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If you’re looking to upgrade your space with new bathroom furniture, understanding the differences between fitted, modular, and traditional can help you make the right choice.
When furnishing a bathroom, there are various choices to consider. From sleek fitted units to versatile modular designs and timeless traditional pieces, each type of bathroom furniture has its unique characteristics and advantages. 
At The Bathroom Showroom, we have the perfect fit for every home. With practical designs, our bathroom furniture solutions make it easy to create the perfect space. Fitted, modular, and traditional bathroom furniture each offers distinct characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Here we break down each section to help you understand the differences.

What Is Fitted Bathroom Furniture?

Fitted furniture is designed to create a seamless, built-in look in your bathroom. It typically consists of a run of units that fit together, often wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling, to maximise space and create a cohesive design.
What are the benefits of fitted bathroom furniture?
  • Maximises Space: Fitted units are tailored to your bathroom's exact dimensions, utilising every inch, including awkward corners. This is particularly beneficial in smaller bathrooms.
  • Increased Storage: Designed to optimise storage, often incorporating innovative solutions like deep drawers, tall cabinets, and hidden compartments to keep clutter out of sight.
  • Streamlined and Cohesive Design: Creates a sleek, uniform, and organised appearance, often making the bathroom feel larger and more elegant. Conceals plumbing for a cleaner look.
  • Customisable: Offers a high degree of customisation in terms of layout, size, style, materials, and finishes to match your specific needs and preferences.
  • Durable and Secure: Being built into the room, fitted furniture tends to be securely anchored, enhancing stability and longevity.
  • Easier to Clean: With fewer gaps and a continuous surface, cleaning can be more convenient compared to freestanding options.
  • Adds Value: Can be a worthwhile long-term investment that may increase the value of your home.
Potential Cons:
  • Higher Initial Cost: Typically more expensive than modular or freestanding options due to customisation, materials, and installation.
  • Complex and Lengthy Installation: Requires professional design and installation, which can be time-consuming and add to the overall cost.
  • Limited Flexibility: Once installed, fitted furniture is not easily moved or reconfigured, making future layout changes difficult and costly.
  • Can Dominate Small Spaces: If not carefully planned, extensively fitted units can overwhelm a small bathroom.
  • Potential for Trends to Date: Highly customised designs might reflect current trends that could become dated over time.
The Bathroom Showroom recommends fitted bathroom furniture from the iflo collection, including iflo Aliano, as well as the Atlanta bathroom range. 

What Is Modular Bathroom Furniture?

Modular furniture comprises individual, freestanding or wall-mounted units that can be arranged and combined in various ways to suit your bathroom layout and storage needs. This offers flexibility in design and can be adapted over time.
What are the benefits of modular bathroom furniture?
  • Design Flexibility: Allows for personalised bathroom design by mixing and matching different units (e.g., vanity units, cabinets, shelves) to create a bespoke layout.
  • Versatile Styles: Available in a wide range of styles, sizes, and finishes, making it easy to find pieces that complement various bathroom aesthetics.
  • Easy Installation: Many modular pieces come pre-assembled or with straightforward instructions for DIY installation, potentially saving on professional costs. Wall-mounted options can create a sense of spaciousness and ease of cleaning.
  • Cost-Effective: Generally less expensive than fitted furniture, both in terms of the units themselves and installation.
  • Space-Saving Options: Includes compact and slimline units ideal for smaller bathrooms, such as wall-hung vanities and corner units.
  • Adaptable: Can be easily rearranged or added to as your needs change, offering greater long-term flexibility.
  • Easier to Replace: Individual units can be replaced without affecting the entire bathroom setup.
Potential Cons:
  • Potentially Less Storage: While many spacious options exist, some individual modular pieces might offer less integrated storage compared to fitted furniture.
  • Can Look Less Cohesive: If not carefully chosen, mismatched modular units can result in a less unified and more cluttered appearance.
  • Gaps and Cleaning: Freestanding units can create gaps that may collect dust and make cleaning around them more challenging.
  • Quality Varies: The quality and durability can differ significantly between different modular ranges and manufacturers.
  • Limited Customisation: While flexible, the level of bespoke customisation is generally less than with fitted furniture.
The Bathroom Showroom recommends modular bathroom furniture from the iflo collection, like the iflo Trapini, iflo Rhea, and the iflo Jalon as well as the Vitellio bathroom range such as Vitellio Slade, the Atlanta bathroom collection, Roca, and Ideal Standard. 

What Is Traditional Bathroom Furniture?

Traditional bathroom furniture often evokes classic styles, featuring elements like ornate details, wood finishes (e.g. oak, mahogany), period-inspired designs (e.g. Victorian, Edwardian), and freestanding pieces.
What are the benefits of traditional bathroom furniture?
  • Timeless Elegance: Traditional designs can offer a sense of enduring style and sophistication that transcends fleeting trends.
  • Variety of Styles: Encompasses a broad range of classic aesthetics, allowing for personal expression within a traditional framework.
  • Ample Storage: Traditional vanity units and cabinets often provide generous storage space with drawers and cupboards.
  • Freestanding Flexibility: Many traditional pieces are freestanding, offering flexibility in layout and the ability to move or replace items easily.
  • Wide Range of Materials: Available in various materials, including solid wood, which can offer durability and a premium look (though it requires careful maintenance in a humid environment).
  • Easier Installation (for freestanding): Freestanding traditional pieces generally have simpler installation compared to fitted units.
Potential Cons:
  • Can Take Up Floor Space: Traditional vanity units and furniture can be bulky and occupy more floor space, potentially making smaller bathrooms feel cramped.
  • Difficult to Clean Around: Freestanding units with legs and detailed designs can be harder to clean around and underneath.
  • Potentially Higher Maintenance (for wood): Solid wood furniture requires proper sealing and maintenance to withstand bathroom humidity and prevent warping or damage.
  • Bulkier Look: Some traditional designs can appear heavy or bulky, which might not suit minimalist or contemporary preferences.
  • Can Be More Expensive (for high-quality wood): High-quality traditional furniture, especially that made from solid wood, can be a significant investment.
  • Less Space Optimisation: May not utilise space as efficiently as fitted furniture, especially in smaller or awkwardly shaped bathrooms.
The Bathroom Showroom recommends traditional bathroom furniture from the Atlanta bathroom collection, such as Atlanta Classic, as well as from Heritage Bathrooms, like their Heritage Lynton, Heritage Caversham, and Heritage Wilton choices.

Which Bathroom Furniture Type Is the Right Choice for You?

Ultimately, the best type of bathroom furniture for you will depend on your bathroom size and layout, your personal style preferences, your budget, your storage needs, and how long you plan to stay in your home. Carefully consider the pros and cons of each option before making a decision.
Whether you prefer the seamless look of fitted furniture, the versatility of modular units, or the timeless appeal of traditional pieces, there is a wide range of options available to suit your needs when creating a functional and indeed stylish space to suit everyone's needs.  
If you’re looking to buy new bathroom furniture, book an appointment with The Bathroom Showroom. Experts in all things bathrooms, we can help turn your dream bathroom into a reality.