Starter Bathroom Suites For First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home is exciting, and designing it to your taste, like selecting furniture and tiles, is all part of the fun. As a first-time buyer, you may find that your budget for your new bathroom is a little lower than you’d like it to be but that shouldn’t hold you back from choosing your dream bathroom design.

We’ve created a simple guide to help first-time buyers choose the right bathroom suite, covering budget and all the necessary fixtures you’ll need.

What Is A Starter Bathroom Suite?

A starter bathroom suite is an affordable choice that comes with all matching fixtures, including a bath, shower, toilet and basin. It’s particularly popular with first-time buyers as it’s a little cheaper to buy your bathroom suite this way, rather than choosing each item separately, but it still allows you to design your bathroom in the way you want.

This choice is certainly not the inferior one, as there are always plenty of design choices to go for, all with differing prices depending on your budget.

How Much Should A First-Time Buyer Spend On A Bathroom?

The cost of a bathroom suite can really vary, so we’ve tried to break it down as much as possible.

A budget bathroom suite will probably cost around £300 to £600. This will include a bath, shower, toilet and sink, making it a very reasonable price. Larger suites can range from £500 to £2,000, a big price difference but all dependent on the fixtures you go for and the materials they’re made from.

What first-time buyers need to be more conscious of is the hidden costs, including installation and materials, which can add up to between £4,000 and £7,000.

It's essential that you set a realistic budget before choosing and planning your bathroom. You can still achieve a premium look with a mix of cost-effective and luxe options, like choosing a cheaper bathtub with high-end taps.

How Do You Choose The Right Suite For Your Space?

In addition to clarifying your budget, you’ll need to factor in the space you have when choosing your bathroom suite. Before coming to a decision, you need to evaluate and measure your layout, the type of fixtures you need, your storage needs, and any potential plumbing constraints.

If you have a smaller bathroom, we’d recommend choosing a suite that includes a combined shower-bath so you can have the best of both, or, if you want to make the most of the floor space, we’d suggest installing a shower enclosure without a bath.

Things like a wall-hung toilet really help to free up floor space, while a wall-mounted basin is a great choice for tight spaces and means you could add storage compartments underneath.

If you’re completely unsure about what you want or which suite is right for you, you can schedule a free in-store design appointment with Easy Bathrooms, where one of our designers will take you through the available products and put them into a 3D visualiser.

What Fixtures Should A Starter Bathroom Suite Include?

A Toilet

You can choose different types depending on the room size and layout. Going for one with a dual-flush feature can save water, and a soft-close seat prevents wear and loud slams. A close-coupled design is good as the water tank sits on top of the toilet bowl, making installation easier and typically more affordable.

A Bath Or Shower (Or Both)

If you choose a suite that includes a bathtub, a ‘reinforced’ or ‘heavy-duty’ acrylic bath doesn’t flex or creak, and generally lasts longer than baths that aren’t reinforced.

When it comes to the shower, a good choice is a thermostatic mixer shower, which automatically mixes hot and cold water to maintain the right temperature and holds it when someone turns on another tap in the house. An important addition to this is a shower screen, which is easier to wipe clean and can prevent water from splashing onto the floor.

A Basin Or Sink

There are plenty of bathroom sinks to choose from, but think about the pros and cons of each material, as well as whether you want a sink with built-in storage, such as a vanity unit.

We’d recommend that you avoid a glass or stone basin. Although these might look stylish, glass scratches easily, and stone basins need regular sealing to prevent stains from showing, increasing the maintenance costs.

An essential feature of a basin is an overflow, which prevents flooding.

Taps

The best taps for ease of cleaning and long-term durability are solid brass, single-lever taps. They prevent grime from getting trapped and building up and are easier to clean as a result. A single lever also means you’ll have better control of the temperature and the flow of the water, so you don’t have lots of splashes.

To be sure that all fixtures in the same suite are compatible, order from the same manufacturer’s collection. This ensures the colour and materials used will be consistent across all fixtures.

How To Make A Starter Bathroom Look More Expensive

The key with a budget bathroom suite is to dress it up with more expensive fittings.

For instance, you could put some of your budget towards the bathroom accessories, including vintage glassware for your toothbrushes, luxe wall lights that add to the relaxing atmosphere or large mirrors that reflect light and create a focal point above the sink. Then, think about your soft furnishings: a plush bath mat and luxury cotton towels soften the room and add texture.

Then, consider your tiles. Cheaper tiles can be made to look more expensive with coloured grout or how they are laid out. Large-format bathroom tiles make a room feel more spacious and cohesive (as there are fewer grout lines).

Easy Bathrooms’ Starter Bathroom Suites

Finding your first bathroom suite doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t have to do it alone. Find your local Easy Bathrooms store and we’ll help you create your dream bathroom well within budget.