Choosing Bathroom Finishes: Tile, Fixtures, Paint and Design Details

Once your layout, plumbing, and electrical planning are finalized, the real transformation begins. This is where your bathroom starts to reflect your style. Finishes are what turn a functional room into a finished space. Every detail layers together to create the overall look and feel.

But here’s the truth: this is also where homeowners get overwhelmed.

There are dozens of decisions to make, and many of them impact cost, maintenance, and long-term durability. In this post, we’re explaining it all so you can make confident design choices without second-guessing every selection.

Choosing A Finish 

Depending on the finish, matching fixtures may not be available for the whole bathroom, mixing finishes is okay! Here are some of our favorites:

• Chrome

• Gold

• Matte Black

• Brushed Brass

• Polished Brass

• Brushed Nickel

• Oil Rubbed Bronze

  
  

KEEP IN MIND-Different finishes can be more expensive than others

Sink Faucet Selection:

This is based on the number of holes in the countertop:

• A combo vanity package that includes a countertop, the hole configuration is pre-drilled.

• A custom vanity with a separate countertop, you choose the hole configuration.

Tub/Showerhead and Handles:

• Standard is a single shower head with a handle

• To add a handheld or additional shower head, an additional handle called a diverter may be required

• All handles require a rough-in valve, which is installed behind the walls and may be sold separately

  
  

Mirrors & Accessories

Accessories Include: Toilet Paper Holder, Towel Bars, and Robe Hooks

• Some manufacturers offer matching accessories to the plumbing fixtures

• Finish - Can be selected to match your fixtures

• Mirrors - Choose to match the faucet or purchase a decorative frame

• Medicine Cabinet - For additional storage, can be recessed or surface-mounted

Tile Selections

Ceramic & Porcelain:

• Widely chosen and fits nicely in most budgets

• Most impervious to water

• Examples include subway tile, wood plank tiles, and stone "looking" tiles

Marble:

• Porous - requires more maintenance and a sealer to be applied

• More expensive to purchase and install

• Offers a porcelain tile resembling the marble look, which is very popular and cost-effective!

Glass:

• Typically, the most expensive to purchase and install

• The translucence of glass gives the tile visual depth & shine

  
  

Soap Niche

Soap Niche:

• Upgraded option

• Purchase a pre-sized, tile-ready version

• Custom frame to any size

  
  

Design for Soap Niche:

• Back - Accent tile or match the wall tile

• Sides and Bottom - Marble, quartz, matching wall tile

• Finish the edges - If you use matching wall tile on the sides or bottom, you will need a metal Schluter trim to hide the raw edges of tile

Location of Tile Install 

• Bathroom floor

• Tub/Shower walls to the ceiling

• Shower floor - If you have selected the tile base option!

  
  

OTHER OPTIONS:

• One accent wall

• 42" high on other walls

• All the walls to the ceiling

  
  

Pattern & Accents

Straight & Brick Pattern:

• Considered the standard patterns

  
  

Chevron & Herringbone:

• More labor - Intensive, additional charges

  
  

Accents:

• Examples include:

  • Feature wall in the shower

  • Separate border tiles

    

    
    

Accessories 

Grout:

• Sanded - Floors

• Unsanded - Walls

• Power Grout Brand - Can be used for both floors & walls

  
  

Saddle:

• Located in the doorway

• Transition piece between bathroom floor tile and neighboring floor, in marble or quartz

• 4" x 36" installer will cut to size

  
  

Threshold:

• Marble or quartz to cover knee walls or curbs in the shower

• 6" x 6' installer will cut to size

  
  

Edging:

• Metal trim is used to cover the raw edges of tile

• Schluter Brand

• Available in multiple colors & sizes

Paint Color

Selecting the finish for your walls will complete the bathroom! Wallpaper and shiplap are usually upgrades.

Where Bath in a Box Makes It Simple

As you can see, designing a bathroom isn’t just about picking pretty tile. Every finish decision, from faucet configuration to grout type, impacts the final result.

It’s exciting… but it can also become exhausting fast! That’s exactly why Bath in a Box was created.

Instead of spending weeks sorting through endless options, you choose from carefully curated packages with coordinated finishes, transparent pricing, and a streamlined 14-day renovation timeline! 

The result? A beautiful, elevated bathroom without decision fatigue because renovating your bathroom should feel exciting, not overwhelming.

Ready for your upgrade? Call or text us at (631) 824-4623 to get started.

See you in the next post!

– 

Jennifer DeVito

Owner & Founder, Evolution General Contracting

See you in the next post!

– 

Jennifer DeVito

Owner & Founder, Evolution General Contracting