Choosing the Right Toilet

There are different factors to consider when deciding what type of toilet to use in your bathroom.

Firstly you need to decide what style of bathroom you want to create. For more traditional styles the focus is often on close coupled, low-level and high-level toilets. For a more contemporary feel, the close coupled, back to wall, or wall-hung toilets might be better suited.
The other consideration required is the location of your waste pipe, which could making choosing a particular type of toilet more practical over another.

Close Coupled Toilets

- The most common type of toilet found in bathrooms in the UK is the close coupled toilet. This consists of an exposed cistern sitting directly on top of the pan. These can be operated by either a lever flush or push button.

Close Coupled toilets are available in a huge range of different styles and designs meaning they lend themselves well to both traditional and contemporary bathrooms.

A consideration to note if choosing a close coupled toilet is whether to have an open back or closed back pan. On an open back setup the sides of the pan go right back to the wall, giving a more contemporary and clean feel, however this does make it more difficult to attach a side entry waste pipe, and would normally require a boxing behind the toilet for this reason. Open back toilets are easier to install in this situation as the sides of the pipe are open, giving a space for a side entry waste pipe to be fitted. This does mean the waste and connection are exposed, which may not be desired in a contemporary bathroom.

Back to Wall Pans

- Back to Wall Pans offer a more modern and modest design. These fit tightly against a false wall or vanity unit, and unlike the close coupled toilets, the cistern is concealed. These are often operated with a flush plate or button of your choice.

When choosing a back to wall pan it is worth considering whether or not you have the room for a boxing/vanity unit to house the cistern. It is also worth thinking about how you can access the cistern once installed, perhaps by putting in an accessible panel when installing.

Wall Hung Pans

- The Wall Hung Pan is certainly the most contemporary in its modern design and is currently the more popular trend in many new modern bathrooms. It follows the same concept of the back to wall pans, however  it is raised off the floor. This offers the practicality of being able to clean your floor without obstruction. These are installed by supporting the pan on a mounting frame concealed within/behind a false wall or vanity unit. Like the Back to Wall Pans these are operated by a flush plate of your choice.

Low & High-Level Toilets

- These types of toilet are ideal for a traditional style bathroom. The toilet consists of a seperate pan and cistern, with the cistern located above the pan on the wall. This is connected by an exposed flush pipe.

On low-level installations the cistern is often situated a short distance above the pan and can be operated by a lever flush. A high-level cistern will be mounted much higher up the wall and is controlled using a chain pull.

While each type of toilet generally lends itself better to certain styles of bathroom, with the vast range of designs on the market today, you do not need to feel restricted in the type you choose. For example many manufacturers of Back to Wall pans now offer a traditionally designed suite which would not look too out of place in a traditional bathroom.

Balinea can help you decide on the right toilet for your bathroom.

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Wet Rooms and Walk-In Showers

A Wet Room can be a fantastic way to help create a stylish, contemporary and practical Bathroom. One of the major advantages of a Wet Room area is the flexibility to change the size, depending on your room. The exclusion of a shower tray allows you to customize your own showering area with the use of fixed glass panels. It also makes it a safer way for lesser able people to shower, while still having a very contemporary look. When creating your Wet Room area, consider Frameless Enclosures. These will give your bathroom a minimalist, open feel, while also having a very modern, stylish appearance.

There are important points to consider if you go for a Wet Room set up. In particular drainage in the room, as well as under floor heating.


If you want to create the contemporary look and style of a Wet Room, but can't accommodate the under-tile tray there are some options. Many Manufacturers produce raised Wet Room Kits, which come in a variety of heights and sizes. You can choose from a small lip around the showering area, up to a large step into the enclosure.

A cheaper alternative to a Wet Room area is a Walk-In Shower with tray. These come with their own low profile shower tray, meaning there is no need to waterproof the rest of the room. These shower trays are often very shallow, meaning like the Wet Room it gives a very stylish, minimalist feel. 


Balinea offer a wide range of Wet Room and Walk-In Solutions. Choose from a variety of styles and sizes and find the perfect solution for your Bathroom today.

Utilizing Space in a Small Bathroom

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Many average sized homes have what most would consider a small bathroom. This is especially the case in many new homes. Although it certainly limits the options available when designing your new bathroom, it does not mean that it cannot be luxurious and practical at the same time. While the majority of people might assume bespoke bathroom designs are reserved for those with large bathrooms, the fact is that in smaller bathrooms, the design process is more vital. By simply being clever with layout, and making smart choices in terms of products and colours, a small room can become a stylish bathroom.


One of the first areas to look at is the shape of your room. Make the most of any alcoves in the room, if not used properly these can become wasted spaces. More often than not a Bath or Shower is ideal in these areas as it allows more room for door openings etc. 
Although it may seem that fitting both a shower and a bath into a small bathroom may seem impossible, this is not always the case. There are various shaped showers currently on the market, in smaller rooms look at using quadrants or pentagon shaped showers as these fit nicely into a corner of the room, and free up more floor space in the bathroom. One very important area when choosing a shower that is often forgotten is the type of enclosure opening used. In smaller rooms a slider enclosure is often preferable as it does not require any open space outside of the shower area in order to open/close. Baths also come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as Bath/Shower combinations.


In terms of basins and toilets, again there are various options in terms of size and shape. Short Projection Pans are available which will limit the amount of space taken up. Also consider Back to Wall or Wall Mounted Toilets as well as the standard close coupled. While BTW and Wall Mounted may require boxing to house the cistern, it may be the case that it is already there in the form of a large enough stud wall. With regards to basins again the options are endless. A smaller basin can become the focal point of the room if positioned correctly and accompanied with eye-catching taps. a semi recessed basin is another good option as this offers much needed space under the basin.


Colour choices and accessories also play a large part when designing a bathroom in a small space. Try to keep to lighter colours such as white or cream, as these give a light spacious impression. Brighter and bolder colour tiles can give the wrong effect in a small space so try to avoid these. While Darker, Bolder coloured tiles are not advisable in smaller rooms, that is not to say they cannot feature at all. If used sparingly and cleverly, they can be used to create a feature in the room such as a pattern behind a basin or toilet, or in a shower area.
Be liberal with the use of mirrors and also glass surfaces as these can give further impressions of space in a small room. Coupled with correct lighting, these small changes can drastically improve the look of a small bathroom.


Take the time to think about how you are going to layout and design your bathroom, keep it simple where space is limited and be smart with you choices.


For help creating your new bathroom feel free to contact me here

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