Bathroom Accessories: No-Fuss Pairings for Your Faucet Installation
How compatible accessories are in relation to your bathroom’s plumbing fixtures is what will help your bathroom be a more functional room. Whether you have a contractor special surface-mounted shower faucet that barely shoots water from the showerhead a foot away, or the bold, inviting freestanding tub filler of your dreams, here’s how to select accessories that work — not just clutter.
- Shower Faucet + Storage A no-frills shower faucet should be exactly that. Pair it with a rust-proof caddy that hangs straight from the showerhead pipe — no drilling needed. Forget glass shelves; hard water stains make those a daily scrub job. If you have a combo unit of a tub/shower faucet (with a diverter), get a tension pole caddy. It perches on the edge of the bath holding shampoo within arm’s reach as you switch between the shower and the bath.
- Shower Faucet + Waterproof Hacks These easy installation faucets (perfect for retrofits) are mounted on the outside, so pipes are exposed. Mask them with a ceiling track onto which a foldable PVC shower curtain can be pulled — you’re able to hide the mess behind it. Instead of suction cups, employ silicone hooks on tiled walls for loofahs; the hooks adhere more effectively to textured surfaces.
- Floor Mounting Faucet with Bathroom Flow Standing water next to a tub can cause a fall. Counter: A teak bath bench — doubles as a towel perch and will not warp. Coordinate with the faucet’s finish (brushed brass? Oil-rubbed bronze?) to the bench’s hardware. Avoid rugs; they trap water. Opt instead for ribbed PVC acting mats.
- Tub Faucet Wall Mount + Space Savers Keep the deck clear when the faucet is in the wall. Establish recessed niches beside the faucet for soap and razors — not above it (dripping water will stain the tile). Deck-mounted faucet (mounted on the tub rim) Use a magnetic strip inside the deck’s lip to store metal tweezers or clippers.
- Universal Rules for All Setups
- Towel Bars: Keep them out of splatter zones. A wall-mounted bathtub faucet? Put the bar on that wall too, not above the tub.
- Lighting: Avoid blinding reflections by using diffused LED lighting with freestanding faucets having polished finishes.
- Drains: Coordinate strainer finish with your faucet. A chrome shower tub faucet with a black drain is the equivalent of quitting halfway through.
Materials That Don’t Suck
- Stainless steel: For wet conditions adjacent to surface-mount shower faucets; resistant to rust.
- Cedar: Mildew-resistant in tight showers — pair with unsealed teak for deck-mounted configurations.
- Avoid: Anything “woven.” Wicker baskets or jute rugs become rotten when wet.