings, robe hooks, toilet paper holder and cabinet hardware. Lighting could also be considered bath hardware but is usually categorized with lighting fixtures and not found in the same area of a store.

Some people call bath hardware such as towel bars, towel rings and cabinet hardware “bathroom accessories,” but really each is more than an accessory. Your bathroom wouldn’t be complete or fully usable without them! The towel bars, hooks, and toilet paper holder that you choose should be cohesive with the rest of your bathroom elements like your bathtub, showerhead, bathroom lighting and vanity. Making the right choice in bathroom hardware is an important part of the rooms functionality, style and your happiness with your home.

A smaller, half-bath that includes a sink and toilet but no bath tub or shower is often called a powder room. Powder rooms, or half-baths, are usually located in the downstairs of the home and are used by guests visiting the home. The bathroom hardware will include a small vanity with sink hardware including a faucet, a mirror for freshening up, and a toilet with toilet paper holder.

Bathroom Hardware Pieces, Styles and Sizes

Faucets: The spout and handles set that controls the water flow from your water pipe into the sink basin.

Styles and Common Sizes

- Wide-spread faucet: This is a 3 separate piece faucet. It has a spout, and 2 separate handles or knobs for hot or cold water. They are meant for three holes separated by 8 inches. If you have a smaller sink spread, you can find the less common 4-inch widespread faucet that is the same 3-piece idea, but meant for a smaller sink.
- Centerset: For a centerset faucet the two handles and the spout are sitting in a row on one connected base. The holes for the valves are 4 inches apart. There is one hole in the middle for the spout.
- Single set: This faucet type only requires one hole, because the spout and handles are combined on one base. Only one hole is required. The handle usually pulls up or down to start/stop water flow and is dialed to the left or right for hot or cold water.
- Wall-mounted: Wall mount faucets require separate or rerouted plumbing into the wall that the faucet will be mounted onto, higher than the sink. Wall mount faucets are attached to the wall above the sink, allowing the sink to be a large bowl or basin that appears to sit above the vanity. Wall-mount faucets may be either centerset or widespread.


Showerheads and showersets: Also called tub and shower faucets, this includes the showerhead that allows water flow and the knob or lever handles that control the temperature and amount of water.

Styles: Shower and tub sets are mostly standard sizes and types. They will include the shower head, the tub spout where the water flows into the tub, and a handle set. The handle set may be a lever above the tub spout that turns left or right for hot and cold, or it may be two separate handles near the tub spout. Two handles near the tub spout are more common for tubs only, rather than a tub and shower combination. If there is only a shower and no tub, you can get a shower set that doesn’t include the tub spout.

Shower Curtain Rods: Attaches to each end of the shower, usually by spring mechanisms, and allows the shower curtain to hang to the floor to protect the rest of the bathroom from water.

Styles:

Shower curtain rods can be screwed in to be mounted or may be spring loaded (tension rod) and less permanent.
They will be straight and parallel to the tub wall, or may be curved out past the tub wall for a modern look.
Single rod or double rod style is available. Double rods allow for hanging wet towels, clothes, or another shower curtain behind a decorative outside curtain.

Common Sizes: Shower curtain rods may commonly be 60 - 72”, but any size from 36” and up is available. Many rods, if tension rods, are adjustable. You can also purchase a shower curtain rod extender for some rods, which may be needed for a custom size shower.

Towel Bars: Used for hanging full size bath towels. They need to be strong and properly mounted because many times wet towels are significantly weighty.

• Styles
  • One bar
  • Step style, 2 bars
  • Towel bar with shelf
• Common sizes: Towel bar standard sizes are 18”, 24” and 30”. Custom sizes are available and may be more common for the towel bars with shelves.
  
  

Towel Rings: Usually used for hanging smaller hand or face towels near the vanity. Although they also need to be properly mounted, weight is not as much of a concern as they are commonly holding smaller, decorative towels.

Styles

Regular: Most towel rings are a full circle attached to a mounting piece that hang from the wall.

Euro: Another towel ring style is the euro, which is not quite a full circle but more of an arc for the towel to hang on.

Common sizes: Towel rings usually have a 6 1/2” to 7” diameter ring, large enough for big or small hand towels.

