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Bathroom Renovation Starter Guide: What to Know Before Buying Bathroom Products & Materials

Planning your first bathroom renovation? This beginner-friendly guide explains where to start, what to measure, which bathroom products to choose first, how to plan around plumbing and what to check before ordering fixtures and renovation materials.

Published 8 min read By Donald LI

Planning your first bathroom renovation can feel confusing. There are vanities, toilets, basins, tapware, showers, shower screens, baths, tiles and dozens of smaller items to think about — often before the old bathroom has even been removed.

The good news is that you do not need to choose everything at once.

A smoother renovation usually starts with three things: understanding your space, setting a realistic budget and choosing products in the right order.

This beginner-friendly guide explains what to consider before you start buying.

Start With How the Bathroom Will Be Used

Before choosing colours or products, think about who will use the bathroom every day.

Ask yourself:

  • Is it a family bathroom, ensuite or powder room?
  • Do you need a bath, or would a larger shower be more useful?
  • How much vanity storage do you need?
  • Will two people regularly use the bathroom at the same time?
  • Do children, older family members or guests need to use the space?
  • Are you renovating for yourself, for resale or for a rental property?

These questions help narrow down your choices before you start shopping.

We recommend considering who will use the bathroom now and in the future, also we recommend defining your renovation goals before making product selections.

Set a Budget Before You Start Shopping

It is easy to overspend when products are selected one at a time without looking at the total project.

Your bathroom budget needs to cover more than the visible products. Allow for:

  • Bathroom fixtures and fittings
  • Tiles and finishing materials
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical work
  • Waterproofing
  • Tiling
  • Carpentry or plastering
  • Installation
  • Removal and disposal of the old bathroom
  • Unexpected work discovered during demolition

Keeping the existing plumbing layout where practical can also help control costs because moving toilets, wastes, water points and electrical services can add additional work.

Most importantly, leave some room in the budget for unexpected issues rather than spending everything on products before construction begins.

Measure the Bathroom Before Choosing Products

Before visiting a showroom or ordering online, measure the room and take plenty of photos.

Useful measurements include:

  • Overall room length and width
  • Ceiling height
  • Door and window positions
  • Existing vanity size
  • Toilet position
  • Shower dimensions
  • Bath area
  • Existing plumbing locations

We recommend recording existing plumbing, windows, niches and other architectural features because these can affect both the layout and which products will fit.

You do not need perfect construction drawings to start shopping — even a simple floor sketch with measurements and photos can make a showroom consultation much more useful.

Decide the Layout Before Falling in Love With Products

One of the most common renovation mistakes is choosing a product first and trying to make the bathroom fit around it later.

A beautiful 1500mm vanity or large freestanding bath may look perfect online, but it may not leave enough clearance for the shower, toilet or bathroom door.

Start by positioning the major items:

  • Vanity
  • Toilet
  • Shower
  • Bath, if required

Then check how people will move through the room and whether doors, drawers and shower screens can open comfortably.

A good bathroom does not necessarily have the largest products — it has products that are correctly proportioned for the space.

Choose the Main Bathroom Products Early

Once the layout is reasonably clear, start selecting the major fixtures.

Vanity and Basin

Choose a vanity according to the available width and depth, storage requirements and plumbing position.

If you are using an above-counter, undermount or semi-recessed basin, choose the basin and vanity top together so the required cut-outs and tapware positions can be planned correctly.

Toilet

If you are replacing an existing toilet, check the S-trap or P-trap, toilet set-out and water inlet position before purchasing.

A toilet that looks similar to your old one may still require plumbing changes if these measurements are different.

Bath

Check the complete bath dimensions, waste position and available clearance around the bath.

If you are considering a freestanding bath, make sure there is enough practical space around it for installation and cleaning.

Shower and Shower Screen

Think about whether you prefer a rail shower, dual shower, overhead shower or hand shower, and check the water inlet position if you are replacing an existing shower.

For the shower screen, decide early whether you want a sliding, hinged, frameless, semi-frameless or walk-in design, but make sure the final screen dimensions suit the finished tiled area.

