There comes a day when you need to change your bathroom countertop. This is either because your bathroom has become outdated, or because you want to give your old bathroom a new look. In this article, we give you a quick guide to choosing a bathroom countertop and avoiding nasty surprises:
- Choose the personality you want to give your bathroom depending on the space.
- Opt for the right material for your countertop.
- Choose the right size.
- Select the height that best suits your needs.
- Complete it with accessories.
1. Define your bathroom style according to space
First, choose a style for your bathroom that suits the space or the amount of light it has, and then you can choose which type of countertop you would like to have in the room. You should always opt for trusted bathroom brands, which offer security and which are recognized on the market.
It’s a good idea to make a list of everything you use in the bathroom (like soap and other products, towels, hair dryers etc.) so you can make sure you’ll have a place for everything and keep everything in its place.
Once you’ve got your list of everything you need, it’s time to get to work. You need to think about choosing materials, types of furnishings, installation height, accessories… It’s time to choose your bathroom countertop.
2. Always go for a quality material for your bathroom countertop
Next, we recommend you select a material for the bathroom countertop that is extremely resistant and long-lasting, so you should opt for quality materials that are easy to clean. This is because when we use the washbasin, we tend to leave water splashes around it and in the joints. It is essential to use a moisture-resistant material. Over time, it is quite common for certain materials to become damaged by everyday use, and moisture can ruin things quickly. It is also very important to choose a material that is able to withstand accidental impacts that could break or crack the washbasin or countertop, and we should consider whether this damage can be repaired if it occurs.
3. Adapt the worktop to the size of your bathroom
We do not always have a say on where the countertop must go, so we can opt for a standard size countertop, innovative countertops that adapt to the space we have (custom), or even have one made to fit. If you choose a standard countertop, you need to bear in mind that you will probably not be able to fit a 120-cm countertop into a space that is 120 cm wide. This is because walls are rarely straight or perfectly perpendicular, unlike the countertops, and this could result in gaps, or it could mean that the countertop simply does not fit. For this reason, we recommend leaving a space either side of the countertop that is wide enough to fit a hand into so you can clean easily and pick up any objects that might fall through the gap.
Your bathroom countertop needs to fit the space you’re installing it in to perfection. If you opt for a made-to-measure bathroom countertop you can be sure you’re making the most of every inch of space – and it’ll give your bathroom that coveted bespoke look. Krion made-to-measure countertops are one such example. You can get them in any dimensions or shapes you choose, so it’s guaranteed to fit perfectly into your space. And there really are no limits: the material can be made join-free, can be thermoformed, and you can choose from a variety of washbasin options.
On the contrary, the majority of bathroom countertop manufacturers supply standard shapes and sizes. They may be cheaper, but you need to check your measurements – bathrooms don’t tend to come in such standard sizes.
If you choose a custom piece, you should know that this type of countertop can handle some irregularities of walls, or small columns, and it can be fitted very neatly, maintaining the style of a standard countertop.
Countertops that are made to fit make it possible to personalize all aspects of the countertop, including the number and type of washbasins, the thickness, the finish and whether there is rim or even an anti-splash edge. They can also be fitted in complex spaces that are unsymmetrical or have columns.
If you are going to order a personalized countertop, it is very important to make sure that whoever makes it has taken very accurate measurements. It seems obvious, but an error at this stage could have devastating consequences, such as wasted space, or a countertop that does not fit correctly, creating major aesthetic discordance. If you plan to buy a prefabricated countertop, you must also take accurate measurements of the space to make sure you buy the correct model.
4. How to choose the height of the bathroom countertop?
When you’re choosing your bathroom countertop height, you need to think about various things. How tall are the family members who’ll be using the washbasin? Are you installing a countertop with an integrated basin, or a washbasin that sits on top of the countertop?
But (if you have them) don’t make the mistake of basing your decision on your children’s height, even if they’re the only ones using the bathroom. They won’t always be so short, so it’s best to have a stool they can use to reach the washbasin rather than ending up with an unsuitably low washbasin when your kids get bigger.
The standard installation height for a washbasin countertop is 85-90 centimeters – this means virtually any average-height adult will be able to use the bathroom countertop comfortably.
5. Choose the appropriate accessories
If your bathroom is too small, you should reconsider the countertop, unless you love it too much and you understand it will only be decorative. Countertops should be able to hold toiletries and personal hygiene items, a discrete adornment and, ideally, they should have some storage space. In other words, aesthetics is important, but so is functionality. This is why choosing the appropriate accessories can expand the storage space. It is also good to bear in mind that there are countertops which are compatible with various models of furniture that can make your bathroom totally personal.
A mirror is the perfect companion for a countertop. There are no rules when it comes to placing a mirror on the wall above the washbasin unit. It depends on the shape of the mirror, your preferences, trends, the effect you want to achieve… so you have free rein in terms of measurements. We would just point out that a large mirror will lend a sense of greater spaciousness to a small bathroom.
Tips for choosing bathroom countertops according to their use
Depending on the everyday use of the countertop, it will have different characteristics.
- For example, if you fill the washbasin to shave or wash your face, you will need a washbasin with a certain capacity and depth. A depth of 9 or 10 cm is adequate in this case.
- It is also important that the washbasin has a bowl that holds water, so it should be comfortable to use without worrying that the water is draining away.
- How many people live in your house? The house is a place for sharing, and washbasins with two bowls do not always have to be for two people. There are also single-bowl basins that can be used by two people. Bear in mind that if the washbasin is filled with water, it is best to always use a bowl that has an overflow to prevent possible flooding, especially when children are involved.
- How is it installed? Here it is important to know what we are buying, and while we may not be the ones installing the product, we should know what is required to do so. There are self-supporting countertops that do not require any additional elements for installation. Others require additional elements, such as a chassis or other fixings.
Go for environmentally sustainable worktops
And if a countertop gives you everything you are looking for, you help to reduce emissions and look after the environment, all the better. In this regard, there are countertops made from recycled materials, so as well as having all the characteristics we need in a product, we can also help the environment.
As you see, there is no one solution for fitting a bathroom, but there are options that are more suitable for performing the functions of your bathroom. Find a balance between practicality and aesthetics; you do not have to sacrifice one for the other. Use a countertop that combines the design you like with the style that suits your bathroom, but without losing sight of the quality of the material or its maintenance, resistance and cleaning properties.
