The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Home Fixtures

Fixtures like faucets, light fixtures, door hardware and more have an enormous impact on the overall look and functionality of your home. With so many options available, selecting the right fixtures can feel overwhelming.

Define Your Style

Before shopping for fixtures, define the overall style you want to achieve in your home. Do you prefer traditional, modern, farmhouse, or something else? Looking at design photos and books can give you inspiration. Having a clear style direction will help you narrow down your fixture options.

Consider Your Materials

Different fixture materials create varying looks and require different levels of maintenance. Popular materials include brushed nickel, stainless steel, bronze, brass, and chrome. Brushed finishes tend to hide fingerprints better than shiny ones. Think about both aesthetics and upkeep when selecting fixture materials.

Set a Budget

Fixtures can get expensive quickly. Determine upfront approximately how much you want to spend on each fixture category, including faucets, lighting, door hardware, etc. This will prevent you from overspending and help you allocate more of your budget for higher priority fixtures.

Prioritize Frequently Used Fixtures

For fixtures you interact with most often, like kitchen and bath faucets, invest in higher quality models with convenient features. Having a sprayer nozzle in the kitchen makes cleaning dishes easier. Walk-in showers benefit from adjustable body sprayers. Do not cut corners on the fixtures that get heavy, daily use.

Choose Finishes Carefully  

Selecting finishes goes beyond aesthetics as you also need to consider how well they will hold up. Oil-rubbed bronze develops a beautiful patina over time but shows water spots easily. Polished chrome and stainless steel are low maintenance but more prone to fingerprints. Think about your willingness to clean fixtures frequently when picking finishes.

Look at the Details  

Pay attention to ergonomic details like how comfortably faucet handles turn, whether cabinet pulls are sized for your hand, and if showerheads provide adequate water coverage. Small differences in fixture design and mechanics make a big difference in functionality. Read reviews for insights into how fixtures actually perform.

Match Throughout for Cohesion

Once you have selected a style, material, and finish for each fixture category, aim to use matching or coordinating options throughout your home. Using an oil-rubbed bronze faucet style for both kitchens and bathrooms creates a cohesive, pulled-together look. The people at Bedrock Quartz say that the same goes for using consistent colors and finishes on kitchen countertops, cabinet hardware, and lighting.

Consider Timeless vs. Trendy

For permanent fixtures that are difficult to switch out regularly like bathroom vanity faucets, you may want to choose more timeless or classic styles over ultra-trendy designs that could look dated in a few years. Nevertheless, easy updates like light fixtures allow you to affordably chase trends if desired.

Get Samples If Possible

Whenever you can, order samples or view fixtures in person. Photos can be deceiving in terms of true color, texture, and finish. Inspect samples up close and in proper lighting to get a real sense of how the fixtures will look installed in your home.

Plan for Future Updates

Even if you do not intend to do a full renovation right away, think ahead about items you may want to update down the road like faucets, backsplashes, kitchen countertops, and sinks. Choosing styles that easily coordinate with future potential upgrades helps avoid costly replacements.

Conclusion

With careful planning and consideration of all these factors, you can select fixtures that are functional, stylish, and suited perfectly to your home’s aesthetic. Invest time upfront to get fixtures you will truly love for years to come.