Do Not Leave Concealed Products Until the End

Some of the most important bathroom products are the ones you will barely see after the renovation is finished.

These can include:

If these items sit inside the wall or floor, your plumber normally needs them during the rough-in stage — well before the bathroom looks finished.

Do not wait until after waterproofing and tiling to decide which concealed wall mixer or in-wall toilet system you want.

Plan Electrical Items at the Same Time

Think early about anything that requires power, including:

The position of these items may affect framing, wiring, mirrors and cabinetry, so discuss them with your electrician before walls and tiles are completed.

Electrical installation work in Victoria must be carried out by appropriately licensed electrical workers.

Choose Tiles and Finishes as Part of the Whole Bathroom

Once the layout and major products are selected, it becomes much easier to choose colours and finishes.

Try to coordinate:

  • Floor and wall tiles
  • Vanity colour
  • Vanity top
  • Basin
  • Tapware finish
  • Shower-screen hardware
  • Mirror
  • Towel rails and accessories

A simple mood board can help. Place tile samples, vanity colours, tapware finishes and inspiration images together before making the final decision.

We recommend using a mood board to keep the colour and design direction consistent throughout the renovation.

Ask Your Trades Who Is Supplying the Renovation Materials

Bathroom fixtures are only one part of the renovation. Construction may also require materials such as:

  • Waterproofing systems
  • Tile adhesives
  • Grout and silicone
  • Wall and floor substrates
  • Timber or framing materials
  • Fixings
  • Plumbing fittings and consumables

Do not automatically buy these materials yourself just because they appear on a renovation checklist.

Your builder, waterproofer, tiler or plumber may have specific products and systems they are required or prefer to use. Confirm who is supplying what before purchasing construction materials.

Wet-area waterproofing in Victoria must comply with applicable NCC requirements and relevant wet-area waterproofing provisions, so this is an area where product compatibility and correct installation matter.

Check That Your Products Work Together

Before placing the final order, think of the bathroom as one complete system rather than a collection of individual products.

Check combinations such as:

  • Vanity + basin + vanity top + tapware
  • Toilet + waste set-out + water inlet
  • Bath + waste + bath outlet
  • Shower + mixer + diverter + water inlet
  • Shower screen + finished opening + shower base or tiled floor
  • Mirror cabinet + vanity + tapware + power point

This simple compatibility check can prevent many of the most frustrating mistakes during installation.

Check Stock and Lead Times Before Demolition

Do not assume every item you select is immediately available.

Some products may be in stock, while custom shower screens, special finishes, made-to-order vanities or particular models may require additional lead time.

We recommend making product selections early because availability and ordering times can affect the renovation schedule.

Where possible, confirm the availability of important products before the trades need them.

A Simple Bathroom Shopping Order for First-Time Renovators

If you are unsure where to begin, this is a useful starting order:

  1. Budget and bathroom layout
  2. Vanity, toilet, bath and shower configuration
  3. Basins, tapware, shower systems and concealed rough-in products
  4. Tiles, vanity finishes and overall colour palette
  5. Shower screen and mirror
  6. Towel rails, toilet roll holders and finishing accessories

The exact order will vary from project to project, but the important principle is simple: make decisions that affect plumbing, walls, floors and dimensions early, and leave decorative finishing touches until later.

Need Help Planning Your Bathroom Products?

Melbourne Bathroom Shop offers a wide range of bathroom vanities, basins, toilets, tapware, showers, shower screens, baths, mirrors and bathroom accessories for Melbourne renovations.

If this is your first renovation, you do not need to know every bathroom term before visiting a showroom.

Bring your:

  • Bathroom measurements
  • Floor plan if available
  • Photos of the existing bathroom
  • Plumbing information
  • Tile or colour ideas
  • Approximate budget

Our Blackburn showroom team can help you compare suitable products and identify questions you may need to confirm with your builder or plumber before ordering.

Plan the room first, confirm the technical details second, and choose the finishing touches last. A little preparation at the beginning can make the entire bathroom renovation much easier.