Bathroom renovation guides
The decisions, thought through with you
Renovating a bathroom is a stack of small, surprisingly weighty choices: matte or gloss, tub or shower, this vanity or that one. These guides won’t tell you what good taste looks like. They’ll help you notice the trade-offs and decide what’s right for your home.
Also see our planning guides for how these decisions fit together: sequencing, coordination, and what depends on what.
Browse the guides
- Materials · ComparisonPorcelain Tile vs Natural Stone for a Bathroom FloorPorcelain or natural stone for your bathroom floor? An honest look at how each feels, wears, and lives with you — so you can choose the one that fits your home.Read the guide
- Materials · ComparisonMatte vs Glossy Bathroom Tiles: How to ChooseMatte or glossy tiles for your bathroom? A clear, friendly look at light, cleaning, slip, and feel — so you can pick the finish that suits how you live.Read the guide
- Layout · ComparisonWalk-In Shower vs Bathtub in a Small BathroomShould a small bathroom have a walk-in shower or keep the bathtub? A practical, honest guide to space, resale, and how you actually use the room.Read the guide
- Fixtures · Decision guideIs a Freestanding Bathtub Right for a Small Bathroom?Thinking about a freestanding tub in a small bathroom? An honest look at the space it really needs, the trade-offs, and how to decide with confidence.Read the guide
- Fixtures · Decision guideHow to Choose a Bathroom Vanity (Without Overthinking It)How to choose a bathroom vanity that fits your space and the way you live: size, storage, sink type, and the few details that actually matter.Read the guide
- Lighting · Decision guideHow to Choose Bathroom Lighting (Layers, Not Just a Light)How to choose bathroom lighting that's flattering and practical: layering task and ambient light, picking a colour temperature, and the safety basics.Read the guide
- Materials · ExplainerAre Large-Format Tiles Good for a Small Bathroom?Do big tiles really make a small bathroom feel bigger? An honest explainer on large-format tiles in tight spaces — the upside, the catch, and how to decide.Read the guide
- Materials · ExplainerHow to Choose a Grout Colour for Bathroom TilesMatching, contrasting, or somewhere between? A friendly guide to choosing bathroom tile grout colour — the look, the upkeep, and how to decide.Read the guide
- Materials · ComparisonQuartz vs Marble for a Bathroom CountertopQuartz or marble for your bathroom countertop? An honest look at how each handles water, makeup, and daily life — so you can pick the one that fits your home.Read the guide
- Fixtures · ComparisonWall-Hung vs Back-to-Wall Toilet: How to ChooseWall-hung or back-to-wall toilet? A clear, friendly guide to the look, the cleaning, the cost, and the wall behind it — so you can decide with confidence.Read the guide
- Fixtures · ComparisonFrameless vs Framed Shower Screen: How to ChooseFrameless or framed shower screen? An honest look at the look, the cleaning, the cost, and the practicality — so you can choose what suits your bathroom.Read the guide
- Layout · ComparisonWet Room vs Standard Bathroom: How to DecideWet room or standard bathroom? An honest guide to waterproofing, space, accessibility, and cost — so you can choose the right layout for your home.Read the guide
- Layout · ComparisonShower Niche vs Shelf: Which Shower Storage Is Better?A recessed shower niche or a shelf? An honest look at the look, the cost, the cleaning, and the waterproofing — so you can pick the right shower storage.Read the guide
- Comfort · Decision guideIs Underfloor Heating Worth It in a Bathroom?Thinking about underfloor heating in your bathroom? An honest look at the warmth, the running costs, the two types, and how to decide for your home.Read the guide
- Comfort · Decision guideIs a Heated Towel Rail Worth It in a Bathroom?Are heated towel rails worth it? An honest look at warm towels, heating the room, running costs, and the electric-vs-plumbed choice — so you can decide.Read the guide
- Comfort · Decision guideHow to Choose a Bathroom Extractor Fan (and Avoid Damp)How to choose a bathroom extractor fan that actually clears steam: sizing for the room, the features that matter, and the safety basics — explained simply.Read the guide
- Materials · Decision guideHow to Choose a Bathroom Paint Finish (for a Steamy Room)Which paint finish suits a bathroom? An honest guide to handling steam and splashes — matte, eggshell, satin, and specialist bathroom paint — so you can choose well.Read the guide
- Planning · ExplainerHow Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Really Cost?An honest explainer on what drives bathroom renovation costs — labour, layout changes, fixtures, and the surprises — so you can budget with clear eyes.Read the guide
- Layout · ExplainerHow to Make a Small Bathroom Feel BiggerHonest, practical ways to make a small bathroom feel more open — light, tile, glass, and fixtures — without gimmicks or pressure to spend more.Read the guide
- Materials · ExplainerThe Best Flooring for a Bathroom: An Honest GuideWhat is the best bathroom flooring? An honest explainer on tile, vinyl, stone, and wood — how each handles water, feel, and budget — so you can choose well.Read the guide
Working through a decision of your own?
Tuis is a design partner that learns your taste and helps you think through choices like these for your specific room, without ever telling you your taste is wrong. The first two decisions in a room are free; at the third, US$28 once for that room.
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