Choosing a Kitchen Sink or Bidet Toilet: 7 Rules of Thumb

Fittings are easy to pick from a photo and hard to change once installed. These rules of thumb cover the mistakes renovators most often run into, so you can avoid expensive second guesses.

Rules of thumb for choosing a kitchen sink

1. Measure the base unit, not just the worktop. A sink has to fit inside the cabinet beneath it. Check the internal width of your base unit and compare it with the sink's overall dimensions and cut-out size before you order.

2. Match the bowl layout to how you wash up. One large bowl suits big pans and baking trays and is the better use of space in a compact kitchen. A double bowl suits households that wash and rinse in separate stages, but it needs a wider unit. If space is tight, our single bowl sinks are a sensible place to start.

3. Think about how you will live with the finish. Stainless steel is forgiving and hard-wearing; darker or coloured finishes look striking but show limescale more readily in hard water areas, which covers much of the UK. Wiping dry after use makes a visible difference to any finish.

4. Decide on the mounting style early. Inset, undermount and flush designs affect your worktop cut and fitting method, so settle this before the worktop is templated.

Rules of thumb for choosing a bidet toilet

5. Check what is behind the wall. A wall hung toilet needs a concealed frame and cistern, and a wall that can take the load. That is straightforward in a new stud wall, but in an existing bathroom it is worth asking your installer before you commit. A closed coupled or back to wall design is often an easier swap if you want to avoid opening up the wall. If you do want the clean, floor-clearing look, browse our wall hung bidet toilets.

6. Look at the supply requirements. A combined bidet toilet needs a water supply and, depending on the model, an electrical connection suitable for the bathroom zones. Confirm the requirements on the product page and have the installation checked by a qualified professional, in line with UK regulations.

Plan the whole job, not each fitting

7. Order fittings before the first fix. Pipework positions, wall frames and worktop cut-outs all depend on the exact products you choose. Choosing the fitting first, then the surrounding work, avoids having to move pipes later. Keep the manufacturer's installation guide and dimensions to hand, and leave a little margin for the unexpected, since older properties often reveal surprises once the old fittings come out.

Whatever you choose, read the specification on the product page carefully, compare dimensions with your measured space and ask us if you are unsure. A fitting that suits your room will serve you for years; one that almost fits will bother you every day. You can see our full range at Ultra Bathroom.