Choosing Bathroom Fixtures: 5 Important Points

With OBI experts, we choose sinks, bathtubs, showers, bathrooms, and mixers.

Choose a Sink: Which model is better?

Experts recommend: choose a built-in or countertop sink. This helps optimize space and leave room for a cabinet under the sink — storage systems are never unnecessary.

Design: FlatsDesign How to determine size?

The standard sink size is 55 cm. But there are also compact models up to 35 cm. They fit perfectly in small bathrooms. There are also larger models: from 80 to 90 cm. Choose them for spacious bathrooms.

Design: Irina Krivtsova Successful purchases: Built-in sink Roca Diverta, OBI Convenient rectangular shape and high-quality ceramic. Furniture sink Santek, OBI A convenient model that blends into the interior. Countertop sink OBI Deep round basin with high-strength ceramic.

Decide on a bathtub: Choose material

Currently, 4 types of bathtubs are popular on the market: acrylic, steel, cast iron, and stone. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, acrylic bathtubs are lightweight and come in almost any shape. But they are fragile — acrylic can easily be damaged if something is accidentally dropped into the tub.

Steel bathtubs are affordable and last 10–15 years, but they make a lot of noise when filling with water. Hot water also cools down faster in such tubs.

Design: Anna Petunina

Cast iron bathtubs last very long — from 25 to 50 years. They make less noise, retain heat longer, but are very heavy — making installation difficult.

And stone bathtubs. Among their advantages, professionals mention the decorativeness — stone looks truly beautiful and noble. Also, it retains heat very well. As drawbacks, they mention high prices, complex maintenance, and expensive repairs.

In OBI, you can have items delivered through the online store or when purchasing in hypermarkets.

Design: INT2 architecture Shape

The standard shape is rectangular. It appears in all manufacturers and materials. Oval or corner shapes look beautiful but don't fit every bathroom.

Design: Julia Kishkovich Size

Choose the bathtub size after making a measurement plan of the room. It should fit perfectly in the planned space and where the pipes and drainage are located.

Design: Ksenia Mzensetseva Successful purchases: Cersanit Santana bathtub, OBI Made of high-quality cast acrylic. Jika Riga steel bathtub, OBI Resistant to stains, acids, and alkalis. Cast iron bathtub "Universal", OBI Classic shape, spacious tub, narrow edges. Or maybe not a bathtub but a shower?

Shower corners are often chosen for space-saving in bathrooms. Specialists have long abandoned shower cabins with music, lighting, and hydro-massage. Now, popular are showers made from trays or tiles, as well as glass doors mounted directly to the wall.

Design: Ariana Ahmad, Tatiana Karyakina

If you decide that a shower is your choice, pay attention to the tips from professionals.

Where to place it? Choose an appropriate niche, make the shower in a corner of the bathroom or install it along one wall. Pipes for hot and cold water must be connected to this spot in advance.

How to drain the water? If you have a tray, the drain is built into it. If not, choose special traps and gratings or shower channels and mount them in the wall. Construction company "Good" recommends choosing a trap — it's the simplest option. With it, you can easily create a shower with a flat floor where the tile pattern isn't ruined by a drain hole.

What to choose for walls? For shower partitions, plastic, glass, PVC curtains, or glass blocks can be used as materials.

Design: Anna Simonova Successful purchases: Square shower corner AM.PM Bliss, OBI This design saves a lot of space as it has only two walls. Sliding doors on double rollers. OBI shower corner with tray Doors on sliders, frosted glass is resistant to water stains and dirt, easy to clean, and not afraid of scratches. AM.PM Like semi-circular shower corner, OBI Frame made of aluminum, walls and sliding doors from impact-resistant glass. No ceiling ensures good ventilation in the cabin.

Choose a toilet: Wall-mounted or freestanding?

A wall-mounted toilet is easy to clean and looks more elegant. Also, it's convenient to install shelves or hang items like a water heater in the niche above the installation.

However, a wall-mounted toilet takes more time to install and costs more. If you're aiming to finish the renovation quickly and are on a tight budget, choose a standard freestanding model.

Design: Tatiana Stykova, Olga Marchenko What shape to choose?

An oval toilet is ideal for a small bathroom — the rounded edges make it look smaller. Models with sharp angles are popular in certain interior styles: for example, strict loft or minimalism.

When choosing the shape, consider the room size and your preferences.

Design: ZE-MOOV HOME studio Successful purchases: Cersanit toilet, OBI Compact design with a flush button. Horizontal water drain. OBI "Venice" wall-mounted toilet Easier to clean around the toilet. Resistant to minor damage. AM.PM Like compact toilet, OBI Durable seat made of duroplast, quick-release mechanism and smooth lowering. Don't forget about mixers

Choose quality mixers — they should last at least 10 years. If you save money, you'll have to replace them within a year. Experts recommend choosing brass models. Look for a reliable supplier, as counterfeit products are common.

By the way, you can connect a hygiene shower to the sink mixer. This is a convenient and functional solution.

In the bathroom, the 'Gamma' tile was arranged in a Christmas tree pattern to make it not look too simple and boring. Successful purchases: Sink mixer Grohe, OBI Mixer with a flow and temperature control lever. Short spout with aerator attachment helps reduce water consumption. Contactless sink mixer Oras Optima, OBI Water activation without contact with temperature regulator, built-in aerator. Bathtub mixer Grohe, OBI Water pressure adjustment function allows for economical water use.

The cover features a design project by Elena Ivanova.