Toilet Paper Holders: Usually mounted to the wall at an easily accessible spot near the toilet. Standing toilet paper holders are also an option if there is not an available spot on the wall.

• Styles
  • Bar: Standard toilet paper holders project from the wall on two posts with a small tensions rod between them to hold the tissue roll. 
  • Euro: Euro paper holders project from the wall on one mounting piece with a flat-sided ring hanging from the mounting piece. The tissue roll slides onto the ring and rests on the flat side.
  • Standing: For homeowners with no wall space near the toilet, a standing, movable toilet paper holder is a nice option. It has a traditional tension rod piece or euro hanging loop attached to a simple stand.
• Common Sizes: Standing tissue holders are commonly 25” high. Wall mounted bars are usually about 9 inches long and project 3 – 3 ½” from the wall.

Towel or Robe Hooks: At least two are usually hung near the shower for easy access to towels while getting out of the shower.

Styles

Single: One hook attached to a mounting piece.
Double: Two hooks attached to one mounting piece.
Peg board: Any number of hooks or pegs attached to a board-like mounting piece. These pegs are usually equally spaced and parallel to each other.
Common sizes: Robe hooks usually project 2 – 5 inches from the wall to leave ample space for the towel to hang without hanging flush against the wall.

 

 

Bath Hardware Finishes

Polished Chrome: Polished chrome looks great in a bathroom and can be pulled off in this room easier than in almost any other room. Polished chrome gives a bright, shiny mirror look that matches the idea of a squeaky clean, polished bathroom. It can be matched with almost any color scheme, whether or warm or cool, but looks particularly nice with modern, cool tones.

Oil Rubbed Bronze: Oil rubbed bronze, with its copper undertones, is a good fit for bathrooms with a warm theme because of the similarity in finish and color tone. Oil rubbed bronze can look nice in any bathroom, but looks particularly nice in a large bathroom because then the darker, heavier finish isn’t overwhelming or too weighty for the room.

Satin Nickel: Satin nickel is a popular finish for bathrooms because of its smooth, clean look. Satin nickel is a good middle between polished chrome and oil rubbed bronze – it has a silvery, lighter color of cool chrome but also the satin, smooth finish that is kin to oil rubbed bronze. Satin nickel looks great in bathrooms that fall into a theme somewhere between modern chrome and rustic oil rubbed bronze. For an everyday bathroom, you can’t go wrong with satin nickel.

Polished Brass: Similar to polished chrome, polished brass is a shiny, gold finish that works well for bathrooms because of its sheen and sparkling clean look. Polished brass is commonly purchased as replacement pieces to keep consistent with current cabinets or hardware. It is not commonly put in new remodeling jobs, but can be pulled off if matched with warm tones and modern elements.

Bathroom Themes

Traditional Bathrooms: The warm, elegant style of these bathrooms is usually well suited for a guest powder room or a large master suite. Traditional style bathrooms often use warm, creamy colors on the walls and sometimes a printed wall paper. The hardware is satin nickel or oil rubbed bronze, with extra hardware pieces with flair, such as scrolled wall sconces or engraved metal mirrors. Towel bars and toilet paper holders often have stacked or ribbed rounded mounting pieces. Texture and textiles make a traditional style bathroom feel rich and comfortable. Don’t be surprised by marble countertops, beautiful thick mats or rugs on the floor and decorative candles on pillars as an accent. A traditional bathroom can be made simple or as luxurious as you can dream up!   

 
Contemporary/Modern Bathrooms: The most contemporary bathrooms have a minimalist approach – sleek lines, flat, solid wood vanities, and not a lot of frills. The window treatments will be plain but include their own bit of style by having ribbing or lines or maybe cut-out prints. The bathroom hardware will likely be a polished chrome faucet, maybe even wall mounted and emptying into a porcelain bowl resting on a dark wood vanity. The towel bars will be smooth and unobtrusive, almost going unnoticed. The lighting and cabinet hardware may be glass, reflecting lots of light and mirror-like shine. Textiles like the shower curtain and towels may have a bit more interest, as they are the focal point of the contemporary bathroom. Popular styles include nature scenes like trees or birds. Other popular textiles are simple, geometric prints. 

