Rydal Freestanding White Vanity Unit

Bathroom furniture is the storage and units that house basins, toilets and cisterns: vanity units with basins, back-to-wall WC units, base and drawer units, tall and linen basket units, mirror cabinets, plinths, handles and the concealed cisterns that sit behind WC units.

Measuring and layout

Measure the wall width, the depth you can spare without blocking the door or walkway, and the height of any window sills. Units are made in set widths, with vanity units commonly from 400mm to 750mm, so check the overall width of each unit and the basin or worktop that goes with it. Note where the supply and waste pipes come through, as they must line up with the unit.

Floor-standing or wall-hung

• Floor-standing: sit on the floor or on legs and a plinth, and hide pipework easily.
• Wall-hung: leave the floor clear for cleaning, but need a wall that can carry the unit, basin and contents.
• Fitted ranges: modular base, WC and tall units with a shared worktop, often in shaped layouts that fit around a basin and toilet. Keep to one range so the doors, finishes and heights match.

Cisterns, pipework and regulations

In England and Wales, under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, a WC flush must not exceed 6 litres, and fittings that need operating or maintaining must not be concealed. A cistern behind a WC unit therefore needs a removable panel or other access. Wiring a lit mirror cabinet or shaver socket is electrical work in a bathroom. In England, some of this work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, so it must be done by a registered competent person or notified to building control.

For baths and panels to match, see baths and bath panels; for traps and waste pipe, see above ground drainage.