Bathroom renovations come with layers of challenges and detail, There’s something to decide on and commit to at every turn. One of the lesser talked about aspects of renovating a bathroom is the heights for vanities, baths and tapware.
If you are merely replacing old for new, and not making any changes to design or the type of bathroom fixtures being installed, then it is a pretty easy as you just have everything installed at previous heights.
However, if you decide to make changes to the type of fixtures, it is imperative to have vanities, baths and tap-ware installed correctly, and at the right heights.
This guide will help you figure out what height is right for you for everything you bring into the room.
Heights For Vanities and Basins
The standard vanity height in Australia is typically 850 – 900mm. Factors that should be taken into account when deciding on the vanity height are the type of basins being installed and the height of the people using the bathroom.
For vessel or semi inset basins, the vanity height should be at the lower end of the scale to allow for the height of the basin, whereas for an inset basin (sits flush with the top of the vanity) a height of 870 – 900mm is best.
Mixers
It is important to get the right mixer for the type of basin chosen, as they are not all suited for each other.
For this reason, you should probably choose your basin first. If installing vessel basins, which sit around 150mm above bench top, an extended mixer or wall mixer will be required.
For semi inset basins, which sit around 60mm above the bench top, a tall mixer is suitable but may look too tall while a standard mixer may be too low and not have enough reach.
Wall basin sets are well suited to inset basins and should be installed around 120-150mm above the top of the basin. The spout should not protrude past the waste hole in the basin.
Shower mixers should be placed 1000 – 1200mm above floor level and bath mixers should be installed around 100mm above bath for easy reach.
Mirrors
The placement of a mirror above the vanity is variable and again depends on the users. I prefer to see more than just my head, for this reason, I like to place the mirror around 150-200mm above the vanity.
Mirrors can also be placed directly on top of the vanity, in some cases with holes cut out for wall mixers, however, I can only imagine how often you’d have to clean the mirror due to water splash.
Baths
For baths that sit inside a frame, such as an island bath, the standard height is between 550mm to 600mm. In a small bathroom, a low set bath will make the bathroom look bigger.
Showers
The typical height of a shower screen is 2000 High and a shower head does not look good protruding over the top of the screen, so if you are tall and want to lift the height of the shower head remember to increase the height of your shower screen as well.
Consider where you place your shower mixer so that when you reach to turn the water on you don’t get wet prematurely.
Towel Rails and other Accessories
A standard towel rail is best placed at approximately 1000mm above floor level to allow for large towels to hang without touching the floor. An important factor for me is to have towels within reach of the shower or bath without having to walk across the room to grab a towel.
Towel Hooks
The height is flexible but consider the height of what you are hanging first, such as a bathrobe.
Toilet Rolls holders should be at a comfortable reach, I find that 700-800mm above the floor and slightly in front of the toilet works best. Having to reach behind you for a toilet roll is awkward. Attaching to the side of a vanity is another option for tight places.
Designer Tip – hide the electrical power point – if you have room tuck this unsightly but necessary item next to the vanity just below the top and out of sight. This way it’s still conveniently positioned for plugging in a hairdryer or electric shaver but is visually hidden from many angles.
A power-point needs to be placed a min. 150mm away for the edge of the basin.
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