Old World Bathrooms: Like the old world style kitchen, old world bathrooms go over the top to take you back in time to a beautiful, handcrafted home. They will have heavy, dark hardware in oil rubbed bronze that have gentle, curved lines. The vanity may remind you of colonnade-like structures with its stocky, rounded feet. A warm gold or earthy color on the walls will complement soft floral or scrolled-print towels. Or, there could be flourished wallpaper that inspires old world traditions. Like in the traditional bathroom, the towel bars and rings and the toilet paper holder will have ribbed, rounded mounting pieces that have a touch of style but are not overwhelming. Countertops and floors could be strong marble in light or dark coloring for an aged look.

Transitional Bathrooms: A transitional style bathroom is a hybrid of a too-cold contemporary bathroom and an overly flourished traditional bath. It is the cross between almost no color and hefty bold colors. In a transitional bathroom, you mix the two styles together into your perfect fitting blend of classic and modern. How can you make a transitional bathroom work in your home? It’s easy, especially since you probably have a transitional style home anyway – a little bit of each theme that you like. In a transitional bathroom, satin nickel hardware looks great because its ability to blend many styles or colors together. A basic satin nickel or polished chrome faucet, shower set, toilet paper holder and towel rings and hooks will allow you to do whatever you want with the rest of your space!
 

Themed Bathrooms: An easy way to spruce up a bathroom is to use your existing fixtures, vanity, shower set, and lighting and simply change out the textiles such as towels, window treatments and shower curtain. Many people buy a basic polished chrome, satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze or polished brass faucet and matching cabinet hardware and worry about the “decorating” later, buying a collection of accent pieces from a home store. These themed sets may be suited for kids: picture friendly animals or planes, trains and automobiles; or the collection could be classic and pretty enough for a master suite. The set will likely have towels, a shower curtain, and all the bathroom accents such as a toothbrush holder, soap dispenser and tissue holder.

Installing Bathroom Hardware

How to Install a Bathroom Faucet

Replacing the old faucet: Purchasing a new faucet that is the same style as your old set will make the process much easier and leave no room for major remodeling mishaps. Get the correct replacement for your widespread, centerset or wall mounted faucet.

When it is actually time to replace the faucet, we recommend this excellent, thorough and easy to understand guide to replacing a bathroom faucet. It shows pictures for each step of the process.

Keep in mind that your current or replacement faucet set may have a few unique things about it and a pictorial guide won’t likely match up exactly to what you see. It will do just as it should, though, and “guide” you through what you will encounter.

How to Install a Bathroom Towel Bar

Before installing a towel bar, think carefully about its placement. Not only does it need to be on the most easily accessible wall, but it can’t conflict with any other fixtures or elements in the room. Not just the towel bar need not get in the way, but consider the length downward that the towel will hang. Consider if the towels will be too close to a heater or radiator. Consider the bathroom door opening and closing along the wall you may potentially place your towel. Consider the height of your family members and guests so that the bar or ring isn’t at an awkward level for them.

Once you’ve made a decision about the towel bars perfect placement with these things in mind, follow this installation guide from This Old House that gives a good method for correctly anchoring and mounting your towel bar.

Also, keep in mind that it is not likely you will find a stud for anchoring both ends of the towel bar. You can place on end on a stud, but because towel bar length and common stud distances are not the same, be sure to extra carefully anchor the end that is not on stud.

 

How to Install a Shower and Tub Faucet

Installing a shower set may be intimidating for a do it yourself project, but you will do fine if you follow the instructions given with your new hardware set and read up on what to expect with these guides:

For just replacing a tub spout, here is a great guide that includes cross-sectional pictures to show you just what type of tub spout or piping you should have.

How to Replace a Tub Spout

Here is a very comprehensive guide to replacing an existing tub and shower faucet with a new one. This guide from Ace Hardware gives step by step detail and shows pictures of the most important steps and tools needed.

How to Replace and Install a Tub and Shower Faucet Set

 

Don’t hesitate to call a plumber if you don’t want to install new bathroom hardware and fixtures on your own. Their experience will help them look out for any potholes or possible problems to avoid. If you’ve followed details instructions, though, you will be able to handle this mini bathroom renovation on your own. Good luck!